A must-see for beginner composers! A roundup of classic chord progressions

In music, the term “chord” (waon in Japanese) broadly refers to the sound produced when two or more musical tones of different pitches are played simultaneously.

The music you listen to every day is also composed based on various types of chord progressions, where multiple chords unfold over time.

Of course, there are songs that consist of just a single chord, and the more you learn, the deeper the world of chord progressions becomes.

In this article, we’ll introduce a roundup of classic chord progressions frequently used in J-pop and Western music alike!

If you’re thinking of starting to compose but aren’t confident about chord progressions yet, be sure to use this as a reference.

Playlist

A must-see for beginner composers! A roundup of classic chord progressions
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	fireworks (launched into the sky)DAOKO × Yonezu Kenshi		The song Fireworks uses a 4-5-6-1 progression.
2	monsterYOASOBI		About the 45-36 classic progression in J-POP
3	Marunouchi SadisticShiina Ringo		The maru-sa progression is a sophisticated chord progression.
4	Get WildTM NETWORK		The Komuro progression is a trendy chord progression suited for powerful songs.
5	Don’t give upZARD		The canon progression is a music theory with a beautiful sound.
6	cherrysupittsu		The Let It Be progression has a nostalgic ring and is popular among Japanese people.
7	Last ChristmasWham!		Wham!'s song is composed of the 1625 progression
8	Lovin’ YouMinnie Riperton		Minnie Riperton’s “Lovin’ You” is composed with a 4-3-2-1 progression.
9	Stand By MeBen E. King		Ben E. King's signature song "Stand By Me"
10	We Are Never Ever Getting Back TogetherTaylor Swift		Features and use cases of the 4156 opening
11	My Past Life, Many Lifetimes AgoRADWIMPS		RADWIMPS’s “Zenzenzense” uses the 6415 progression.
12	CloserThe Chainsmokers		The 4565 progression pairs exceptionally well with club-style music.
13	JOYYU-KI		YUKI’s new song is making waves for its 3-4-5-6 chord progression
14	FAKE LOVEBTS		BTS’s “FAKE LOVE” was composed using the 4-5-6 progression.
15	justicezutto mayonaka de ii no ni.		The song “Seigi” by Zutto Mayonaka de Iinoni uses the 4-5-6-3 progression.