Metal chord progressions
4 progressions · 48 keyed pagesMetal builds on the minor tonic and the flat degrees around it. ♭VI and ♭VII give the descending pull, roots move in semitones and tritones as often as fifths, and the chords are usually power chords with the third left out.
- Tempo
- 80–160 BPM
- Feel
- All minor key
- Harmony
- All diatonic
- Form
- 4 bars · 4/4
The soundin E
i–♭VI–♭VII–iEm · C · D
iEm♭VIC♭VIID
Chord tones on the keyboard: the solid key is the root.
Epic4
i–♭VI–♭VII–i
Em · C · D
iEm♭VIC♭VIID
4 chordsintermediate80–160 BPM · 4/4
As heard in Andalusian Cadence - Traditional
i–♭VII–♭VI–V
Em · D · C · B
iEm♭VIID♭VICVB
4 chordsintermediate80–140 BPM · 4/4
As heard in Hit the Road Jack - Ray Charles
i–VI–III–VII
Em · C · G · D
iEmVICIIIGVIID
4 chordsintermediate80–160 BPM · 4/4
As heard in Zombie - The Cranberries
Songs built on these changes
Each one links to the progression behind it.