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R&B and Soul chord progressions

5 progressions · 60 keyed pages

R&B softens every corner. Sevenths and ninths replace plain triads, the ii and vi carry as much weight as the tonic, and secondary dominants slide between them so the harmony keeps moving under a still vocal.

Tempo
60–180 BPM
Feel
4 major · 1 minor
Harmony
All diatonic
Form
4 bars · 4/4

The soundin F

I–vi–IV–VF · Dm · B♭ · C
IFviDmIVB♭VC

Chord tones on the keyboard: the solid key is the root.

Full lesson

Smooth3

i–VI–iv–V
Fm · D♭ · B♭m · Cm
iFmVID♭ivB♭mVCm
4 chordsintermediate60–110 BPM · 4/4
ii–V–I–vi
Gm7 · C7 · Fmaj7 · Dm7
iiGm7VC7IFmaj7viDm7
4 chordsintermediate80–180 BPM · 4/4
As heard in Heart and Soul - Hoagy Carmichael
IV–V–iii–vi
B♭ · C · Am · Dm
IVB♭VCiiiAmviDm
4 chordsintermediate70–130 BPM · 4/4

Nostalgic2

I–vi–IV–V
F · Dm · B♭ · C
IFviDmIVB♭VC
4 chordsbeginner70–110 BPM · 4/4
I–vi–IV–V
F · Dm · B♭ · C
IFviDmIVB♭VC
4 chordsbeginner60–120 BPM · 4/4
As heard in Stand By Me - Ben E. King

Songs built on these changes

Each one links to the progression behind it.

Nearby genres

JazzGospelPopView all