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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 chordsintermediate60110 BPM · 4/4
ii–V–I–vi
Gm7 · C7 · Fmaj7 · Dm7
iiGm7VC7IFmaj7viDm7
4 chordsintermediate80180 BPM · 4/4
As heard in Heart and Soul - Hoagy Carmichael
IV–V–iii–vi
B♭ · C · Am · Dm
IVB♭VCiiiAmviDm
4 chordsintermediate70130 BPM · 4/4

Nostalgic2

I–vi–IV–V
F · Dm · B♭ · C
IFviDmIVB♭VC
4 chordsbeginner70110 BPM · 4/4
I–vi–IV–V
F · Dm · B♭ · C
IFviDmIVB♭VC
4 chordsbeginner60120 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.