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6.5.8
Chord Progressions: A Chart of Chord Progression Types, Names, and Examples

Table 42 below is a chart that summarizes the only four chord progression types, along with their names and examples using the key of C / Am::

  • Second progressions (up, down),
  • Third progressions (up, down),
  • Fifth progressions (up, down),
  • Chromatic progressions (exiting, returning).

Keep in mind that the intervals in the “Examples” column are chord movements, not single note movements.

TABLE 42 The Four Types of Chord Progressions

Root
Movement

A Few
Examples: Key
of C / Am

Progression Name
SECOND PROGRESSIONS
I – II C – Dm Second progression, up
II – I Dm – C Second progression, down
VII – I Bº – C Second progression, up
I – VII C – Bº Second progression, down
THIRD PROGRESSIONS
I – III C – Em Third progression, up
III – I Em – C Third progression, down
VI – I Am – C Third progression, up
I – VI C – Am Third progression, down
FIFTH PROGRESSIONS
I – V C – G Fifth progression, up
V – I G – C Fifth progression, down
IV – I F – C Fifth progression, up
I – IV C – F Fifth progression, down
CHROMATIC PROGRESSIONS
I – ♭II C – D♭ Chromatic progression, exiting
♭II – I D♭ – C Chromatic progression, returning
I – ♭III C – E♭ Chromatic progression, exiting
♭III – I E♭ – C Chromatic progression, returning
I – ♯IV C – F♯ Chromatic progression, exiting
♯IV – I F♯ – C Chromatic progression, returning
I – ♭VI C – A♭ Chromatic progression, exiting
♭VI – I A♭ – C Chromatic progression, returning
I – ♭VII C – B♭ Chromatic progression, exiting
♭VII – I B♭ – C Chromatic progression, returning

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