Understanding Chord Progressions — A Deep Dive

Progressions are more than random chord sequences — they follow patterns rooted in music theory. Understanding diatonic harmony, functional relationships, and common patterns helps you predict, recognize, and create progressions by ear.

Below are seven essential progression concepts, each with a playable audio example and interactive transpose controls. Hear how the chords relate to each other and follow the cross-links to explore each chord in detail.