Common Chord Progressions in C MajorLearning to play chord progressions in every key is incredibly important for both playing songs, as well as songwriting and making music.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common chord progressions in the key of C Major.

5 Common Chord Progressions in C Major

  1. C – Am – F – G (I – vi – IV – V)
  2. C – F – G  (I – IV – V)
  3. C – G – Am – F (I – V – iv – IV)
  4. Dm-G-C (ii – V – I)
  5. C – G – Am – Em – F – C – F – G (I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – IV – V)

You can explore and experiment as much as you want with chord progressions, and even spice up these common ones by using various inversions of the chords, add voice leading notes, or color extensions to any one of the chords in the progression (like 7th chords etc.), altering the bass note etc.

And of course, you have complete freedom in HOW you play each voice of the chords, with what instruments, rhythm, dynamics etc.

Considering all the creative options you have with chord progressions, you can indeed play and shape even the most simple I – IV – V chord progression in an infinite amount of ways.