Chord Progression Generator

Choose a key, a mode and whether you want triads or seventh chords.
Pick the number of bars and press Generate, or load a classic progression.
Change any bar with its menu, and tap the small play button to hear a chord alone.
Set the tempo, the rhythm and the bass, and press Play (Loop repeats the progression).
Download the MIDI file for your DAW, or copy the chords as text.

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How do you build a chord progression in a key, and how do you export it as MIDI?

The chords of a key come from stacking thirds on each note of its scale: in C major they are C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am and B°, written I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi and vii° in Roman numerals. A progression chains some of them following common tendencies, like V going back to I; a classic is I–V–vi–IV, which in C is C–G–Am–F. This free generator builds the chords for any key and mode, creates progressions at random or from classics, lets you change each bar, and exports a MIDI file with chord voicings that move smoothly and a separate bass track.

What is a chord progression?

A chord progression is a series of chords played one after another, and it is the harmonic base of most songs. Chords are named with Roman numerals, which show their position in the key and so work in any key: I is the home chord, V creates tension that wants to return to I, IV and vi add colour. Capital numerals are major chords and lower case ones are minor. In a major key the same pattern, for example I–V–vi–IV, can be played from any note, and the mode changes the mood: minor sounds darker, dorian is minor with a brighter sixth. This tool picks the chords for you, you listen, change what you do not like and take the result into your music software.