EDM Chord Progressions From Hit Songs
The chord progressions behind Faded, Wake Me Up, Levels, Clarity and more. Every chord is spelled out, you can switch to any key, hear each loop in your browser and download it as a free MIDI file.
i – VI – III – VII
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Minor enough to feel emotional, but the major VI, III and VII chords give it lift. That mix of sad and uplifting is the core of the melodic-EDM sound.
Tip: Write the lead on the upper notes of the chords and keep it moving while the chords stay put.
i – III – VII – VI
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The same four chords as the loop above in a different order. Going to III straight after i sounds brighter, which suits a riff-driven, euphoric track.
Tip: Play the loop as a syncopated, piano-like riff instead of held chords, as Levels does.
ii7 – V7sus4 – vi7 – iii7 – IV
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Seventh and suspended chords soften every change. The progression avoids the I chord, so it never quite comes home.
Tip: If a loop sounds too plain, try 7th chords before changing the progression.
IV – vi – V – ii
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All four chords orbit the tonic without landing on it, so the loop feels light and floating. Summer finally resolves to I at the end of the chorus phrase.
Tip: Hold back the I chord until the end of the chorus, like Summer does. It makes the resolution feel like a payoff.
ii7 – vi – I – IV
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Starting on the minor ii gives the loop a gentle, questioning start; the I and IV at the end answer it.
Tip: Put it under a verse to set up a bigger drop: the soft start gives the drop room to hit harder.
Progressions with a lower-case i are shown in a minor key, the rest in major. Songs often use different chords in different sections; the section is listed for each example. "Song key" is the key of the recording as given in the published transcription.
All 5 EDM and Dance progressions as MIDI, in every key
Every progression on this page in all 12 keys (60 MIDI files, chords and bass on separate tracks, at 96 BPM). You also get our full Chord Progression MIDI Pack (864 files) and The Songwriter's Cheat Sheet (PDF).
Your downloads are ready. Links to the full MIDI pack and the cheat sheet are on their way to your inbox too.
DOWNLOAD EDM MIDI → FULL MIDI PACK CHEAT SHEET PDFWant these progressions as full grooves with bass and drums, or in 6 playing styles? See the Song Starter MIDI Kit ($19) and MIDI Pack PRO ($9).
How EDM progressions work
Dance music is built on loops. A drop can run the same four chords for 16 or 32 bars, so the progression has to feel good on repeat and leave room for the lead, the chords and the bass to carry the energy.
Minor loops dominate: i–VI–III–VII (Faded, Wake Me Up) and i–III–VII–VI (Levels) are two loops you will hear again and again in the genre. Progressive house and future bass add colour with 7th and sus chords, as in Clarity.
3 ways to use them in your own songs
- Write the drop progression first. Build the breakdown and the build-up from the same chords, so the drop feels like a release rather than a new song.
- Sidechain the chords to the kick. The pumping movement is part of how dance chords are heard. Short chord stabs and long pads on the same loop give two very different drops.
- Keep the bass on the root. In a busy drop, a bass that follows the chord roots keeps the loop clear. Save inversions for breakdowns.
Now build the track around the chords
ProductionMap shows what every track does in each section of a Electronic arrangement (and Pop and R&B), with sound design notes and a practical "Try it" step for 33 tracks. Try the free demo in your browser.
Quick answers
What chord progressions are used in EDM hit songs?
Common EDM loops include i – VI – III – VII (Faded); i – III – VII – VI (Levels); ii7 – V7sus4 – vi7 – iii7 – IV (Clarity); IV – vi – V – ii (Summer); ii7 – vi – I – IV (Feel So Close). Every progression on this page is shown in the key of a real song, with playback and a free MIDI download.
What chord progression does Faded by Alan Walker use?
Faded uses i – VI – III – VII in the every section: D♯m – B – F♯ – C♯ in D♯ minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Wake Me Up by Avicii use?
Wake Me Up uses i – VI – III – VII in the chorus: Bm – G – D – A in B minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Levels by Avicii use?
Levels uses i – III – VII – VI in the every section: C♯m – E – B – A in C♯ minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Clarity by Zedd ft. Foxes use?
Clarity uses ii7 – V7sus4 – vi7 – iii7 – IV in the every section: B♭m7 – E♭7sus4 – Fm7 – Cm7 – D♭ in A♭ major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Summer by Calvin Harris use?
Summer uses IV – vi – V – ii in the chorus (resolves to I at the end): C – Em – D – Am in G major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Feel So Close by Calvin Harris use?
Feel So Close uses ii7 – vi – I – IV in the verse: Am7 – Em – G – C in G major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
Can I use the same chord progression as a hit song?
Yes. Chord progressions are shared building blocks of music, and the loops on this page are used in hundreds of songs. What makes a song yours is the melody, the lyric and the production. (General information, not legal advice.)
Can I download these chord progressions as MIDI?
Yes. Every progression has a free MIDI download in the key and tempo you choose, with the chords and the bass on separate tracks, ready to drag into any DAW.
Sources: chord analyses from published transcriptions: Faded, Wake Me Up, Levels, Clarity, Summer, Feel So Close. Song titles are given for reference only. No lyrics, recordings or sheet music are reproduced, and The Sonic Secrets is not affiliated with any artist or label.