Indie & Alternative Chord Progressions From Famous Songs
The chord progressions behind Creep, Where Is My Mind?, Riptide, Boulevard of Broken Dreams 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 – III – IV – iv
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Two borrowed colours in four chords: the major III lifts unexpectedly, and the minor iv then darkens the IV. The rise and fall inside one loop is what makes it so dramatic.
Tip: Put an emotional word on the change from IV to iv. It is the most dramatic moment of the loop.
I – vi – III – IV
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The major III (a secondary dominant pointing towards vi) goes somewhere unexpected: to IV. The ear expects one thing and gets another, which gives the song its floating quality.
Tip: Keep the top note of each chord the same where you can. The static line over moving chords adds to the dreamlike feel.
vi – V – I
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Only three chords, starting on the minor vi and climbing to I. The loop resolves quickly, so it can run at a fast strum without sounding busy.
Tip: Three-chord loops leave room for a wordy, rhythmic lyric. Use it for a verse with a lot to say.
i – III – VII – IV
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Again the major IV in a minor key, the Dorian colour. It keeps the minor loop from sinking and gives the verse its walking, restless feel.
Tip: Contrast a Dorian verse with a plain minor chorus, as Green Day do, for a subtle change of colour.
VI – III – VII – i
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Three major chords build up before the loop lands on the minor i. The chorus sounds big and open, then turns sad on the last chord.
Tip: Place the title where the loop lands on i: the resolution gives it weight.
i – III – VII – iv
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A minor loop that moves through major III and VII before the minor iv sends it back. On guitar, the open-string voicings (7ths and sus4s) are a big part of the sound.
Tip: Keep two top notes ringing across every chord (as open strings do) and the loop sounds instantly "indie".
I – v – ii
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The minor v is the Mixolydian colour: a major key without the strong pull of the major V chord. The three-chord loop never resolves, so it feels urgent and circular.
Tip: Play it as a repeating arpeggio in a fixed rhythm; the pattern becomes the hook.
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 7 Indie and Alt progressions as MIDI, in every key
Every progression on this page in all 12 keys (84 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 INDIE 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 Indie progressions work
Indie and alternative songs often use the same basic chords as pop, but with one "wrong" chord that changes the colour: a major chord where you would expect a minor one, or a minor iv borrowed into a major key.
These chromatic moves, like the III and iv in Creep or the III in Where Is My Mind?, are what give many alternative songs their bittersweet, slightly off-balance feeling.
3 ways to use them in your own songs
- Swap one chord. Take a pop loop and make one chord major that should be minor (iii → III) or minor that should be major (IV → iv). One change is enough to give it an alternative colour.
- Use open voicings. Much of the indie sound comes from guitar voicings with open strings and repeated top notes, like the chords in Wonderwall.
- Try a modal loop. A minor loop with a major IV (Dorian) or a major loop with a minor v (Mixolydian, as in Clocks) sounds less predictable than a standard key.
Turn the progression into a song
SongwriterMap covers what goes on top of the chords: song structure, hook writing, melody shapes, lyric devices and a 7-point melody check, with an exercise for every item. Try the free demo in your browser.
Quick answers
What chord progressions are used in Indie hit songs?
Common Indie loops include I – III – IV – iv (Creep); I – vi – III – IV (Where Is My Mind?); vi – V – I (Riptide); i – III – VII – IV (Boulevard of Broken Dreams); VI – III – VII – i (Boulevard of Broken Dreams). 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 Creep by Radiohead use?
Creep uses I – III – IV – iv in the verse and chorus: G – B – C – Cm in G major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Where Is My Mind? by Pixies use?
Where Is My Mind? uses I – vi – III – IV in the intro, verse and chorus: E – C♯m – G♯ – A in E major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Riptide by Vance Joy use?
Riptide uses vi – V – I in the verse and chorus: B♭m – A♭ – D♭ in D♭ major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day use?
Boulevard of Broken Dreams uses i – III – VII – IV in the verse (F Dorian): Fm – A♭ – E♭ – B♭ in F minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day use?
Boulevard of Broken Dreams uses VI – III – VII – i in the chorus: D♭ – A♭ – E♭ – Fm in F minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Something in the Orange by Zach Bryan use?
Something in the Orange uses VI – III – VII – i in the chorus: C – G – D – Em in E minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Wonderwall by Oasis use?
Wonderwall uses i – III – VII – iv in the verse (with 7th and sus4 voicings): F♯m – A – E – Bm in F♯ minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Clocks by Coldplay use?
Clocks uses I – v – ii in the intro, verse and chorus (E♭ Mixolydian): E♭ – B♭m – Fm in E♭ 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: Creep, Where Is My Mind?, Riptide, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Something in the Orange, Wonderwall, Clocks. 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.