K-pop Chord Progressions From Hit Songs
The chord progressions behind Into the New World, Me Gustas Tu, Together, Bubble Gum 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.
IV – V – iii – vi
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Known in Japan as ōdō shinkō, the "royal road" progression. It never touches the I chord, so it keeps searching. The iii chord, rare in Western pop, gives it its bittersweet colour.
Tip: Try it with 7th chords (IVmaj7 – V7 – iii7 – vi7), the way it is usually played in J-pop and K-pop.
IVmaj7 – iii7 – vi7
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A royal-road variation that skips the V and uses only 7th chords. Without the V, nothing pushes the loop forward, so it floats.
Tip: Keep the drums light and let the 7ths ring. This loop works best with space around it.
vi – ii7 – V7sus4 – I
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A classic "circle" movement (vi → ii → V → I), where each chord pulls to the next. The sus4 on the V holds the tension for a moment before the I releases it.
Tip: Land the hook word on the I chord at the end of the loop, where the tension resolves.
i7 – v7 – VImaj7 – VII7
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A minor loop where every chord is a 7th. The 7ths take the edge off the minor key, so it sounds cute and wistful rather than dark.
Tip: Play the same loop with plain triads and then with 7ths to hear how much the colour changes.
iv9 – v7 – i7
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All three primary chords are minor, and extended with 7ths and 9ths. There is no strong major chord to pull the ear, so the loop sounds relaxed and cool.
Tip: Extended minor chords leave room for a breathy, conversational vocal.
VI – VII – i – III
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VI and VII climb straight into the i, then III lifts again. The song contrasts this with a two-chord i–V loop in the verse and chorus.
Tip: Use a rising loop in the pre-chorus and a simpler loop in the chorus, so the chorus feels like arriving.
i – bII
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The bII chord is a half-step above the tonic, the fingerprint of the Phrygian mode. That half-step gives an instantly threatening, cinematic tension.
Tip: Two chords are enough. Build the energy with drums and sound design, not harmony.
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 K-pop 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 K-POP 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 K-pop progressions work
K-pop draws on many genres at once, including pop, R&B, EDM and hip-hop, and often switches between them inside one song. Harmonically it tends to be richer than Western pop. Seventh and ninth chords are common, and the "royal road" progression (IV–V–iii–vi) from J-pop is common in K-pop.
Many K-pop hits also use minor loops with 7th chords (TT, Hype Boy) that sound smooth rather than sad, and modes like Phrygian for a darker, more aggressive sound (How You Like That).
3 ways to use them in your own songs
- Use 7th chords. Turning plain triads into 7ths (i7, iv7, VImaj7) is one of the quickest ways to get a K-pop colour.
- Change progression between sections. K-pop songs often give the verse, pre-chorus and chorus completely different harmony, as in LOVE DIVE and Me Gustas Tu.
- Write for the topline. K-pop choruses are built around a short, repeatable hook. See our K-pop Topliner Map for how that works.
Write the topline that goes on top
The K-pop Topliner Map breaks down how K-pop choruses, hooks and section changes are built, with exercises for each part. The K-pop Producer Map covers the production side.
Quick answers
What chord progressions are used in K-pop hit songs?
Common K-pop loops include IV – V – iii – vi (Into the New World); IVmaj7 – iii7 – vi7 (Bubble Gum); vi – ii7 – V7sus4 – I (Dynamite); i7 – v7 – VImaj7 – VII7 (TT); iv9 – v7 – i7 (Hype Boy). 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 Into the New World by Girls' Generation use?
Into the New World uses IV – V – iii – vi in the played as IV – V/IV – iii – vi: C – D – Bm – Em in G major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Me Gustas Tu by GFRIEND use?
Me Gustas Tu uses IV – V – iii – vi in the pre-chorus (with 7th chords): D♭ – E♭ – Cm – Fm in A♭ major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Bubble Gum by NewJeans use?
Bubble Gum uses IVmaj7 – iii7 – vi7 in the chord loop: Dmaj7 – C♯m7 – F♯m7 in A major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Dynamite by BTS use?
Dynamite uses vi – ii7 – V7sus4 – I in the chorus: C♯m – F♯m7 – B7sus4 – E in E major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does TT by TWICE use?
TT uses i7 – v7 – VImaj7 – VII7 in the chorus: Em7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7 in E minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Hype Boy by NewJeans use?
Hype Boy uses iv9 – v7 – i7 in the intro and verse: Am9 – Bm7 – Em7 in E minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does LOVE DIVE by IVE use?
LOVE DIVE uses VI – VII – i – III in the pre-chorus: A – B – C♯m – E in C♯ minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does How You Like That by BLACKPINK use?
How You Like That uses i – bII in the intro (D♯ Phrygian): D♯m – E in D♯ minor, 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: Into the New World, Me Gustas Tu, Dynamite, TT, Hype Boy, LOVE DIVE, How You Like That. 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.