Latin & Reggaeton Chord Progressions From Hit Songs
The chord progressions behind Despacito, Tití Me Preguntó, Dákiti, Provenza, Bichota 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
WHY IT WORKS + WRITING TIP
These are the same four chords as the famous I–V–vi–IV pop loop, started from the minor chord. The loop keeps a dark colour without sounding heavy, which suits a dembow rhythm.
Tip: Over a reggaeton beat, play the chords as short stabs or a plucked guitar so the rhythm carries the loop.
i – VII – VI – V
WHY IT WORKS + WRITING TIP
Four chords walk down the minor scale to a major V, which pulls hard back to the i. The cadence comes from Spanish flamenco and has crossed into pop, rock and R&B, as Hit the Road Jack shows.
Tip: Let the bass walk down step by step (1 – ♭7 – ♭6 – 5). The descending line is the hook.
VI – iv – i – VII
WHY IT WORKS + WRITING TIP
Starting on the VI and only reaching the i in bar three keeps the loop suspended, which suits a hazy, atmospheric production.
Tip: Try a sustained pad with a filtered pluck playing the chord tones in eighth notes.
VI – VII – v – i
WHY IT WORKS + WRITING TIP
These are the chords of the J-pop "royal road" progression (IV–V–iii–vi), seen from the relative minor. The minor v instead of a major V keeps it smooth rather than dramatic.
Tip: It suits a disco or funk-flavoured Latin pop track with a busy, syncopated bass line.
VI – iv – v – i
WHY IT WORKS + WRITING TIP
Three of the four chords are minor, so the loop sounds gentle and nostalgic. The same chords drive the verse of Frank Ocean's Thinkin Bout You.
Tip: Play it on a nylon-string or clean electric guitar for an acoustic reggaeton feel.
i – iv – VII – v
WHY IT WORKS + WRITING TIP
Moving from i to iv and up to the VII gives a sense of lift, and the minor v at the end leads back to the i without a hard cadence.
Tip: Add the 7th to the iv chord for a more modern colour, as Bichota does.
i – VII – iv – VII
WHY IT WORKS + WRITING TIP
The VII works as a pivot: it leads both down to the iv and back to the i, so the loop keeps moving with only three chords.
Tip: Keep the harmony simple and let the vocal rhythm and the dembow do the work.
V – IV – vi – I
WHY IT WORKS + WRITING TIP
Starting on the V and holding back the I until bar four gives the chorus forward motion, and the vi in the middle adds a touch of melancholy.
Tip: Set it against a minor-key verse so the chorus feels like it opens up.
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 8 Latin and Reggaeton progressions as MIDI, in every key
Every progression on this page in all 12 keys (96 MIDI files, chords and bass on separate tracks, at 94 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 LATIN MIDI → FULL MIDI PACK CHEAT SHEET PDFGot the chords? SongwriterMap walks you through writing the melody, hook and lyric on top. Try the free demo.
How Latin and reggaeton progressions work
Most reggaeton and Latin pop songs loop three or four chords, very often in a minor key. The harmony stays simple because the rhythm (the dembow pattern) and the vocal melody carry the song. Seven of the eight progressions on this page are in minor.
Two families show up again and again: minor four-chord loops (Despacito, Dákiti, Provenza) and the descending Andalusian cadence from Spanish flamenco (Tití Me Preguntó).
3 ways to use them in your own songs
- Start in minor. Pick one of the minor loops, set a tempo around 90–100 BPM and loop it for four bars before you write anything on top.
- Leave room for the beat. Play the chords as off-beat stabs, a plucked guitar or a soft pad. Pair the loop with our free reggaeton drum pattern and 808 bassline generator.
- Borrow the Andalusian cadence. Dropping i–VII–VI–V into an intro or bridge gives an instant Spanish colour.
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 reggaeton and Latin pop?
Common reggaeton and Latin pop progressions include i – VI – III – VII (Despacito); i – VII – VI – V (Tití Me Preguntó); VI – iv – i – VII (Dákiti); VI – VII – v – i (Todo de Ti); VI – iv – v – i (Provenza). Every progression on this page has playback in any key and a free MIDI download.
What chord progression does Despacito by Luis Fonsi use?
Despacito 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 Bailamos by Enrique Iglesias use?
Bailamos uses i – VI – III – VII in the chorus: Am – F – C – G in A minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Tití Me Preguntó by Bad Bunny use?
Tití Me Preguntó uses i – VII – VI – V in the intro: Fm – E♭ – D♭ – C in F minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles use?
Hit the Road Jack uses i – VII – VI – V in the intro and verse: G♯m – F♯ – E – D♯ in G♯ minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Dákiti by Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez use?
Dákiti uses VI – iv – i – VII in the chorus: C – Am – Em – D in E minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Todo de Ti by Rauw Alejandro use?
Todo de Ti uses VI – VII – v – i in the pre-chorus and chorus: B – C♯ – A♯m – D♯m in D♯ minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Provenza by Karol G use?
Provenza uses VI – iv – v – i in the verse and chorus: D♭ – B♭m – Cm – Fm in F minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Bichota by Karol G use?
Bichota uses i – iv – VII – v in the chorus (iv as m7): C♯m – F♯m – B – G♯m in C♯ minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Hips Don't Lie by Shakira use?
Hips Don't Lie uses i – iv – VII – v in the intro and chorus (continues to VI): B♭m – E♭m – A♭ – Fm in B♭ minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Con Calma by Daddy Yankee use?
Con Calma uses i – VII – iv – VII in the chorus: G♯m – F♯ – C♯m – F♯ in G♯ minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Tusa by Karol G & Nicki Minaj use?
Tusa uses V – IV – vi – I in the chorus: A – G – Bm – D in D 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: Despacito, Bailamos, Tití Me Preguntó, Hit the Road Jack, Dákiti, Todo de Ti, Provenza, Bichota, Hips Don't Lie, Con Calma, Tusa, Andalusian cadence (Wikipedia). 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.