Rock Chord Progressions From Hit Songs
The chord progressions behind Don't Stop Believin', Smells Like Teen Spirit, Sweet Home Alabama, Knockin' on Heaven's Door 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 – V – vi – IV
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The pop four-chord loop in a rock arrangement. The familiar loop lets the melody and the build-up carry the song.
Tip: Delay the chorus, as Journey famously does, and the payoff grows.
i – iv – III – VI
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Played as power chords, the loop sits between major and minor. Keeping the same loop through quiet verses and loud choruses is what makes the dynamics hit so hard.
Tip: Keep the loop and change only the distortion and drums between verse and chorus.
I – bVII – IV
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The ♭VII chord (C in the key of D) comes from the Mixolydian mode. It gives a major key a relaxed, bluesy feel instead of the pull of the V chord.
Tip: Add a 9th to the bVII chord, as the song does, for extra shimmer.
I – V – ii
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Three chords that circle around the I without the usual IV. The minor ii gives a hint of melancholy to an otherwise bright loop.
Tip: Slow tempos and long, held chords suit this loop. Let the melody breathe.
I – IV – vi – V
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After the IV, the minor vi adds tension and the V throws the loop back to the start. It keeps driving forward, which suits a fast, anxious chorus.
Tip: Drive the loop with straight 1/8-note guitars and bass for maximum energy.
i – V7 – VII – IV – VI
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The major V7 (harmonic minor) and the major IV (Dorian) both borrow outside the natural minor key, which gives the progression its exotic, cinematic colour.
Tip: Arpeggiate the chords on a 12-string or clean guitar to hear how the top line moves.
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 6 Rock progressions as MIDI, in every key
Every progression on this page in all 12 keys (72 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 ROCK 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 Rock progressions work
Rock is built on guitar-friendly chords, often played as power chords (root and 5th only), which makes major and minor sound less different than on piano. That is why rock can mix chords from major and minor keys so freely.
Classic rock loves the Mixolydian ♭VII (Sweet Home Alabama), grunge and alternative use minor loops with major chords mixed in (Smells Like Teen Spirit), and stadium rock often uses the same four-chord loop as pop (Don't Stop Believin').
3 ways to use them in your own songs
- Try power chords. Leaving out the 3rd lets you use any chord from major or minor without clashes, and distortion stays clean.
- Use the ♭VII. A major chord a whole step below the tonic (bVII) gives an instant classic-rock feel.
- Change the energy, not the chords. Many rock songs use the same loop in verse and chorus and change the dynamics: quiet, clean verse and loud, distorted chorus.
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 Rock hit songs?
Common Rock loops include I – V – vi – IV (Don't Stop Believin'); i – iv – III – VI (Smells Like Teen Spirit); I – bVII – IV (Sweet Home Alabama); I – V – ii (Knockin' on Heaven's Door); I – IV – vi – V (Mr. Brightside). 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 Don't Stop Believin' by Journey use?
Don't Stop Believin' uses I – V – vi – IV in the intro, verse and chorus: E – B – C♯m – A in E major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana use?
Smells Like Teen Spirit uses i – iv – III – VI in the verse, pre-chorus and chorus (power chords): Fm – B♭m – A♭ – D♭ in F minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd use?
Sweet Home Alabama uses I – bVII – IV in the intro (D Mixolydian): D – C – G in D major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Knockin' on Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan use?
Knockin' on Heaven's Door uses I – V – ii in the verse: G – D – Am in G major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Mr. Brightside by The Killers use?
Mr. Brightside uses I – IV – vi – V in the chorus: D♭ – G♭ – B♭m – A♭ in D♭ major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Hotel California by Eagles use?
Hotel California uses i – V7 – VII – IV – VI in the first half of the verse: Bm – F♯7 – A – E – G in B 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: Don't Stop Believin', Smells Like Teen Spirit, Sweet Home Alabama, Knockin' on Heaven's Door, Mr. Brightside, Hotel California. 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.