Sad Chord Progressions From Hit Songs
Melancholy, heartbreak and late-night loops: the progressions behind SAD!, Creep, Glimpse of Us, Something in the Orange and more. Switch to any key, hear each loop in your browser and download it as a free MIDI file.
VI – i – iv – v
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Three of the four chords are minor, and the major VI at the start only makes the fall back to the minor i feel heavier. With no major V, there is no bright resolution anywhere in the loop.
Tip: Play it slowly on a felt piano or a clean guitar and leave space between the chords.
vi – IV – I – V
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The four most common pop chords, started on the minor vi. Beginning on the sad chord colours the whole loop, so even the major chords sound wistful.
Tip: Hold the V as a sus4 so the loop never feels finished.
I – III – IV – iv
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The loop sounds hopeful until the last bar, where the IV turns into a minor iv. That one changed note (the 3rd of the chord drops a half step) is one of the most effective sad sounds in pop.
Tip: Try the major-IV-to-minor-iv move at the end of any major chorus.
VI – iv – v – i
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Every chord except the VI is minor, and the loop drifts down to the i instead of resolving firmly. The result is gentle and nostalgic rather than dramatic.
Tip: Add the 7th to each chord (VImaj7, iv7, v7, i7) for an even softer, R&B-style sadness.
VI – III – VII – i
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The first three chords are major and sound open, but the loop ends on the minor i. That final arrival makes the chorus feel like a realisation rather than a release.
Tip: Put the most painful line of the lyric on the arrival at the i chord.
vi – ii7 – V7 – I
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The minor vi sets a sad tone, then a jazzy ii–V–I resolves it. The happy ending is real but soft, which makes it bittersweet.
Tip: Keep the dynamics soft and let the vocal carry the emotion.
i – VII – VI
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Three chords walking down the natural minor scale. A falling bass line is one of the oldest ways to express sadness in music.
Tip: Let the bass walk down step by step and keep the top notes of the chords close together.
IV – iii – ii – I
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The chords step down one at a time to the I, like a sigh. Played as 7th chords, the descent sounds tender and aching rather than dark.
Tip: Play every chord as a 7th chord (IVmaj7, iii7, ii7, Imaj7).
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 sad chord 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 80 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 SAD MIDI → FULL MIDI PACK CHEAT SHEET PDFWant ready-made grooves? The Song Starter MIDI Kit ($19) turns 48 progressions from hit songs into chord, bass and drum parts, and MIDI Pack PRO ($9) has 113 progressions in 6 playing styles.
What makes a chord progression sound sad?
Sad progressions usually lean on minor chords, a falling bass line, or one surprising minor chord in a major key (like the minor iv in Creep). They also avoid strong, bright resolutions: many end on a minor chord or never return to the I at all.
Tempo and sound matter as much as the chords. The same loop sounds sad at 70 BPM on a soft piano and energetic at 128 BPM on a synth.
3 ways to use them in your own songs
- Start on a minor chord. Starting a loop on the vi or i colours everything after it.
- Borrow the minor iv. In a major key, change the IV to a minor iv for one bar. It works almost everywhere.
- Slow it down. Set the tempo slider to 70–85 BPM and download the MIDI at that tempo.
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 are the best sad chord progressions?
Sad-sounding progressions on this page include VI – i – iv – v (SAD!); vi – IV – I – V (Zenzenzense); I – III – IV – iv (Creep); VI – iv – v – i (Provenza); VI – III – VII – i (Something in the Orange). Every progression on this page has playback in any key and a free MIDI download.
What chord progression does SAD! by XXXTENTACION use?
SAD! uses VI – i – iv – v in the intro, verse and chorus: A♭ – Cm – Fm – Gm in C minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Zenzenzense by RADWIMPS use?
Zenzenzense uses vi – IV – I – V in the chorus (V as sus4): G♯m – E – B – F♯ in B major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
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 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 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 Glimpse of Us by Joji use?
Glimpse of Us uses vi – ii7 – V7 – I in the verse and pre-chorus: Fm – B♭m7 – E♭7 – A♭ in A♭ major, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does Lady Brown by Nujabes use?
Lady Brown uses i – VII – VI in the intro and verse: Em – D – C in E minor, according to the published transcription (see sources below).
What chord progression does If I Ain't Got You by Alicia Keys use?
If I Ain't Got You uses IV – iii – ii – I in the intro and chorus (with 7th chords): C – Bm – Am – G 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: Hip-Hop chord progressions (song sources listed there), Anime / J-pop chord progressions (song sources listed there), Indie chord progressions (song sources listed there), Latin chord progressions (song sources listed there), Country chord progressions (song sources listed there), Lo-Fi chord progressions (song sources listed there), R&B chord progressions (song sources listed there). 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.