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6.9.9
Basic Chord Progressions: Major Chord Progressions Simplified
Basic chord progressions in a major key tend to begin with the tonic chord, then progress to several other chords within the key (usually), then return to the tonic chord.
Figure 74 below maps the general pattern of a major key chord progression in a popular song or any other piece of music—from the humblest folk song to the grandest symphony.
Typically, the chord progression finds its way back to the tonic via the V7 chord, like this:
I – [any number of other chords] – V7 – I
There are a million variations, of course.
FIGURE 74: Chord Map of the Basic Chord Progression Pattern in a Major Key