Exploring the Most Interesting Chord Progressions in Popular Music
Chord progressions in music are the backbone of songs that resonate with audiences over the decades. Some progressions have been used countless times, but it's the unique and creative use of these chords that sets great songs apart. In this article, we'll dive into some of the most interesting chord progressions in the rich tapestry of popular music, from the 1920s to the present day.
The Timeless I, IV, and V Progression
One of the most enduring and ubiquitous chord progressions is the I - IV - V. This progression has served as the foundation for thousands of popular songs over several decades of rock and roll. Millions of musicians have played with this progression, and it remains a staple because it contains the notes of the scale, making it versatile and harmonically rich.
A prime example of this progression is Color My World by Chicago. The song’s chord progression is I - VII - IV - V - III - VI - IV - V - III - VII - IV - V - ii - III - B7 - IV - V. The transitions are smooth and natural, showcasing the versatility of this progression. If you haven’t heard this song, take a moment to enjoy the video below:
Blues and Beyond
When we include the span of most of the 20th century as part of "popular music," the examples are indeed very rich. The 12-bar blues played entirely with dominant seven chords is a classic example. Despite going against the most basic assumption of Western European harmony—the resolution of the tritone—this progression works so well that it barely gets mentioned.
The Great American Songbook from 1920 to 1960 is full of wonderful progressions. For instance, All The Things You Are by Jerome Kern moves effortlessly through several harmonically distant keys, while the bridge of Have You Met Miss Jones by Richard Rogers introduces a series of chords that became the basis of "Coltrane changes." Composers like George Gershwin and Cole Porter managed to twist clever chords around melodies that were both memorable and surprising.
Jazz and Beyond
Jazz, though often seen in a "barely popular" ghetto, has a wealth of fascinating harmonies. Two minimalist examples include Miles Davis’ So What, which builds a 32-bar pattern with just two chromatically adjacent chords, and Antonio Carlos Jobim’s One-Note Samba, which weaves a wickedly cool chord progression in support of—guess what?—just one note!
Folk and Rock
By the 1960s, folk music and rock and roll gained ascendency, and chord progressions became simplified in service to rhythm, texture, and lyrics. However, interesting chord progressions have been penned. For example, The Beatles’ “If I Fell” (1964) opens in Db major and modulates to D major for the song proper. Meanwhile, Paul Simon’s “Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover” (1975) has a Bach-like progression, and “Still Crazy After All These Years” (also 1975) moves well through several tonal centers. The Grateful Dead have numerous songs built on sinuous and surprising progressions, such as “Box Of Rain,” “Stella Blue,” and “Slipknot!”, all from the 1970s. And let’s not forget Steely Dan, who have managed to generate surprising jazz-based chords and progressions throughout their career.
Modern Trends
Since the 1970s, popular music has seen chord progressions become more and more simplified. Can anyone point out a few more popular songs written after 1980 that have interesting new progressions? I’d love to add them to my list of harmonically interesting favorites.
Even if chord progressions have been around for a long time, it's the way we use them that makes our songs unique. Whether it's building on a simple progression or introducing new harmonies, creativity is what truly separates great songs from the rest.
Do you have any favorite chord progressions or songs in mind? Leave them in the comments below!