There are many varieties of chord progressions.

What’s the Point in Familiarizing yourself with Progressions?

1. Developing Your Ear – For anyone wanting to learn to play by ear, familiarizing yourself with common progressions is a must.  It is not uncommon for people who have developed their ear, to listen to new music and to hear the progressions used in various parts of the song.
2. Writing Music – For anyone wanting to write music, it is so beneficial to learn progressions.  Progressions can help break through “musical writer’s block”.

Twelve Bar Blues

A popular chord progression last century was the 12 bar blues.  In its most basic format it is as follows (each chord is played for one measure):

I  -  I - I - I
IV - IV - I - I
V  - IV - I - I

Another way to play this progression is with a V chord as a turn-around chord to repeat the 12 bars.

I  -  I - I - I
IV - IV - I - I
V  - IV - I - V --> then repeat

Practice these Chord Progressions

Play each progression over and over in the key of G.  Then play in the keys of C, D, A and E, etc.

1. I-IV-V-V
2. I-V-vi-IV
3. I-IV-vi-V
4. I-vi-IV
5. vi-IV-I-V
6. vi-V-I-ii
7. I-ii-V-V
8. V-ii-IV-I
9. I-bVII-IV-IV