Metal chord progressions

Dark, modal progressions emphasizing minor keys, ♭VI, ♭VII and chromatic tension.

Metal progressions in every key

These are the most common progressions used in Metal. Each link opens a dedicated page with chords, audio playback and analysis.

i–♭VI–♭VII–i · C minor

Cm – G♯ – A♯ – Cm

i–♭VI–♭VII–i · C♯ minor

C♯m – A – B – C♯m

i–♭VI–♭VII–i · D minor

Dm – A♯ – C – Dm

i–♭VI–♭VII–i · E♭ minor

E♭m – B – D♭ – E♭m

i–♭VI–♭VII–i · E minor

Em – C – D – Em

i–♭VI–♭VII–i · F minor

Fm – D♭ – E♭ – Fm

i–♭VI–♭VII–i · F♯ minor

F♯m – D – E – F♯m

i–♭VI–♭VII–i · G minor

Gm – D♯ – F – Gm

i–♭VI–♭VII–i · A♭ minor

A♭m – E – G♭ – A♭m

i–♭VI–♭VII–i · A minor

Am – F – G – Am

i–♭VI–♭VII–i · B♭ minor

B♭m – G♭ – A♭ – B♭m

i–♭VI–♭VII–i · B minor

Bm – G – A – Bm

i–♭VII–♭VI–♭VII · C minor

Cm – A♯ – G♯ – A♯

i–♭VII–♭VI–♭VII · C♯ minor

C♯m – B – A – B

i–♭VII–♭VI–♭VII · D minor

Dm – C – A♯ – C

i–♭VII–♭VI–♭VII · E♭ minor

E♭m – D♭ – B – D♭

i–♭VII–♭VI–♭VII · E minor

Em – D – C – D

i–♭VII–♭VI–♭VII · F minor

Fm – E♭ – D♭ – E♭

i–♭VII–♭VI–♭VII · F♯ minor

F♯m – E – D – E

i–♭VII–♭VI–♭VII · G minor

Gm – F – D♯ – F

i–♭VII–♭VI–♭VII · A♭ minor

A♭m – G♭ – E – G♭

i–♭VII–♭VI–♭VII · A minor

Am – G – F – G

i–♭VII–♭VI–♭VII · B♭ minor

B♭m – A♭ – G♭ – A♭

i–♭VII–♭VI–♭VII · B minor

Bm – A – G – A