Chords with Yeo
In this video...
Yeo talks about the chord progressions in the song The One That Got Away, by Al Parkinson.
The song mostly uses the chords C, Em, F and G, (I – iii – IV – V).
Getting started: improvising
You might already know some chords on guitar, keyboard or ukulele – a great place to start!
Try improvising by:
- Using 2, 3, or 4 chords
- Changing the order
- Repeating chords you like
- Creating your own shapes and using your ears to find sounds that work
Which chord progression or progressions should i use in my song?
Not interested in theory? No worries. You can still write great chords without it.
There are heaps of chord progressions you can use to build your song.
You’ll come across different ideas in the activities below. Feel free to borrow them, tweak them, or mix and match.
Throughout this website, we use roman numerals (like I – IV – V – vi) instead of chord names. This makes it easy to change keys.
Here’s a quick guide for F Major, C Major, and G Major
Chords based on the major scale
Chords based on the natural minor scale
Using a two chord progression (IV - I)
Some songs use just two chords!
Play along with two of these examples below. As you listen, ask yourself:
- How do they keep things interesting with only two chords?
- What if the verse used V – I instead? Or I – IV?
- Would the melody still work with different chords?
- Do the chords match the lyrics and mood?
DEPRESTON (WHOLE SONG)
IV (F) - I (C)
‘Depreston’ by Courtney Barnett repeats two chords for the whole song.
BOOSTER SEAT (VERSE)
IV (E) - I (B)
‘Booster Seat’ by Spacey Jane uses two chords in the verse, then adds more later.
Other common chord progressions
Most popular songs use 3 or 4 chords, often chosen from the most common ones in a scale:
Major Keys
I, IV, V, AND vi
Minor Keys
i, iv, v, AND VII
But you’re not limited to these! In Yeo’s version of ‘The One Who Got Away’, he adds a iii chord for a fresh twist.
I (C), iii (Em), IV (F), V (G)
Use your ears to figure out what key these songs are in. Once you have determined the key use the roman numerals provided to work out the chords in the chord progression and play along.
SCAR - VERSE/CHORUS
I - V - vi - IV
LOVE YOU ANYWAY - CHORUS
I - vi - IV - IV
RIPTIDE - VERSE/CHORUS
vi - V - I - I
ROBBERY - CHORUS
i - VII - iv - v
HELP! I can't figure out which chord progression to use
If you are stuck trying to find a chord progression try one of these two options.
- Borrow a chord progression from an existing song
- Use the ‘Random Chord’ Generators below
- Or follow one of these suggestions…
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These progressions use C Major, but they work in any key. Each one creates a different mood.
The instruments you choose will shape the style — a piano sounds very different from a distorted electric guitar.
As you play, think about the mood each one creates. If you already have lyrics, do the chords suit the vibe?
C – G – Am – F
Am – F – C – G
C – F – C – G
C – G – F – C
Am – Em – F – Dm
- Strumming vs. picking
- Holding chords vs. short, choppy rhythm
- Playing softly vs. loud
- Playing fast vs. slow
- Adding a groove
Want to create a specific feeling?
Major and minor chords can help shape the emotion of your song.
Quick guide:
- Major chords = bright, open, happy
- Minor chords = moody, sad, tense
Try this:
- Play: C – G – Am – F
- Now swap F for Dm → Play: C – G – Am – Dm
- What changed? Does the mood feel different?
Some songs use the same chord progression all the way through.
Others use different progressions in each section (like verse and chorus) to add contrast.
A good song usually balances repetition (something familiar) with change (something new).
Try this:
- Use the same chord progression in your verses.
- Then, change the order of those chords in your chorus.
Does it feel like a lift or a shift?
Borrowing Chord Progressions
In the video below (3:47– 6:00) Keppie Coutts shows how use chord progressions from an existing song.
To ensure that you are not plagiarising the song consider how you might manipulate the following elements to make the progressions “your own”.
Try changing the:
- order of the chords
- key
- time signature
- tempo
- lyrics and melody
Activity
- Pick a song you like
- Work out the chords (by ear or look them up online)
- See how that chord progression might sound when played using a different:
key
rhythm
harmonic rhythm (a longer or shorter amount of time spent on each chord)
tempo - Write out your new version using roman numerals or chord symbols
- Ask another person to play it back to you, maybe on a different instrument
Random chord generators
Need a starting point? Try using a random chord generator.
We’ve created wheels with key chords in F Major, C Major, and G Major.
Pick a key (e.g. C Major)
Start with the 1 chord
Spin the wheel to choose 3 more chords
Don’t like one? Swap it out with something that sounds better to you
Want to explore a minor key? Use the natural minor generators based on roman numerals
