Common in"Sweet Home Alabama" — Lynyrd Skynyrd · "Sympathy for the Devil" — Rolling Stones · "Johnny B. Goode" — Chuck Berry
Famous"Sweet Home Alabama" — Lynyrd Skynyrd · "Sympathy for the Devil" — Rolling Stones · "Johnny B. Goode" — Chuck Berry
The faded denim palette on this page is inspired by music-color synesthesia — classic rock progressions maps to faded denim, reflecting its worn-in, Americana rock spirit.
About Classic Rock Progressions
The I7-IV7-V7 of 50s rock & roll, the I–♭VII–IV Mixolydian classic, and metal's minor power-chord vocabulary.
Variations
Variation
Another way the pattern shows up in real music.
i›Cm
90 BPM
Sounds a little stiff and jumpy? There’s a reason —
Variation
Another way the pattern shows up in real music.
I›C
130 BPM
Sounds a little stiff and jumpy? There’s a reason —
Variation
Another way the pattern shows up in real music.
I7›C7
100 BPM
Sounds a little stiff and jumpy? There’s a reason —
Famous songs & pieces
"Sweet Home Alabama" — Lynyrd Skynyrd
"Sympathy for the Devil" — Rolling Stones
"Johnny B. Goode" — Chuck Berry
Frequently asked questions
What is a classic rock progressions progression?
The I7-IV7-V7 of 50s rock & roll, the I–♭VII–IV Mixolydian classic, and metal's minor power-chord vocabulary.
How do I use this on the piano?
Start with the player above in C. Once the pattern is in your ear, transpose to the keys you actually play in. The Roman numerals stay the same; only the chord names change.