Chord sequences without titles.

Before you start, there is a little trick we all use from time to time. It is this: if the chord is too complicated we only play some of it (or we may only play some of it for reasons of effect). And in particular if you are unsure about an extended chord (one with 6th 7th 9th etc added) just play the basic chord and it might sound a bit thin but it will be harmonically correct in most cases. If you play a 6th when it should be a seventh or vice verse the chances are it will not sound good. So....

Here are some sequences to play about with. The theory is that when you play them a tune (or many tunes) will be suggested to you by them, and then you can sing or whatever to make your own composition based on these fairly common sequences. You may be surprised at the measure of success you get.

Sequence 1.



        II   C      I    C      I    G7     I   G7     I

         I   G7     I    G7     I    C      I   C      II

                              repeat ad infinitum

Sequence 2.

With this sequence the bars sometimes have 2 chords in them. This means that those chords only last half as long because the bar has to stay the same length as the other bars. Therefore if the tune has 4 beats per bar, then the chords in those bars with two chords will be played two beats each.

The whole sequence consists of the first sequence followed immediately by the second, the whole being repeated if desired.

II F I Gmin I C7 I F I I F I Gmin I C7 I F II (end of tune 1)

(tune 2) II F A7 I Dmin F7 I Bb Bbm6 I F I I F I Gmin I C7 I F II

Sequence 3.

II Bb I Gmin I Eb I F7 II

That's it, and it is repeated as many times over as you like. Pop bands use this sequence quite a lot as it lends itself to so many tunes, and sometimes they make songs with the main theme in the form of one tune on this sequence and another theme (often referred to as the 'middle 8' even when only four bars long!) based on the same sequence. Try it in as many tempos and rhythms as you can to get an idea of it's utility.

12 bar blues

This is a standard form that appears to have been invented by African Americans a very long time ago, and has developed from the very simple type (which is the one used for We've Been A-rockin' and We Want Some More) to some fairly complex ones. The whole of the text for Hugh Harris's little book called '12 Bar Blues Chord Sequences' (with the exception of the jacket, which has a few useful charts on it) is available on this site. To find it click 'back' on your browser and there should be a link to it - or click 'back to main menu' below.

The book will give you a further 13 sequences to play about with, and has an article on transposition, a short article on making guitar chords, and a chord chart - although it may be that on some browsers some of it will not be easy to read.

We intend to put a downloadable version on the site as well, but there will be a charge for the download.

More sequences


  1.       II   Bb   I   G7   I   C7   I   C7   I

           I   G7   I   G7   I   C7   I   C7   I

           I   C7   I   C7   I   F7   I   F7   I

           I   Bb   I   G7   I   C7   I   C7   I

           I   F7   I   F7   I   D7   I   D7   I

           I   Eb   I   Ebm  I   Bb   I   G7   I

           I Eb.Ebm. I Bb.G7.I C7. F7 I   Bb   II



2.    (this one is actually in the key of Bb. It only starts on Eb)

           II  Eb   I  Ebm  I   Bb   I   C7   I

            I  Gm7  I   F7  I   Bb   I   Bb   I

            I  Eb   I  Ebm  I   Bb   I   C7   I

            I  Cm7  I  F7   I   Bb   I   Bb   I

            I  D7   I  D7   I   G7   I   G7   I

            I  C7   I  C7   I   F7   I   F7   I

            I  Eb   I  Ebm  I   Bb   I   C7   I

            I  Cm7  I  F7   I   Bb   I   Bb   II




3.          I  F    I  Bdim I   Gm   I   C7   I

            I  F    I  Bdim I   Gm7  I   C7   I

            I  F7   I   F7  I   Bb   I  Bb    I

            I   G7  I   G7  I  Gm7   I   C7   I

            I   F   I Bdim  I  Gm7   I   C7   I

            I   F7  I  F7   I  Bb    I   Bb   I

            I   Bb  I  Bbm  I   F    I   D7   I

            I  Gm7  I   C7  I   F    I   F    II

             (If going through again you might like to
              try playing Gm7 and C7 in the last bar)


4.          II   C  I   C   I   G7   I   G7   I

            I Dm.G7.I   G7  I    C   I   E7   I

            I   A7  I   A7  I   D7   I   D7   I

            I   D7  I   D7  I   G7   I Cm.G7. I

            I   C   I   C   I   G7   I   G7   I

            I Dm.G7.I   G7  I   C    I   E7   I

            I  A7   I   A7  I   D7   I   D7   I

            I C.Eb. I Dm.G7.I   C    I   C    II

            (If going through again you might like to
              try playing Dm7 and G7 in the last bar -              the same trick in another key)


5.          II  G   I   B7  I   C    I  C#dim  I

            I G.E7. I A7.D7. I G.C.  I  G. D7. II

            (Last time just play a G in the final bar.)

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