Metal chord progressions

Minor keys, Phrygian and Aeolian colors and heavy chromatic moves.

Aeolian march

i VI VII i in E minor
EmCDEm

Epic and dark; a metal staple.

Phrygian menace

i bII i bII in E minor
EmFEmF

The half-step bII sounds sinister.

Minor three-chord

i iv v i in E minor
EmAmBmEm

Heavy, brooding and simple.

Andalusian cadence

i VII VI V in E minor
EmDCB

Spanish-flavored descent; dramatic in any genre.

Other genres

PopRockBluesJazzCountryFolkSoul and R&BPunk and pop punkMetalLo-fi and chillGospel and worshipMinor-key songwriting

Last updated November 14, 2026.