Rock chord progressions

Big open chords, borrowed flat-seven chords and riffs that sit under your fingers.

Mixolydian rock

I bVII IV I in A major
AGDA

Swagger. The flat seven gives classic rock its bite.

Three-chord rock

I IV V IV in A major
ADED

The backbone of rock and roll.

Epic rock cadence

I bVI bVII I in A major
AFGA

Heroic and cinematic. The borrowed bVI to bVII climbs back home.

Power riff

I bIII IV I in A major
ACDA

Gritty and bluesy; great with power chords.

Arena minor

vi IV I V in A major
F#mDAE

Driving and emotional; big in modern rock.

Other genres

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

Last updated November 14, 2026.