How to Create Chord Progressions Without Knowing Music Theory

Not knowing music theory doesn’t mean you can’t write great chord progressions. Over the years, I’ve explored multiple ways to generate harmonically rich progressions without having to rely on deep theoretical knowledge. Whether you’re looking for instant inspiration or a way to gradually build your understanding, there are plenty of approaches to creating progressions that sound professional and musical.

1. Borrow Progressions from Existing Songs

One of the easiest ways to find inspiration is to analyse progressions from your favourite tracks. Many songs across genres use similar progressions, and understanding these can help you craft your own.

HookTheory: A Deep Well of Chord Progressions

HookTheory is a fantastic resource that lets you browse the chord progressions of thousands of popular songs. You can search for a track, see its chords, and analyse how they function within the key.

💡 How to use it:

1. Pick a song you love.

2. Look at the chord progression and see how it moves.

3. Try using a similar sequence in your own track but with a different rhythm or feel.

4. Experiment with transposing the progression into different keys for variety.

This approach is great because it teaches you by ear, letting you absorb theory naturally rather than forcing you to memorise rules.

2. Use MIDI Chord Packs

If you want to work fast, MIDI chord packs are a great shortcut. These are pre-made progressions that you can drag and drop into your DAW, giving you instant access to well-structured harmonic sequences.

Where to Find Great MIDI Packs:

🎹 Unison MIDI Chord Pack – A huge collection of progressions covering multiple genres.

🎵 Cymatics Chord Progressions – Designed for modern electronic music.

📁 Red Sounds MIDI Chords – Packs focused on R&B, pop, and house music.

💡 How to use them effectively:

• Drag a MIDI file into your DAW and assign it to a synth or piano.

• Edit the MIDI notes—adjust the voicings, extend or shorten chords, or change inversions.

• Add your own rhythmic patterns or arpeggios to make it feel unique.

MIDI packs can be a great learning tool because they expose you to different progression styles, allowing you to see how chords flow together.

3. Use a Chord Progression Chart

Chord progression charts give you a structured way to build progressions without needing deep music theory knowledge. They show common sequences that work well together in different keys.

How a Chord Progression Chart Works

A simple chart lists the diatonic chords in a key. For example, in C Major:

Degree	Chord	Function
I	C Major	Root chord (stable)
ii	D Minor	Adds movement
iii	E Minor	Emotional feel
IV	F Major	Prepares for resolution
V	G Major	Builds tension
vi	A Minor	Common in pop & electronic
vii°	B Diminished	Used for tension

💡 How to create a progression:

1. Start with a I chord (C Major).

2. Move to a vi (A Minor) for an emotional shift.

3. Use a IV (F Major) for movement.

4. Resolve with a V (G Major) leading back to I.

Common Progressions to Try:

• I - V - vi - IV (C - G - Am - F) – Used in thousands of hit songs.

• vi - IV - I - V (Am - F - C - G) – Emotional, often found in pop and house music.

• ii - V - I (Dm - G - C) – A classic jazz and deep house progression.

Using charts like this lets you experiment with structure while maintaining musicality.

4. Create Chord Progressions in Your DAW

Modern DAWs now include tools that help you generate and experiment with chord progressions even if you don’t have much theory knowledge.

Create Chord Progressions in Logic Pro

Logic Pro X offers built-in tools to help you craft chord progressions quickly, even if you’re not deep into music theory.

Chord Track: This feature lets you place chords along a timeline, selecting the root note, chord quality, and inversion. You can tweak each chord’s details and structure as you go.

Chord Progressions Feature: Apply pre-set progressions directly to a MIDI region or a Session Player track, instantly generating harmonic movement.

💡 How to Use It Effectively:

1. Add a Chord Track and set a key to guide your progression.

2. Input chords manually or apply a Chord Progression preset.

3. Experiment with inversions and voicings for richer harmonies.

4. Use a MIDI controller to trigger and test your progression in real time.

This approach keeps composition fluid and intuitive, letting you focus on creativity while maintaining musical coherence.

Ableton Live: Chord & Scale MIDI Effects

Ableton offers Chord and Scale MIDI effects that automatically harmonise notes into proper progressions. This means you can play a single note and let the DAW generate full chords in key.

💡 How to use them effectively:

1. Set your DAW to a key using the Scale feature.

2. Use a Chord plugin to automatically generate chords when playing single notes.

3. Experiment with arpeggiators or rhythmic variations to add movement.

This is a great way to explore harmony creatively without being bogged down by theoretical constraints.

5. Learn the Theory Over Time

If you want full control over your compositions, learning the fundamentals of music theory is the best long-term investment. While the previous methods are great for quick results, understanding the why behind chord movements will empower you to experiment freely.

Why Learning Theory is Worth It:

✅ You’ll gain confidence in writing your own progressions from scratch.

✅ You won’t need to rely on external tools to create music.

✅ You’ll recognise common patterns and know how to tweak them for originality.

📚 Where to Start Learning Music Theory:

• Hooktheory I & II – Interactive books that teach harmony in a modern, visual way.

• Musictheory.net – A free online resource with practical lessons.

• “How to Write Songs on Keyboard” by Rikky Rooksby – Covers chord structures in-depth.

• YouTube Channels – Signals Music Studio, 12Tone, and Adam Neely all have fantastic breakdowns of music theory in an easy-to-understand way.

While it takes time to master theory, you don’t need to know everything to start applying it to your productions today.

Final Thoughts

There are many ways to create chord progressions without knowing music theory, from analysing songs and using MIDI packs to leveraging DAW tools and progression charts. The important thing is finding an approach that works for you and helps you stay creative.

Which Approach is Best for You?

🎹 Want instant inspiration? → Try HookTheory or MIDI chord packs.

💡 Prefer structured guidance? → Use a chord progression chart.

🎛 Want hands-on creativity? → Explore DAW chord generators.

🎶 Looking to grow long-term? → Start learning music theory gradually.

No matter which method you choose, experiment, trust your ears, and don’t be afraid to break the rules. At the end of the day, the best chord progressions are the ones that feel right in your music. 🚀

Epic & Meditative (i - ♭VI - ♭VII - i) → Dm - B♭ - C - Dm