12 Popular Chord Progressions for Guitar
Grab your guitar and play something that sounds good. Twelve progressions, open chords only, a strum for each, and the songs that use them.
What's inside
One page per progression
Every progression gets a single page: the chords with fingerings, a bar-by-bar chart, a strumming pattern with a tempo to start at, the songs that use it, and a tip for the tricky change.
Open chords only
No full barre chords anywhere. The first seven progressions use just five chords, Em, A, G, C and D, so a handful of shapes gets you through more than half the book.
Hear every strum
Rhythm is hard to learn from a page, so each progression has a QR code to a play-along: it loops the progression at any tempo after a count-in, while a cursor follows every strum.
53 songs you already know
From “Let It Be” to “Sweet Home Alabama”, each page lists the songs built on that progression, with capo positions so you can play along with the record.
A level up on every page
When a progression feels easy, one variation takes it further: new voicings, a new key, the Wonderwall shapes, a boogie-shuffle riff, palm-muted power chords.
Short on purpose
Twenty pages, including practice habits that work, a capo chart and a table for moving any progression to a new key. Prints on US Letter or A4, and reads well on a tablet.
The 12 progressions
- 01 The Two-Chord GrooveEm · A“Breathe (In the Air)”, “Oye Como Va” and 1 more
- 02 Three-Chord RockG · C · D“Twist and Shout”, “La Bamba” and 3 more
- 03 The Pop ProgressionG · D · Em · C“Let It Be”, “With or Without You” and 4 more
- 04 The Emotional OneEm · C · G · D“Zombie”, “Save Tonight” and 2 more
- 05 The ’50s ProgressionG · Em · C · D“Stand by Me”, “Every Breath You Take” and 4 more
- 06 The Southern Rock ProgressionD · C · G“Sweet Home Alabama”, “Sympathy for the Devil” and 3 more
- 07 The Moody Rock ProgressionEm · G · D · A“Wonderwall”, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” and 1 more
- 08 The 12-Bar BluesA7 · D7 · E7“Johnny B. Goode”, “Hound Dog” and 3 more
- 09 The Minor Rock LoopAm · G · F“All Along the Watchtower”, “Stairway to Heaven” and 1 more
- 10 The Spanish ProgressionAm · G · F · E“Hit the Road Jack”, “Runaway” and 3 more
- 11 The Jazz ii–V–IDm7 · G7 · Cmaj7“Autumn Leaves”, “Fly Me to the Moon” and 1 more
- 12 The CanonG · D · Em · Bm7 · C“Canon in D”, “Basket Case” and 3 more
Questions
Is this for complete beginners?
Yes. If you can hold a guitar and press a string down, you can start on page one. The first seven progressions use just five chords, and the book shows every fingering.
Do I need to read music?
No. Everything is chord diagrams, simple bar charts and strum arrows, and the first pages explain how to read each one.
Are there barre chords?
No full barre chords. The only small barre is a four-string F, and the book gives an easier Fmaj7 you can play instead.
How do the play-alongs work?
Each progression page has a QR code and a short link to a page on chord-library.com that loops the progression with its strum at any tempo, with a count-in, a click and a cursor that follows along. They work in any browser, on your phone or computer.
Is this a subscription?
No. It is a one-time $4.99 purchase. You download the PDF, you own it.
Can I print it?
Yes. It's laid out on US Letter pages and prints fine on A4. The pages are light, with black-line diagrams and no dark backgrounds, so it's easy on your ink. Diagrams are vector, so they stay crisp at any size.
How is it delivered?
Through Lemon Squeezy. After payment you get an email with a download link. Lemon Squeezy is the merchant of record and handles VAT / sales tax in your country.
Refunds?
If the file doesn't open or doesn't print cleanly, email us through the contact form and you'll be refunded — no questions.
Ready to play?
$4.99. Twenty pages. Twelve progressions you'll keep coming back to.
$4.99 Get the ebookWant every chord and scale in one book? See The Complete Guitar Chord & Scale Reference.