5 Out-of-the-Ordinary Chord Progressions for Songwriters (easy to hard)

In this video, I show you 5 captivating, out-of-the-box chord progressions, each using different chords outside their key, that any songwriter can use immediately to make your chord progressions more interesting, sophisticated, and creative.

[peterthart]

That half diminished shape is a keeper-use it all the time. It's really great arpeggiated in a blues or jazz run.

[marcsullivan]

The second progression IS in key:
It’s D Mixolydian. All the chords are from the “parent key” of G major.

[Murdo]

One of my favourite out-of-the-ordinary chords is in Nick Drake's "Saturday Sun".
It goes down a fairly straightforward, but very pleasant progression, with a nice descending bass, through C, G/B, Am, C/G and then throws in a gorgeous F#dim7 that never fails to make me go "oof!"
He slips it in beautifully again later, in what I suppose you could call the chorus, going from F to F#dim7, which really piles on the tension, before easing into a lovely conclusion with C, A, Dm7, G, C.
It's so good!

[diegovillaverde]

I loved your “ forget about where this orange came from and focus on how much juice you can squeeze from it” approach ❤

[splukoes]

I love teachers like you.
How to do it and just enough of why it works.

[BobMcGowan-NotTheChairCircle]

My all-time favourite was just known as the Jazz Turnaround when I started in a band. It is (in C) C- A7 - D7- G7. I suppose that is a bit ordinary. by these standards, but it still gives me the chills when I hear it. It is the happiest of sounds.
Love, light and peace,
Bob McGowan (Not the Chair Circle!).

[garymulter]

This is a fabulous demonstration and lesson. I hope you do more like this.

[nicoCdandelion]

Just... Thank you! I happened across your video early this AM, and my guitar decided to write some music. Of late, it had gotten bored with me, and our time together had become routine. You brought sparks back to our relationship. Thank you!!

[mishima]

Thank you so much, Just made out of that 1st progression, a strum of C 1+2+3+4+ Cmaj7 1+2+3+4+ Dm7 1+2+3+4+ 1+2+3+4+ Am7 1+2+3+4+ C/B 1+2+3+4+ E7 1+2+3+4+ Fm6 1+2+3+4+ then C 1+2+3+4+ Cmaj7 1+2+3+4+ D7 1+2+3+4+ 1+2+3+4+ Am7 1+2+3+4+ F 1+2+3+4+ Fm6 1+2+3+4+ 1+2+3+4+

[johnmalcolm]

If your writing sounds like you are in a rut, you might have a hit!

[TiffersHz]

Fab lesson. You're a great player and a great teacher. Blessings in abundance to you. 🙏🏽🌹

[JeffMacArthur]

Nice changes! I think your 4th example is not likely to be analyzed by many people as starting on the vi-minor, though - you've got a V7-i movement from the last chord to the first, so C#m7 is really the i chord (especially given how common - by including the chord before it - a bVImaj7 V7 i progression is). Not as clear, but I'd also agree with another commenter that the 2nd progression is probably best looked at as V - ii7 - I - I. 
It could also be useful to describe why these changes work - for example, the 1st example is really all about the following note movement C -> D7 (keeps c in chord and moves the 5th of C - g - down to the 3rd of D7 - f#) then D7 -> F (keeps c in chord, keeps a in chord, and moves the 3rd of the D7 - f# - down to the root of F - f) then F -> Fm6 (keeps c in chord, keeps f in chord, moves 3rd of F - a - down to 3rd of Fm6 - ab) and then back around Fm6 -> C (keeps c in chord, moves 3rd of Fm6 - ab - down to 5th of C - g - AND moves root of Fm6 - f - down to 3rd of C - e). Very strong voice movement of g->f#->f->(->f)->e and, starting on D7, a->(->a)->ab->g (and then back down the g->f#->f->e). Anyway, thanks very much!

[ozmosyd]

OMG - 7mth old vid came into my feed at exactly the right time for me as I was geting really bored being "stuck" in key of C.
Where have you been all my life? Thanks for sharing and getting me out of the "rut"
Love ya work, I'm going to go thorough what else I have missed from you channel and needless to say I have sub'd

-OneLove

[fredfloyd]

Wanted you to break down what jimi hendrix did on Third stone from the sun...He was really headed in a hreat direction..combining blues, rock n roll roll, jazz....flamenco...and just his learning buy playing live concerts...
Hey you really know music theory...jam on.

[PreferComposingtoDecomposing]

Thank you for your inspiring content. As a composition exercise, I tried writing a piece ("Less Travel'd") that incorporates all five of these exotic chord progressions. Quite an ethereal result!

[gage]

Really like that transition from the diminished chord to the fourth major 7chord on that last progression.

[Birkguitars]

Here are a couple of out of sequence changes that I like.

Quite a few Eagles songs step from a major chord straight to the corresponding minor triad eg Desperado where there is a step from C major to C minor. Technically it might be a modulation but it sounds good.

Another change I like is in When You're Gone. Most of it cycles around Dm F C and G but an occasional Bb appears almost as a turnaround.

[mcmc]

Keppie, you are an excellent teacher and these are great chord progressions. I'll be re-watching, pausing and adding these to my chord vocabulary. Thank you!

[felipelotas]

First of all, let me tell you something...I LOVE YOU. This lesson is PURE GOLD. Those progressions are almost as neautiful as ypur smile..

[za]

that first one has a d7 borrowed from C lydian and the Fm borrowed from C minor. Those are two of the most common keys to borrow from, one is a cycle of fifths key change and the other is the parallel minor.