Soul, R&B & Neo-Soul Chord Progressions

Soul and R&B take simple loops and dress them in rich chords — major 7ths, minor 9ths and sus4 dominants — for that smooth, warm sound.

Play them in C major — or pick another key

Sus resolution in C major

V7sus4 holds the tension, V7 releases it, then a lush major 9th — the classic soul and gospel ending. 4 bars, then it loops.

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Chord tones C major Key note

Press play — or tap a chord above — to see its notes light up. Open the scale in the fretboard tool

Pick a progression

13 soul & r&b progressions

  1. Sus resolution

    V7sus4 – V7 – Imaj9 (2 bars)

    V7sus4 holds the tension, V7 releases it, then a lush major 9th — the classic soul and gospel ending.

    In C: G7sus4 – G7 – Cmaj9

    In G: D7sus4 – D7 – Gmaj9In D: A7sus4 – A7 – Dmaj9

  2. Smooth R&B turnaround

    Imaj7 – vi9 – ii9 – V7sus4

    Soft 9ths and a sus4 dominant that never quite lands — smooth and floating.

    In C: Cmaj7 – Am9 – Dm9 – G7sus4

    In G: Gmaj7 – Em9 – Am9 – D7sus4In D: Dmaj7 – Bm9 – Em9 – A7sus4

  3. Gospel minor plagal

    IVmaj7 – iv6 – Imaj7 (2 bars)

    IV turns into a minor 6th before coming home — the tear-jerking move in gospel and soul ballads.

    In C: Fmaj7 – Fm6 – Cmaj7

    In G: Cmaj7 – Cm6 – Gmaj7In D: Gmaj7 – Gm6 – Dmaj7

  4. Funk vamp

    I9 (2 bars) – IV9 (2 bars)

    Two dominant 9th chords — the bright, chunky groove of funk rhythm guitar.

    In C: C9 – F9

    In G: G9 – C9In D: D9 – G9

  5. Motown loop

    I – vi7 – IVmaj7 – V7

    The 50s loop with soul colours — a sunny, danceable feel.

    In C: C – Am7 – Fmaj7 – G7

    In G: G – Em7 – Cmaj7 – D7In D: D – Bm7 – Gmaj7 – A7

  6. ii–V vamp

    ii9 (2 bars) – V13 (2 bars)

    Rocks between ii and V without resolving — the groove behind many soul and jazz-funk tunes.

    In C: Dm9 – G13

    In G: Am9 – D13In D: Em9 – A13

  7. Dreamy maj7 vamp

    Imaj7 (2 bars) – IVmaj7 (2 bars)

    Two soft major 7th chords rocking back and forth — the sound of lo-fi, neo-soul and bossa.

    In C: Cmaj7 – Fmaj7

    In G: Gmaj7 – Cmaj7In D: Dmaj7 – Gmaj7

  8. Neo-soul loop

    IVmaj7 – III7 – vi7 – v7 – I7

    A smooth, moody loop: III7 pulls to vi7, and the minor v7 and I7 lead back round to IV.

    In C: Fmaj7 – E7 – Am7 – Gm7 – C7

    In G: Cmaj7 – B7 – Em7 – Dm7 – G7In D: Gmaj7 – F♯7 – Bm7 – Am7 – D7

  9. Soul climb

    ii7 – iii7 – IVmaj7 – V7

    Four 7th chords climbing step by step — warm and smooth, common in soul and gospel.

    In C: Dm7 – Em7 – Fmaj7 – G7

    In G: Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7In D: Em7 – F♯m7 – Gmaj7 – A7

  10. Dorian groove

    i7 (2 bars) – IV7 (2 bars)

    A minor key with a major IV — cool rather than sad, heard in funk, soul and jam bands.

    In Am: Am7 – D7

    In Em: Em7 – A7In Dm: Dm7 – G7

  11. Minor R&B descent

    i7 – VII – VImaj7 – V7♯9

    Walks down to a gritty V7♯9 — moody and dramatic, a slow-jam favourite.

    In Am: Am7 – G – Fmaj7 – E7♯9

    In Em: Em7 – D – Cmaj7 – B7♯9In Dm: Dm7 – C – B♭maj7 – A7♯9

  12. Neo-soul minor cycle

    i9 – iv9 – VII9 – IIImaj7

    Minor 9ths into a dominant 9th and the relative major 7th — dark, warm and jazzy.

    In Am: Am9 – Dm9 – G9 – Cmaj7

    In Em: Em9 – Am9 – D9 – Gmaj7In Dm: Dm9 – Gm9 – C9 – Fmaj7

  13. Minor 9 vamp

    i9 (2 bars) – iv9 (2 bars)

    Two minor 9th chords, two bars each — the late-night R&B groove.

    In Am: Am9 – Dm9

    In Em: Em9 – Am9In Dm: Dm9 – Gm9

Why they work

Extended chords keep extra notes ringing — the 7th and the 9th — so neighbouring chords share more notes and glide into each other instead of jumping.

Gospel and soul love the minor iv (Fm6 in C) and the sus4 dominant: both hold back the resolution for a moment, which is where much of the emotion in these styles comes from.

See them on the circle of fifths · Chord charts · Metronome

More chord progressions