How to Generate a Chord Progression on AutoChords.com

To generate a progression on AutoChords.com, pick a Feel (progression type) that matches the mood you want, then pick a Key you're comfortable playing in — or press Randomize to let the site choose both. The result appears in the Main Progression section, where you can play it, edit it, or export it. The whole process takes under a minute and requires no account or setup.

Step 1: Choose a Feel

The first control is Feel and Key, starting with the progression type. This determines the emotional character of the progression — the site's own guidance is to "pick a progression type that matches what you want to play."

Two things worth knowing here:

• The Feel sets the harmonic shape of the progression, not the final mood. AutoChords notes that your playing style also affects the emotion of a progression, so a "sad" progression played fast and staccato won't necessarily sound sad.
• If you have no preference, skip this decision entirely and use Randomize — it picks a Feel and Key for you, which is a reasonable way to break out of a writing rut.

Step 2: Choose a Key

Next, pick a key you can actually play in. This matters more than it sounds: a progression you can't finger is useless.

AutoChords gives specific guidance for guitarists — the keys with the easiest chords are:

If you're not playing guitar, or you're comfortable with barre chords, any key works — choose one that fits your vocal range or the instrument you're writing for.

Step 3: Read and use the Main Progression

Once Feel and Key are set, the Main Progression section shows your chosen progression in the selected key. Each chord is displayed with its name and the notes it contains, so you can see exactly what you're playing rather than guessing from a symbol.

The site also offers two quick mood fixes directly in this section:

• Sounding too happy? Change the key to minor.
• Too depressing? Change it to major.

Each chord block includes Edit / Export controls, so you can modify individual chords or take the progression out of the browser to use elsewhere.

Step 4: Try the Alternatives for a chorus or bridge

The Alternatives section uses the circle of fifths to suggest progressions that will likely sound good alongside your main one. This is the most useful part of the tool for songwriting rather than just noodling.

Two caveats from the site itself:

• The key might not match your main progression exactly in some alternatives.
• That's intentional — they're meant to be mixed in to create a contrasting chorus or bridge, not to replace your verse.

If your main progression is your verse, audition the alternatives as a chorus candidate and check whether the transition between the two feels like a lift or a stumble.

Step 5: Borrow extra chords from "All Chords in Key"

The All Chords in Key section lists every standard chord in your chosen key. Use it when your progression feels too repetitive and you want to insert one extra chord to break the pattern.

Because these chords are all diatonic to the key, anything you pick here will fit harmonically — the risk of a wrong note is low. The tradeoff is that staying strictly in key can sound generic, so if you want tension, you'll need to look outside this list.

Quick reference

Common snags

• The key doesn't match across sections. Expected — Alternatives may sit in a different key by design. Treat them as raw material, not a finished arrangement.
• Everything sounds the same. You're likely staying diatonic. The site's tools keep you in key; adding color means going outside what it offers.
• The mood doesn't match the label. Playing style, tempo, and voicing all shift the emotional read. Change how you play it before changing the progression.