In this article, I’ll explain five essential chord progressions commonly used by professional composers.
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From classic swing progressions with a strong jazz influence to circus-inspired and Halloween-style sounds, these five progressions will help even beginners create tracks that instantly feel like electro swing.
If you’re looking for recommended software instruments and sample libraries for producing electro swing, check out this article:
You can also view my original music, production credits, and other works here:
I’m a composer, arranger, and music production instructor specializing in electro swing and jazz. My work includes music composition, arrangement, mixing, and event production. A commercial song I worked on won the Music Award at the Yamagata Furusato Commercial Awards. My collaboration with zensen and Anshelly, “Oshare ga Shitai wa,” has surpassed 450,000 views on YouTube.
Ⅰm–♭Ⅶ–♭Ⅵ–Ⅴ: The Classic Progression
This is the classic electro swing chord progression.
It has also been used in swing jazz for many years. Its stable sound combines a classical atmosphere with a modern edge.
The example below is in the key of A minor and uses the following chords:
Am–G–F–E
If you’d like to study it in your DAW,
you can also download the MIDI file and chord audio.
Song Examples
DYCE IWASAKI feat. Lily Mizusaki – “BAD HATTER”
Anshelly – “Room501”
The intro uses this progression. I arranged this track.
Jamie Berry ft. Octavia Rose – “Delight”
Ⅰm–Ⅱ–Ⅴ–Ⅰm: Halloween and Circus Style
Use this progression when you want to create a Halloween or circus-inspired atmosphere.
The II chord functions as a secondary dominant, adding a distinctive sense of mystery and tension.
It works especially well for creating mysterious, theatrical, or fantastical worlds.
The example below is in the key of A minor and uses the following chords:
Am–B–E–Am
If you’d like to study it in your DAW,
you can also download the MIDI file and chord audio.
Song Examples
Lily Mizusaki feat. T0S – “Last Show Circus”
I composed and arranged this track. The intro and verse use this progression.
Hal Alia – “Bloody Rabbit”
I also composed and arranged this track. The intro and verse use this progression, which helps create its Halloween-inspired atmosphere.
FAKE TYPE. – “Nightmare Parade”
Ⅳ–Ⅲ–Ⅵm–Ⅰ: The Marunouchi Progression
This progression became widely known through Sheena Ringo’s song “Marunouchi Sadistic.”
It combines the sophisticated character of jazz and blues with a highly memorable, catchy sound.
If you want to create vocal-focused electro swing with a chorus that stands out, this is an excellent progression to start with.
The example below is in the key of C major and uses the following chords:
F–E–Am–C
If you’d like to study it in your DAW,
you can also download the MIDI file and chord audio.
Song Examples
OR3O – “Still Dancing”
This chord progression is used in the chorus.↓
Hatsune Miku & MEIKO – “Jitterbug”
This track also uses the same progression in the chorus. ↓
Anshelly – “Room501”
I introduced this song in the first section as well, but its chorus uses the Marunouchi progression.
Ⅰm–Ⅳm–Ⅴ: The Minor Three-Chord Progression
This is a simple three-chord progression that works exceptionally well with swing rhythms.
By looping three minor-key chords, you can build a strong and consistent groove.
It is especially useful when you want to create a rhythm that has a powerful impact on the dance floor.
The example below is in the key of A minor and uses the following chords:
Am–Dm–E
If you’d like to study it in your DAW,
you can also download the MIDI file and chord audio.
Song Examples
DELADAP – “Make Swing Great Again”
The song changes key in the chorus, but this chord progression is used throughout most of the track.
Musique Boutique – “Take Me Higher”
This chord progression is used throughout most of the song.
Anshelly – “Lady Diamond”
I arranged this track.This chord progression is used throughout most of the song.
Ⅰm–♭Ⅵ–Ⅴ/Ⅰm–Ⅰm(onⅤ)–♭Ⅵ–Ⅴ
Adding the ♭VI chord immediately gives the progression a much stronger electro swing character.
It creates a slightly melancholic atmosphere while maintaining both energy and catchiness.
The example below is in the key of A minor and uses the following chords:
Am–F–E
If you’d like to study it in your DAW,
you can also download the MIDI file and chord audio.
Song Examples
Caravan Palace – “Jolie Coquine”
This chord progression is used throughout most of the song.
In-Grid – “Kiki Swing”
This chord progression is used throughout most of the song.
Tape Five – “Bad Boy Good Man”
Summary
In this article, I introduced five chord progressions commonly used in electro swing.
Once you understand these five progressions, you’ll be able to create a wide variety of electro swing tracks.
Simply program one of these progressions into your DAW and add a swing rhythm. You should immediately begin to hear that distinctive electro swing atmosphere.
Start by choosing one progression and use it as the foundation for your next electro swing track.
If Chord Progressions Still Feel Confusing
After looking at the progressions introduced in this article, you may still be wondering:
“Why does the ♭VI chord appear in the i–♭VI–V progression?”
“Which notes can I use to write a melody over these chords?”
“I can program the chords, but I don’t know how to develop them into a complete song.”
To answer these questions, you need to understand the fundamentals of music theory, including diatonic chords, scales, and the function of each chord.
Once you understand these foundations, you no longer need to memorize chord progressions simply as fixed patterns.
Instead, you’ll be able to understand:
Why a particular chord is being used
Which notes will work over each chord
How the atmosphere changes when you replace one chord with another
You can then move beyond simply copying the progressions in this article.
By replacing certain chords or adding new ones, you’ll be able to develop these familiar patterns into chord progressions of your own.
I Completed Only One Song in Four Years of Self-Study
Today, I use this website to share detailed information about electro swing chord progressions, drums, bass lines, sound selection, and other production techniques.
However, I did not understand music theory or composition when I first started.
I was determined to learn everything on my own, but during my first four years of composing, I managed to complete only one song.
Even after studying with books and online resources, I still couldn’t understand:
How to apply what I had learned to an actual song
Which parts of my production process were wrong
Eventually, I began studying with a teacher.
I learned music theory and composition from the ground up and received direct feedback on my own music.
For the first time, all the separate pieces of knowledge I had collected began to connect. I gradually became able to create my own chord progressions, melodies, and arrangements.
Today, I’m able to teach others how to produce electro swing. I also work as a composer and arranger specializing in electro swing and jazz, providing music for artists and a wide variety of creative projects.
You can read more about my musical background here:
How I Built a Career in Music Despite Having Almost No Natural Talent
One-on-One Online Music Production Lessons with a Jazz and Electro Swing Specialist
These lessons are designed for people who:
Want to understand chord progressions and apply them to their own music
Struggle to make their tracks sound like electro swing
Feel they have reached the limits of self-study
I offer one-on-one online music production and DTM lessons.
If you simply memorize individual chord progressions, you’ll eventually forget them and struggle to apply them to other songs.
However, once you connect those progressions to diatonic chords, scales, and chord functions, you’ll be able to understand why they work and build progressions yourself.
You’ll also be able to replace chords, add new ones, and gradually turn the music you imagine into a finished track.
If you want to create the music you truly envision and use it to captivate listeners and fans, take a look at the details of my online lessons.
My students include complete beginners and aspiring professionals based not only in Japan, but also in countries such as the United States and Austria.
[View the Online Music Production Lesson Details]
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