Have you ever found yourself drifting away to the warm, nostalgic sounds of lofi beats, wondering how you might create your own? If you're nodding, you're in good company. Lofi music has captivated aspiring producers worldwide with its relaxed rhythms and dreamy textures. But at the heart of every great lofi track are its chord progressions. So, how can you master these soothing chords and craft your own chill masterpieces?
Let's keep it simple: lofi chord progressions are smooth, chilled out, and just slightly jazzy. They often evoke feelings of nostalgia, comfort, and even a touch of melancholy—perfect for unwinding or focusing. But what exactly sets lofi chords apart?
Think of it like cooking—your basic chords are like salt and pepper, essential but pretty standard. Lofi chords are the special seasoning; they're typically jazz-inspired chords that bring extra flavour and emotion. Common choices are minor 7th, major 7th, and 9th chords. But don’t panic if that sounds technical. We'll break it down together.
You don’t need a music degree to grasp the basics here, promise! Here's the quick, unintimidating version:
Here are some go-to chords you can use immediately:
Let's jump in:
We teamed up with lofi producer Taetro to take you through the basics when creating your first beat.
You’ll learn how to set up your DAW, choose the right sounds, and lay down drums, bass, chords, and melodies—all using straightforward techniques.
Check it out here:
Let's see how the pros do it:
This track is in the key of C minor (or loosely centered around it), and the looped chord progression sounds like:
Cm7 – Fm7 – G7 – AbMaj7
Here’s how to play each chord on keys (in root position, for simplicity):
Chords
Cm7 - Notes: C – Eb – G – Bb
Fm7 - Notes: F – Ab – C – Eb
G7 / Notes: G – B – D – F
AbMaj7: / Notes: Ab – C – Eb – G
The sampled loop is based around a jazzy progression in B minor, and it repeats throughout most of the instrumental.
Chord progression (approximate): Bm7 – E7 – Amaj7 – F#7
These are jazz-flavoured chords that follow a II–V–I–VI progression in A major (Bm7 is the ii chord, E7 is V, Amaj7 is I, F#7 is VI).Chords on the right handBm7: B – D – F# – AE7: E – G# – B – DAmaj7: A – C# – E – G#F#7: F# – A# – C# – E
Notes on the left hand:
B – E – A – F#
Listening to these tracks can help you internalise the sound and feel of effective lofi chords. Why not try experimenting with these chords and notes with your own MIDI keyboard. Start developing a feel for the rhythms and melodies to fully understand how the lofi tracks were created.
Feeling inspired but wondering how to get from listening to creating? That's where Melodics steps in. Our interactive, gamified approach turns practice sessions into something you look forward to—because making music should always feel fun, not frustrating.
With Melodics, you’ll enjoy:
Picture this: each day, you effortlessly translate ideas into music, experimenting freely with new sounds, chords, and rhythms. Sounds exciting, right?
The most satisfying part of creating music is seeing your personal growth—each new chord progression you craft will be better than the last. Melodics makes this learning journey enjoyable and fulfilling.
Ready to dive deeper? Start your adventure with Melodics today and discover how quickly you’ll go from "I wish I could do this" to "I just created something incredible!"
Develop your music production skills with Melodics. Our app gives you the building blocks to start creating the music that you love. If you’re looking to develop your sense of timing/rhythm, understand music theory, learn how to use chords, develop your finger drumming abilities, Melodics has got you covered.
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