Super Simple Chords

Chord progression

The ii–I–ii–I chord progression

Dm – C – Dm – C in C. 52 songs in the library go round it. Hear it in any style and key, and see it in all twelve keys.

Tuning the piano…
Style
Key

Want to mix it with other hands?

The loop

4 chords, round and round, in C. Each chord on the keys:

DmiiCIDmiiCI

In every key

Find your song's key on the left: its chords are the row. Each column keeps its colour, whatever the key.

KeyiiIiiI
CDmCDmC
DbEbmDbEbmDb
DEmDEmD
EbFmEbFmEb
EF#mEF#mE
FGmFGmF
F#G#mF#G#mF#
GAmGAmG
AbBbmAbBbmAb
ABmABmA
BbCmBbCmBb
BC#mBC#mB

Songs that go round it

52 songs, best known first. Rest the mouse on one to hear it.

All of them

Left hands these songs use

The patterns most often played under this loop.

The same loop, starting elsewhere

The same chords in the same order, begun on another chord: songs often move between them.

Questions about ii–I–ii–I

What is the ii–I–ii–I chord progression?

A loop of 4 chords: Dm – C – Dm – C in C. The numerals say each chord's place in the key, so the same loop can be played in any key.

What songs use the ii–I–ii–I progression?

52 songs in the library repeat it, including River, Time After Time, Somewhere Only We Know, Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing and Crazy In Love.

How do I play ii–I–ii–I on piano?

Hold each chord with the right hand while the left hand plays its root, then swap in a pattern: engine 8ths is the left hand these songs use most. The player above plays it in any style and key.