10 Dark Chord Progressions Every Producer Should Know (Drill, Trap Chords)

In this video you’ll learn 10 dark chord progressions every producer should know.
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I’ll be playing all 10 chord progressions on the piano, and in Ableton Live along with some trap loops I’ve found. I’ll also be providing a downloadable MIDI pack so you can use them in your own productions.
Learn more about secondary dominants: blog.landr.com...
Learn more about diminished chords: blog.landr.com...
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#chordprogressions #musictheory #musicproducer

[@A.B.6]

1. C Minor - A# Major. Epic Dark. Song : Middle Child, Love sosa 2. A# Minor 7th - E# 7th sue 2 - E# minor. Classy, Dark. Song : Drake Child play 3. A# Flat major- G major - C minor - E# flat major. Evil sound. Song J cole she knows 4- E# minor - A# Minor. Sinister. Song : Humble Kendrick 5- G Minor- F major - E Flat major. Epic- lifting up . Song : For fun lil uzi 6- E# minor - D diminished - F diminished - E# flat minor. Darkest chord. Song : Pure Cocaine, Lil baby 7- C minor. Watch the groove change a lil 8. G minor - A# major. Trap effect. Song: yeat System 9. B minor- G major- E major. Uplifting vibes. Song climbing up all the wall 10. E sus 2- C major - A minor - F# diminished 7th. Story telling vibes. Song: Eminem Keep

[@coastercraziness]

The Eminem song is Kim not Keep

[@Sanguinare1205]

Whats an A# flat major

[@cullen.921]

Number 4 should be Eb minor - Ab minor not #

[@gabrielepetrucciperc]

Thank you!

[@LooneyLoopz6769]

"#" stands for sharp and "b" stands for flat you fucked it all up dude

[@InceyWincey]

Someone asked for numerals so here they are for everyone: 1. i bVI 2. i7 iv7sus2 iv 3. I V/iii iii V 4. i iv 5. i bVII bVI (add a V to get one of the most common “sad” chord progressions ever) 6. i viio iio i (the diminished chords that are a third apart share two common tones, if you add another minor third you get a fully diminished seventh chord which is actually 4 different chords at the same time. E.g. C Eb Gb A is Co7, Ebo7, Gbo7, and Ao7 all in one go, so if you start at any point in the chord you can move up and down freely and play any of the four chords while mostly retaining the same harmonic function). 7. i i6/4* i 8. i bII (The nu metal chord. Or Flamenco depending on your background) 9. i bVI IV 10. isus2 bVI iv viio7 (The F#o7 is a iio but it is also an Ebo7 (see above) which is a the leading tone of E. For this reason I’ve called it Eb since it has a dominant function in this progression, whereas strictly speaking the two chord is a pre-dominant function). *6/4 as in second inversion, ic for those of you who learned that way.

[@tmcm9118]

Thank you

[@tommiethestoner]

thank you im in my head like yo where the numerals at lol😂

[@ivansoto9723]

Thank you. Way more useful.

[@ivansoto9723]

Wouldn't bVI just be V in minor?? Or did you mean bVI from the perspective of Major?

[@rofiorofio2144]

Nice, thanks ! Metal and hardcore musiciens have so much darker chord progressions in their pocket 😉

[@dropdbeatz]

Cuz the video excludes power chords

[@nahshonimmanuel1704]

I only wish music class went like this in high school 😂 Love this video ✨✨👌🏾

[@musha456]

you would still get expelled you brat😂

[@amphetamean66X]

You were the most entertaining music production maker I've seen on the internet. Great Video!

[@LANDRmusic]

Wow, thanks!

[@BLAZE45]

i felt like this was made for ppl high or with adhd lol. I love it.

[@mirrorlightsprod]

i’m not even high and i’m laughing for nothing 😭

[@gin4580]

im both

[@Michael_Clark_II]

This comment will probably be deleted because of it's clarity but, can't help it - these are fact. I'm sure this individual is an awesome producer but, the amount if comic relief was absolutely OVERKILL. The number of false starts caused me to avoid this video content all together. I will say, I feel the creator has an iconic idea towards building followers, and the free MIDI pack (which I did not -go down load) is absolutely generous. It's my hope that the producers will take heed to this comment - in the fine hops of improving video content for the future.

[@Fiveash-Art]

It's really irritating ... All the jabbering is just straight up annoying, especially when she's doing it over the stuff we actually came here to listen to. There's some good info, but god I wish these KZbinrs would stop trying to be entertaining in this way. It's not entertaining, ... it's cringe worthy.

[@LANDRmusic]

Hey there, just seeing this comment now! Feedback noted. Truthfully, we're just having fun on set and in the edit. I can see how the false starts could be irritating. Thanks for leaving a note.

[@SykeThrone]

idk nothing i just bought ableton to push myself N seeing the colors on the keys im just counting / finding patters N stuff. this is cool cause i learrned i could use plgins to change the sound of it.. thanks guys eveyrone involved

[@yogz90]

When she said love sosa and threw the rake up I fell in fucking LOVE

[@preachproductions7087]

Outstanding post it can't be any easier than this.. If you have good melodies to go with these chords you got songs

[@NoahNFV]

9.Climbing up the walls. Very inspiring very “hans zimmer” vibe😎 10. The last note makes it sick🤩 When you said “F# demonish seven” It gave me goosebumps.

[@AFRoSHEENT3ARCMICHAEL69]

IF truth existed this would really be called. "Here this is how you get stuck in a 8 bar loop."

[@LANDRmusic]

Hot tip: Grab 2 chord progressions and get stuck in a 16 bar loop.

[@TLllllll]

Stretch out 1 chord 15 bars and the last bar go to the next chord. Is this Lil tay grown up?

[@michaelmyers4943]

@@LANDRmusic Hilarious hahaha

[@Jasmine-yl2rc]

Please tell me when making a song why the instrumental melody and the vocal melody and different like in K-pop?🤔I mean is it important that they should be different from each other? If not then why I hear in every song that the instrumental melody is different from vocal melody please clarify that and how to make beats when I already made the vocal melody. Sorry I don't know the technical terms so that's why I'm asking...

[@chrisbahnsen7551]

I’m into music theory and I’m surprised that I’ve never heard a song have the following progression: Abm (vi) G (V) D7b5/F (ii4/3) Cm/Eb (i6) it sounds quite cryptic.

[@1Unphiltered]

good video. learned a couple new chords today thank you.

[@pericologan]

Great! Please, More on this topic, chord progressions!!! TY

[@rmilan08]

Learn open chord voicing and tri-tones, suspended/diminished chords. Also, you want a downward progression to create dark feelings. Scales dont have happy or sad, the creativity is what creates the emotions. That's how you create darkness.

[@afn22]

Peggy 🔥🔥🔥

[@umbral-ash]

Really enjoying this at a slow pace. I'm new to keys in general. Was just wondering how come you play with your fingers so far up the keys, is that the 'right' way to play, that you recommend? Your sense of humor is energetic and makes learning even more fun too xD

[@Remy.L]

Thanks for the inspiration !

[@LANDRmusic]

You are so welcome!

[@michaelmyers4943]

0:51 Homegirl just casually threw up GDK, I'm 💀💀

[@qlights723]

FACTS

[@thedon.3x2]

No cap I’m like wtf 😂😂😂😂

[@damousx6860]

You can try: Eb min - Ab min - Bb Maj

[@Diamond88keyz]

I see a way these chords can be used in a positive way.

[@slimbearbeats_channel]

👀 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Useful info 💯

[@Marciadas26]

Awesome, but which key is each set of chord progression in?

[@NyamandaUkwaju]

Lets spit some bars.funny how hip hop can be that dark!!

[@angelcoronado128]

It’s the rule….. Only pop usually uses major keys

[@hernandamaherditia6952]

Damn, cant belive how dark it is, there's nothing darker compare to this, but you might wanna check out how mustis mustaparta play (dimmu borgir former pianist)

[@Mista808]

2:05 I'm confused as to what key signature this chord progression would be? No matter what signature I set my FL Studio up with, it shows the B note is not in key. Every other note makes sense. I'm still learning theory 🤔

[@JaeFreshmen]

its cmin bro but the 5th can be played as a minor or a major

[@damousx6860]

There is probably a scale for that but it’ll be niche. Just know that going from a Major down a half step to another Major works well. If I had to pick a scale for it, it would be the chord you decided to go half a step down to, once you do that, everything is relatively normal until you loop from the start again

[@maostrick4755]

baby you are the best!

[@DatBoyStelf]

I loved this video it really helped me out alot. One thing though, those where the actual chords for SHE KNOWS but J Cole didn't come up with the melody. I just found out he sampled Bad Things by Cults. It has both the melody and the vox on the hooks. Shit is still fire though, hiphop is all about sampling. I just wanted to let you know

[@NoahNFV]

Pure darkness🤩

[@bcrider02]

Try this progression: G#m, G, Cm, D#

[@soIatido]

Damn, didn't expect that to sound nice, especially with the last chord.

[@laHagans]

Will do

[@MisterNicko974]

Are these chord progressions royalty-free ? @LANDRmusic

[@LANDRmusic]

All chord progressions are definitely royalty free (including these ones) :)

[@finndamso4993]

2:00 , 4:26, 8.34

[@betaniaher]

Wow!

[@DJEspressivo]

When Rachmaninoff dropped his prelude everybody knew there wasn't going to be a chord progression any darker than that...

[@LifetimeDisaster]

0:35 The Mind Electric

[@JazzeRae360]

Yooo this disrespect…why u dropped the forks?

[@quintanadeejeycesar1027]

GRACIAS

[@donvanmoran1024]

Climbing up the walls is Bm G Em

[@boyaintright3317]

The Emaj makes it sound more like the song Chris Cornell did for Casino Royale.

[@jp_jihun]

Amazing.

[@LANDRmusic]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@JaguarTree.MerkabaMusic]

EPIC

[@BEASTBEATS700]

Hey can u tell me wht scale u in on the first progressions when the video first start

[@damousx6860]

It’s the Minor Scale

[@betaniaher]

2:14 Diablo

[@Tonka-z]

What is the lady's name?

[@grislygrimhorrorchannel]

These aren't dark

[@GuyFromYoutube.]

Definitely is

[@thecreepysilence4290]

​​​@@GuyFromKZbin. nope. There some darker one. For example when you play chords in the Locrian or Phrygian Scale. You can unleash Darkness from these. Scale. Other Scales yo can are, Super Locrian, Phrygian, Phrygian Dominant, Harmonic Minor or the Double Harmonic Major. and when you add some dissonance you can really sounding evil af

[@JBRitchie8]

hater, yes some of them are indeed dark

[@cerebrumexcrement]

maybe because all we hear is this chick talkin.

[@fuckcensorship69]

​@@cerebrumexcrementand weaving her head

[@raptrap24horasplaylists]

3:02

[@mixocrian]

how did i get here so early 💀

[@LANDRmusic]

We appreciate you!!

[@safe4547]

6

[@gggz420]

i wish you said what each chord is in the progression instead of giving exact chords… we can’t even play the progressions unless we play the same chords your playing so we’ll all have the same beats lol

[@InceyWincey]

1. i bVI 2. i7 iv7sus2 iv 3. I V/iii iii V 4. i iv 5. i bVII bVI (add a V to get one of the most common “sad” chord progressions ever) 6. i viio iio i (The f diminished is 1 note different from the d diminished not because they are diminished chords, but because they are a third apart, and all chords that are a third apart share two common tones. I don’t know if they’re trying to explain the fact that fully diminished seventh chords are actually 4 different chords at the same time. E.g. C Eb Gb A is Co7, Ebo7, Gbo7, and Ao7 all in one go, so if you start at any point in the chord you can move up and down freely and play any of the four chords while mostly retaining the same harmonic function). 7. i i6/4 i 8. i bII (The nu metal chord. Or Flamenco depending on your background) 9. i bVI IV 10. isus2 bVI iv viio7 (The F#o7 is a iio but it is also an Ebo7 (see above) which is a the leading tone of E. For this reason I’ve called it Eb since it has a dominant function in this progression, whereas strictly speaking the two chord is a pre-dominant function). And here’s a bonus one for you. Asus2, Cmaj7/G, D7add9/F#, dadd9/F (That’s A E A B E, G C E G B E, F# A D A C E, F A D A D E on guitar, cut out the doubles fifths to make piano chords if you prefer). Or isus2, III7c*, IV7add9b**, iv9b** * The c stands for second inversion ** The b means first inversion

[@gggz420]

@@InceyWinceydamn bro you’re actually a real one🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@__Shun]

@@InceyWincey its so fustrating cuz im new and dont know what any of this means 😢😭

[@laHagans]

@@InceyWinceythank you!

[@federicobravi5752]

Yeah I feel you bro. One thing I'd do to get around this is find the chords and see in which key they're in, then extrapolate their degrees and that's it, but yeah it's a bummer tho

[@Marsh-Mallow-]

2:04 8:30

[@dreadhead240]

0:51 did she just threw up GDK💀💀???

[@lordbright]

was looking through the comments for this lmao

[@alexanderolivierlavoie6538]

lets gooo

[@creatorofallthings2801]

🕺🕺

[@disjean47]

7:50 is borrowed chord?

[@damousx6860]

Correct!

[@sergborow5786]

Don't touch the light!😄

[@Mindwasher]

This isn’t even close to dark chords

[@LANDRmusic]

We tried to include G7b9b13#11 but it was too out there

[@501Labsmusic]

Sad that these rappers are the only one's recognized in these songs while most of them know absolutely nothing about music theory and likely had no part in the actual construction of the chord patterns used in their songs.

[@hatecrewsix2]

Still too happy and bright.

[@jimmyjohnson7324]

0:23 if that was the real you I would unsubscribe and disconnect my internet and go hide somewhere forever

[@valhalla7567]

Focus on music instead of trying to be funny..

[@JBRitchie8]

relax killjoy

[@EyeTye]

3:00 funny asl

[@prodbykamo]

those sounded cold so i used the diabolical chord progression in this drill beat kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXTMgnh9bdKEm9E

[@alkhemizt]

When i think about dark samples, and progressions. I think lawtown kzbin.info/www/bejne/bILSf4CHnq-bapI

[@ShannonOli]

i think i love this women lmao

[@sonusproduction]

😂

[@judoe1690]

Becareful dropping gang signs

[@Illumirage]

Chief keef, kodak black? Who listens to this sh?

[@rxgueplanet]

Wifu

[@producedbyvish]

Haha