What chords are used in R&B?

Minor 7th, major 7th and 9th chords, with dominant 7ths and 9ths on V. Modern R&B often loops two to four minor 7 chords; 90s R&B and slow jams borrow ii–V–I movement from jazz and the IV–iv–I move from gospel.

What is a good R&B chord progression for beginners?

Am7–Dm7, two chords looped, or Dm7–G7–Cmaj7–Am7. Play them slowly around 70 BPM, hold each chord for a bar and add a 9th once the shapes feel easy.

What's the difference between R&B and neo-soul chords?

They share 7th and 9th chords. Modern R&B keeps loops shorter and pairs them with 808s and pads, while neo-soul plays longer jazz and gospel progressions with a live, swung band feel.

R&B Chord Progressions (RnB Chords and Loops)

R&B Chord Progressions: Minor 7 Loops, 90s Slow Jams and Modern R&B

Modern R&B mostly loops two to four minor 7th chords: i7–iv7 (Am7–Dm7) for a moody vamp, or i7–VImaj7–IIImaj7–VII (Am7–Fmaj7–Cmaj7–G) over half-time drums and an 808. 90s R&B and slow jams lean on jazzier moves such as ii7–V7–Imaj7–vi7 (Dm7–G7–Cmaj7–Am7) and the gospel IVmaj7–iv7–Imaj7. Every chord gets at least a 7th; triads sound like pop.

R&B chord progressions

i7–iv7
In C major / A minor
Am7 – Dm7
Style
Modern R&B vamp: moody, minimal
i7–VImaj7–IIImaj7–VII
In C major / A minor
Am7 – Fmaj7 – Cmaj7 – G
Style
Alternative R&B and trap-soul loop
i7–iv7–VII7–IIImaj7
In C major / A minor
Am7 – Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7
Style
90s R&B: a smooth chain of fifths
ii7–V7–Imaj7–vi7
In C major / A minor
Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7 – Am7
Style
Slow-jam cadence loop
IVmaj7–iv7–Imaj7–vi7
In C major / A minor
Fmaj7 – Fm7 – Cmaj7 – Am7
Style
Gospel-tinged, bittersweet
i7–VImaj7–iiø7–V7
In C major / A minor
Am7 – Fmaj7 – Bm7♭5 – E7
Style
Dark R&B ballad with a pull home

Progression	In C major / A minor	Style
i7–iv7	Am7 – Dm7	Modern R&B vamp: moody, minimal
i7–VImaj7–IIImaj7–VII	Am7 – Fmaj7 – Cmaj7 – G	Alternative R&B and trap-soul loop
i7–iv7–VII7–IIImaj7	Am7 – Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7	90s R&B: a smooth chain of fifths
ii7–V7–Imaj7–vi7	Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7 – Am7	Slow-jam cadence loop
IVmaj7–iv7–Imaj7–vi7	Fmaj7 – Fm7 – Cmaj7 – Am7	Gospel-tinged, bittersweet
i7–VImaj7–iiø7–V7	Am7 – Fmaj7 – Bm7♭5 – E7	Dark R&B ballad with a pull home

Making R&B chords sound right

7ths and 9ths on everything: Am9 and Fmaj9 are the default colours. Leave the root to the bass or 808.
Tempo and feel: most R&B sits around 60 to 95 BPM, often with half-time drums, swung hi-hats and space between the hits.
Pads and electric piano: a Rhodes-style piano, soft pads or a muted guitar. Our free Keys covers the electric piano.
The bass slides: an 808 or round sub that glides into each root locks the chords to the drums.
Vocals carry it: R&B loops stay simple so the vocal runs and harmonies can shine. A vocal chain like Velvet has R&B presets for exactly that.

For the jazzier, live-band side of the sound, see our neo-soul chord progressions.

R&B Late Night: 9th-chord R&B progressions on soft keys with an 808 and swung trap drums. Press play, then hum a run.

Play these in our free chord progression generator: pick R&B / Neo-soul, set the mood to Romantic, press play, then hum a melody and it re-harmonises around you.

More chord progressions

Chord progressions by genre and mood: jazz, gospel, neo-soul, rock, house, trap and hip-hop, minor, sad, happy, dark, emotional, beautiful, country, EDM and piano. To learn why they work, read how to write a hit song.

R&B Chord Progressions: Minor 7 Loops, 90s Slow Jams and Modern R&B

R&B chord progressions

i7–iv7
In C major / A minor
Am7 – Dm7
Style
Modern R&B vamp: moody, minimal
i7–VImaj7–IIImaj7–VII
In C major / A minor
Am7 – Fmaj7 – Cmaj7 – G
Style
Alternative R&B and trap-soul loop
i7–iv7–VII7–IIImaj7
In C major / A minor
Am7 – Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7
Style
90s R&B: a smooth chain of fifths
ii7–V7–Imaj7–vi7
In C major / A minor
Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7 – Am7
Style
Slow-jam cadence loop
IVmaj7–iv7–Imaj7–vi7
In C major / A minor
Fmaj7 – Fm7 – Cmaj7 – Am7
Style
Gospel-tinged, bittersweet
i7–VImaj7–iiø7–V7
In C major / A minor
Am7 – Fmaj7 – Bm7♭5 – E7
Style
Dark R&B ballad with a pull home

Progression	In C major / A minor	Style
i7–iv7	Am7 – Dm7	Modern R&B vamp: moody, minimal
i7–VImaj7–IIImaj7–VII	Am7 – Fmaj7 – Cmaj7 – G	Alternative R&B and trap-soul loop
i7–iv7–VII7–IIImaj7	Am7 – Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7	90s R&B: a smooth chain of fifths
ii7–V7–Imaj7–vi7	Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7 – Am7	Slow-jam cadence loop
IVmaj7–iv7–Imaj7–vi7	Fmaj7 – Fm7 – Cmaj7 – Am7	Gospel-tinged, bittersweet
i7–VImaj7–iiø7–V7	Am7 – Fmaj7 – Bm7♭5 – E7	Dark R&B ballad with a pull home

Making R&B chords sound right

7ths and 9ths on everything: Am9 and Fmaj9 are the default colours. Leave the root to the bass or 808.

Tempo and feel: most R&B sits around 60 to 95 BPM, often with half-time drums, swung hi-hats and space between the hits.

Pads and electric piano: a Rhodes-style piano, soft pads or a muted guitar. Our free Keys covers the electric piano.

The bass slides: an 808 or round sub that glides into each root locks the chords to the drums.

Vocals carry it: R&B loops stay simple so the vocal runs and harmonies can shine. A vocal chain like Velvet has R&B presets for exactly that.

For the jazzier, live-band side of the sound, see our neo-soul chord progressions.

R&B Late Night: 9th-chord R&B progressions on soft keys with an 808 and swung trap drums. Press play, then hum a run.

Play these in our free chord progression generator: pick R&B / Neo-soul, set the mood to Romantic, press play, then hum a melody and it re-harmonises around you.

R&B Chord Progressions: Minor 7 Loops, 90s Slow Jams and Modern R&B

Our picks

Hook

Keys

Velvet

R&B chord progressions

Making R&B chords sound right

More chord progressions

People also ask

Every plugin on this page, and the rest. All 25, €229.

R&B Chord Progressions: Minor 7 Loops, 90s Slow Jams and Modern R&B

Our picks

Hook

Keys

Velvet

R&B chord progressions

Making R&B chords sound right

More chord progressions

People also ask

Every plugin on this page, and the rest. All 25, €229.