Techno chord progressions

Techno uses harmony sparingly. Often a single chord, or a move between two, carries a whole track while the sound changes around it. Melodic techno adds longer minor loops. Here are both, in A.

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Melodic techno loop

A minor
AmiFVIDmivEmv

i, VI, iv, v. A minor loop that stays dark, the backbone of a lot of melodic techno.

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Dark Phrygian move

A phrygian
AmiBbbII

i to bII. The half-step move up gives instant tension.

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Minor drop

A minor
AmiGVII

i to VII. Two chords, a tone apart, hypnotic over a long build.

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Dub techno sevenths

A minor
Am7i7Em7v7

i7 to v7. Minor sevenths with delay and reverb are the sound of dub techno.

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Making them sound like techno

  • Play the chord as a short stab and send it to a long delay: that is most of dub techno.
  • Automate the filter on the chords over 16 or 32 bars instead of changing chords.
  • Keep the chords above the bass range so the kick and bass stay clean.

Every progression on the site, in every key, as MIDI in one zip: free MIDI chord progressions.

More chord progressions

Chord progressions by key

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Questions

Does techno use chord progressions?

Often only one chord or two. Melodic techno uses longer minor progressions, while dub and minimal techno may keep one chord for the whole track and move the sound instead.

What scale is used in dark techno?

Minor and Phrygian are the most common. Phrygian has a flat second, and the half step from the home chord to the chord above it sounds tense and dark.

What key is melodic techno usually in?

Minor keys, often A minor, F minor or G minor. Pick the key that suits your bass and lead.

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