Trance chord progressions

Trance is built on emotional minor loops that lift into major chords at the end of the phrase. These are the progressions behind classic and uplifting trance, in A minor.

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Classic trance

A minor
AmiFVICIIIGVII

i, VI, III, VII. The anthem loop that lifts at the end of every four bars.

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Uplifting rise

A minor
AmiGVIIFVIGVII

i, VII, VI, VII. Rocks between the major chords and pulls back to the home chord.

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Epic minor

A minor
AmiEmvFVIGVII

i, v, VI, VII. Climbs step by step to the top of the phrase.

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Dramatic V

A harmonic minor
AmiFVIDmivEV

i, VI, iv, V in harmonic minor. The major V pulls hard back home.

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Making them sound like trance

  • Hold the chords as a wide supersaw-style pad, and let the arpeggio or pluck play the chord notes in sixteenths.
  • Save the VI and VII chords for the end of the phrase, where the lift matters most.
  • Build the breakdown on just the pad, then bring the full progression back with the drop.

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

What is the most common trance chord progression?

i, VI, III, VII in a minor key, Am, F, C, G in A minor. It shares its chords with the pop four-chord loop but starts on the minor chord, which gives it its emotional pull.

What key is trance usually in?

Minor keys. A minor, F minor and G minor are common.

Why does trance sound uplifting if it is in minor?

Because the progressions move to major chords, VI and VII, at the end of the phrase. The contrast between the minor home chord and the major lift is the uplifting feeling.

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