Trap chord progressions

Trap harmony is dark and short: two to four minor chords on a loop, sometimes with a chord borrowed from harmonic minor or Phrygian to make it darker. These are in A minor. Play them, take the MIDI, and build the 808 on the root of each chord.

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Dark two-chord

A minor
AmiFVI

i to VI. Am to F. Two chords that leave all the room for the 808 and the hats.

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Harmonic minor bounce

A harmonic minor
AmiDmivEV

i, iv, V. Am, Dm, E. The major V chord gives the loop a dramatic pull back home.

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Phrygian half step

A phrygian
AmiBbbII

i to bII. Am to Bb, a half step up and back. Common in dark trap and drill.

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Minor four

A minor
AmiDmivFVIEmv

i, iv, VI, v. Am, Dm, F, Em. A full four-bar loop that stays minor all the way.

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Making them sound like trap

  • Keep the sound simple: a pad, bell or piano. In trap the melody on top usually matters more than the chords.
  • Tune the 808 to the root of each chord: A under Am, F under F, and so on.
  • The trap drum pattern on this site is at the right tempo to try these over.

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 chords are used in trap?

Mostly minor chords from natural minor, harmonic minor and Phrygian, in short loops. The major V chord of harmonic minor and the bII chord of Phrygian are common for a darker sound.

What key is trap usually in?

Minor keys. Many producers pick the key that puts the 808 in a deep but audible range, often around F, G or A minor.

How many chords does a trap beat need?

Often only two to four, looping under the whole beat. The drums, the 808 and the vocal carry the rest.

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