The Top 10 Modern Rock Chord Progressions Of All Times…

By Virtuwul

Note: These aren’t necessarily “the greatest songs”… I selected them because I felt they we’re good examples to learn from… And I enjoy playing all of these…

ENJOY! So, in here you will find the chord progressions for the following songs:

1. Smells Like Teen Spirit-Nirvana 2. Wonderwall-Oasis 3. Under The Bridge-Red Hot Chili Peppers 4. Losing My Religion-REM 5. One-U2 6. Creep-Radiohead 7. Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day 8. Patience – Guns N Roses 9. Nothing Else Matters - Metallica 10. I’m a Highway - Audioslave

Now… we didn’t print the lyrics for copyright reasons… but the point here is NOT to learn how to play stuff note by note… What I suggest is you put on the Cds… and

Step 1 (beginners): STRUM with it. When you can strum along with the songs… you are one your way to Acoustic Mastery…

STEP 2 (intermediate): Pick along with the songs…

Step 3 (intermediate to advanced): Start adding some of the techniques: pull off transitions, slide chords, etc…

Step 4 (intermediate to advanced): Use some of the concepts inside Acoustic Mastery to PLAY with the guitar on the CD, meaning you play stuff a little differently…

Doing this exercise will GREATLY improve your ear… and your acoustic mastery…

SONGWRITERS PAY ATTENTION: As Einstein said, “Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius --- and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.” -Albert Einstein

Most of these songs are INCREDIBLY easy to play once you have a basic to intermediate level… DON’T LET THAT FOOL YOU… You should rehearse and play these songs and sing with these songs over and over again… Your brain will start to KNOW what world-class songwriting looks like… You might be surprised when you craft your own hit song… Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana

SUPER SIMPLE CHORDS… Good song to practice rake chords and stumming patterns.

F5 133xxx A#5 x133xx G#5 466xxx C#5 x466xx F#5 244xxx Rake xxxxxx

Intro and Chorus F5 Rake A#5 G#5 Rake C#5

Verse is just bass with picking on top…

Chorus F5 Rake A#5 G#5 Rake C#5

Post Chorus F5 F#5 (a# bend) F5 A#5 C#5 Wonderwall By Oasis

Good songwriters to learn from… a few different chord progressions to add to your repertoire.

F#m7 - 022033 A - 320033 Esus4 - xx0233 B7sus4 - x02033 B7sus4* - x02233 Dadd9 - x32033 A/G# - 2x0033

Intro [F#m7] [A] [Esus4] [B7sus4] (x4)

Verses [F#m7] [A] [Esus4] [B7sus4] [F#m7] [A] [Esus4] [B7sus4] [F#m7] [A] [Esus4] [B7sus4] [Dadd9] [Esus4] [B7sus4]

PRE-CHORUS:

[Dadd9] [Esus4] [F#m7] [Dadd9] [Esus4] [F#m7] [Dadd9] [Esus4] [A] [A/G#] [F#m7] [Esus4] [B7sus4*]

CHORUS:

[Dadd9] [F#m7] [A] [F#m7] [Dadd9] [F#m7] [A] [F#m7] [Dadd9] [F#m7] [A] [F#m7] [Dadd9] [F#m7] [A] [F#m7] Under The Bridge by The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Lots of amazing chords in this masterpiece. For the record, I think John Frusciante is one of the world’s greatest… and most underrated guitarists.

EADGBE ------

D xx0323 F# 244322 A x02220 E x79997 B 799877 C#m7 x46432 Emaj7 x79897 G#m 466444 F#min x9-11-11-10-9 A(2) x07650 Amin x07550 G6 x55430 Fmaj7 x33210

Intro: D F# (repeat picking pattern 4X) The pattern is more elaborate… But play around and See if you can figure it out…

E B C#m7 G#m A E B C#m7 A E B C#m7 G#m A E B C#m7 A Emaj7

Pre-CHORUS: F#m E B F#m

Bridge A(2) Am G6 Fmaj7

Chorus (end) A(2) Am7 G6 Fmaj7 Losing My Religion by REM

Beatiful song… A few cool chord progressions when they do some of the transitions. Good stuff to practice!

Guitar Chords

EADGBE F 133211 Dm xx0231 G 320003 Am x02210 Am/B x2x210 Am/C x3x210 Am/D xx0210 Em 022000 C x32010 D xx0232

[INTRO] |F | Dm G | Am Am/B | Am/C Am/D Am| |F | Dm G | Am |

Verse

G Am Em Am Em Am Em Dm G

Chorus Am Em Am Em Am Em Dm G

Bridge G F Dm G Am Am/B Am/C Am/D Am F F Dm G Am

One by U2

A songwriting masterpiece…

Am x02210 Dsus2 xx0230 Fmaj7 xx3210 G 320003 C x32010

Intro: Am Dsus2 Fmaj7 G

Verses Am Dsus2 Fmaj7 G Am Dsus2 Fmaj7 G

CHORUS: C Am Fmaj7 C Am Fmaj7 C Am Dsus2 Fmaj7 G

Bridge C Am C Am C G Fmaj7 C

Creep By Radiohead

With this song… try picking softly in the verses… And them strum it out in the chorus… This is a good example of learning to vary the intensity with your picking style.

Gmaj 355433 Gsus4 353533 C x32010 Csus4 8-10-8-10-8-8 Cm x35543 B 799877 Bsus4 797977

Verses: Gmaj Gsus4 B Bsus4 C Csus4 Cm Csus4

Chorus: Gmaj Gsus4 B Bsus4 C Csus4 Cm Csus4

Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Dreams

E Standard tuning, capo 1st fret

Chords

Em 022000 G 320033 Dsus2 x00230 Asus2 002200 C 032010 E/D 020130 A/G x02020 A/Ab 021200

Verses: (Em)(G) (Dsus2) (Asus2) (Em)(G) (Dsus2) (Asus2) (Em)(G) (Dsus2) (Asus2) Chorus

(C) (G) (Dsus2) (Asus2) (C) (G) (Dsus2) (Asus2) (C) (G) (Dsus2) (Asus2) (C) (G) (E/D)

(Em) (G) (Dsus2) (Asus2) (Em) (G) (Dsus2) (Asus2)

SOLO Rhythm - (C)(G)(Dsus2)(Em) x3 (C)(G)(E/D)

Outro - (Em)(C)(Dsus2)(A/G)(G)(A/Ab) x4 Patience by Guns n Roses

Album version is tuned a half step down… This is a great song to practice your picking patterns…

EADGBE ------A x02220 C x32010 Em 022000 G 320003 D xx0232

Intro: C G A D C G A D C G C Em C G D D

Verse: C G A D Chorus: C G C Em C G D C G C Em C G D

Chorus 2: C G C Em C G D C G C Em C G D D D D

Solo C G A D C G A D C G C Em C G D D

Ending: Repeat D G D G

Nothing Else Matters - Metallica

A beautiful song… You can practice some finger picking and finger plucking on this song… It’s PERFECT for it.

EADGBE ------A x02220 C x32010 Em 022000 G 320003 D xx0232 Dsus2 xx0230 Dsus4 xx0233 Bm x24432

Verses:

Emin D Dsus2 C (repeat 3X) G Bm Em

Chorus

D Dsus2 D Dsus4 Dsus2 D C A D Dsus2 D Dsus4 Dsus2 D C A D E min

I Am The Highway - Audioslave

Great song to practice your strumming with…

EADGBE ------G 320003 E 022100 C x32010 F 133211 Am x02210 AmSus2x02410 Dmin xx0231

Intro

AmSus2

Verses F C G Am (4X)

Chorus

C G Dm Am C G Dm E