Gospel Chord Progressions

Gospel piano is built on motion — chords don't sit still. The gospel cycle (a sequence of secondary dominants) cycles through all 12 keys; reharmonization techniques replace simple cadences with chromatic substitutions. Every cadence is decorated.

Defining characteristics

→Secondary dominants on every chord
→Tritone substitutions in turnarounds
→Extended voicings (9ths, 13ths) at every chord
→Chromatic passing chords between diatonic targets
→Melodic bass that contradicts chord roots

Example progressions

Gospel turnaround

I – VI7 – ii7 – V7 · C major

CA7Dm7G7

The VI7 secondary dominant pulls into the ii — every gospel pianist's default.

Reharmonized I–IV

I – I7/♭7 – IV/3 – ivm · C major

CC7F/AFm

A walked-up reharm of the basic I–IV move using bass motion and modal mixture.

Songs in this style

Oh Happy Day — Edwin Hawkins

A – D – E – A

How Great Is Our God — Chris Tomlin

C – Am – F – G

Generate your own gospel chord progressions

ChordGen produces unlimited variations in any key, with free MIDI export to your DAW.

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