Neo-Soul Chord Progressions
Neo-soul fuses jazz harmony with hip-hop rhythm and soul vocals. Chords are voiced wide and rich (think m9s, maj13s, and sus chords with added 9ths), and the bass often moves chromatically beneath them. Robert Glasper, D'Angelo, and Hiatus Kaiyote are the modern reference points.
Defining characteristics
- →Wide, lush voicings (9ths, 11ths, 13ths)
- →Chromatic bass walks
- →ii–V cadences without a final I (suspended forever)
- →Modal mixture between major and parallel minor
- →Loose, behind-the-beat groove
Example progressions
D'Angelo voicing
imaj9 – ivm11 – ♭VIImaj9 – ♭IIImaj9 · C minor (modal)
Cmaj9Fm11B♭maj9E♭maj9
A constantly modulating progression that never quite settles.
Glasper-style cycle
iim9 – V13 – Imaj9 – ♭VIImaj9 · C major
Dm9G13Cmaj9B♭maj9
The ♭VIImaj9 at the end pulls the ear into modal territory.
Songs in this style
Cranes in the Sky — Solange
Bm9 – Emaj9 – C♯m9
Liquid Spirit — Gregory Porter
Cm9 – Fm9 – B♭7 – E♭maj7
Generate your own neo-soul chord progressions
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