Hip Hop Chord Progression Generator
Hip hop harmony is loop-first: a short, moody progression that repeats and leaves room for the drums and the vocal. Here's how those loops are built and how to generate them as MIDI.
Why Hip Hop progressions sound the way they do
Hip hop beats usually ride a short minor-key loop — often just i–iv–v or a borrowed bVI/bVII move — using minor seventh chords for a darker, sample-flavoured feel. The harmony stays simple and hypnotic on purpose: the interest comes from the drums and the space between chords. Tempos sit around 80–100 BPM for boom-bap; halve or double that feel for trap.
Common Hip Hop chord progressions
Here's the core progression this generator uses for Hip Hop, realized in A minor:
| Step | Roman | Chord in A minor |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | i7 | Am7 |
| 2 | iv7 | Dm7 |
| 3 | v7 | Em7 |
| 4 | i7 | Am7 |
Tips for writing Hip Hop progressions
- Stay in a minor key (or harmonic minor for a tenser, cinematic edge).
- Keep the loop short and repetitive — 4 bars that hypnotise beats 8 that wander.
- Use min7 chords and leave plenty of space for the drums and vocal.
- Around 85–95 BPM is the classic boom-bap pocket.
The generator produces a full multitrack MIDI arrangement (chords, bass, melody & drums) plus stems you can drag into any DAW. It's free, needs no signup, and everything you make is royalty-free.
Frequently asked questions
What chord progression is used in Hip Hop music?
A core Hip Hop progression is i7 – iv7 – v7 – i7, which in A minor is Am7 – Dm7 – Em7 – Am7. You can generate this as editable MIDI and hear it instantly with the generator above.
What key and tempo suit Hip Hop?
Hip Hop typically sits around 90 BPM in a minor key. Stay in a minor key (or harmonic minor for a tenser, cinematic edge).
Are the generated Hip Hop chords royalty-free?
Yes. Everything you generate is composed algorithmically from music theory (not sampled from existing songs), so it is original and royalty-free for personal or commercial use, with no attribution required.