Hip Hop & Trap Chord Progressions: The Producer's Cheatsheet

Hip hop has always been built on the foundation of great chords, whether sampled from classic soul records or played fresh on a keyboard. From the dusty, soulful loops of boom bap to the dark, minimal progressions of modern trap, understanding chord progressions is essential for any beat maker. In this guide, we'll break down the chord progressions that power hip hop hits and show you how to create them instantly with Chordoo's free MIDI generator.

What Makes Hip Hop Chords Different?

Hip hop has a unique relationship with harmony. Unlike genres where chords are front and center, hip hop often uses chords as a backdrop for vocals and drums. Here's what defines hip hop chord progressions:

• Minor keys dominate: The vast majority of hip hop is in minor keys for that dark, emotional feel
• Simplicity is strength: Many hits use just 2-3 chords looped throughout
• Space for 808s: Chord voicings leave room in the low end for bass to dominate
• Soul and jazz influence: Boom bap and R&B-influenced hip hop borrow heavily from soul progressions
• Repetition creates hypnosis: The same loop repeated creates a trance-like effect

Whether you're making trap, drill, boom bap, or melodic rap, Chordoo can help you find the perfect progression and export it as MIDI for your DAW.

The 6 Essential Hip Hop Chord Progressions

These progressions cover the full spectrum of hip hop, from hard trap to soulful boom bap:

1. The Dark Minor: i – VI – VII

In A minor: Am – F – G
This is the bread and butter of modern hip hop. The movement from minor to major creates tension and release, while staying dark and moody. You'll hear this in countless trap and drill tracks.

Best for: Trap, drill, dark hip hop

2. The Melodic Trap Progression: i – iv – VII – VI

In C minor: Cm – Fm – Bb – Ab
This four-chord progression has a sweeping, emotional quality that's perfect for melodic rap. The iv chord adds depth, while the VII to VI movement creates a sense of falling. Artists like Juice WRLD and Lil Uzi Vert live on this progression.

Best for: Melodic trap, emo rap, sad boy beats

3. The Soulful Sample: I – vi – IV – V

In C major: Cmaj7 – Am7 – Fmaj7 – G7
This is the classic soul progression that's been sampled thousands of times in hip hop. Adding 7ths gives it that vintage, Motown feel. It's warm, nostalgic, and instantly recognizable.

Best for: Boom bap, soulful hip hop, sample-style beats

4. The Travis Scott Vibe: i – VII – VI – VII

In D minor: Dm – C – Bb – C
The back-and-forth between VI and VII creates an unsettled, hypnotic feeling. This progression powers the psychedelic trap sound that Travis Scott popularized. It feels like it's always building toward something.

Best for: Psychedelic trap, ambient hip hop, dark melodic

5. The Drake Flow: vi – IV – I – V

In C major (starting on vi): Am – F – C – G
This is the "sensitive" hip hop progression, starting on a minor chord but living in a major key. It creates a bittersweet, introspective vibe perfect for emotional rap about relationships and success.

Best for: R&B rap, emotional hip hop, late night vibes

6. The Hard Drill: i – i – VII – VI

In G minor: Gm – Gm – F – Eb
Repeating the minor root twice before moving creates an aggressive, driving feel. This is the foundation of UK drill and has spread globally. Keep the chords staccato and pair with sliding 808s.

Best for: UK drill, Brooklyn drill, aggressive trap

Chord Progressions by Hip Hop Subgenre

Different subgenres have distinct harmonic fingerprints. Here's what works best for each:

Trap

Modern trap keeps it simple and dark. Use minor keys, sparse voicings, and leave lots of space for the 808s. The i-VI-VII progression is your foundation. Keep chords high in the frequency range to avoid clashing with bass.

Boom Bap

Boom bap loves soulful, jazzy chords. Think 7th chords, Rhodes piano, and progressions borrowed from 70s soul. The I-vi-IV-V and ii-V-I progressions are classic. Dust up your sound with vinyl crackle and light filtering.

Drill

Drill is aggressive and minimal. Use minor triads or even just single notes/octaves. The i-VII-VI movement is everywhere. Chords should be short, staccato hits that leave space for the sliding 808 patterns.

Melodic Rap

Melodic rap needs emotional, sweeping progressions. Use 4-chord loops with smooth voice leading. The i-iv-VII-VI and vi-IV-I-V progressions create that bittersweet, introspective feel. Layer with pads for atmosphere.

R&B Hip Hop

R&B-influenced hip hop uses extended chords – 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths. Borrow from neo-soul with progressions like Imaj9-ii7-iii7-ii7. Keep things smooth and silky with electric piano and warm pads.

How to Use Chordoo for Hip Hop Production

Ready to create your own hip hop chord progressions? Here's how to use Chordoo's free MIDI generator:

1. Select Hip Hop genre: Choose "Hip Hop" from the dropdown for progressions suited to rap beats.
2. Generate progressions: Hit the spacebar to cycle through options until you find one that fits your vibe.
3. Lock key chords: Found a root chord you like? Lock it and regenerate the rest to explore variations.
4. Export MIDI: Download your progression as a MIDI file for FL Studio, Ableton, or any DAW.
5. Choose your sound: Assign the MIDI to piano, synth, or pad depending on your subgenre.

Sound Design Tips for Hip Hop Chords

Getting the right progression is just the start. Here's how to make your chords sit perfectly in a hip hop mix:

• High-pass aggressively: Cut everything below 150-200Hz to leave room for 808s.
• Use the right sound: Piano for boom bap and drill, bells/plucks for trap, pads for melodic rap.
• Keep it simple: Don't overcomplicate voicings. Sometimes triads hit harder than extended chords.
• Sidechain to kick and 808: This creates space and makes the whole beat breathe together.
• Add movement: Automate filters or add subtle arpeggiation to keep loops interesting.
• Layer strategically: A bell melody doubling your chords an octave up adds presence without muddiness.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Chords too busy: Leave space for the rapper. Chords should support, not dominate.
• Low end clash: Your chord bass notes shouldn't fight your 808. High-pass is your friend.
• Wrong tempo: Trap is usually 130-170 BPM (counted at half-time), boom bap is 80-100 BPM.
• Too many chord changes: Hip hop often loops the same 2-4 bars. Embrace repetition.
• Ignoring the genre: Drill sounds different from boom bap. Match your chord sound to your subgenre.

Start Creating Hip Hop Beats Now

The chord progressions in this guide have powered countless hip hop hits, from classic boom bap to modern trap anthems. Whether you're making hard drill beats or emotional melodic rap, the right chords set the foundation for everything else.

Ready to find your sound? Visit Chordoo's chord progression generator, select Hip Hop mode, and start generating progressions in seconds. Export as MIDI, load into your DAW, and start cooking up your next beat.

Want more inspiration? See how I composed a complete song using Chordoo, or explore how to create emotions using chord progressions. For more production tips, check out our blog.