Hey, producers! Whether you’re just starting out with your first DAW or you’ve been crafting tracks for years like me, there’s one thing we all share: the thrill of creating something new. I’ve been producing for over a decade, working across genres from pop to progressive house, and I still get that spark of excitement when a fresh idea hits. Recently, I decided to revisit that beginner’s mindset and compose a song using Chordoo’s free MIDI chord progression generator. Let me tell you, this tool is a game-changer for sparking inspiration, no matter your skill level. In this article, I’m sharing my journey of composing a song with Chordoo, packed with tips for beginners, intermediate producers, and even seasoned pros looking to break out of a creative rut.
Chordoo is a beautifully simple tool that lets you generate chord progressions with a single keypress—literally, just hit the spacebar. Its minimalistic interface, genre selector, and chord-locking feature make it perfect for anyone, from those just learning their way around Ableton to pros tweaking complex arrangements. I’ll walk you through how I used Chordoo to create a progressive house track, how it sparked new ideas, and how you can use it to fuel your own music, whether you’re making your first beat or your hundredth. Let’s dive in!
Why Chordoo? A Producer’s Perspective
After years in the studio, I’ve used every tool under the sun—fancy plugins, complex MIDI editors, you name it. But sometimes, the simplest tools are the most powerful. That’s where Chordoo shines. Its interface is so intuitive it feels like an extension of your creative brain. You pick a genre—like pop, progressive house, or deep-house, and hit the spacebar to generate a chord progression. Don’t like it? Hit space again. Want to keep a specific chord? Lock it and regenerate the rest. It’s fast, flexible, and doesn’t bog you down with unnecessary features.
For beginners, Chordoo is a godsend because it removes the intimidation factor of music theory. You don’t need to know what a dominant seventh is to get great-sounding chords. For advanced producers, it’s a quick way to break out of predictable patterns and spark new ideas. I’ve had moments where I’m stuck recycling the same old progressions, and Chordoo’s randomization has pushed me to try combinations I’d never have considered otherwise. Plus, the MIDI export feature lets you drag those chords straight into your DAW, saving time for what matters: creating.
My goal for this project was to compose a progressive house track, a genre I love for its emotive builds and driving rhythms. I wanted to see how Chordoo could inspire a fresh approach, even for someone who’s been at this for years. Let’s break down how I did it.
“Chordoo is like a creative collaborator that never sleeps. It’s given me ideas I wouldn’t have found on my own, even after years of producing.” — Chris, veteran producer
Step 1: Generating Chords with Chordoo
I started by heading to Chordoo’s chord progression generator. The interface is a dream—clean, minimal, and focused. I selected “Progressive House” from the genre dropdown, and hit the spacebar. Instantly, Chordoo generated a four-chord progression: Am-F-C-G. It’s a classic vi-IV-I-V progression, but it sounded fresh in the context of progressive house, with a melancholic yet uplifting vibe.
I played the progression using Chordoo’s built-in preview and loved how it felt. But here’s where the fun began: I hit the spacebar again to generate a new progression. This time, I got Am-G-F-Dm. It had a slightly different energy, more introspective. To experiment, I locked the Am chord (a handy feature that keeps specific chords in place) and hit space again. The result was Am-G-C-Em—a progression with a darker, more dramatic feel. This ability to lock chords and regenerate others gave me endless variations to play with, sparking ideas for different sections of my track.
For beginners, this is a lifesaver—you can generate pro-sounding chords without knowing theory. For advanced producers, the chord-locking feature lets you fine-tune progressions while keeping the elements you love. I exported the Am-F-C-G progression as a MIDI file and dragged it into Ableton Live, where it instantly formed the backbone of my verse.
Quick Tip
Use Chordoo’s spacebar feature to cycle through progressions quickly. If you find a chord you love, lock it and regenerate the rest to create variations that fit your vibe. Save multiple MIDI files to compare later in your DAW.
Step 2: Building a Foundation with Drums
With my Am-F-C-G progression looping in Ableton, I turned to the drums to give my progressive house track its signature pulse. I set the project to 128 BPM, standard for the genre, and programmed a four-on-the-floor kick pattern—boom, boom, boom, boom. For beginners, this is a great starting point: a steady kick on every beat keeps things driving. I added a clap on beats 2 and 4, plus some open hi-hats on the off-beats to create that hypnotic house groove.
Chordoo’s MIDI files are perfectly timed, so the chords lined up seamlessly with my drum grid. This saved me from tweaking note lengths, which can be a headache for new producers. For the chorus, I went back to Chordoo and generated a new progression in A minor: F-G-Am-Em. I locked the F and Am chords to keep continuity with the verse and hit the spacebar to tweak the others. The result was a soaring, emotional lift—perfect for a big drop. I exported this MIDI and placed it in a new section of my arrangement.
Advanced producers: try sidechaining your kick to the chords for that pumping house effect. Chordoo’s clean MIDI output makes it easy to apply effects like this in your DAW. Beginners, don’t worry about fancy techniques yet—just focus on a solid beat that complements your chords.
Step 3: Crafting a Memorable Melody
Melodies are where your track comes to life, and Chordoo’s chords gave me a solid foundation to build on. In A minor, I used the natural minor scale (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) to craft a melody for the verse. I started with chord tones—notes like A, C, or E over the Am chord—to keep things cohesive. In Ableton’s piano roll, I drew a simple pattern, repeating a few notes with slight variations to make it catchy.
For the chorus (F-G-Am-Em), I wanted a melody that soared. I used higher notes from the A minor scale and added some rhythmic variation to create energy. Chordoo’s progressions inspired me to experiment with different melodic shapes—short, punchy phrases for the verse, and longer, flowing lines for the chorus. For advanced producers, try layering multiple melodies with different synth patches to add depth. Beginners, stick to one melody and focus on making it singable.
Chordoo sparked ideas by giving me progressions I wouldn’t have tried on my own. For example, the Em chord in the chorus inspired a melancholic melody that became the heart of the track. The ability to hit the spacebar and generate new progressions kept my creative flow going, whether I was refining a section or exploring a new vibe.
Pro Tip
Use Chordoo’s genre selector to match your melody’s vibe to your chords. For progressive house, try long, evolving melodies over sustained chords. For pop, keep it short and catchy.
Step 4: Structuring the Track
Progressive house thrives on builds and drops, so I structured my track with that in mind: intro, verse, build-up, drop (chorus), verse, second drop, bridge, final drop, outro. For the intro, I used just the Am chord from my verse progression, layered with a filtered pad to create anticipation. The verse brought in the full Am-F-C-G progression with my melody and drums.
For the build-up, I used Chordoo to generate a new progression: Dm-G-C-Am. I locked the Dm and Am chords to maintain continuity and hit the spacebar to tweak the others. This progression added tension, perfect for leading into the drop. The chorus (F-G-Am-Em) was the big moment, with a huge supersaw synth and a soaring melody. For the bridge, I went back to Chordoo and tried a progression in F major (F-C-Dm-Bb) to create a reflective moment before the final drop.
Beginners: keep your structure simple—verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus. Advanced producers: experiment with transitions using Chordoo’s progressions. The chord-locking feature is great for creating subtle variations that keep listeners engaged.
Step 5: Layering and Polishing
With the core elements in place, I added layers to make the track shine. I created a bassline using single notes from each chord (A for Am, F for F, etc.) to lock in with the kick. I added arpeggiated synths for movement and atmospheric pads for depth. Chordoo’s MIDI files were a breeze to work with—I could transpose chords, change voicings, or swap instruments without losing the progression’s integrity.
For mixing, I used sidechain compression to make the kick cut through, added reverb to the chords for a spacious feel, and applied subtle delay to the melody. Beginners: focus on balancing volumes—keep drums punchy, chords in the background, and melody upfront. Advanced producers: experiment with automation to create dynamic builds, like filtering the chords during the build-up.
Chordoo’s simplicity let me focus on creativity rather than technical details. The spacebar generation and chord-locking features gave me endless ideas to play with, making the process feel fresh and exciting.
Why Chordoo Sparks Inspiration for All Levels
Chordoo is a rare tool that works for everyone. Beginners love its simplicity—just pick a genre, hit the spacebar, and you’ve got a professional chord progression. No theory required. Intermediate producers can use the genre selector to explore new styles, like jumping from pop to jazz to find a unique vibe. Advanced producers, like me, appreciate the chord-locking feature for fine-tuning progressions and the MIDI export for seamless DAW integration.
The spacebar functionality is a stroke of genius. It’s like flipping through a sketchbook of ideas—you can generate new progressions in seconds, keeping your creative flow uninterrupted. The ability to lock chords lets you refine ideas without starting from scratch, which is perfect when you’re chasing a specific mood. Plus, it’s free, so there’s no barrier to entry.
Check out our review of the best free chord progression generator to see how Chordoo stacks up.
Lessons Learned and Tips for You
Even after years of producing, Chordoo taught me to embrace spontaneity. The random progressions pushed me out of my comfort zone, leading to ideas I wouldn’t have tried otherwise. For beginners, my advice is to start simple: generate a four-chord progression, add a basic beat, and build from there. Intermediate producers, use Chordoo to experiment with genres you don’t usually touch. Advanced producers, leverage the chord-locking feature to craft complex arrangements with subtle variations.
Mistakes are part of the process. If a progression doesn’t work, hit the spacebar and try again. If your track feels flat, tweak one chord or add a new layer. Chordoo makes it easy to iterate without losing momentum. For more inspiration, see our music theory fundamentals for beginner producers.
Your Next Track Awaits
Composing this track with Chordoo reminded me why I fell in love with music production: the joy of turning ideas into reality. Whether you’re a beginner crafting your first beat or a pro looking for a fresh spark, Chordoo’s simple interface, genre options, spacebar generation, and chord-locking feature make it an essential tool. It’s like having a creative partner who’s always ready to jam.
Ready to create your next track? Visit Chordoo’s chord progression generator and start hitting that spacebar. Explore our blog for more production tips, and let’s make some music that moves the world!