How to Make EDM Chord Progressions in FL Studio

FL Studio is the DAW of choice for some of the biggest names in EDM, from Martin Garrix to Avicii to Porter Robinson. And there's a reason: its piano roll is arguably the best in the business for writing chords, and its workflow is built for electronic music. In this guide, I'll walk you through exactly how to create professional EDM chord progressions in FL Studio, from the initial MIDI notes to the final polished sound. Whether you're making progressive house, future bass, or big room bangers, these techniques will level up your productions. Let's get into it.

Step 1: Start with a Solid Progression

Before touching FL Studio, you need chords that actually work. Don't waste hours fumbling around in the piano roll hoping to stumble onto something good. That's amateur hour.

The fastest approach ? Use Chordoo's chord progression generator to generate EDM-ready progressions in seconds. Select "EDM" or "Progressive House" as your genre, generate until you find something that resonates, then export the MIDI file. Now you've got a starting point that's already harmonically solid.

If you want to build from scratch, here are the progressions that dominate EDM:

• I – V – vi – IV (C – G – Am – F): The anthem progression. Uplifting and universally effective.
• vi – IV – I – V (Am – F – C – G): Same chords, minor feel. More emotional, introspective.
• i – VII – VI – VII (Am – G – F – G): Classic trance lifter. Builds tension beautifully.
• I – iii – vi – IV (C – Em – Am – F): Future bass staple. Bittersweet and lush.

Step 2: Import or Write Your MIDI in FL Studio

If you exported MIDI from Chordoo, importing is dead simple:

1. Open FL Studio and create a new project
2. Drag the .mid file directly into the playlist area
3. FL Studio creates a new pattern with your chords
4. Right-click the pattern and assign it to a synth (we'll cover this next)

If you're writing from scratch in the piano roll:

1. Add a synth to your channel rack (FLEX, Sytrus, or your supersaw of choice)
2. Open the piano roll (double-click the channel)
3. Draw in your chord notes – stack the root, 3rd, 5th, and optionally 7th
4. Use ghost notes (Alt + V) to see other patterns while editing

Pro tip: FL Studio's piano roll has a "Stamp" tool with built-in chord shapes. Press Alt + S to access it. Select a chord type (major, minor, 7th, etc.) and stamp it directly onto the grid. Massive time saver.

Step 3: Choose the Right Synth for Your Subgenre

The same chord progression can sound completely different depending on your synth choice. Here's what works for each EDM subgenre:

Progressive House & Big Room

You need that massive supersaw wall of sound. In FL Studio, Sytrus can get you there with multiple detuned saw oscillators. But honestly ? Most pros use Serum or Sylenth1. Load up a supersaw preset, stack 7+ unison voices, and detune slightly for width. Route through a bus with OTT for that modern punch.

Future Bass

Future bass chords need movement. Use wavetable synths with LFOs modulating the wavetable position. Serum is king here, but Harmor and Sytrus work too. The secret sauce: automate the cutoff filter to "wobble" between chord changes. Add Gross Beat for half-time stutter effects.

Trance

Trance chords are all about pads and arpeggios. Use Sytrus with slow attack pads for the background, then layer a pluck or arp on top. Sylenth1's trance presets are legendary. Lots of reverb (Valhalla Vintage Verb or FL's Fruity Reeverb 2) and a slow LFO on the filter creates that classic sweeping effect.

Dubstep & Riddim

Keep it dark and sparse. Simple minor triads or power chords work best – you don't want complex harmony competing with heavy bass. Serum with a detuned saw, high-passed aggressively, leaving all the low end for the basses. Layer with a subtle pad for atmosphere.

Step 4: Layer Your Chords Like a Pro

Here's what separates amateur productions from professional ones: layering. A single synth playing chords sounds thin. Pros stack multiple layers, each serving a specific frequency range:

• Low layer (100-300Hz): Simple sine or triangle sub playing the root note only. Adds weight without mud.
• Mid layer (300Hz-2kHz): Your main supersaw or pad. This carries the harmonic content.
• High layer (2kHz+): Bright pluck or bell sound playing the top note of each chord. Adds sparkle and definition.
• Width layer: A detuned, widened version of your main sound, panned wide and mixed low. Creates stereo width.

Critical: High-pass your mid and high layers at 150-200Hz to leave room for your bass and kick. EDM low end needs to be clean. Use FL Studio's Fruity Parametric EQ 2 on each layer.

Step 5: Sidechain Compression (Non-Negotiable)

If your chords aren't sidechained to your kick, your track will sound flat and lifeless. That pumping effect isn't just stylistic – it's how you get everything to breathe together. In FL Studio, you've got options:

Method 1: Fruity Limiter (Quick & Easy)

1. Add Fruity Limiter to your chord bus
2. Right-click the sidechain input and link it to your kick channel
3. Set ratio to around 4:1, attack to 0ms, release to 100-150ms
4. Adjust threshold until you see 3-6dB of gain reduction on each kick

Method 2: Gross Beat (Creative Control)

1. Add Gross Beat to your chord channel
2. Go to the Volume tab and draw a sidechain curve
3. Dip at the start of each beat, rise smoothly after
4. This gives you precise, tempo-synced pumping

Method 3: LFO Tool (Most Control)

For maximum precision, use a volume automation tool like LFOTool (Xfer) or the free alternative, VolumeShaper. You can draw exact curves and sync them to your tempo. This is what most pro producers use for that tight, rhythmic pump.

Step 6: Add Movement with Automation

Static chords get boring fast. The best EDM tracks have constantly evolving textures. Here's what to automate in FL Studio:

• Filter cutoff: Sweep from closed to open during buildups. Classic and always works.
• Reverb send: Increase reverb into breakdowns, cut it sharply at the drop.
• Pitch: Subtle pitch risers (1-2 semitones over 8 bars) create tension before drops.
• Stereo width: Narrow your chords in verses, widen at the chorus/drop.
• Unison detune: Increase detuning for intensity during drops.

In FL Studio, right-click any parameter and select "Create automation clip." The automation lane appears in your playlist, and you can draw precise curves. For filter sweeps, make sure the curve is smooth – use the tension handles to avoid choppy automation.

Step 7: Mix Your Chords to Sit in the Track

Even perfect chords will sound bad in a poor mix. Here's the EQ and processing chain I use for EDM chords:

1. High-pass at 150-200Hz – Absolutely non-negotiable. Your sub and kick own the low end.
2. Cut 300-500Hz by 2-3dB – This range gets muddy fast with stacked synths.
3. Boost presence at 3-5kHz – Helps chords cut through the mix without being harsh.
4. Gentle low-pass at 12-15kHz – Tames digital harshness from supersaw synths.
5. OTT or multiband compression – Glues the layers together and adds punch. Go easy, maybe 30-40% wet.
6. Stereo imaging – Narrow the low-mids, widen the highs. FL's Stereo Shaper works for this.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Too many chord changes: EDM tracks often loop 4 chords for the entire song. Simplicity is power.
• Overloading the low end: If you can't hear your kick and bass clearly, your chords are too bass-heavy. High-pass everything.
• No sidechain: I can't stress this enough. Unsidechained chords = amateur hour.
• Wrong key for your vocal: If you're using vocals, make sure your chord key matches. Nothing worse than a great drop ruined by off-key chords.
• Forgetting about inversions: Moving the same chords up and down octaves gets stale. Use inversions for smoother voice leading.

Putting It All Together: Your Workflow

Here's my recommended workflow for creating EDM chords in FL Studio:

1. Generate a progression with Chordoo or write one using the progressions above
2. Import the MIDI into FL Studio
3. Assign a supersaw/pad synth and dial in the basic sound
4. Duplicate and create 2-3 layers (sub, main, top)
5. EQ each layer to its frequency range
6. Route all layers to a bus and add sidechain compression
7. Add automation for filter, reverb, and width
8. Mix and adjust levels until it sits right with your kick and bass

That's it. This workflow has been refined over hundreds of tracks, and it works for any EDM subgenre. The key is to start with solid harmonic content (step 1) and then build from there.

Start Making Chords Now

You've got the knowledge. Now it's time to apply it. Open FL Studio, head to Chordoo's chord generator, export a progression, and start building. The more you practice this workflow, the faster it becomes.

Remember: the biggest EDM tracks aren't complicated. They're simple ideas executed at a high level. A 4-chord progression with proper layering, sidechaining, and automation will always beat a complex progression that's poorly produced. Focus on the fundamentals, and the rest will follow.

For more production guides, check out our articles on EDM chord progressions and how to create chord progressions easily.