9 Best Chord Progression Generators: Reviewed By Industry Pro

Scaler 2 is a full-feature music theory workstation with a wide range of composition-aiding tools that are great for beginners and experienced composers.

The plugin allows you to load preset progressions and detect, build, and edit your own chord sets. It features a powerful MIDI/audio detection software that detects the scale and key used and makes chord suggestions compatible with your existing chord progressions.

Scaler 2 promotes an intuitive chord creation journey with its 400 song- and genre-based chord sets and 200+ artist chord sets. The Edit Mode on Scaler 2 enables adjustments in length, inversion, velocity, octave, timing, and other parameters per chord.

And best of all, its interface is one of the more beginner-friendly ones on this list.

Scaler 2 is easily one of the best tools for composing an original chord progression. It’s also an excellent tool for anyone stuck with the process and is in need of inspiration.

Forager is great for expert musicians and beginners. Its best use is for generating unique and creative chord progressions.

The plugins are usable with any sound type (instruments and synths) and compatible with most DAWs. However, there are no pre-built packs or MIDI patterns, so it's the perfect plugin for chord progression generator piano.

Forager works by scale while users work with a list of possible chord combinations. There’s also a Loose Matches feature where you can use chords off the scale (up to four notes off). Both features allow for greater personalization and innovation in the process.

The interface is simplistic and intuitive, so you can get to writing without studying the software too much.

Chordjam has a unique process: it is a scale-based chord generator that randomizes full chords with a single key. Users can set transposition, velocity, and time delay range along with voicing parameters. It also comes with chord progression and pattern presets.

Chordjam also features a sequencer engine that decides how those chords are played.

Once complete, you can store the plugin as a MIDI effect or drag and modify it further in your DAW.

Overall, Chordjam makes one of the best contenders for chord progression generators that will help you get out of a musical rut.

Chordprism is an excellent melody writer and chord generator in one, a great option if you’re looking for chord progression generator piano. It is especially helpful if your skills with instruments are lacking.

It produces a full chord based on the scale selected and the note played. It also comes with a wide range of genre-based presets.

With its Editor tool, you can create inversion, voicing, extended/altered chords, and adjust notes for each chord. The Step Sequencer function enables you to apply rhythmic patterns.

The Smart Scale section assigns scale notes over the white notes on the keyboard. An additional benefit is the Multi Arp feature that creates arpeggios for your chosen chords, further reducing the effort of coming up with something from scratch.

Once you’re done, you can simply drag and drop to export MIDI notes for an instrument track into your DAW.

Chordprism also supports multi-instrument performances—you can assign specific roles for each instance.

Chord progression generators offering this level of performance are best suited for professional harmony and melody-related work.

Chordz is the best choice for a free chord progression generator VST. It is also a valuable free chord progression generator piano.

It only requires single-note inputs and triggers full chords. The plugin accepts custom templates, allows edits to existing ones, and comes with a library of 50 chord types and 40 scale/chord templates.

Chordz enables velocity scaling and randomization for every note of the chord.

Playing complex chord progressions is also easy with a single finger on a MID keyboard or drum pad. Alternatively, you can trigger full chords by assigning them to a single note on the piano roll.

The interface is one of the easiest ones to navigate on this list. If you're looking for a free tool to practice music theory and composition, then Chordz is the best choice for you.

Captain Chords is one of the best chord generator VST plugins with which to learn and develop your composing skills. It is a part of the Captain Plugins series from Mixed in Key.

Captain Chords comes with a built-in piano roll—it is one of the more sophisticated features you'll see on this list. It's the most helpful tool for users who wish to create chord progressions step-by-step.

It makes assembling MIDI chord progressions a fun activity. Its library of 100 rhythms and 249 built-in sounds is a great starting point to give shape to your song ideas.

While it does allow progression customization and comes with rhythm presets, it doesn't offer much flexibility for individual chords. There's no note editing, either. However, Mixed in Key has other plugins that cover these missing features.

Another valuable feature of the plugin is that it can identify anything playing on a MIDI controller. It also has a strum option that plays back notes like a guitar.

The interface is easy to adapt to and relatively fuss-free. The MIDI exporting process is done through simple drag-and-drop.

Captain Chords won't disappoint users when it comes to its basic functionality—it packs quite an impressive package of features. However, without the complete plugins, it's not the best deal.

Chord progressions make up the skeleton of a great song—they have the power to uplift your work and take it to the next level. With these tools in your arsenal, creating chord progressions will become a cakewalk.

For more tips on songwriting, chord progressions, music making, and marketing, check out the complete Omar MC blog.