Neo Soul Guitar Chord Progressions
Neo soul chord progressions lean on richer chords — maj9, min9, min11, and 13ths — for a warm, jazzy R&B color.
Neo soul borrows heavily from jazz — start here →6 Neo Soul Chord Progressions
Eaug7 and Faug7 slide between the diatonic chords for a jazzy, unresolved color.
Emaj9 slides down to Dmaj9, then flips quality into Dmin9 — a favorite neo soul move.
A minor-key turnaround — G13 and E7 both pull hard back toward Amin7.
Dmin9 anchors the loop on both sides, with Emaj9 as the lone major lift in the middle.
Built for open voicings and space — let the groove do the work.
The IV chord is borrowed from C minor — one detour that makes this the most soulful cadence around.
What makes neo soul chords sound different?
They use more notes. A regular chord like C major has 3 notes. Neo soul chords like Cmaj9 add 1–2 more on top, which makes them sound richer and smoother.
What are the "aug7" chords like Eaug7 doing here?
They're passing chords — a quick, colorful step between two other chords, not somewhere the music stays. Think of it as a musical stepping stone.
What's the borrowed minor chord in Gospel Turn?
Fmin7 is borrowed from the minor version of the key, just for one chord, before returning home to Cmaj7. It's a classic soul and gospel sound.
Frequently Asked Questions
What key are these progressions in?
Mostly F major and A minor, with one in Bb major. Use the editor's transpose button to shift any of them to your own key.
What tempo (BPM) should I play these at?
76–90 BPM — a relaxed, mid-tempo groove. Start slower if you're still learning the chord shapes.
Can I play these on guitar?
Yes. The richer chords (maj9, min9, 13) usually drop one note to fit under four fingers — most guitar chord charts already do this for you.
Which progression should I try first?
Gospel Turn (Fmaj7 – Fmin7 – Cmaj7). Just three simple 7th chords, no 9ths or 11ths — the easiest starting point.
Learn neo soul harmony
Generate your own Neo Soul chord progression
Starts with Chromatic Passing — change any chord, adjust the tempo, and export as WAV. Free, no account needed.
Open Chord Progression Generator