tap a chord for its shape
Vaporwave Chord Progressions
8 progressions · pastel nostalgia and retro synths
Vaporwave chord progressions stretch a nostalgic shine: big major 7s, slow harmonic movement, and a sense that the loop is playing from an old mall or a late-night VHS. The colors glow more than they hook. This page has 8 vaporwave progressions to hear on piano or guitar. If you want that retro-dream haze, linger on maj7 voicings and give each chord more time than a pop chorus would. A clean, slightly distant tone usually fits better than a tight funk attack.
✨ Quality marks
- glow
- poised
- mellow
- hanging
- taut
- uneasy
- lush
tap a chord for its shape
tap a chord for its shape
tap a chord for its shape
tap a chord for its shape
tap a chord for its shape
tap a chord for its shape
tap a chord for its shape
Common questions about vaporwave chord progressions
What chords show up in vaporwave progressions?
Slow major-7 chains are a hallmark — think glowing Imaj7, IVmaj7, and their neighbors, sometimes shifting by whole steps. The feeling is lush and a little unmoored, not a tight cadence every bar.
What should I try first here?
“Retro Dreamy” (Abmaj7–Bbmaj7–Cmaj7–Fmaj7) is a wide, glowing walk. Hear it in the written key, then transpose if you want it lower and even more midnight.
Does vaporwave have to be in a major key?
It often lives in a bright, floating major world, but you can shade it with a mellow minor 7. The style cares more about pace and sheen than about staying strictly major.
How should I produce a loop like this?
Give the chords room: slow piano or a clean guitar, maybe Bass & drums at a low level. The progression already has the nostalgia; you do not need to over-arrange it.
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