Church music

Church Piano Chords

Progressions and voicings that sit well under congregational singing, choir parts, and worship band textures.

Common Worship Progressions

Common worship lift

I - V - vi - IV

C: C - G - Am - F anthemic choruses and bridge builds

Reflective verse loop

vi - IV - I - V

C: Am - F - C - G quiet verses and prayerful underscoring

Hymn turnaround

I - vi - IV - V

C: C - Am - F - G traditional hymn endings and turnarounds

Gospel cadence

ii - V - I

C: Dm - G - C cadences, tags, and passing motion

Voicings for Worship Piano

Pattern	Left Hand	Right Hand	Use
Triad foundation	1-5-1	3-5-1	major, minor, diminished, and augmented triads
Dominant support	1-5-b7	3-5-1	dominant seventh chords and strong cadences
Major and minor seventh color	1-5-7	3-5-7	major seventh and minor seventh voicings

Progression Example

100%

Root Chord

Formula Spatial Degrees

C Major

Spatial: M3 + m3
Degrees: 1 3 5
Symbols: C, CM, Cmaj
Active Formula: M3 + m3

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The same chord formulas can be moved through C, G, Am, and F for I-V-vi-IV practice. The voicing patterns above connect directly to Chapter 8 voicings.