Chord Progressions by Emotion & Atmosphere
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K-Pop Acoustic Ballad
The beloved IVmaj7 - V - iiim7 - vim7 cadence. It recalls Korean drama OSTs and acoustic covers, providing continuous emotional momentum without abrupt stops.
“K-Pop Acoustic Ballad”, a CifraLab proposal
Fmaj7, G, Em7 and Am7 is the progression CifraLab proposes for a “K-Pop Acoustic Ballad” feel.
“K-Pop Acoustic Ballad” runs at 78 beats per minute, so each beat lasts 769 milliseconds. If each chord takes one bar of four beats, the full cycle lasts 12.3 seconds. Read in C major, its degrees are IVmaj7, V, iiim7 and vim7. Fmaj7 holds F, A, C and E. In G you hear G, B and D. Em7 holds E, G, B and D. In Am7 you hear A, C, E and G.
Fmaj7 presses three positions and leaves string 1 open, leaving strings 6 and 5 unplayed. G rings with three strings open and three fretted positions. Em7 presses one position and leaves five strings open. Am7 rings with three strings open and two fretted positions, leaving string 6 unplayed.
It uses the same chords in the same order as “Anime Anthem & Epic J-Rock”. What changes is the tempo, 78 against 132 beats per minute, and the name CifraLab proposes for each one. From Fmaj7 to G, every note changes. From G to Em7, G, B and D stay, and one hand position stays put. Em7 and Am7 share E and G, though the hand changes shape. From Am7 to Fmaj7, A, C and E stay, and one hand position stays put.