Drill Chord Progressions: 7 Dark Loops (With Free MIDI)

Your drill drums are hitting and the 808 is sliding, but the beat still feels empty? Usually it's the chords. Drill harmony is not complicated. A few minor chords, one or two notes that create tension, and a lot of space for the 808 and the rapper. That's most of it.

Below are 7 drill chord progressions you can use right away. They're all written in C minor, with Roman numerals so you can move them to any key. Under each one you'll find what it does and where it works best.

Why drill chords sound so dark

Drill is usually built on minor keys. On top of that, a lot of drill melodies lean on two tricks that make a loop feel tense instead of just sad:

• The half step. Two notes right next to each other (like Ab and G, or C and Db) rub against each other. That rub is where a lot of the menace comes from.
• The borrowed major chord. In C minor the fifth chord is normally G minor. Swap it for G major (from the harmonic minor scale) and you get a B, a note that pulls hard back to C. It sounds cinematic, almost like a horror movie score.

Quick reading guide for the Roman numerals: lowercase (i, iv) means minor, uppercase (V, VI, VII) means major, ° means diminished and b means the chord sits a half step lower than it normally would in the major scale.

7 drill chord progressions (in C minor)

1. i, VI, V (Cm, Ab, G)

The go-to drill loop. The Ab drops a half step to the G major, and the G major pulls you straight back to Cm. Three chords, a lot of tension. Put it on strings or a dark piano and it already sounds like drill before you add drums.

2. i, iv, V (Cm, Fm, G)

The classic minor cadence with that major V at the end. It feels heavier and more orchestral than progression 1. Great with a choir or low brass sound and slow chord changes, one chord every bar or two.

3. isus2, i (Csus2, Cm)

Basically one chord. Csus2 (C, D, G) has no third, so it sounds open and a little uncertain. When the D moves up to Eb, it turns into C minor and the mood drops. Very minimal, which leaves a ton of room for sliding 808s and a busy flow.

4. i, bII, i, VII (Cm, Db, Cm, Bb)

The evil one. Db major sits one half step above the root, which is the sound of the Phrygian mode. Going back and forth between Cm and Db is instantly threatening. The Bb at the end gives the loop a little lift before it starts again.

5. i7, iv7 (Cm7, Fm7)

For melodic or emotional drill. Adding the seventh makes both chords softer and a bit jazzy. Play it on an electric piano or a soft grand, keep the velocity low and let the melody carry the feeling.

6. VI, VII, i (Ab, Bb, Cm)

This one climbs into the root. Starting on Ab and walking up through Bb to Cm gives a sense of build that works really well under a hook. Try it with a pluck or bell sound and a short four bar loop.

7. i, VI, iv, vii° (Cm, Ab, Fm, Bdim)

A longer loop with a twist at the end. The B diminished chord (B, D, F) comes from the harmonic minor scale and is unstable on purpose: it wants to resolve to Cm. That makes the turnaround feel urgent every time the loop restarts.

Chord notes cheat sheet (C minor)

• Cm: C, Eb, G
• Csus2: C, D, G
• Cm7: C, Eb, G, Bb
• Db: Db, F, Ab
• Fm: F, Ab, C
• Fm7: F, Ab, C, Eb
• G (major): G, B, D
• Ab: Ab, C, Eb
• Bb: Bb, D, F
• Bdim: B, D, F

Want these in another key? Use the Roman numerals. In A minor, progression 1 becomes Am, F, E. In F minor it becomes Fm, Db, C.

How to make these chords actually sound like drill

1. Leave the low end to the 808. Drill 808s slide around a lot. Keep your chords out of the sub range (cut the lows on your chord sound or play them higher) so the slides stay clear.
2. Let the 808 follow the roots. Play the root of each chord on the 808 (C, Ab, G for progression 1) and slide between them. Make sure your 808 sample is tuned to the key, otherwise everything sounds slightly off.
3. Use dark, simple sounds. Strings, choirs, bells, plucks and piano are all common. Three notes per chord is enough.
4. Keep it slow. One chord per bar or per two bars. The drums already bring all the movement, so the chords don't have to.
5. Write a counter melody from the scale. A short top melody using the half steps from the progression (Ab to G, or B to C) is a quick way to get that eerie drill feel.
6. Leave room for the voice. Keep the chords quieter than you think and don't stack too much in the midrange where the rapper sits.

Get drill chords as free MIDI

Don't feel like clicking every note into the piano roll? Use our free Chord Progression Generator. Pick the Dark mood (or Sad for melodic drill), choose your key and tempo and listen right in your browser. Like it? Download the MIDI. You get two tracks: the chords and a bass line on the root notes, which is a solid starting point for your 808. Drag it into FL Studio, Logic Pro, Ableton or any other DAW.

Building chords on top of a sample or a beat you already have? Find the key and BPM first with Beat Lab, so your progression really matches. Need sounds for the drums and 808? NAME The Trap Oneshot Pack Vol. 1 has 26 808s, 20 kicks and 22 closed hats, among other sounds, all royalty-free.

Ready to build the full beat? Follow our step-by-step guide for making a drill beat in FL Studio, or the versions for Logic Pro and Ableton Live. Then tune your 808 to the key of your chords. Making trap instead? Check out these dark trap chord progressions.

FAQ

What key are drill beats usually in?

There is no single drill key. Minor keys are the norm, and the best one is the key that fits the rapper's voice. Write the progression with Roman numerals and move it wherever you need.

What's the difference between drill chords and trap chords?

Not that much. Both use minor keys and short loops. Drill tends to lean harder on tension: half steps, the major V chord and diminished chords. The bigger difference is in the drums and the sliding 808s.

How many chords does a drill beat need?

Often just two to four. A short loop leaves space for the rapper. If the beat starts to feel repetitive, change the sound, add a counter melody or switch up the drums before adding more chords.

Can I use these chord progressions in a song I release?

Yes. Progressions like these are common building blocks in music. The MIDI from our generator is free to use in your own tracks, also commercially.

Want more free tools for your beats, like a BPM finder, master checker and audio converter? Check out all our free music tools.