Reggaeton Chord Progressions: 6 Loops for Your Dembow (Free MIDI)

Your dembow is bouncing, the bass is heavy, but the beat still sounds like a drum loop and not like a song? Then it's time for chords. Good news: reggaeton harmony is simple on purpose. A few minor chords that loop over and over, played with rhythm, and the dembow does the rest.

Below are 6 reggaeton chord progressions you can play right away. They're all written in A minor (mostly white keys), with Roman numerals so you can move them to any key. You also get the notes in every chord, tips to make the chords bounce with the dembow, and a free way to get them as MIDI.

What makes chords sound like reggaeton?

There is no secret "reggaeton chord". It's more about a few habits:

• Minor keys. A lot of reggaeton sits in a minor key. That gives the beat that moody, late night feel, even when the drums are made for the club.
• Short loops. Three or four chords, repeated for the whole song. The rhythm gets the attention, the chords set the mood.
• Chords with rhythm. Instead of holding a pad for a full bar, the chords often hit in short stabs or plucks that follow the drum groove.
• A bass on the root notes. In the reggaeton tutorial from Native Instruments, the sine bass simply follows the root note of each chord. That keeps the low end clean and heavy.

How to read the numbers: lowercase (i, iv) means a minor chord, uppercase (III, VI, VII) means a major chord. In A minor, i is A minor, VI is F major and VII is G major.

6 reggaeton chord progressions to try

1. i, VI, III, VII (Am, F, C, G)

The classic. If you only learn one, learn this one. It moves from dark to bright and back again, which makes it perfect for a hook that people sing along to. Fun fact: these are the same four chords as the famous pop loop (vi, IV, I, V in C major). Starting on the minor chord is what makes it feel more reggaeton than pop.

2. i, iv, VII, III (Am, Dm, G, C)

Same family, different story. The first two chords are both minor, so the loop starts heavier before it opens up on G and C. Nice for a verse with a bit of attitude, or for a beat that has to feel dark without getting sad.

3. VI, i, VII (F, Am, G)

A three chord loop that starts on the major chord. Native Instruments uses this exact shape in its reggaeton tutorial (in C minor: Ab, Cm, Bb). Starting on VI makes the beat feel warm and smooth, and the VII at the end pulls you right back to the top. Let the F last two beats longer if you want a four bar loop that breathes.

4. iv, i, VI, V (Dm, Am, F, E)

The loop with drama. Look at the last chord: E major, not E minor. That one borrowed note (the G# in the E chord) creates tension that resolves when the loop jumps back to Dm and Am. It gives the beat a slightly Latin, slightly sad flavor. Great for a romantic or heartbreak track.

5. i, VII, VI, VII (Am, G, F, G)

The stepper. The chords walk down from A to F and back up to G, so the top line almost writes itself. This works really well as a guitar or piano riff that plays the same rhythm as the snare. Simple, catchy and easy to sing over.

6. i, bII (Am, Bb)

The dark one. Only two chords, a half step apart. That Bb comes from the Phrygian sound, and it instantly feels tense and a bit mysterious. Keep the voicing low, put it on a dark pluck or a muted guitar and let the dembow and a heavy bass carry the beat. If two chords feel too bare, add a G at the end of every fourth bar.

Cheat sheet: notes in every chord

• Am: A, C, E
• Bb: Bb, D, F
• C: C, E, G
• Dm: D, F, A
• E: E, G#, B
• F: F, A, C
• G: G, B, D

Need a different key? Use the Roman numerals, or look up every chord per key on our chords by key page. In D minor, progression 1 becomes Dm, Bb, F, C.

How to make the chords bounce with the dembow

1. Play the chords in the snare rhythm. The dembow snare follows a 3+3+2 feel. If you chop your chords into short hits on the same steps as the snare, the chords and drums lock together and the whole beat bounces.
2. Pick a short, plucky sound. Plucks, nylon or muted guitar, a piano with a short release or a soft synth. Long pads can work too, but keep them low in the mix, like the filtered pad in the Native Instruments tutorial.
3. Use inversions. Instead of jumping your whole hand from chord to chord, move as few notes as possible. Am to F only changes one note (E becomes F). That smooth movement sounds more professional and leaves space for the vocal.
4. Bass on the roots. Let a sub bass or 808 play the root of each chord. Start with a note on beat 1 and beat 3, then add a few notes that move with the kick.
5. Change the energy, not the chords. Keep the same loop in the verse and the hook. Take out the chords or filter them in the verse, then bring them back in full for the hook.

A lot of reggaeton sits around 90 BPM. Want the full tempo range? Check our what BPM is reggaeton page.

Get reggaeton chords as free MIDI

Don't feel like clicking every note into the piano roll? Open our free chord progression generator. Choose the Dark or Sad mood, set it to minor, pick your key and set the tempo to 90. Listen right in your browser and hit new chords until something grabs you. Then download the MIDI: you get a chords track plus a bass line on the root notes. Drag it into FL Studio, Logic Pro, Ableton or any other DAW and chop the chords into the dembow rhythm. The MIDI is free to use in your own tracks, also commercially.

Building on a sample or a loop you already have? Find the key and BPM first with Beat Lab, so your chords actually fit.

Next step: the full beat

Chords done? Follow our step by step guide on how to make a reggaeton beat in FL Studio, from the dembow pattern to the bass and the arrangement. The pattern works the same in any DAW.

Rather write and record right now? Listen to "DRAAI", a reggaeton club type beat by NameOnTheBeat, or browse all beats. Type beats are inspired by an artist's style, the artist is not involved.

Into warmer, percussion-heavy loops? Try these afrobeats chord progressions.

FAQ

What key is reggaeton usually in?

There's no fixed key, but a lot of reggaeton uses a minor key. Pick the key that fits the range of the singer or rapper. You can always move a progression with the Roman numerals.

How many chords does a reggaeton beat need?

Usually three or four, sometimes just two. The dembow rhythm and the bass carry the beat, so the chords can stay simple and repeat for the whole song.

Why does the E major chord sound so "Latin"?

In A minor, the normal fifth chord is E minor. Changing it to E major adds a G#, which pulls hard back to A. That sound comes from the harmonic minor scale, and you hear it a lot in Latin music.

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

Yes. Chord progressions are common building blocks in music, and the MIDI from our generator is free to use in your own tracks, also commercially. Just don't copy someone else's recording or melody.

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

Source: the reggaeton production tutorial from Native Instruments.