There’s something about synthwave chords that just hits different. One moment you’re laying on your couch slipping on a pair of headphones, and the next you’re cruising through neon-lit streets in a retrofuturistic dreamscape. That emotional pull is in the production and the chords.

If you’ve ever wondered why synthwave feels the way it does (what most of us would describe as warm, nostalgic, cinematic), then you’re in the right place. This guide breaks down the chord progressions that shape the genre and shows you exactly how to use them.

We’ll cover how these progressions are built, what makes them work, and why they instantly evoke that vintage sci-fi, '80s-style coming-of-age flick feeling.

What Is Synthwave Music?

Synthwave is a genre built on nostalgia, but not the cheesy kind. Think of it more like a love letter to the sounds, moods, and cinematic styles of the 1980s. It's heavily inspired by the music you’d hear in old-school sci-fi flicks, action movies, and vintage arcade games, loaded with analog synths, gated reverb snares, and dreamy textures that feel both retro and futuristic at the same time.

Originally gaining traction in the mid-2000s as an offshoot of new wave music, synthwave emerged from internet communities and independent producers who wanted to recapture that vintage aesthetic. Artists like Kavinsky, Power Glove, and College helped push the genre forward, often pairing their music with visuals straight out of a VHS tape or pixel-art game. As the sound caught on, it started blending into other genres like synthpop, EDM, outrun, and even metal.

But underneath the neon glow, the real glue is the harmony. Synthwave thrives on rich chord progressions, which often use major keys, extended chords, and slow, pulsing rhythms. It's emotional but not dramatic. Melancholic, but hopeful. Cinematic, but easy to groove to. The chords carry a lot of weight, and that's exactly what makes them so powerful in production.

So if your goal is to capture that unmistakable synthwave music feel, you’ll want to start with the right progressions. Let’s break those down next.

7 Synthwave Chord Progressions

Synthwave music lives and dies by its chords. Along with the obvious production elements, synthwave chord progressions can help set the mood. Below are seven of the most recognizable and emotionally charged synthwave chord progressions out there, pulled from real tracks and broken down with just enough theory to help you make them your own.

1. I-ii-II-IV - The Chromatic Drift

• Track: Gunship – “Woken Furies”
• Key: D♭ major
• Chords: D♭ – E♭m – E♭ – G♭

This progression walks the line between consonant and edgy. It starts in familiar territory with I and ii, then throws in a chromatic twist by using a major II chord (E♭), which doesn’t belong in the key. This adds instant tension and makes the resolution to the IV (G♭) feel smoother than it should.

That sneaky chromatic step gives the whole loop a hazy, dreamlike pull, like the synth equivalent of a scene dissolving into memory. A perfect match for Gunship’s cinematic textures.

2. i-VI-VII-VI - The Retro Cascade

• Track: The Midnight – “Crystalline”
• Key: F minor
• Chords: Fm – D♭maj7 – E♭ – D♭maj7

This one oozes nostalgia. It’s built around a minor tonic and two major chords lifted from its relative major (A♭), which gives it that glowing, synth-heavy warmth. The motion from i to VI to VII to VI creates a looping rise and fall, almost like waves in slow motion.

The use of maj7 chords smooths out the transitions and adds harmonic richness. It's emotional, melodic, and endlessly loopable, the backbone of a great melodic synthwave track.

3. i7-iv7-VII7-I7 - Blues in Neon

• Track: NINA & LAU – “Synthian” (Highway Superstar Remix)
• Key: B♭ minor
• Chords: B♭m7 – E♭m7 – A♭7 – B♭7

This is where synthwave crosses paths with soul and blues. The use of 7ths on every chord adds color and depth, giving it a looser, more expressive quality. The standout move here is landing on B♭7 instead of staying in pure minor.

That dominant I7 has a throwback funk feel that keeps the loop in motion, almost like it’s begging to start again. You’ll hear this style in retro-influenced remixes and tracks with a funk or R&B edge baked into the synths.

4. i-♭II-♭vi-V - Noir Driver

• Track: Droid Bishop – “Through the Night”
• Key: D minor
• Chords: Dm – E♭ – Gm – Cm – G

Now we’re in darker territory. This progression uses ♭II (E♭) as a Neapolitan punch right out the gate, which immediately creates tension and mystery. The rest of the loop dances between minor diatonic chords (Gm, Cm) and out-of-key surprises like G major, possibly borrowing from Dorian or just leaning into chromatic drama. It’s got a noir-like mood, perfect for that rain-soaked street and distant neon synthwave vibe.

5. i – ii – ♭IV – iv - The Broken Circuit

• Track: Street Cleaner – “Better the Devil You Know”
• Key: G♯ minor
• Chords: G♯m – A♯ – C – Cm

This one’s pure left-field. It starts out predictably enough with i – ii, then tosses in a ♭IV major (C) and iv minor (Cm), neither of which are in key. This kind of modal shift is classic synthwave. You expect one thing and get another, but the vibe still feels right. It’s a strange, slightly dissonant loop that works because of how unexpected it is. Perfect for unsettling or more aggressive tracks.

6. i – vi-iii - A Daydream Loop

• Track: Ace Buchannon – “Come Alive”
• Key: B♭ major
• Chords: B♭ – Gm – Dm

This is one of the simpler progressions on the list, but that’s exactly why it works. The motion from I to vi to iii feels natural and optimistic, giving you that drifting, euphoric emotion often heard in daytime synthwave or outrun-inspired music.

The iii chord adds just enough weight without dragging the progression down. Use this one when you're aiming for dreamy rather than dark.

7. i – ii – ♭VII – II – IV - Neo Pulse

• Track: Scandroid – “Neo-Tokyo (Dance with the Dead Remix)”
• Key: C minor
• Chords: C – Dm – B♭ – D – F

This one bends the rules in the best way. It starts in minor but immediately introduces Dm (ii) and B♭ (♭VII), both of which keep the loop floating. Then it jumps to D major (II), which is definitely out of key, and lands on F (IV), which ties it all back together.

These kinds of surprises give synthwave its emotional complexity. You make a couple of detours on the map, and that’s what keeps things interesting.

How to Write Your Own Synthwave Chord Progressions

To write a good synthwave chord progression, you don't need to reinvent music theory. All you have to do is lock into a mood. You don’t need a music degree or an analog synth collection to pull off a bangin' synthwave track either. With a few core techniques, you can write chord progressions that feel straight out of a retro movie montage or a VHS sci-fi opener.

Here’s how to start building your own.

Choose a Key

The first decision you’ll need to make is whether you want your synthwave track to lean bright and uplifting or moody and cinematic, and that usually comes down to choosing between a major or minor key.

Major keys (like C major, A♭ major, etc.) tend to give off a hopeful, nostalgic feel. These are found in upbeat synthwave tracks with sparkling pads and dreamy leads. Those often rely on major chords and major scale progressions like I–vi–IV–V.

Minor keys (like F minor or D minor) give you a darker, moodier tone. They’re a better fit for night-drive vibes, dystopian aesthetics, or anything more dramatic. Minor scale keys are also flexible, as you can pull in modal shifts or chromatic chords without it sounding off.

The beauty of synthwave music is that it doesn’t lock you into one or the other. Some of the best tracks shift between major and minor progressions depending on the section, which adds emotional variety without breaking the retro aesthetic.

Keep Verses and Choruses Simple

One of the things that makes the synthwave sound so effective is its simplicity. Verses and choruses are often built around simple chord progressions with just two or three chords, looping in a way that makes space for arpeggios, leads, vocals, or sound design to shine.

Example Verse Progression (minor key):

Fm – D♭maj7 – E♭

This gives you a gentle, emotional foundation, which is perfect for a verse that builds slowly.

Example Chorus Progression (major key):

A♭ – Fm – C minor – E♭

This has more movement but still stays within a tight harmonic range. It’s bright, euphoric, and easy to loop.

From there, you can start making small tweaks. Maybe you change the final chord of the chorus to a suspended chord (more on that below), or maybe you add a chromatic passing tone between the ii and V chords to create lift. The idea is to start with a clean, playable loop and then add color.

Making Use of Suspended Chords

Suspended chords are some of the easiest and most effective tools in a synthwave producer’s arsenal. They’re created by replacing the third of a chord with either the second (sus2) or fourth (sus4) scale degree.

For example:

• Csus2 = C – D – G
• Csus4 = C – F – G

The idea is that you’re “suspending” the resolution that a normal major or minor triad would give you. In synthwave, this works beautifully because the genre thrives on ambiguity. You don’t always want to sound happy or sad. Sometimes you want to sound lost, yearning, or in-between. Suspended chords offer exactly that.

They’re also ridiculously easy to play or program. Just grab your triad and shift the middle note up (for sus4) or down (for sus2). Want something richer? Layer a sus2 chord on top of a pad and add a seventh on top, and now you’ve got full retro drama.

Use Chord Inversions

If you’ve ever noticed that a lot of synthwave chord progressions sound like they’re not “moving” much, like they’re floating in place, that’s probably thanks to chord inversions.

An inversion is when you rearrange the order of a chord’s notes so that a note other than the root is in the bass. For example:

• C major root position: C – E – G
• 1st inversion: E – G – C
• 2nd inversion: G – C – E

In synthwave, inversions serve two big purposes:

1. They keep chord movement smooth. Instead of jumping around the keyboard, you’re sliding notes by just a few semitones.
2. They leave room in the low end. If you move the root note out of the bass, you can leave that space open for a sub or synth bassline.

To use them, try programming a four-chord loop in your DAW, then go in and change the second and fourth chords to first or second inversions. You’ll immediately notice the progression flows better and feels more emotional, without changing a single note of harmony.

Leave Pedal Tones Running

A pedal tone is a note (usually in the bass) that stays the same while the chords above it change. It creates a feeling of tension or emotional gravity, depending on how it’s used.

In synthwave, pedal tones can be used to ground a progression in a specific tonal center, build tension during a breakdown or pre-chorus, or just create hypnotic loops that feel endless.

For example, start with a progression like C – Dm – G – Am, and play a low C under the entire thing. That static bass note creates an unsettled feeling. The chords are moving, but the foundation isn’t. It’s a subtle trick that can make your chord progressions sound a whole lot more interesting.

Just note that pedal tones are best used sparingly. If everything in your entire track is static, the tension disappears. But if you use them during transitions or quiet moments, they can be a powerful tool for pulling the listener in.

Copy Your Notes an Octave Down

Want your chords to feel bigger and more lush? One quick trick is to copy the root note of each chord and drop it an octave lower. Instant warmth.

This is especially useful when building a bassline. In synthwave, the bass often mirrors the root movement of the chords. So if your chord progression is F – A♭ – B♭ – C, try adding those same notes one or two octaves below in a bass synth or saw pad. Layering them gives you more body and glue across the mix.

With that said, you don’t always need to follow the exact chord voicing. Sometimes it sounds even better when the bass stays on the same note (pedal tone) or slides into the root late. The goal is to get the emotion and feel you're looking for, even if it doesn't align with traditional music theory.

Additional Production Tips

Once your chord progressions are in place, it’s time to bring them to life with a bit of production. The production choices you make, everything from how you voice your synthwave chords to how you treat them with effects, are what will ultimately help you capture the synthwave vibe.

Here are two essential techniques to make your synthwave songs sound more cinematic:

Use Arpeggios for Melodic Complexity

An arpeggio is when you play the notes of a chord one at a time instead of all at once. It’s one of the easiest ways to add movement and melody to your progression without writing an entirely new part. In synthwave, arpeggios are often used to fill space, create a pulse, or add that hypnotic, shimmering feel that defines the genre.

They work especially well over simple chord progressions. Even a basic A minor to F to G loop can sound brand new if you run an arpeggiated line over it using a plucky synth or sequencer.

The Stranger Things theme by Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein is built almost entirely around a haunting arpeggio. It's one of the reasons you get such great tension, motion, and texture from that theme song.

You can program arpeggios manually in your DAW’s piano roll or use an arpeggiator plugin to experiment with patterns. Change the note order (up, down, random), adjust the rate (eighths, sixteenths), and sync it to your BPM. Throw in a few random notes if you want. A simple chord progression instantly becomes more immersive with some melodic elements.

Drench Your Sounds in Reverb

Reverb is the lifeblood of synthwave music. It’s how producers get dry analog synths to sound like lush pads or tight drum samples to sound like they’re echoing through an empty city street. Without reverb, it's hard to capture that atmospheric, cinematic wash synthwave is known for.

But while synthwave is known for heavy reverb, more isn’t always better. It has to be mixed with intent.

Here’s how to use it effectively:

• For pads and ambient chords, use long, lush plate or hall reverbs to create a wide stereo field.
• For leads and arps, go for shorter or modulated reverbs to add shimmer without blurring the rhythm.
• For snares and claps, gated or pre-delay reverb gives you that classic ‘80s snap while keeping the mix tight.
• Use reverb buses instead of inserting reverb on every track. This way, you can control the reverb level independently and keep your dry signal clean.
• Finally, use EQ on your reverb return. By cutting low end and rolling off some highs, you can stop things from getting too muddy.

Dialed in right, reverb isn’t just an effect. It’s the atmosphere itself.

Final Thoughts

Writing great synthwave chord progressions is easier than it looks. Once you understand a few simple structures and know how to twist them with suspended chords, inversions, or pedal tones, you’ve got everything you need to create that signature nostalgic energy.

From there, it’s all about the sounds. The right synths, drum kits, and textures will take your chord progressions from basic to cinematic. If you’re ready to build out a full track, check out our full guide on how to make synthwave . In this guide, we cover everything from sound design to mixdown techniques.

Now go fire up your DAW and make something retro-futuristic.