How to Make Chord Progressions in FL Studio
Build the harmonic foundation of your song. Learn to stack notes and use the Stamp tool to create professional chord progressions.
This guide shows you how to build chords even if you don't know music theory. You will learn to use the Stamp tool and basic stacking techniques.
Follow these steps
Select a Chord Template
Click the 'Stamp' tool (arrow icon) in the Piano Roll menu. Select a chord type like 'Major' or 'Minor 9th' from the list.
Place Chords on the Grid
Click on the grid to drop the full chord. Place the next chord a few beats later, usually changing the root note to create a progression.
Use Note Inversions
Select a note within a chord and press Ctrl+Up or Ctrl+Down to move it an octave. This 'inversion' makes the transition between chords sound smoother.
Apply the Strum Tool
Select your chords and press Alt+S. Adjust the 'Start time' knob to mimic the way a guitar or piano player hits notes sequentially.
Common mistakes
- Using 'blocky' chords where every note starts and ends at the same time, which sounds unnatural.
- Creating chords that are too low in pitch, resulting in a 'muddy' sound.