4 Chord Techniques That Will INSTANTLY Improve Your Music
If your tracks sound flat or forgettable, your chords are usually the reason.
The good news? You don’t need advanced music theory to fix it.
In this guide, you’ll learn 4 chord techniques that will instantly improve your music — practical tools used in EDM, house, and modern pop to add emotion, movement, and originality.
Start Simple: Choose an Easy Key
To keep things clear, we’ll work in A minor.
A minor is ideal for producers because:
- It’s widely used in EDM and dance music
- It only uses white keys
- Everything is easy to transpose later
Once you understand these chord techniques, you can apply them in any key.
Build Basic Chords First
Every chord starts the same way.
A basic triad contains:
- The root
- The third
- The fifth
You build these by skipping every other note in the scale.
When you do this across the entire key, you get diatonic chords.
They sound fine — but on their own, they’re very safe.
Technique 1: Add 7ths and 9ths
This is one of the fastest ways to improve your chords.
Instead of stopping at a triad, try adding:
- A 7th (seven notes above the root)
- A 9th (nine notes above the root)
These extensions instantly make chords sound fuller, smoother, and more emotional.
You don’t need to change the progression — just stack higher notes.
Technique 2: Use Borrowed Chords
Borrowed chords come from the parallel key.
If you’re working in A minor, the parallel key is A major.
This lets you temporarily swap a minor chord for its major version.
The result?
- More color
- More movement
- A slightly jazzy, disco-inspired feel
This technique is perfect for second loops or turnarounds. If you are curious to learn more about the concept of borrowed chords, then check out this article here: Borrowed Chords
Technique 3: Use Suspended Chords for Tension
Suspended chords remove the third of the chord and replace it with:
- Sus2 (the second note of the scale)
- Sus4 (the fourth note of the scale)
Suspended chords feel unresolved.
That’s why they’re so powerful.
They work especially well:
- At the end of a progression
- Before a drop
- When resolving back to the root chord
Technique 4: Use Chord Inversions and Slash Chords
Chord inversions change the order of notes within a chord.
This helps your progressions:
- Flow more smoothly
- Sound richer
- Avoid large jumps between chords
Slash chords are inversions where the bass note is different from the chord root.
They’re a simple way to add sophistication without adding complexity.
Combine These Techniques for Maximum Impact
Each technique works on its own.
But when you combine them, your chords instantly feel more professional.
- Start with simple triads
- Add 7ths or 9ths
- Swap in borrowed chords
- Create tension with sus chords
- Smooth everything out with inversions
Not every track needs complex harmony.
But when the vibe calls for emotion and movement, these tools make all the difference.
Once you’ve written a strong chord progression, the next step is turning that harmony into something listeners remember — a melody that feels effortless, catchy, and emotionally locked to the chords underneath.
Check out how to write a professional melody by clicking here.
Want to Take Your Music to the Next Level?
That’s exactly what we help producers with in the EDM Tips Accelerator Program.
It’s our high-level coaching program designed to help producers like you finish professional-quality tracks faster — with personal feedback, expert guidance, and a proven system used by students who are now releasing on top labels and touring the world, accruing hundreds of millions of streams with their music.
