Bringing authentic session musician vibes to your MPC is no longer reserved for those with years of theory or a tricked-out studio. At LoFi Weekly, we’re obsessed with breaking down the creative barriers for bedroom producers, making it possible to trigger sophisticated, soulful chord progressions with nothing more than your MPC pads and a great set of sounds—no jazz degree required. Whether you work after hours or squeeze in production between classes, we know that you crave a workflow where inspiration comes first and guessing chords doesn’t even factor in.
What Makes a Progression “Sound Like a Session Musician”?
A real session musician brings nuance: lush voicings, flowing transitions, accidental passing tones, and a movement that feels human. These aren’t generic three-note blocks thrown on the grid. Instead, they’re built with genre-accurate phrasing, tension and release, subtle ninths and suspensions, and the ability to slip under a verse or carry the hook. On the MPC, getting this level of nuance—fast—is all about using the right progressions in Pad Perform mode.
The Power of MPC Pad Perform + Custom Chord Progressions
Pad Perform mode on the MPC (Live, One, X, Akai Force, and even controller setups) can take a progression and turn your pads into an instrument that plays like the real deal. When you load in custom progressions curated for style and voicings, it’s as if you have a session player at your fingertips. Instead of static grid-locked MIDI, you get:
- Chord changes built for your genre—hip-hop, lo-fi, soul, trap, or jazz.
- Voicings that highlight imperfections, color notes, and human swing.
- Progressions designed for quick inspiration: verse, chorus, bridge, and fills.
- A playable, performance-based songwriting tool—perfect for both fast beatmaking and deep composition.
If you’re new to custom progressions or want a refresher on getting set up, check out our resource MPC Custom Chord Progressions for deeper tips.
10 MPC Pad Perform Progressions That Capture a Session Musician’s Feel
Below we break down 10 progressions from our most beloved LoFi Weekly packs. Each one is tailored to sound immediately authentic for modern hip hop and lo-fi—whether you want to channel 70s soul, West Coast jazz, East Coast grit, or experimental harmony. While you don’t need to memorize the exact voicings (the packs do all the heavy lifting), we offer practical beatmaking tips for each to maximize their impact.
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“Cm7-F7-BbMaj7-EbMaj7” – Soulful Seventies (Progression #12)
Saturated in classic 70s soul influence, this four-chord loop is ripe with lush ninth and eleventh extensions—think of a Rhodes player in a smoky studio laying the foundation for love songs. Trigger this sequence on your pads at 82 BPM and layer with dusty keys or vinyl-texture samples from our free packs. Try the Soulful Seventies pack for the entire palette. -
“F#m7b5-B7-E7-A7” – Dilla Inspired (Progression #27)
With the half-diminished feel and jazzy movement, this one is tailor-made for swung, behind-the-beat production styles in the vein of J Dilla. Let the chord tension resolve naturally—playing with half-velocity for dynamics. The Dilla Inspired pack goes deep into that unmistakable soulful jazz vocabulary. -
“Dm9-G13-Cmaj7-Am7” – Good Job LoFi (Progression #34)
Channel the West Coast with these smooth, elegant dominants and a laid-back jazzy cadence. This is the backbone for mellow, Larry June-style vibes. Use at halftime for extra contour and let it roll over swung drums. The Good Job LoFi pack is designed for this sound, no theory headaches required. -
“Em7-A7-Dm7-G7” – BOOMBOOMBOOM (Progression #8)
East Coast drama and minor ii-V energy reign here. This sequence brings that gritty, urban edge often found with the Griselda sound. Shift down a couple of semitones for extra moodiness and stack with a hard drum break. The BOOMBOOMBOOM pack is crafted for that raw feel. -
“Gmaj7-Bm7-C#7-F#7” – The Creator (Progression #45)
Inspired by the genre-bending chords of Tyler, The Creator, this set sidesteps the obvious, offering lush alterations and bold resolutions. Play diagonally across the pads, experimenting with hardware sustain pedals for movement. The full range is in The Creator pack. -
“Bbmin7-Eb7-Abmaj7-DbMaj7” – Alchemy (Progression #19)
For fans of cinematic, underground beats, these chords are spiced with soulful suspensions and subtle complexity. Great for narrative tracks, they work superbly with arps or atmospheric one-shots from other LoFi Weekly free packs. Explore more from the Alchemy pack. -
“Amaj7-Dmaj7-Em7-G#m7” – Mac Attac (Progression #52)
Capturing the dreamy, jazzy nostalgia of Mac Miller, these progressions benefit hugely from real-time sustain pedal use and wide voicings. Play gently for emotional, introspective parts or as a chorus lead-in. Find more in Mac Attac. -
“Cmaj7-A7-Dm7-G7” – The Hits, Hit-Boy Style (Progression #3)
Anthemic, modern boom bap comes alive with this sequence. Keep the groove tight and use pad mutes or note repeat to inject rhythmic bounce. For more like this, the The Hits pack blends both soulful and cinematic progressions. -
“Ebmaj7-Gm7-Cm7-F7” – Soulful Seventies II (Progression #41)
Going deeper into expanded 70s colors, this progression calls for slow BPMs and live-feeling phrasing. Try chaining with another progression for a full song arc. The Soulful Seventies II pack is all about complex, musical harmony. -
“Fmaj7-Em7-Dm7-G7” – Ultralight (Progression #22)
Soulful gospel textures inspired by Kanye, yet available as a free download. Trigger chords in double-stops for gospel runs and experiment with fills between pads. Perfect for anyone just getting started with Pad Perform.
Practical Tips for Getting the Most Out of Progressions
To really unlock these progressions with the nuance of a session musician, try these field-tested approaches:
- Fixed Velocity (Half Level): Use fixed velocity on your pads for demoing, then adjust individual velocities in your DAW for realism.
- Sustain Like a Pianist: If you have a sustain pedal, map it for extended notes and smoother transitions between voicings—vital for ballads and downtempo beats.
- Transpose Pads: Don’t be afraid to shift the root a few semitones up or down. This totally changes the emotional effect without altering the original vibe.
- Switch Up Pad Patterns: Use diagonal or offset triggering across the pad grid for chord inversions or more inventive phrasing.
- Try Arpeggiator and Note Repeat: Turn progressions into rhythmic elements, not just harmonic beds, for modern, syncopated effects.
- Chaining Progressions: For an organic song structure, sequence two or three progressions from different packs—just like a guitarist switching between verse and chorus.
Loading Custom Progressions into MPC Pad Perform: Quick Guide
Installing these progressions into your MPC workflow is simple and doesn’t take more than a couple of minutes:
- Download the desired pack ZIP from the LoFi Weekly store.
- Unzip and copy all .mid files to your MPC’s Programs > Progressions folder via USB or internal storage.
- On your MPC, create a plugin or keygroup track and press Pad Perform.
- Go to the Progressions tab, find your new category (see STEP 1), and pick a progression.
- Assign your preferred key, scale, and octave. Hit Record, start tapping the pads in sequence, and shape the song live.
- Try swapping banks or pitch for endless inspiration and loop-making.
If you want to go deeper on custom installation, we break down every step in this detailed guide.
How to Mix and Match for Full Arrangements
One of the best things about these progressions is flexibility. We often start a track by picking a verse loop from Soulful Seventies, chaining into a chorus from Dilla Inspired or even switching up to Hit-Boy-style energy for the bridge. By assigning each progression to its own pad bank, you can trigger song sections in a performance-style workflow, blurring the lines between beatmaking and live arrangement.
This approach not only boosts musicality but lets you experiment freely, creating arrangements that would take longer if piecing together single chords or random loops. Pair it with a few of our 170+ free sample packs for an all-day inspiration source.
What Sets LoFi Weekly’s Progressions Apart?
We started LoFi Weekly as one passionate producer, tired of lifeless MIDI packs and the endless hunt for real musicality. Every progression is crafted with a focus on genre authenticity, natural flow, and creative playability within the hardware environment. Our goal: make you feel like there’s a live session pro jamming with you. No gatekeeping, endless free tools, and a catalog shaped by the needs of people just like us.
- Instant download. No friction—just drag to your MPC.
- Royalty-free, even for commercial releases.
- Compatible with MPC (Live, X, One, Force), Akai software, and Scaler 2.
- Every progression tested for both musicality and speed—never generic dumps.
Dig Deeper: Additional Resources
- For step-by-step customization, check out how to make your own MPC chord progressions.
- For tips on balancing drums and harmonic content, explore how to use drum breaks in hip hop production.
Wrap Up: Start with Free Progressions and Make Them Your Own
You don’t need a big budget or a full studio to get that “session musician” sound. Start with free Ultralight progressions and see how quickly your workflow upgrades. When you’re ready, go deeper with boutique packs for boom bap, soul, jazz, and beyond.
We believe every producer deserves inspiring, playable tools. Browse our store for the full selection—including sample packs, MIDI tools, and genre-curated progressions. If you have suggestions for new styles or just want to share how these progressions work for you, we’d love to hear from you. Your workflow, our mission.