John Legend shares his go-to chord progressions

John Legend has made history with his R&B, soul, and pop-infused hits, including tracks like “Ordinary People,” “Love Me Now,” and of course, “All of Me.“

In the video above, the multi-platinum, 13-time GRAMMY winner sat down with us to share some of his favorite chord progressions that he instinctively reaches for when trying out the new sounds inside of Splice INSTRUMENT. Join us to hear him react to each preset in real time—what it reminds him of, how it inspires him, and the harmonies he’d use to start a new song or production.

If you liked what you heard, you can learn more about each of the INSTRUMENT packs he used below:

• Fluid Cello
• Studio Brass
• Micah’s Choir
• Wurli
• Charango
• John Legend: Ordinary People Piano

And for more insights from John Legend, be sure to also check out our in-depth Ctrl+B episode:

Which chord progression or INSTRUMENT preset was your favorite? Who else would you like to see us feature next? Let us know in the comments section of the video, and subscribe to the Splice YouTube channel for more artist-led tips, tutorials, and insights.

Incorporate John Legend’s Ordinary People Piano in your own music:

February 4, 2026

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Harrison Shimazu

Harrison Shimazu is a composer, content strategist, and writer who’s passionate about democratizing music creation and education. He leads the Splice blog and produces vocaloid music as Namaboku.