Pop · Intermediate · major key
Extended Canon turnaround
I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – ii – V — The Canon walk-down with a ii–V at the end that pushes harder back to the top.
Chord shapes in G major (standard tuning)
Using a different tuning? Open it in the Looper — it finds playable shapes for whatever tuning you choose.
How the chords work
Written in Roman numerals, this progression is I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – ii – V — in C major that is C – G – Am – Em – F – C – Dm – G. Each numeral is a step of the scale; upper case is a major chord, lower case minor.
- I — the home chord — the progression feels finished when it lands here.
- V — the tension chord that wants to resolve home.
- vi — the relative minor — the "sad" chord of a major key.
- iii — a gentle minor chord that shares two notes with I.
- IV — a bright, open chord a fourth above home — the "amen" chord.
- ii — a soft minor chord that leads towards V (a "pre-dominant").
Extended Canon turnaround in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| C major | CGAmEmFCDmG | Looper |
| G major | GDEmBmCGAmD | Looper |
| D major | DABmF#mGDEmA | Looper |
| A major | AEF#mC#mDABmE | Looper |
| E major | EBC#mG#mAEF#mB | Looper |
| B major | BF#G#mD#mEBC#mF# | Looper |
| F# major | F#C#D#mA#mBF#G#mC# | Looper |
| Db major | DbAbBbmFmGbDbEbmAb | Looper |
| Ab major | AbEbFmCmDbAbBbmEb | Looper |
| Eb major | EbBbCmGmAbEbFmBb | Looper |
| Bb major | BbFGmDmEbBbCmF | Looper |
| F major | FCDmAmBbFGmC | Looper |
Practice ideas
- Beginners: play one strum per chord and say the chord names out loud, then two strums, then a steady down-down-up-up-down-up pattern.
- Change keys with a capo: keep the G major shapes and move a capo up — the capo calculator shows which fret gives the key you want.
- Solo over it: loop it in the Looper and improvise with the G major pentatonic or G major scale — the scale pages show every position and play a backing track.
- Train your ear: the progression ear trainer mixes this with similar progressions until you can tell them apart.
Similar progressions
- I–vi–IV–ii–V I – vi – IV – ii – V
- Scale climb I–iii–IV–V–vi I – iii – IV – V – vi
- I–V–vi–iii–IV I – V – vi – iii – IV
- Royal Road full cadence IVmaj7 – V7 – iii7 – vi – ii7 – V7 – I – I
- Major circle of fifths I – IV – vii° – iii – vi – ii – V – I
- Bird blues (Parker changes) Imaj7 – viiø7 – III7 – vi7 – II7 – v7 – I7 – IV7 – iv7 – ♭VII7 – iii7 – VI7 – ii7 – ♭III7 – ii7 – V7
← i–ii°–V–i (classical minor) · I–iii–IV–iv →
← All 198 chord progressions · Generate a new one
Questions
What chords are in the I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – ii – V progression?
In G major: G – D – Em – Bm – C – G – Am – D. In C major / A minor: C – G – Am – Em – F – C – Dm – G. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – ii – V on guitar?
G major uses the most open-position chord shapes in standard tuning. Use a capo with those shapes to reach other keys.