Jazz · Beginner · major key
I–vi–ii–V turnaround
I – vi – ii – V — The 50s progression with ii instead of IV — smoother, jazzier, and the backbone of countless standards.
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 – vi – ii – V — in C major that is C – Am – 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.
- vi — the relative minor — the "sad" chord of a major key.
- ii — a soft minor chord that leads towards V (a "pre-dominant").
- V — the tension chord that wants to resolve home.
I–vi–ii–V turnaround in all 12 keys
| Key | Chords | Hear / play |
|---|---|---|
| C major | CAmDmG | Looper |
| G major | GEmAmD | Looper |
| D major | DBmEmA | Looper |
| A major | AF#mBmE | Looper |
| E major | EC#mF#mB | Looper |
| B major | BG#mC#mF# | Looper |
| F# major | F#D#mG#mC# | Looper |
| Db major | DbBbmEbmAb | Looper |
| Ab major | AbFmBbmEb | Looper |
| Eb major | EbCmFmBb | Looper |
| Bb major | BbGmCmF | Looper |
| F major | FDmGmC | Looper |
Songs that use it
- Blue Moon — Rodgers & Hart
Song examples use this progression (or a very close variant) in at least one main section; keys and voicings differ.
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
- I6–vi7 swing vamp I6 – vi7 – ii7 – V7
- Bird blues (Parker changes) Imaj7 – viiø7 – III7 – vi7 – II7 – v7 – I7 – IV7 – iv7 – ♭VII7 – iii7 – VI7 – ii7 – ♭III7 – ii7 – V7
- Jazz circle iii–vi–ii–V–I iii7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7 – Imaj7
- Imaj7–vi7–ii7–V7 Imaj7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7
- Circle progression (vi–ii–V–I) vi – ii – V – I
- Rhythm changes A section Imaj7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7 – iii7 – VI7 – ii7 – V7
← 50s / doo-wop progression · Three-chord trick (I–IV–V) →
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Questions
What chords are in the I – vi – ii – V progression?
In G major: G – Em – Am – D. In C major / A minor: C – Am – Dm – G. The table on this page lists all 12 keys.
What is the best key to play I – vi – 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.
What songs use the i–vi–ii–v turnaround?
For example: Blue Moon — Rodgers & Hart.