I - vi - ii - V

Also known as a circle-of-fifths turnaround.

A relative of the '50s progression that swaps the IV for a ii chord. The roots now descend around the circle of fifths for three chords running, giving the same overall shape a slightly more sophisticated pull toward the final V.

Hear it in different keys

In A major

I A vim F#m iim Bm V E

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In Eb major

I Eb vim Cm iim Fm V Bb

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Heard in

Famous songs built on this progression. Learn the loop above and you can play along with them.

The Way You Look Tonight — Jerome Kern
Unforgettable — Nat King Cole

Each key above has a MIDI download with every chord played back to back, ready to drop into any DAW or notation program.

Roman numerals show scale degree and quality: uppercase for major, lowercase for minor, a small circle for diminished. Tap any chord above to open its full page, with a diagram and playback.