Guitar · Level 5 · Intermediate

The I–vi–ii–V turnaround on Guitar

Imaj7–vi7–ii7–V7 in all 12 keys.

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THE SHORT ANSWER

The turnaround circles through four chords, two beats each, to lead back to the start of a tune. It trains faster chord changes inside a bar.

Choose a key

C majorCmaj7 Am7 · Dm7 G7 · Cmaj7 Am7 · Dm7 G7D♭ majorD♭maj7 B♭m7 · E♭m7 A♭7 · D♭maj7 B♭m7 · E♭m7 A♭7D majorDmaj7 Bm7 · Em7 A7 · Dmaj7 Bm7 · Em7 A7E♭ majorE♭maj7 Cm7 · Fm7 B♭7 · E♭maj7 Cm7 · Fm7 B♭7E majorEmaj7 C♯m7 · F♯m7 B7 · Emaj7 C♯m7 · F♯m7 B7F majorFmaj7 Dm7 · Gm7 C7 · Fmaj7 Dm7 · Gm7 C7F♯ majorF♯maj7 D♯m7 · G♯m7 C♯7 · F♯maj7 D♯m7 · G♯m7 C♯7G majorGmaj7 Em7 · Am7 D7 · Gmaj7 Em7 · Am7 D7A♭ majorA♭maj7 Fm7 · B♭m7 E♭7 · A♭maj7 Fm7 · B♭m7 E♭7A majorAmaj7 F♯m7 · Bm7 E7 · Amaj7 F♯m7 · Bm7 E7B♭ majorB♭maj7 Gm7 · Cm7 F7 · B♭maj7 Gm7 · Cm7 F7B majorBmaj7 G♯m7 · C♯m7 F♯7 · Bmaj7 G♯m7 · C♯m7 F♯7

Listen first: C major

Cmaj7

C major seventh

Notes: C · E · G · B

×EADGBE

Am7

A minor seventh

Notes: A · C · E · G

×EADGBE

Dm7

D minor seventh

Notes: D · F · A · C

××EADGBE

G7

G dominant seventh

Notes: G · B · D · F

EADGBE
1
Cmaj7Am7
2
Dm7G7
3
Cmaj7Am7
4
Dm7G7

Why it works

Each root falls a fifth (or rises a fourth) to the next — the circle of fifths in miniature.

On another instrument

The I–vi–ii–V turnaround on Piano →The I–vi–ii–V turnaround on Ukulele →The I–vi–ii–V turnaround on Mandolin →The I–vi–ii–V turnaround on Banjo →The I–vi–ii–V turnaround on Violin →The I–vi–ii–V turnaround on Flute →

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