Chord progression · A♭ major

The turnaround (I–vi–ii–V) in A♭ major

A classic loop from jazz and doo-wop. Each chord pulls to the next by a 4th, and the V leads straight back to the start.

Chords in A♭ major
A♭→Fm→B♭m→E♭
Numerals
IviiiV

Play along

4 bars of 4 beats, looping · pick a key above to transpose

1A♭I
2Fmvi
3B♭mii
4E♭V

Strum pattern: ↓   ↓↑  ↑↓↑ (down, down-up, up-down-up) — count “1 2 & 3 & 4 &”. Learn this strum →

The chords

I A♭
4fr1A♭3E♭4A♭2C1E♭1A♭
1A♭2E♭4A♭3C
CA♭E♭A♭ C E♭
vi Fm
1F3C4F1A♭1C1F
1A♭C2F3C
CFA♭Fm/A♭
ii B♭m
×1B♭3F4B♭2D♭1F
3B♭1D♭1F1B♭
C4FB♭D♭B♭ D♭ F
V E♭
6fr×1E♭2B♭3E♭4G1B♭
G3E♭4G1B♭
C4GB♭E♭E♭/B♭

Piano voicings use inversions so each chord is as close as possible to the one before — your hand barely moves. Switch to “Root position” to compare.