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Chord progression · E major

The turnaround (I–vi–ii–V) in E 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 E major
E→C♯m→F♯m→B
Numerals
IviiiV

Play along

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

1EI
2C♯mvi
3F♯mii
4BV

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

The chords

I E
E2B3E1G♯BE
1G♯4EE2B
EBC5G♯E G♯ B
vi C♯m
×4C♯2E1G♯3C♯E
1G♯2C♯E4C♯
EC5G♯C♯C♯m/E
ii F♯m
1F♯3C♯4F♯1A1C♯1F♯
2A1C♯3F♯A
AC5F♯C♯F♯ A C♯
V B
×1B2F♯3B4D♯1F♯
3B2D♯1F♯1B
BC5F♯D♯B/F♯

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.

I–vi–ii–V in every key

CD♭DE♭EFF♯GA♭AB♭B

More progressions in E major

I–V–vi–IVI–IV–V–IVI–vi–IV–Vvi–IV–I–V12-bar bluesii–V–II–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–VI–♭VII–IV–I