Chord progression · G major

The turnaround (I–vi–ii–V) in G 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 G major
G→Em→Am→D
Numerals
IviiiV

Play along

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

1GI
2Emvi
3Amii
4DV

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

The chords

I G
2G1BDGB3G
G1D3G2B
GBC4DG B D
vi Em
E1B2EGBE
G3EE1B
GBC4EEm/G
ii Am
×A2E3A1CE
1ACEA
ACEA C E
V D
××D1A3D2F♯
1A2D3F♯A
AC4DF♯D/A

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.