Turnaround

I–vi–ii–V · 1-6-2-5 · C major · IM7–vi7–ii7–V7

Play this pattern

Turnaround is a chord pattern you can play in any key. The degrees are IM7–vi7–ii7–V7.

Four chords that go once round and come back to the start. Used when a chorus ends and the song returns to the top.

Patterns are common chord moves. They are not the chart of a recorded hit.

Patterns are named by theory. Play them in any key that fits your voice.

Each song page has a chord chart, fingerings, and the same song in every key.

The pattern

IM7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7

Cmaj7 · Am7 · Dm7 · G7

Chord chart

Chord chart
1	Cmaj7	Am7	Dm7	G7

How to sing it

These are the two bars where one phrase ends and the song returns to the top. Breathe in on the last chord and throw the new phrase onto the first chord of the next lap, and the join is seamless.

In every key

In every key
Keys	Chord chart
C major · Written in this key	Cmaj7 · Am7 · Dm7 · G7
Db major	Dbmaj7 · Bbm7 · Ebm7 · Ab7
D major	Dmaj7 · Bm7 · Em7 · A7
Eb major	Ebmaj7 · Cm7 · Fm7 · Bb7
E major	Emaj7 · C#m7 · F#m7 · B7
F major	Fmaj7 · Dm7 · Gm7 · C7
F# major	F#maj7 · D#m7 · G#m7 · C#7
G major	Gmaj7 · Em7 · Am7 · D7
Ab major	Abmaj7 · Fm7 · Bbm7 · Eb7
A major	Amaj7 · F#m7 · Bm7 · E7
Bb major	Bbmaj7 · Gm7 · Cm7 · F7
B major	Bmaj7 · G#m7 · C#m7 · F#7

Heard in

Blue Moon · Richard Rodgers · Lorenz Hart. Turns twice at two bars per chord before the A section of an AABA form (B♭–Gm–Cm–F). Often cited as the earliest recording of this progression; the bridge is different.
I Got Rhythm · George Gershwin. The A section repeats this cycle, but at four chords per two bars, twice as fast as here, and versions often play the second slot as a dominant.

These songs use this pattern. This is not their chord chart: real recordings differ in key, rhythm and the chords they add.

Public-domain songs with this pattern

Danny Boy