I - vi - ii - V Chord Progression

Jazz standard. Smooth, sophisticated movement.

Select a key below to see the progression transposed. Click any chord to open its diagram and fingering.

Chords in the key of C:

CAmDmG

Chord diagrams — click to open fingering

BPM

One chord per bar (4/4). Loops until you pause.

Major scale in C

Highlighted chords appear in this progression.

  • CI
  • Dmii
  • Emiii
  • FIV
  • GV
  • Amvi
  • Bdimvii°

Practice improvisation

Jam session: try soloing with the built-in progression player, or use a metronome to lock in your timing.

For a simple rule that usually sounds good, match the root of the scale to the key you chose above (C): use C major pentatonic. The notes line up with that tonal center so your lines feel connected to the chords. Borrowed or altered chords can add color, but this major pentatonic is still a reliable starting point for practice.

C major pentatonic, position 1

EADGBe7891011
Root notes in blue; other scale tones in dark gray.

Open C major pentatonic on the interactive fretboard

All keys at a glance

This progression works in all twelve keys — here are the chords for each.

I - vi - ii - V in natural keys
KeyIviiiV
CCAmDmG
DDBmEmA
EEC#mF#mB
FFDmGmC
GGEmAmD
AAF#mBmE
BBG#mC#mF#
Show all 12 keys
I - vi - ii - V in enharmonic keys
KeyIviiiV
C#/DbDbC#BbmA#mEbmD#mAbG#
D#/EbEbD#CmFmBbA#
F#/GbF#GbD#mEbmG#mAbmC#Db
G#/AbAbG#FmBbmA#mEbD#
A#/BbBbA#GmCmF

Songs that use this progression

  • Fly Me to the Moon
  • Autumn Leaves

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