Circle I – vi – ii – V

General info

Progression

Circle I – vi – ii – V

Pattern

I – vi – ii – V

Type

Major

Mode

major

Genre

Jazz / swing

Chord count

4

Brief character

I–vi–ii–V: a turnaround whose vi–ii–V fifth motion leads back to the tonic

Progression composition

Construction logic

After tonic, the roots vi – ii – V move by descending fifths, and dominant V prepares a return to I. I – vi – ii – V therefore works as a turnaround: it closes a section and returns the harmony to its beginning. The progression appears in jazz, popular song, and doo-wop.

How it sounds

Character

Major functional progression

Perceptual context

Depends on melody, rhythm, tempo, register, and texture

Stability

Low — open ending on dominant

Completeness

Open — ends on dominant

Harmonic functions

Tonic establishes a stable centre, predominant prepares dominant, and dominant directs the motion back toward tonic.

Tensions & resolutions

Tension builds on V, ii.

Harmonic context

Diatonic chords, scales, modes and cadences in the selected key:

The progression transposes to any key — the structure (degrees) stays the same, only the specific chords change.

Variability

• Replace triads with seventh chords for a richer sound
• Try chord inversions for smoother voice leading
• Add passing chords between the main degrees