V-IV-I Turnaround
The V-IV-I turnaround is the chord progression V-IV-I. In the key of C major it is G F C, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 5 4 1.
It is also known as blues turnaround.
The same loop is also written I-V-IV.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
V falls to IV and then to I, the reverse of the classical order, so the dominant unwinds instead of resolving directly. It comes from bars 9 to 11 of the twelve-bar blues and carried over into rock. It is diatonic to the major scale, though blues players usually use dominant sevenths.
The same loop as I-V-IV
The primary triads in reverse of the textbook order: V falls to IV instead of resolving to I. That backward step takes the tension out of the dominant and gives a relaxed, open rock sound. It is diatonic to the major scale. The closed form I-V-IV-I is the same loop.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bad Moon Rising | Creedence Clearwater Revival | verse | D A G D | D major |
| Twelve-bar blues | Traditional | bars 9 to 11 | E D A | a major |
| Budapest | George Ezra | chorus | C Bb F | F major |
| Maggie May | Rod Stewart | pre-chorus and chorus | A G D | D major |
| Magic Carpet Ride | Steppenwolf | verse | D C G | G major |
| Yellow Submarine | The Beatles | verse | C# B F# | F# major |
| The Middle | Jimmy Eat World | intro, verse and chorus | D A G | D major |
| Drift Away | Uncle Kracker | chorus | B F# E | B major |
| The Rose | Bette Midler | intro and verse | C G F | C major |
| Dream Police | Cheap Trick | intro and chorus | E B A | E major |
V-IV-I Turnaround: Chords and Audio in C, G, D, A and E
Press play to hear each key. The diagrams show the shapes used in the audio, and every chord links to its full page.
More progressions like this one
- vi-IV-I: Am F C
- IV-V-vi: F G Am
- I-iii-vi-IV: C Em Am F
- vi-iii-IV-I: Am Em F C
All guitar chord progressions →
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What are the chords of the V-IV-I turnaround in each key?
In C major: G F C. In G major: D C G. In D major: A G D. In A major: E D A. In E major: B A E.
Which songs use the V-IV-I turnaround?
Songs that use it include Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Twelve-bar blues by Traditional, Budapest by George Ezra.
