Major I-vi-ii-V Progression in G

Tritone substitutes

Gmaj7 Em7 Am7 Ab7

Each dominant 7th that resolves down a fifth becomes the dominant a tritone away, which shares its 3rd and 7th, so the bass moves by half steps.

Backdoor dominants

Gmaj7 Em7 Cm7 F7

Each V7 resolving to a major chord comes in by the back door from bVII7, with iv7 for its ii, borrowed from the minor key.

Major I-VI-ii-V

Imaj7 VI7 | ii7 V7

In G: Gmaj7 E7 Am7 D7

The standard turnaround back to the top of a major tune, with VI7, the dominant of ii, in place of the diatonic vi chord.

Major iii-VI-ii-V

iii7 VI7 | ii7 V7

In G: Bm7 E7 Am7 D7

The I-VI-ii-V turnaround with iii, which shares three notes with the I chord, standing in for the tonic.

Diminished Passing Turnaround

Imaj7 ♯i°7 | ii7 V7

In G: Gmaj7 G#dim7 Am7 D7

The I-VI-ii-V with a diminished 7th chord on #I in place of VI7, so the bass rises by half steps from I to ii.

Tritone Sub Turnaround

Imaj7 ♭III7 | ii7 ♭II7

In G: Gmaj7 Bb7 Am7 Ab7

The I-VI-ii-V with tritone substitutes for its dominants, bIII7 for VI7 and bII7 for V7, so the bass falls by half steps from bIII back to I.

Chromatic iii-bIII-ii-bII

iii7 ♭III7 | ii7 ♭II7

In G: Bm7 Bb7 Am7 Ab7

The iii-VI-ii-V turnaround with both dominants replaced by tritone substitutes, so the roots descend by half steps from iii to I.

Tadd Dameron Turnaround

Imaj7 ♭IIImaj7 | ♭VImaj7 ♭IImaj7

In G: Gmaj7 Bbmaj7 Ebmaj7 Abmaj7

A turnaround of major 7th chords on I, bIII, bVI and bII, named after the bebop composer and arranger Tadd Dameron.