I–vi–ii–V in E Major: E△7 – C♯m7 – F♯m7 – B7

I–vi–ii–V in E Major — E△7 – C♯m7 – F♯m7 – B7

The I–vi–ii–V turnaround in E major is E△7 – C♯m7 – F♯m7 – B7. Over E△7 play Ionian (major) (E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯); Over C♯m7 play Aeolian (C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A B); Over F♯m7 play Dorian (F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯ E); Over B7 play Mixolydian (B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A). E major is rare in horn-band repertoire but common for guitar; the E – C♯m7 – F♯m7 – B7 turnaround is worth owning in two positions.

Hear it, see it, play it — in E major.

Loop

Lead

Tempo110 bpm

I△

E^△7

ArpeggioE · G♯ · B · D♯

Chord-scaleIonian (major) E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯

vi⁷

C♯^m7

ArpeggioC♯ · E · G♯ · B

Chord-scaleAeolian C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A B

ii⁷

F♯^m7

ArpeggioF♯ · A · C♯ · E

Chord-scaleDorian F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯ E

V⁷

B⁷

ArpeggioB · D♯ · F♯ · A

Chord-scaleMixolydian B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A

Chord-scale on your instrument

Showing: E△7 — Ionian (major)

Piano · E△7 with Ionian (major)

Guitar · standard tuning

Piano · C♯m7 with Aeolian

Guitar · standard tuning

Piano · F♯m7 with Dorian

Guitar · standard tuning

Piano · B7 with Mixolydian

Guitar · standard tuning

RootChord toneScale toneBeing played

Play this chord:

Click any chord card to see its scale, and tap any key or fret to hear that note. Turn on “+ Arpeggios” or “+ Scales” and the guitar or piano plays the line live over the vamp, lighting each note on the diagram as it sounds. All audio is synthesized in your browser — nothing is recorded or copyrighted.

E major I–vi–ii–V — chords, arpeggios & chord-scales.

Function	Chord	Chord tones (1–3–5–7)	Chord-scale	Scale notes
I△	E△7	E – G♯ – B – D♯	Ionian (major)	E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯
vi⁷	C♯m7	C♯ – E – G♯ – B	Aeolian	C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A B
ii⁷	F♯m7	F♯ – A – C♯ – E	Dorian	F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯ E
V⁷	B7	B – D♯ – F♯ – A	Mixolydian	B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A

Guide tones	E△7	C♯m7	F♯m7	B7
3rd	G♯	E	A	D♯
7th	D♯	B	E	A

Build the E major turnaround into your ear.

1. Arpeggios in time. Loop the vamp at 70–90 bpm and play E△7, C♯m7, F♯m7, B7 as 1–3–5–7 quarter notes, one chord per bar. Use the “+ Arpeggios” loop above to hear it played and copy the line.

2. Guide tones. Play only the 3rd and 7th of each chord: G♯–D♯ → E–B → A–E → D♯–A. Notice that A, the 7th of B7, falls a half-step to G♯, the 3rd of E△7 — that is the resolution.

3. Chord-scales. Run Ionian (major) on E△7, Aeolian on C♯m7, Dorian on F♯m7, Mixolydian on B7, then improvise keeping chord tones on beats 1 and 3.

4. Move it. When E is clean, go to A major — a fourth up — and keep going around the circle.

E major I–vi–ii–V FAQ.

What are the chords of the I–vi–ii–V in E major?

E△7 – C♯m7 – F♯m7 – B7. The I chord is E△7 (E, G♯, B, D♯); The vi chord is C♯m7 (C♯, E, G♯, B); The ii chord is F♯m7 (F♯, A, C♯, E); The V chord is B7 (B, D♯, F♯, A).

Which scales do I play over E△7 – C♯m7 – F♯m7 – B7?

E△7: Ionian (major) (E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯). C♯m7: Aeolian (C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A B). F♯m7: Dorian (F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯ E). B7: Mixolydian (B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A).

What is the guide-tone line for the I–vi–ii–V in E major?

The thirds and sevenths: G♯ and D♯ over E△7, E and B over C♯m7, A and E over F♯m7, D♯ and A over B7. Each voice moves by a half-step or stays put — that is what makes the progression sound like it resolves.

How should I practise this progression?

Loop the vamp at a slow tempo, play each arpeggio 1–3–5–7 in time, then play each chord-scale up and down, then improvise using only chord tones on the strong beats. When it is clean, move to the next key around the circle of fourths.

Hear it, see it, play it — in E major.

Chord-scale on your instrument

E major I–vi–ii–V — chords, arpeggios & chord-scales.

Build the E major turnaround into your ear.

E major I–vi–ii–V FAQ.

The major I–vi–ii–V in every other key.