How to Write Twelve-Bar Blues

Once you learn twelve-bar blues you'll have the tools to make endless variations on blues music. It's quick and easy and a whole lot of fun.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Multi-tonal (stringed) instrument

1. A basic blues scale is derived from the minor pentatonic scale with flatted 3rd, 5th and 7th notes. In the key of C the notes would be: C Eb F F# G Bb C. Twelve bar blues is based on the I, IV and V chords of the blues scale. In C these chords are C, F and G.

2. Play the I chord (tonic) for the first 4 bars (measures).
   Play the IV chord (subdominant) for the next 2 bars.
   Return to I for 2 bars.
   Go to the V chord (dominant) for 1 bar.
   Drop to the IV chord for 1 bar.
   Return to the I chord for 2 more bars.
   Repeat as necessary.

3. The melody line of twelve bar blues doesn't exactly move with the chords.
   The melody is sung/played over the top of the first 2 bars (I chord). There is a recovery for 2 bars (I chord). The melody is repeated with the same notes over the next 2 bars (IV chord.) There is a recovery for 2 bars (I chord).
   The second part of the melody is sung/played over the next 2 bars (V and IV).
   There is a third recovery over the last 2 bars (I chord).

4. For example:
   I got me a woman always talkin' to other men
   I I I I
   Said I got me a woman always talking to other men
   IV IV I I
   But I still love my baby, no matter how mean she's been
   V IV I I