How to Do a 12-Bar Blues Chord Progression

Blues is made up of a simple, repetitive structure. Like jazz music it can include improvisation, but the musician's creativity is expressed within the basic structure. The 12-bar blues progression is a common structure that forms the foundation of many blues tunes. It is simple enough for beginners to learn, but with enough room for variation that it will be useful throughout their musical career.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Choose a key. The starting note of a blues progression, written as a Roman numeral I followed by the number 7, I7, will determine the sound of the entire tune.

2. Play four measures, or bars, repeating the first note of the progression. If you chose to begin with an A chord, play A7 for four measures.

3. Change to the IV7 chord for two measures. In a blues progression in A, the IV7 chord is D7.

4. Return to the I7 chord for two more measures.

5. Continue with the V7 chord for two measures. In the example, the V7 chord is E7.

6. Go back to the I7 chord for the final two measures of the progression. This completes the 12-bars of the progression.

7. Repeat the progression as desired. A single 12-bar progression is usually too short for a song, but multiple progressions linked together form the basis of many blues and rock and roll songs.

Tips & Warnings

• Learn how to play blues progressions in other keys by starting with other notes. Then look for blues progressions in your favorite songs.
• Add variations to blues progressions once you have mastered the basics. A common variation is playing the IV7 chord in the second measure, instead of the I7 chord.