The normal “12-bar-Blues” usually consists of 3 chords. Usually named as “I-IV-V”-chords, alternatively as Tonic – Subdominant -Dominant. The I-Chord is the basic keynote of the Song, from which the two different can be derived.

Here we have the scale (without half steps): C D E F G A B C

With a Blues in C the I-chord is the C chord and so the IV-chord is an F and the V-chord a G-chord.

To test this simply count:

I    II III IV V
C D E F G

The principle can be found in every typical Blues song, you just have to count the chords, if you have the keynote, that means the I-chord .

LET´S START WITH SOME PRACTICE!
Our 12-Bar-Blues follows this pattern: E (4 bars) A (2 bars) E (2 bars) B (2 bars) E (2 bars)

NOW PLAY A COMPLETELY SIMPLE 12-BAR BLUES IN E

12-Bar-Blues in E  

  E                                         E  

—————————————–|———————-|

—————————————–|———————-|

–1———————–1—-1—-1—-|–1—-1—-1—-1—-|

–2———————–2—-2—-2—-|–2—-2—-2—-2—-|

–2———————–2—-2—-2—-|–2—-2—-2—-2—-|

—————————————–|———————-|

  E                     E                       A  

———————-|———————-|———————-|

———————-|———————-|–2—-2—-2—-2—-|

–1—-1—-1—-1—-|–1—-1—-1—-1—-|–2—-2—-2—-2—-|

–2—-2—-2—-2—-|–2—-2—-2—-2—-|–2—-2—-2—-2—-|

–2—-2—-2—-2—-|–2—-2—-2—-2—-|———————-|

———————-|———————-|———————-|

  A                      E                     E  

———————-|———————-|———————-|

–2—-2—-2—-2—-|———————-|———————-|

–2—-2—-2—-2—-|–1—-1—-1—-1—-|–1—-1—-1—-1—-|

–2—-2—-2—-2—-|–2—-2—-2—-2—-|–2—-2—-2—-2—-|

———————-|–2—-2—-2—-2—-|–2—-2—-2—-2—-|

———————-|———————-|———————-|

  B                      A                      E  

———————-|———————-|———————-|

———————-|–2—-2—-2—-2—-|———————-|

–2—-2—-2—-2—-|–2—-2—-2—-2—-|–1—-1—-1—-1—-|

–1—-1—-1—-1—-|–2—-2—-2—-2—-|–2—-2—-2—-2—-|

–2—-2—-2—-2—-|———————-|–2—-2—-2—-2—-|

———————-|———————-|———————-|

  B              E  

———————-|———————————–|

———————-|———————————–|

–2—-2—-2—-1—-|———————————–|

–1—-1—-1—-2—-|———————————–|

–2—-2—-2—-2—-|———————————–|

———————-|———————————–|

For correct practicing you can also use the GuitarPro file, with which you can practice, until you can play it easily and fluid! (12-Bar-Blues in different keys.gp3)

If it sounds too boring, you can easily add some 7th chords (e.g. E7, A7…). See Lesson 2!  

EXERCISE:  

Find the I. IV. and V. chords of the following frequently used keytones for 12-Bar-Blues through counting

1. A
2. D
3. G

SOLUTION:

1 I. = A IV. = D V. = E  
2. I. = D IV. = G V. = A
3. I. = G IV. = C V. = D

SONGS BASED ON I-IV-V PATTERNS:

· Crossroads
· Good morning little schoolgirl
· Malted Milk
· Pretty Woman
· Pride and Joy
· Statesboro Blues

PRACTICE THE STANDARD 12-BAR-BLUES (KEY E)

Bar 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

Chord E E E E A A E E B A E E

VARIATION (like played in Crossroads Blues)

Bar 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

Chord E A E E A A A E B B A E