Blues Chords

Blues Progressions

Learn these blues chords and basic blues progressions to play with any blues band in the world... practice 12 bar blues, "quick' change, blues turn arounds, 8 bar blues, minor blues, bridge, etc. until you can play them in your sleep... For example, "Sweet Home Chicago", the 2nd song below... good luck and funky blues... learn a five minute blues guitar solo and rhythm guitar

The 12 Bar Blues

The name 12 Bar Blues comes from the number of measures or bars in most blues songs - twelve. Here's the basic 12 bar blues (Chicago blues) in the key of A.

Further On Up the Road - basic 12 bar blues

/ A7 /A7  /A7  /A7 / D7 / D7 /A7 / A7 / E7 / D7 / A7 / E7 /

The 'Quick Change'

A quick change is just that, changing chords in the 2nd measure and then back the the first chord.

Sweet Home Chicago Chords

/ A7 / D7  /A7  /A7 / D7 / D7 /A7 / A7 / E7 / D7 / A7 / E7 /

Chord - Number Systesm

Blues musicians often refer to chord changes by Roman numerals after the steps of the scale. Below are the scale steps in the key of A and the chords associated with them.

I     A (the key of the song)
II    Bmi
III   C#mi
IV    D
V      E
VI     F#mi
VII   G#dim

Blues and the I, IV, V Chords

Many blues songs have just three chords, the I, IV and V chords. In the key of A, that's A, D and E. Here's Further On Up the Road by chord name and Roman numerals.

/ A7 / A7  /A7  /A7 / D7 / D7 /A7 / A7 / E7 / D7 / A7 / E7 /

/  I   /  I   /  I   /  I   / IV / IV /  I   /  I   / V   / IV   /  I   /  V  /

And the quick change in Sweet Home Chicago?  It's to the .... IV chord .... Right!

/ A7 / D7  /A7  /A7 / D7 / D7 /A7 / A7 / E7 / D7 / A7 / E7 /

/  I   /  IV  /  I   /  I   / IV / IV /  I   /  I   / V   / IV   /  I   /  V  /

The Turnaround

1) The last 2 bars of the song are called the turnaround. The basic turnaround is

... / A7 / E7 /

2) There are many varations of the turn around. Here's a common one

... / A7 D7 / A7 E7 /

Eight Bar Blues

Key to the Highway - uses the turnaround variation (#2 above)

/ A7 / E7  / D7 / D7 / A7 /  E7 / A7 D7 / A7 E7 /

/  I   /  V   / IV / IV  /  I   /  V   /  I  IV   /   I   V  /

Minor Blues

/ Am / Am / Am / Am / Dm / Dm / Am / Am / Em / Dm / Am /  -  /

/  I    /   I   /   I   /   I   /  IV  /  IV  /   I   /   I   /  V  /  IV /   I   /   -  /

A minor 12 bar blues usually has a repeated rhythm pattern and no chord in the 12 measure.

Take It Down From The Fifth

The chord number system comes in handy on a gig. If the band leader says "take it down from the fifth", that means start the song from V chord in the 9th measure.

... / E7 / D7 / A7 / E7 /

... /  V / IV  /   I   /  V  /

And if someone points at you and holds up 4 fingers, it means play the IV chord now!

Bridge (B part of song)
Some blues songs have a "B" part or bridge. You'll find this one in many songs.

/ D7 / A7  / D7 / A7 / D7 / A7 / B7 / E7 /

/  IV /  I   /  IV /  I   /  IV  /  I   /  II  /  V  /

The 'unexpected' "IV" chord (instead of the I chord) creates tension and interest. Usual format - AABA.

Stormy Monday

Allman Bros. style layed back triplets
G9 / C9 / G9 G#9 / G9 /
C9 / C9 / G9 Ami7 / Bmi7 A#mi7 /
Ami7 / Cmi7 / G9 C9 / G9 D+ /

Rock - Blues Compared!

The Blues had a baby and they called it Rock N Roll. A comparison of the two styles that may open up your ears and improve your playing.

#1 Tempo / 8th Notes

Blues is usually slower - medium shuffle - played with dotted eight notes
Rock is usually uptempo - played with even eight notes.

 #2 Changing Chords / Beat

Blues chords ususally change on the 1st beat of a measure
Rock chords change on the ‘&’ of the 4th beat in the previousmeasure- gives rock incredible drive.

#1 Rhythm Guitar / 1 Note or 2?

Blues- the rhythm guitar usually plays two notes together.
Rock- the rhythm guitar alternates between playing two notes together and a single ‘bass’ note

Ok, now for somes examples:

Here's Chicago Bound, a medium blues shuffle and
Roller Coaster, an up tempo rock n roll song..

Blues improvisation... it's all in the wrist?

By Johnny Mayer

Blues News

Blues Gifts

Eric Clapton

Jimi Hendrix

Allman Brothers

SRV

Albert Collins