12 Bar Blues

12 Bar Blues

12 Bar Blues

There are many different types of Blues which have evolved during the time it has existed. Although not all Blues sounds exactly the same there are a few features which are common to most Blues music. We will be looking at these common features over the next few lessons, but today we will start with something called the 12 Bar Blues....

12 Bar Blues

The 12 Bar Blues is the name given to the type of chord structure used in a LOT of Blues music.

As the name suggests the chord progression lasts for 12 bars or measures of music.

Even though 12 bars may sound like a lot to remember this chord sequence only actually uses 3 different chords in total.

A 'chord' is the name for when a number of notes are played together at the same time. In our case we are looking at 3-note chords.

Here's how it works.....

The Chords Used

We have probably heard people talking about 'keys' when discussing music. When you watch The Voice or X Factor someone may comment that they "are in the wrong key" if it doesn't sound great!

In most keys there are seven chords available to us to use. Each chord can be given a number from one to seven.

We can write that down as follows....

The Chord Scale

Each note of a scale in music can have a chord built on top of it. Even though there are seven to choose from we are going to only use three of those.

Our 12 Bar Blues uses chord one (I) chord four (IV) and chord five (V).

We use Roman numerals to represent the chords because they can then translate to any key easily.

Here's how it looks....

• We start by playing chord I for four bars

• We then move to chord IV for two bars

• Then back to chord I for two bars

• Then up to chord V for one bar

• Down to IV for one bar

• Finish back on chord I

The final bar....

The final bar can be either chord I or V depending if you are finishing your song, where it would end strongly on chord I as your 'home' chord, or carrying on to play another 12 bars, in which case you may want to use chord V as a 'turnaround'

Listening time!

As you listen to the piece of music on the next slide, try to count along with the bars (which are made of four 'beats' each) to keep track of where we are in the chord progression.

You may want to copy out the chords on a sheet of paper to follow along with as you're listening.

You will notice that chord I (one) feels very strong and complete, as if the music has 'come home' when that chord is played. As we move to chord IV (four) you will feel a shift away from where we started and when we reach chord V (five) it will feel like we are even further from 'home' again.

Heard the song before?

That song was actually the same song we heard from Robert Johnson in a previous lesson, but it sounds a bit different here!

This live version features famous musicians you may have heard of including Eric Clapton, John Mayer and Buddy Guy.

Our chord progression begins when the singers begin and it keeps looping or repeating over and over. It sounds pretty cool but it's actually pretty simple when you consider it's only using three chords all the way through.

Multiple Select

Which three chords are used in the 12 Bar Blues?

(Tick all appropriate boxes)

• I

  (One)

• ii

  (Two)

• iii

  (Three)

• IV

  (Four)

• V

  (Five)

Multiple Choice

Which chord is used to start a 12 Bar Blues?

• I

  (One)

• IV

  (Four)

• V

  (Five)

Multiple Choice

The last bar of a 12 Bar Blues usually provides the option of chord I (One) or chord V (Five).

If chord V (Five) is used it allows the musicians to do what?

• Finish the song on a strong 'home' chord

• Use a 'turnaround' to continue playing another rounds of 12 Bar Blues