The 12-bar blues

The progression

Three lines of four bars. In A, with seventh chords:

The last bar, on E7, is called the turnaround: it sends the progression back to the top. You play it on a loop, as many times as you like; to end, you swap that last E7 for A7.

Learning the form

Remember it in blocks: four bars of A, two of D, two of A, then E, D, A, E. Count the bars out loud the first time.

Playing rhythm

The shuffle rhythm over the whole progression. If the changes come too fast, play the march (four downstrokes per bar) while keeping the swing.

Variation: replace the chords with the boogie riff from the previous lesson, in A, D or E depending on the bar.

You’ve got it when…

• You know the progression by heart, without looking
• You play three times through the progression with a shuffle without getting lost
• You play the whole progression with the boogie riff, in A, D and E