A blues in E

Same progression, different key

In A, the blues went around A7, D7 and E7. In E, it goes around E7, A7 and B7. The form doesn’t change: four bars on the first chord, two on the second, two on the first, then the third, the second, the first and the turnaround.

B7 is the trickiest: four fingers, and the open B string has to ring. Get ready by practicing the B7 → A7 → E7 move on its own.

Step 1: the progression with a shuffle

Count the bars out loud the first time, just like with the blues in A.

Step 2: the boogie riff

In E, the boogie riff really comes alive: the bass is the open low E. For A7, the riff moves to the A and D strings, as in The shuffle rhythm lesson. For B7, keep strumming the chord with a shuffle: it only lasts one bar each time.

e|-----------------|
B|-----------------|
G|-----------------|
D|-----------------|
A|-2-2-4-4-2-2-4-4-|
E|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|

e|-----------------|
B|-----------------|
G|-----------------|
D|-2-2-4-4-2-2-4-4-|
A|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|
E|-----------------|

Play the whole progression this way: riff on E7 and A7, shuffle strum on B7.

Ear exercise: hear the changes

Start the shuffle progression above and close your eyes. Raise your fretting hand every time the chord changes, and say its name out loud: “E,” “A” or “B.” The move to B7 is the easiest to hear: it pulls toward the end of the progression.

You’ve got it when…

• E7, A7 and B7 ring out with no muted strings
• You play the progression in E with a shuffle at 80, three times around without getting lost
• You play the progression with the boogie riff on E7 and A7
• You can hear, with your eyes closed, when the chord changes