12 Bar Blues Guitar Lesson

Chapter 1: (01:01) Blues Progression Explanation What makes a chord progression a blues progression? The blues progression is typically a 12 bar form (sometimes 8 bars) that follows a specific set of chord changes. These chord changes follow the same harmonic relationships regardless of key.

Here is a breakdown of the chord changes in the 12 bar blues progression:

Bars 1-4: I chord
Bars 5-6: IV Chord
Bars 7-8: I Chord
Bar 9: V Chord
Bar 10: IV Chord
Bar 11: I Chord
Bar 12: V Chord

Note: The I can be played in measure 12 instead of V. V is typically used because it creates a stronger resolution back to the beginning of the form. This concept will be discussed in greater detail in Lesson 4

There are several variations on this basic pattern. Additional chord changes can be added to the form. However, this is the most basic structure of a 12 bar blues progression. You will learn how chords are substituted into the form in Lesson 4 of this series.

Using Roman Numerals

Roman numerals are typically used to represent chords within a specific key center. Labeling chords in this manner presents several advantages. Roman numerals establish a set relationship between chords that does not change regardless of key. For example, the 12 bar blues progression consists of the same harmonic relationships listed above when played in all 12 keys.

Roman numerals are much more practical than letter names when it comes to analyzing the form of a piece and how the chords function within the form. For example, the I chord, or tonic, provides a stable sound within a key. The IV chord, or subdominant, typically leads back to I or up to V. V is referred to as the dominant chord. The dominant chord has a strong tendency to resolve back to the I chord. However, notice how the IV chord in bar 10 follows the V chord in bar 9. This harmonic movement is a key feature in blues music that contributes to its distinct sound. Chapter 2: (06:29) Slow Shuffle (Key of A) Determining the I, IV, and V Chords

Before you begin to play a blues progression in any key, you must first determine what the I, IV, and V chords are in that key. This first step in this process is to write out the major scale for the key that you are playing in. All of the musical examples in this lesson are played in the key of A major. From the circle fifths, we know that the key of A major has 3 sharps in the key signature. From the order of sharps, we see that these sharps are F#, C#, and G#. When these sharped notes are applied, the A major scale is spelled as follows: A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A.

Next, each scale degree must be labeled with its appropriate Roman numeral. Each scale degree is listed with its corresponding Roman numeral below:

A: I
B: II
C#: III
D: IV
E: V
F#: VI
G#:VII
A: I

All of the chords that appear in the most basic form of the 12 bar blues progression are either major or dominant chords. These chords are built from the I, IV, and V chord degrees. As a result, in the key of A, the I, IV, and V chords are A(7), D(7), and E(7).

The Blues Shuffle Pattern

In this scene, DJ demonstrates how to play the blues shuffle rhythm pattern. The blues shuffle can be transposed to any chord in any key. Essentially, the blues shuffle combines the root of the chord with the fifth of the chord or the major sixth of the chord. From the scale degrees listed above, we know that the fifth and sixth in the key of A are the notes E and F# respectively. These notes can be found at the 2nd and 4th frets of the D string. For the first two eighth notes of each measure, the root note is combined with the fifth. The next two eighth notes feature the root note combined with the major sixth. This pattern repeats for the remaining four eighth notes in the measure.

What Does Shuffle Mean?

A shuffle is any rhythmic pattern in which the duration of the first note in a pair of eighth notes is lengthened and second is shortened. Typically, the first eighth note in the pair is played as a quarter note triplet. The second eighth note is played as an eighth note triplet. This patterned of shuffled eighth notes causes the rhythm to "swing" lightly back and forth.

Changing Chords in the Shuffle Pattern

To play the blues shuffle pattern over a D chord, simply move everything from the A chord pattern up a string. Now, you should be playing the open D string in conjunction with two fretted notes on the G string. Watch DJ closely at 02:15 as he demonstrates how to move the shuffle pattern from the I chord to the IV chord.

In bar 7, the progression returns to the I chord for two measures. Now you're done with the first two lines of the 12 bar blues progression.

In measure 9 at the start of the third line, the progression moves to the V chord for one measure. To play the shuffle pattern over the V chord, simply move the pattern for the I chord down a string. You are now playing the open low E string in conjunction with fretted notes on the A string.

The V chord is followed by the IV chord, D in the next bar (10). You may find it difficult to switch from the shuffle pattern in E to the pattern in D since you have to skip over a few strings. If this is the case, drill these changes slowly until they become second nature to you.

Practicing the Blues Shuffle

Once you have memorized where all of the chord changes occur within the blues progression, begin to practice the blues shuffle on your own. Make sure that you can play it perfectly in time with a metronome. Like DJ mentions, you may need to practice the progression at a slower tempo at first to make sure that you are nailing everything perfectly. Then, gradually increase the tempo. Move the metronome up one notch at a time once you have mastered the shuffle at a given metronome setting. Rhythm is the most important component of playing music. Therefore, you should direct most of your attention to the rhythmic aspect of the shuffle as you practice it. You must not leave any gaps between the chord changes. All of the changes must remain perfectly seamless. Also, make sure that you are counting measures as you play, so you don't lose your place in the form.

Note: A metronome can be found in JamPlay’s "Teaching Tools" section. This section can be accessed from the left side of the homepage.

Once you can play the shuffle rhythm in time at a variety of tempos, practice it along with DJ at about 04:30 in the lesson video. Rewind the video as many times as necessary for additional practice. He plays through the form twice so you can get a feel for the transition at the end of the form back to the beginning of the form. Chapter 3: (05:29) Changing Positions The chord patterns that you learned in the last scene work great for the key of A. However, they will not work for most of the remaining eleven keys. This is due to the fact that these chords contain open strings. For this reason, DJ teaches you how to convert the chordal patterns presented in the last scene into movable fretboard shapes.

These new patterns feature some difficult stretches that you may not be used to. If you are having troubles, don't worry. You'll master these stretches in no time with patience and consistent practice.

Start with a basic A5 power chord shape played in fifth position with the root note on the low sixth string. Use the first and third fingers to fret the notes in these chords. Then, you will toggle back and forth between the note E and the note F# fretted by the pinkie finger, which must stretch all the way out to the 9th fret of the fifth string. These are the exact same notes that you were playing in the previous scene. Notice how these notes sound a little different from the open strings as far as tone is concerned. The differences are very subtle, but they are important nonetheless.

Changing Chords

When switching to the IV chord, D, simply move this chordal pattern up a string. You are now playing on the A and D strings.

In order to play the V chord, you must shift the pattern used for the D chord up two frets to seventh position. Watch DJ closely at 02:20 for a demonstration.

Practicing the Shuffle in Fifth Position

Practice this version of the shuffle in A on your own. Then, once you have mastered it, return to the lesson video and play along with DJ. He starts this progression at a much slower tempo this time around due to the difficult stretches that you must make with the pinkie finger. However, DJ picks up the tempo on the second pass through the form. If you find certain chord changes, such as the change from the I chord to the V chord to be difficult, drill these changes very slowly until they become automatic.

Preview of Lesson 3

In the next lesson, you will learn some various rhythm patterns that are frequently applied to the 12 bar blues progression. DJ will demonstrate how to play the shuffle in 12/8 time. He'll also show you how to play the rhythm pattern from this lesson in the rock and roll style of Chuck Berry.

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