Practice

12-Bar Blues

The backbone of blues, rock and roll, and country: three dominant-seventh chords stretched across a repeating 12-measure form. Once you know the pattern you can jam along with thousands of songs without ever seeing a chart.

Roman numerals: I⁷–IV⁷–V⁷ — heard in Johnny B. Goode, Sweet Home Chicago, and Hound Dog.

The 12-Bar Blues progression

The backbone of blues, rock and roll, and country: three dominant-seventh chords stretched across a repeating 12-measure form. Once you know the pattern you can jam along with thousands of songs without ever seeing a chart.

Roman-numeral formula: I⁷–IV⁷–V⁷.

Example in the key of A

Played in the key of A, I⁷–IV⁷–V⁷ becomes:

  1. A7 — the I⁷ chord
  2. D7 — the IV⁷ chord
  3. E7 — the V⁷ chord

Tap any chord above for fingerings and voicings, or build this progression yourself in the progression builder.

Famous songs that use it

  • Johnny B. Goode
  • Sweet Home Chicago
  • Hound Dog