Eight Bar Blues
Although the majority of Blues songs follow the 12 bar format, there are many variations. The most common of these is the eight bar Blues. The following solo is a typical example. It is based on the progression from the song Key to the Highway, which was written by Big Bill Broonzy and made famous by Little Walter.
Here is the chord progression this solo is played over. Get a friend to play the chords on guitar or keyboard while you improvise over it. This is a great way to become familiar with any new form, or any song.
The Twelve Eight Time Signature
This time signature is called the twelve eight time signature. It tells you there are twelve eighth note beats in each bar.
A bar of eighth notes in twelve eight time sounds the same as a bar of triplets in four four time. Although there are twelve individual beats which can be counted, twelve eight time is usually still counted in four as demonstrated in the following example.
The beats can also be subdivided into sixteenth notes as shown below. Be careful with the counting.
Here is a Blues lick in + time which makes use of sixteenth notes.
The following solo is written in + time and is played over another example of an eight bar blues. This one uses the chord progression from a song called Worried Life Blues by piano player Big Maceo. It has also been recorded by Otis Spann, and Eric Clapton among others.
Here is the chord progression underlying the above solo. Notice that it is different from the previous eight bar Blues.
