12 Bar Blues and Seventh Chords
12 Bar Blues (as well as any chord progression) can be played in any key. The following 12 Bar Blues is in the key of A major. When a song is said to be in the key of A major, it means that the most important chord (and usually the first chord) is the A chord.
E Seventh Chord
E7
To play the E7 chord, use the first and second fingers of your left hand as shown in the diagram, and strum all six strings. The E7 chord shape is the same as the E chord shape with the third finger lifted off.
The next chord progression contains an E7 chord and uses the eighth note rhythm pattern (introduced in Lesson 6, Exercise 22).
When changing between D and E7 use your first finger as a slide finger. When changing between A and D use your first finger as a pivot.
A Seventh Chord
A7
To play the A7 chord, use the second and third fingers of your left hand as shown in the diagram, and strum all six strings. The A7 chord shape is the same as the A chord shape with the first finger lifted off.
This progression contains an A7 chord and uses the eighth note rhythm pattern (introduced in Lesson 6, Exercise 27). When changing between D7 and G use your third finger as a slide finger.
Martin Dreadnought
Know your Guitars…
In the early part of the 20th century, guitar manufacturer C.F. Martin released an acoustic guitar with a larger, deeper body than most existing guitars. Around the same time, the British navy launched a battleship that was so big it would fear nothing. It was called "HMS Dreadnought". Martin thought this would be a good name for his new guitar. The guitar sounded great and the name caught on. Today, the dreadnought is the most commonly used type of acoustic guitar in the world.
Here is a 12 Bar Blues melody accompanied by the new chords you have just learned.
A repeat sign in the final bar indicates that the song must be played again from the beginning. Repeat signs can also be used at the end of a section. In this song the repeat sign at the end of bar 4 indicates a repeat of the first four bars.
