More About 12 Bar Blues
In a basic 12 bar Blues, there are usually three different chords. Each of these relates to one basic Key. In Blues, the most common chords are those built on notes 1, 4 and 5 of the major scale. So in the key of Cf these chords would be C, F and G. In the Key of A they would be A, D and E. The example below demonstrates the 12 bar Blues progression played with a moveable shuffle pattern in the key of A. The first and third fingers remain on the strings, while the fourth finger stretches up two frets on the same string as the third finger. This example is played without right hand damping and uses alternating pick strokes. Listen to the different sound this produces.
This shuffle pattern can be played in any key simply by moving its root note to the appropriate fret. The following example is in the key of G in the 3rd position (3rd fret).
The 12 bar Blues progression can also be shown in Roman numerals I, IV and V instead of 1, 4 and 5. The C symbol is a bar repeat sign. It indicates that this bar is identical to the previous one.
