12 Bar Blues

Lesson 5/48 | Study Time: 5 Min
Course: Rock Keyboard
12 Bar Blues

12 Bar Blues

12 bar Blues is a pattern of chords which repeats every 12 bars. It is the most common progression in Blues music, and is used extensively in Rock and Jazz as well. The following example is a 12 bar Blues using all the inversions of the chords Cm, Fm and Gm.

This example contains much use of implied slash chords. The left hand part consists of alternating octave notes. Practice each hand separately at first if necessary.

Previous Lesson Next Lesson
Peter Gelling

Peter Gelling

Product Designer
4.79
Profile

Class Sessions

1- Chord Inversions 2- Minor Chords 3- The Blues Scale 4- Eighth Note Rhythms 5- Seventh Chords 6- The Triplet 7- Sixteenth Notes 8- Intervals 9- The Major Chord 10- More About Chords and Keys 11- INTRODUCTION 12- 16th Note Studies 13- Approach to Practice 14- Swing Rhythms 15- C Chromatic Scale 16- G7 Chord Inversions 17- Riffs 18- Scale Tone Chords 19- C Minor Chord Inversions 20- Slash Chords 21- Chord Diagrams 22- C Major Chord Inversions 23- Quarter Note Rhythms 24- Creating Minor Chords 25- Minor Keys 26- Syncopation 27- Transposing 28- Listening 29- The Shuffle 30- Creating 7th Chords 31- Interval Types 32- G Major Chord Inversions 33- Basic Equipment 34- Interval Distances 35- Identifying 8th Note Rhythms 36- Seventh Chord Types 37- The G Major Chord 38- Grace Notes 39- Omitting Notes From Chords 40- F Major Chord Inversions 41- Transposing Chords 42- 12 Bar Blues 43- The F Major Chord 44- Guidelines for Using Inversions 45- Using Ties, Pedal Tones 46- Scale Tone Seventh Chords 47- Chord Substitution 48- Creating Other Chord Types

Your privacy matters

Cookies and similar technologies are used on our sites to personalize content and ads. You can find further details and change your personal settings below. By clicking OK, or by clicking any content on our sites, you agree to the use of these cookies and similar technologies.

GDPR Cookie Settings

When you visit any of our websites, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalized web experience. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Click on the different category headings to find out more and manage your preferences. Please note, that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.

  • These cookies are necessary for our website to function properly and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you that amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms, or where they’re essential to providing you with a service you have requested. You cannot opt out of these cookies. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but if you do, some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.
  • These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site, which helps us optimize your experience. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not be able to use your data in this way.
  • These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
  • These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.