This article expands on your knowledge of blues guitar chords, explaining how to play the Twelve Bar Blues, which is the basis of many blues songs.

For this article, you must know how to play the following basic guitar chords: C, F, G, and the essential chords blues guitar follows: C7, F7, G7. If you do not know how to play chords, read my "Article Blues Guitar Chords Tutorial: 7 Essential Blues Guitar Chords."

Twelve Bar Blues Basic

Not all blues is based on twelve bar blues, but many are, and is essential blues chord progression. "Twelve bar" means it is a chord progression that consists of twelve bars, or measures. Each measure is four beats long. Thus, a blues bar features twelve o'clock twelve measures, each of which contains four times.

The one-four-five progression

The next thing we have to learn to play the blues for the blues is twelve o'clock bar is what is called "One-four-five" progression (or 1-4-5, or I-IV-V). This means that in any key, blues progression uses three chords, which are known as the One, 1, or I chord, the Four, 4, or IV chord, and Five, 5, or according V. From now on, I'll use the Roman numerals I, IV and V to designate the chords.
So, What are the I, IV, V and chords? In any key, the string that is the major chord with the same name as the key. Thus, in the key of C, the C chord is I. Now, if you have the scale, with C as I do, you can find chords IV and V. I = C, II = D, E = III, IV = F, V = G. So in C, the I chord is C, the IV is F, and V is G. So those are the three chords you need to play the blues in C.

Go to the Twelve Bar Blues

Now that we understand the significance of the I, IV, V and chords, we can learn the structure of the Twelve Bar Blues progression. Think of it as three sections, each with four bars. The first section is four bars of the rope than I do. In C, this would be:

C / / / C / / / C / / / C / / /

In this notation, each chord name (ie, C) or slash mark (ie /) is a heartbeat. You play the rope called once for each beat. Crop marks indicate that only you stay in the same chord. We give the name of the chord (ie, C) back to the beginning of each measure.

The second four bar section has two bars of the IV chord followed by two rope bars than me. Again, in C:

/ F / / F / / / C / / / C / / /

SECTION FOUR The final bar has a V rod string, a bar of the IV chord, a bar on the rope I and a bar end of the rope V. Again, in C:

G / / / F / / / C / / / G / / /

Therefore, putting together a version of the twelve o'clock bar blues in C would look like:

C / / / C / / / C / / / C / / /

/ F / / F / / / C / / / C / / /

G / / / F / / / C / / / G / / /

Adding The seventh chord

To get the real sound of blues, you'll want to add the 7th chord in some places. This is different from the I, IV, V numbering system and the seventh in this case is part of the name of the letter of the string (as C7, D7, or G-7). In the blues, which almost always will want to replace a seventh chord of the V, and sometimes the confusion I? It simply means that in C, where V is the G chord, you're going to play instead of G-7 G Major.

By For simplicity, you can only use 7 strings throughout the 12-bar progression:

C7 / / / C7 / / / C7 / / / C7 / / /

F7 / / / F7 / / / C7 / / / C7 / / /

G-7 / / / F7 / / / C7 / / / G7 / / /

But for a more blues sound true, we will replace the 7th chord of the V, and the I and IV, in some places. Also go to the IV chord in the second measure to add variety (Some players call this rapid progression IV ').

C / / / F / / / C / / / C7 / / /

F / / / F7 / / / C / / / C7 / / /

/ G7 / / F / / / C / / / G7 / / /

Now that you know how to play the twelve Blues Bar in C, can use his knowledge of blues guitar chords and basic I, IV, V progression to play the blues in several keys. For more information, find an article of my "Blues Guitar Chords Tutorial: 7 Essential Blues Guitar Chords.Â"

Ed Vickerry is a guitar player and former software trainer. He has recently combined his interest in playing guitar and his expertise in adult learning theory to create a an eCourse that details techniques you can use to make your guitar practice time more effective. If you are interested in learning more about his “Supercharge Your Guitar Practice Time” eCourse, and making your guitar practice time more effective, please go here: [http://www.justenoughguitar.com/practice]

Blues Guitar Lesson 2-The 12 Bar Blues Progression part 2