| 12 bar blues chord progression has provided the | | | | together. This also allows beginners to play along with |
| foundation for thousands of guitar songs in different | | | | experts without difficulty. Popular artists like Eric |
| music genres including the blues. It is a simple 3-chord | | | | Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Janice Joplin, Elvis Presley, BB |
| progression spanning 12 bars (or measures). The | | | | King, and The Beatles have used the format of this |
| sequence of 12 bars just keeps repeating | | | | progression to write great songs. So, it is important |
| monotonously; lyrics and solos come and go but the | | | | to learn this progression no matter what music genre |
| chord progression stays for the entire duration of | | | | or style you are trying to master. |
| the song. This blues guitar chord progression provides | | | | The blues guitar progression offers significant scope |
| a rock solid basis for the blues songs. Due to its | | | | for variations. For instance, by adding some chords or |
| simplicity, people can easily learn it. It also provides a | | | | syncopated bass patterns or by using different |
| wonderful format for practicing chords, riffs, and licks. | | | | strumming techniques you can give unique characters |
| What is commonly heard and played as blues is the | | | | to your blues songs. You can add the ârock |
| 12 bar blues. Blues artists discovered that they could | | | | and rollâ feel to a song by increasing the |
| express their thoughts completely in just these 12 | | | | tempo and emphasizing the 2nd and 4th beats of |
| bars of music. Practically all blues music is in 4/4 | | | | each measure. |
| timing, implying 4 beats in each bar. Any 12 bar song | | | | Many people see blues as a simple kind of music, and |
| can be broken into three segments of four bars | | | | in some ways it is. However, those who are deeply |
| each. Musicians normally develop blues chords on the | | | | moved by the blues songs know that it has much |
| 1st, 4th, and 5th note of an 8-note scale, thus | | | | more than the simple chord progression. Despite the |
| forming the blues chord progression. | | | | simplicity of chords, blues offers a range of |
| Most guitarists learn the blues chord progression | | | | complexity in the form of variety in the tone, touch, |
| because of its universal appeal. This progression acts | | | | and mood. The greatness of the great blues players |
| as a common medium of communication among | | | | lies in their subtle instincts, which when expressed as |
| musicians of different styles, so that they can play | | | | music simply moves the audience. |