Beginner · 12 min read

    Blues Chord Progressions Guitar - 12-Bar Blues and Beyond

    Learn blues chord progressions for guitar. Master the 12-bar blues, minor blues, slow blues, and jazz-blues variations in every key with audio examples.

    The 12-Bar Blues

    Standard 12-bar blues in E:

| E7  | E7  | E7  | E7  |   (bars 1-4: I chord)
| A7  | A7  | E7  | E7  |   (bars 5-8: IV then I)
| B7  | A7  | E7  | B7  |   (bars 9-12: V-IV-I-V turnaround)

    12-Bar Blues in E

    E7E7A7E7B7A7E7B7

    The foundation of all blues music. Strum and feel the form.

    Quick-Change Blues

    A variation that moves to the IV chord in bar 2:

    | A7  | D7  | A7  | A7  |
| D7  | D7  | A7  | A7  |
| E7  | D7  | A7  | E7  |

    Quick-Change Blues in A

    A7D7A7A7D7D7A7E7

    Notice the IV chord appears in bar 2 for an earlier harmonic change.

    Minor Blues

    Minor blues in Am:
| Am  | Am  | Am  | Am  |
| Dm  | Dm  | Am  | Am  |
| F   | E7  | Am  | E7  |
    0
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    E
    E
    G
    A
    A#
    B
    D
    E
    B
    B
    D
    E
    G
    A
    A#
    B
    G
    G
    A
    A#
    B
    D
    E
    G
    D
    D
    E
    G
    A
    A#
    B
    D
    A
    A
    A#
    B
    D
    E
    G
    A
    E
    E
    G
    A
    A#
    B
    D
    E

    This scale works over the entire 12-bar blues in E.

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    Next Steps

    Learn to improvise over blues and add turnarounds for authentic endings.

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    Common questions

    Related guides

    Blues Guitar Improvisation

    Solo over these progressions.

    Blues Scale Guitar

    The scale to play over blues changes.

    Guitar Blues Turnarounds

    End your blues progressions with style.

    Guitar 7th Chords

    The chord type that defines blues.

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