12-bar blues: I7–I7–I7–I7–IV7–IV7–I7–I7–V7–IV7–I7–V7
Twelve bars, three chords: the form behind blues and the birth of rock ’n’ roll.
Loads it as a song you can change, extend and write lyrics to. Your own song is kept.
Songs you know
Where you’ve heard it
Real recordings that use it, with the chords as they’re played on the record and the easiest way to play along.
Johnny B. Goode
Chuck Berry · 1958Verse · ChorusAs recorded, in B♭ majorB♭ – E♭ – B♭ – FEasier: capo 1, play A major shapesShapes you play Loads Spotify’s player, which may set cookies.Play these chords in the Chord Map →Hound Dog
Elvis Presley · 1956VerseAs recorded, in C majorC – F – C – G – FOpen chords, no capo neededShapes you play Loads Spotify’s player, which may set cookies.Play these chords in the Chord Map →Rock Around the Clock
Bill Haley & His Comets · 1954VerseAs recorded, in A majorA – D7 – A – E7Open chords, no capo neededShapes you play Loads Spotify’s player, which may set cookies.Play these chords in the Chord Map →Tutti Frutti
Little Richard · 1955ChorusAs recorded, in F majorF7 – B♭7 – F7 – C7 – B♭7Easier: capo 1, play E major shapesShapes you play Loads Spotify’s player, which may set cookies.Play these chords in the Chord Map →Rock and Roll
Led Zeppelin · 1971Verse · ChorusAs recorded, in A majorA7 – D7 – A7 – E7 – D7Open chords, no capo neededShapes you play Loads Spotify’s player, which may set cookies.Play these chords in the Chord Map →Shake, Rattle and Roll
Big Joe Turner · 1954VerseAs recorded, in E♭ majorE♭ – A♭7 – E♭ – B♭7 – A♭7Easier: capo 1, play D major shapesShapes you play Loads Spotify’s player, which may set cookies.Play these chords in the Chord Map →
Why it works
Why it feels like this
Four bars at home set the scene, two on the IV raise a question, two at home answer it, and the V–IV turnaround throws you back to the top. Dominant sevenths on every chord add the bluesy tension that never fully resolves, which is exactly why it keeps going.
- A7 → D7Lean forwardIn the key
A7 and D7 share one note (A), which keeps the move connected.
- D7 → A7Opening stepColour from outside
D7 and A7 share one note (A), which keeps the move connected.
- A7 → E7Opening stepIn the key
A7 and E7 share one note (E), which keeps the move connected.
- E7 → D7Hold backIn the key
E7 and D7 share one note (D), which keeps the move connected.
- E7 → A7Strong pullColour from outside
E7 and A7 share one note (E), which keeps the move connected.
Make it yours
Same idea, your song
The fastest way not to sound like everyone else: change one thing. Each idea opens in the Chord Map, ready to play.
Quick change
Go to the IV in bar 2: the most common blues variation.
Try it →A7 – D7 – A7 – A7 – D7 – D7 – A7 – A7 – E7 – D7 – A7 – E7I7–IV7–I7–I7–IV7–IV7–I7–I7–V7–IV7–I7–V7Minor blues
The same twelve bars in minor: darker and moodier.
Try it →Am7 – Am7 – Am7 – Am7 – Dm7 – Dm7 – Am7 – Am7 – F7 – E7 – Am7 – E7i7–i7–i7–i7–iv7–iv7–i7–i7–VI7–V7–i7–V7A minorPlain rock ’n’ roll
Triads instead of sevenths: Chuck Berry rather than B.B. King.
Try it →A – A – A – A – D – D – A – A – E – D – A – EI–I–I–I–IV–IV–I–I–V–IV–I–V
On the guitar
In five guitar keys
The keys a guitar likes best. Pick the one that suits your voice, or put on a capo.
In C major
Open in the Chord Map →In G major
Open in the Chord Map →In D major
Open in the Chord Map →In A major
Open in the Chord Map →In E major
Open in the Chord Map →
Questions
Questions about 12-bar blues
Quick answers about temperaments, instruments, accuracy, and what actually runs on your Mac.
What are the chords of a 12-bar blues in A?
A7 (4 bars), D7 (2), A7 (2), E7, D7, A7, E7. In E: E7, A7 and B7.What is a quick change?
Going to the IV in bar 2 and back to the I in bar 3. It’s the most common variation.Which songs use the 12-bar blues?
Johnny B. Goode, Hound Dog, Rock Around the Clock, Tutti Frutti and Rock and Roll by Led Zeppelin, among thousands.
Keep exploring