12 Bar Blues
12 Bar Blues is a pattern of chords which repeats every 12 bars. There are hundreds of well-known songs based on this chord progression, i.e., they contain basically the same chords in the same order. 12 bar blues is commonly used in rock music.
Some well known songs which use this 12 bar chord pattern are:
- Batman TV Theme
- Hound Dog – Elvis Presley
- Rock Around the Clock – Bill Haley
- Roll Over Beethoven – Chuck Berry
- Blue Suede Shoes – Elvis Presley
- In the Mood – Glenn Miller
- Good Golly Miss Molly – Little Richard
- Shake, Rattle and Roll – Bill Haley
- Barbara Ann – The Beach Boys
- Johnny B Good – Chuck Berry
- Dizzy Miss Lizzy – The Beatles
Play the following 12 bar blues, which is in the key of A major, and uses some of the chords you have learnt so far. When a song is said to be in the key of A major, it means that the most important chord (and usually the first chord) is the A chord.
This pattern of chords will probably sound familiar to you.
Rhythm Pattern
The following progression is a variation of the standard 12 bar blues progression. Seventh chords have been added to make it sound more interesting. Use any rhythm in * time you have lealIlt so far.
12 bar blues can be played in many different keys. The chord pattern sounds the same, but the melody of the song is sung higher or lower. Make up your own rhythm pattern.
