12-bar blues
12-bar blues · also called the blues progression, I–IV–V blues
Rate this tool
Be the first to rate this tool12-bar blues — how it works
The 12-bar blues is the twelve-bar form behind blues, rock and roll and much of jazz: four bars on the tonic, two on the subdominant, two back home, then a two-bar V–IV cadence and a turnaround — every chord a dominant seventh for the blues colour.
Each chord lasts 4 beats, so one pass of the 12 chords is 12 bars of 4/4.
In C major the chords are C7 – C7 – C7 – C7 – F7 – F7 – C7 – C7 – G7 – F7 – C7 – G7; in G major they are G7 – G7 – G7 – G7 – C7 – C7 – G7 – G7 – D7 – C7 – G7 – D7. Press play above to hear the progression, then pick the key that fits your voice or your song and set the tempo you want to practise at.
The 12-bar blues in every key
The numerals stay the same; only the chords change. Find your key below, or pick it in the player above to hear it.
| Key | Chords |
|---|---|
| C major | C7 – C7 – C7 – C7 – F7 – F7 – C7 – C7 – G7 – F7 – C7 – G7 |
| D♭ major | D♭7 – D♭7 – D♭7 – D♭7 – G♭7 – G♭7 – D♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 – G♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 |
| D major | D7 – D7 – D7 – D7 – G7 – G7 – D7 – D7 – A7 – G7 – D7 – A7 |
| E♭ major | E♭7 – E♭7 – E♭7 – E♭7 – A♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7 – E♭7 – B♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7 – B♭7 |
| E major | E7 – E7 – E7 – E7 – A7 – A7 – E7 – E7 – B7 – A7 – E7 – B7 |
| F major | F7 – F7 – F7 – F7 – B♭7 – B♭7 – F7 – F7 – C7 – B♭7 – F7 – C7 |
| F♯ major | F♯7 – F♯7 – F♯7 – F♯7 – B7 – B7 – F♯7 – F♯7 – C♯7 – B7 – F♯7 – C♯7 |
| G major | G7 – G7 – G7 – G7 – C7 – C7 – G7 – G7 – D7 – C7 – G7 – D7 |
| A♭ major | A♭7 – A♭7 – A♭7 – A♭7 – D♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7 |
| A major | A7 – A7 – A7 – A7 – D7 – D7 – A7 – A7 – E7 – D7 – A7 – E7 |
| B♭ major | B♭7 – B♭7 – B♭7 – B♭7 – E♭7 – E♭7 – B♭7 – B♭7 – F7 – E♭7 – B♭7 – F7 |
| B major | B7 – B7 – B7 – B7 – E7 – E7 – B7 – B7 – F♯7 – E7 – B7 – F♯7 |
Songs that use it
Well-known songs built on this progression, at least in the section each is known for:
- Johnny B. Goode — Chuck Berry
- Hound Dog — Elvis Presley
- Sweet Home Chicago — Robert Johnson
Frequently asked questions
- What chords are in the 12-bar blues in C major?
- In C major the 12-bar blues is C7 – C7 – C7 – C7 – F7 – F7 – C7 – C7 – G7 – F7 – C7 – G7. The same numerals give G7 – G7 – G7 – G7 – C7 – C7 – G7 – G7 – D7 – C7 – G7 – D7 in G major; the table above lists all twelve keys.
- What are the roman numerals for the 12-bar blues?
- The 12-bar blues is I7–I7–I7–I7–IV7–IV7–I7–I7–V7–IV7–I7–V7 — also called the blues progression and I–IV–V blues. The 12-bar blues is the twelve-bar form behind blues, rock and roll and much of jazz: four bars on the tonic, two on the subdominant, two back home, then a two-bar V–IV cadence and a turnaround — every chord a dominant seventh for the blues colour.
- How long is the 12-bar blues?
- Each chord lasts 4 beats, so one pass of the 12 chords is 12 bars of 4/4.
- What songs use the 12-bar blues?
- "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry, "Hound Dog" by Elvis Presley and "Sweet Home Chicago" by Robert Johnson are built on it, at least in the section each is known for.