The twelve-bar blues (or blues changes) is one of the most prominent chord progressions in popular music.The blues progression has a distinctive form in lyrics, phrase, chord structure, and duration.In its basic form, it is predominantly based on the I, IV, and V chords of a key. You can either play one scale over all bars or change scale as the chord change. The 12 bar blues is simply a chord progression consisting of the 1, 4 and 5 chords in whatever major key you’re working. The basic 12 bar blues progression can be played in any key and will use the I, IV, and V chords from that key. The blues chord progression lasts 12 bars (thus the phrase “12-bar blues”) that move in a familiar pattern using those three chords. Having the tonic in the middle gives them a way to use the 7th with ease. Title: 12-Bar Blues in C … 12 Bar Blues. G" F" C" C" ©2013"Joy"Morin"|"ColorInMyPiano.com" LH Patterns for The 12-Bar Blues Whole Notes Blocked 5ths & 6ths Walking Bass Extended Walking Bass . For a review of the roman numerals system see the lesson on diatonic chords. Mastery of the blues and rhythm changes are "critical elements for building a jazz repertoire". It is built of only 3 chords making it really easy to play and a perfect skill to learn as a beginner piano player. As an suggestion, use the E Pentatonic Major Blues scale over the 12-bar blues displayed above. The chords needed for the 12 bar blues are the 1, 4 and 5 chords. See Appendix A for standard 12-bar blues in all keys. In the key of C you will play the chords based off of the 1st, 4th and 5th notes of the C scale: C as your 1 How To: Play Reggae blues in A minor using triads on the piano How To: Learn 12 bar blues on the keyboard How To: Play 12 bar blues in C Major with a triad bass line How To: Play a Chicago Blues style twelve bar blues on the guitar with finger picking The 12 bar blues is one of the most iconic song forms ever! What makes the chords "bluesy" is the use of 7th chords rather than the basic triads. I use the 12-bar blues pattern a lot for students doing the Guild Musicianship Phase: Improvisation. In the key of C the chords would be C major F major and G major. I like having the kids begin their RH with 3rd finger on C instead of thumb. Thanks for the printable! (For the sake of brevity, I’ll only look at playing blues in the key of C). So the scale would be G-Bb-C-Eb, or with more notes as they are able. Playing scales over the 12-bar blues. [F# C# C F G Cm D# Gm] Chords for 12 Bar Blues in C (Piano Improvisation) with capo transposer, play along with guitar, piano, ukulele & mandolin. My favourite activity for the start of the year (even if you’ve introduced it before or already had a few lessons with a student) is to explore the 12 bar blues. In the key of C, the chords would instead be C7, F7 and G7. Essentially, the blues is a specific progression that uses the C7, F7, and G7 chords. 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