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Blues / Rock / Jazz · intermediate

12-Bar Blues

The defining form of the blues — a 12-bar cycle using I, IV, and V chords. The foundation of blues, rock and roll, and early jazz.

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Hear 12-Bar Blues in Any Key

How to Identify It

A repeating 12-bar cycle: four bars on I, two on IV, two on I, one on V, one on IV, one on I, one on V (the turnaround). Once you know the form you can feel exactly where you are.

Famous Examples

  • Johnny B. Goode — Chuck Berry
  • Hound Dog — Elvis Presley
  • Pride and Joy — Stevie Ray Vaughan
  • La Grange — ZZ Top
  • Rock Around the Clock — Bill Haley
Test your earThe recognition trainer plays random progressions — identify them with instant feedback.
Open Trainer →

12-Bar Blues in All 12 Keys

CC – F – C – G – F – C – GC#D♭Db – Gb – Db – Ab – Gb – Db – AbDD – G – D – A – G – D – AD#E♭Eb – Ab – Eb – Bb – Ab – Eb – BbEE – A – E – B – A – E – BFF – Bb – F – C – Bb – F – CF#G♭F# – B – F# – C# – B – F# – C#GG – C – G – D – C – G – DG#A♭Ab – Db – Ab – Eb – Db – Ab – EbAA – D – A – E – D – A – EA#B♭Bb – Eb – Bb – F – Eb – Bb – FBB – E – B – F# – E – B – F#

Related Progressions

I-IV-V-IClassical / Pop / RockThe most fundamental progression in Western music. Toni…I-V-vi-IVPop / RockThe most ubiquitous progression in modern pop music. Op…I-vi-IV-VPop / Doo-Wop / RockThe classic 50s progression. Warm, nostalgic, and endle…IV-I-V-viPop / AnthemThe 'axis progression' starting on IV — the same chords…

About the 12-Bar Blues Progression

The 12-Bar Blues progression uses the chords I – IV – I – V – IV – I – V from the major scale. The defining form of the blues — a 12-bar cycle using I, IV, and V chords. The foundation of blues, rock and roll, and early jazz.

To recognise the 12-Bar Blues by ear, focus on its characteristic mood — bluesy, raw, expressive, cyclical. Practice hearing it in different keys using the player above. Each key gives the same harmonic movement but a different tonal colour, which is why being able to identify the progression regardless of key is the real skill.