12-bar blues: chord progression in every key
The 12-bar blues is I-I-I-I, IV-IV-I-I, V-IV-I-V with dominant 7th chords. Hear it, see it in all 12 keys and learn the songs built on it.
The 12-bar blues is a 12-bar pattern of three chords, usually dominant sevenths: I I I I | IV IV I I | V IV I V. In C: C7 C7 C7 C7 | F7 F7 C7 C7 | G7 F7 C7 G7. The last bar (V) turns the form around to start again. It is the basis of blues, early rock and roll and much jazz.
Listen in C major
Or one chord at a time:
What does 12-bar blues sound like?
Grounded and repetitive in a good way: four bars at home, two away, back home, then the V–IV–I climax and the turnaround.
Songs that use 12-bar blues
| Song | Where |
|---|---|
| Johnny B. Goode (Chuck Berry) | a 12-bar blues throughout, in B flat (the last four bars vary slightly between recordings and charts) |
| Hound Dog (Elvis Presley) | a 12-bar blues throughout (the last four bars vary slightly between recordings and charts) |
Titles only. Listed only when the chords of that section are certain; chords as usually written for that section.
How to recognise it by ear
- Count the bars: the change to IV always comes at bar 5, the V at bar 9.
- Variants exist: the quick-change blues goes to IV in bar 2; many versions end on I instead of V in bar 12.
- Each chord is a dominant seventh, even the I: that is the blues sound.
Quick test: which progression?
Each sound plays the chords one after another. Pick the progression.
Score: / 3 (your score updates as you answer)
12-bar blues in all 12 major keys
Chords built from the Roman numerals I7 I7 I7 I7 IV7 IV7 I7 I7 V7 IV7 I7 V7 on each key's own scale.
| Key | Chords | Hear it |
|---|---|---|
| C major | C7 – C7 – C7 – C7 – F7 – F7 – C7 – C7 – G7 – F7 – C7 – G7 | |
| G major | G7 – G7 – G7 – G7 – C7 – C7 – G7 – G7 – D7 – C7 – G7 – D7 | |
| D major | D7 – D7 – D7 – D7 – G7 – G7 – D7 – D7 – A7 – G7 – D7 – A7 | |
| A major | A7 – A7 – A7 – A7 – D7 – D7 – A7 – A7 – E7 – D7 – A7 – E7 | |
| E major | E7 – E7 – E7 – E7 – A7 – A7 – E7 – E7 – B7 – A7 – E7 – B7 | |
| B major | B7 – B7 – B7 – B7 – E7 – E7 – B7 – B7 – F♯7 – E7 – B7 – F♯7 | |
| F♯ major | F♯7 – F♯7 – F♯7 – F♯7 – B7 – B7 – F♯7 – F♯7 – C♯7 – B7 – F♯7 – C♯7 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| B♭ major | B♭7 – B♭7 – B♭7 – B♭7 – E♭7 – E♭7 – B♭7 – B♭7 – F7 – E♭7 – B♭7 – F7 | |
| F major | F7 – F7 – F7 – F7 – B♭7 – B♭7 – F7 – F7 – C7 – B♭7 – F7 – C7 |
Frequently asked questions
What are the chords of a 12-bar blues in E?
E7 for four bars, A7 for two, E7 for two, then B7, A7, E7, B7. The same pattern in A is A7, D7, E7.
Why is it called 12-bar blues?
The form repeats every 12 bars (measures) of four beats.
What is a quick-change blues?
A variation that moves to the IV chord in bar 2 and back to I in bar 3, then continues as normal.
What is the turnaround in a 12-bar blues?
The last bar or two, usually on the V chord, which leads back to bar 1.