Blues Chord Progressions Pdf

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Like the primary chords the I, IV, V7 progression can be used for a number of songs. It is also the “heart of the blues”. This is one that should be practiced so that you can switch from any of the chords to any of the other chords. I, IV, V7 Progression Key I IV V7 F major (2010, 3211, 0001) G major (0232, 0003, 2020) A major (2100, 2220.

1 4 5 - The Backbone Of Blues

Most major and minor key blues follows a simple formula involving just three chords.

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We can number these chords 1, 4 and 5. These numbers represent a relationship of chords that reside in a given key.

If you need a quick intro to 1 4 5 and finding these chords on the neck, start by watching this video with one of my favourite blues teachers, Hawkeye Herman.

The 1 chord, also known as the tonic, is typically the first chord in a progression and tells us the key we're playing in. The 1 chord can be thought of as 'home' in our progression journey. When you hear musicians say 'take it home!', they're talking about resolving to the 1 chord.

For example, in the key of G major, G major would be our 1 chord.

In the key of Gminor, G minor would be our 1 chord. Simple enough!

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In blues, the 1 chord is always the same as the key name.

Another chord used in blues progressions is known as the 4 chord, also called the subdominant.

In our key of G major, that would be C major.

In G minor, the 4 chord would be C minor.

The final chord in typical blues progressions is the 5 chord, also called the dominant.

In G major, that would be D major.

In G minor, the 5 chord would be D minor OR major (more on this variation later).

1 4 5 is essentially the backbone of blues. A fixed formation of three chords.

First, you should learn to visualise this 145 relationship in whatever key you might be playing. Conveniently, the visual relationship stays the same for any key, a bit like a scale pattern. We just position it at the appropriate fret for the key we're playing in.

The easiest way to visualise 1 4 5 is to first identify the root/bass notes of each chord on the 6th and 5th strings.

6th String Tonic/1

5th String Tonic/1

Tip: The 5 chord root is always one whole step, or two frets up, from the 4 chord root!

Remember, that root note formation is movable depending on the key in which you're playing.

So if you were playing in the key of A major, simply position the 1 chord root on the note A (e.g. 6th string, 5th fret) and position the 4 and 5 chords based on the formation above.

Always start with the 1 chord and, no matter what that 1 chord is, the 4 and 5 roots will fall into place based on the above relationships.

Using A major as our example key, I might play the following chords. Start by finding your tonic/1 chord root (A in this case) and build an appropriate chord shape on that position (e.g. A major).

Then, up to the 4 chord, building another typical chord shape on that root position (D7).

And finally, the 5 chord, again using our relationships from earlier. Here I'm playing E7.

Progressions

Of course, you can also use open chords if they fit within the key (e.g. A, D and E would!). But the above, 1 4 5 visual relationship is a quick way to determine which chords should be used in any chosen key.

Major Key Blues

Most blues you'll hear is in a major key. That means the first chord (the tonic or 1) in the progression is either a major chord or a dominant 7th chord (which is a major chord with an additional tone).

You can learn all about the chord types used in blues in a separate lesson. But below is a table showing you the 1 4 5 relationship in the five most common major blues keys.

Key ►EGABCD
1E(7)G(7)A(7)B(7)C(7)D(7)
4A(7)C(7)D(7)E(7)F(7)G(7)
5B(7)D(7)E(7)F♯(7)G(7)A(7)

Sometimes, the 4 chord is played as a minor 4 chord.

A typical example of this in the key of E would be: E, A, Am, E, B7, E. You could see this is mixing major and minor key blues. Experiment with using this variation in the different forms later in this lesson.

Many guitarists just use open chords or barre chords in their blues progressions. Remember also, for heavier blues styles, power chords are often used in place of full blown 7th chords.

Minor Key Blues

Minor key blues uses exactly the same 1 4 5 root relationship from earlier, but with minor chords instead of major/dominant 7th. Simply change the chord type of each chord to minor!

For example, an A minor blues progression would typically be: Am7, Dm7, Em7 (1,4,5).

However, sometimes a dominant 7th 5 chord is used to create more tension before the return 'home' to the minor tonic.

For example: Am7, Dm7, E7.

In other words, we only change the 1 and 4 chords to minor. The 5 chord stays the same as it would in its major key.

Keep these variations in mind as you go through the examples below.

12 Bar Blues Chord Progressions

12 bar blues is the most commonly used blues form.

First, if you're not familiar with the concept of 'bars', let's break it down.

Bars (also called measures) in blues can best be described as consisting of a count of four.

So 12 bars would be 12 x 4, before the sequence repeats. Here's how the first four bars would be counted out.

Below is an audio example of how those first four bars might sound. Each hit of the symbol represents a count. There's a count in (intro) of four beats before the bars begin.

And below is an example of the full 12 bars in action. In the below clip, you'll hear two 12 bar runs of a typical blues progression (key of E), with a typical ending. Try to keep the count in your mind as it goes - 1 2 3 4 etc.

Now, there are several variations on when the chord changes occur during the 12 bars. However, the overall length remains the same.

Let's break it down, bar by bar. Below are some of the most common variations. In the table you'll see the chord number (1, 4 or 5) in the sequence next to each variation (var.).

Bar ►123456789101112Audio
Var. 1111144115415
Var. 2111144115411
Var. 3111144115511
Var. 4141144115415
Var. 5111144114515

So as you can see (and hear), the variations are quite subtle. But there are consistencies such as the 1 chord on the first, third and fourth bars, and the 4 chord on the fifth and sixth bars.

The 5 chord only comes in during the last four bars.

Blues influenced many derivative styles, but many stay true to the 12-bar form. Take a listen to this 'rock and roll' 12-bar example which involves a stop-start section at the start of some of the 12 bars.

And a minor key 12 bar blues track. https://nwraport.weebly.com/home/cambria-math-font-download-mac. This one throws in an extra chord (can you identify which one?).

The 'Turnaround'

The last two bars typically contain what is often referred to as the 'turnaround'. This is the climax of the 12 bar blues sequence that prepares the listener for the return to the tonic (the return home) and a new 12 bars.

There are a number of embellishments you can apply during these last two bars to enhance the turnaround function, but we'll cover those in a separate lesson on blues technique. If you listen to blues, you'll already be familiar with some turnaround variations.

8 Bar Blues Chord Progressions

Less common than 12 bar blues, the 8 bar blues form condenses the 1 4 5 sequence into. 8 bars!

Below are some common variations. Note that, in this blues form, chord changes can occur within the same bar, as indicated in the some of the variations below. When this is the case, the chord change will occur on the third count, in the middle of the four count bar. Listen to the examples to get your bearings.

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Bar ►12345678Audio
Var. 1154415-415
Var. 21144151-41-5
Var. 311114451
Var. 415441515
Var. 511114455
Var. 611114515
Var. 744115415-1

Notice how that last variation starts on the 4 chord. This is commonly used as a bridge or interlude in a standard blues progression. In short, you don't always have to start on the tonic chord!

The audio examples are played at a relatively quick tempo. Often blues will be slowed riiiiight down, such as this 8-bar example.

16 Bar Blues Chord Progressions

An even less commonly used form, but still good to know about! 16 bar blues can be seen as an extension of the standard 12 bar form (four additional bars).

Some common variations below. Try chopping and changing chords. There are no rules as such, just ideas.

Bar ►12345678910111213141516Audio
Var. 11111111144115411
Var. 21111441155441111
Var. 31111441144115511
Var. 41111441154545411
Var. 51111441154541111

Blues can have more of a mellow groove. Take a listen to the following 16-bar example.

Jazz Blues Chord Progressions

Jazz often uses the staple blues chord progressions from above as the foundation and embellishes them by adding other chords from the diatonic scale, such as the 2 and 6 chords.

Plus, it often adds diminished chords, for example a half step up from the 4 chord position (e.g. Eb7 to Edim7).

You can learn all about these other chord degrees back in the main section.

Some typical jazz variations on the 12 bar blues, in the common key of Bb (B flat) would be.

Bar ►123456789101112Audio
Var. 1Bb7Eb7Bb7Bb7Eb7Eb7Bb7G7C7F7Bb7-G7C7-F7
Var. 2Bb7Eb7Bb7Bb7Eb7Edim7Bb7G7Cm7F7Bb7-G7C7-F7
Var. 3Bb7Eb7-Edim7Bb7Fm7-Bb7Eb7Edim7Bb7G7Cm7F7Bb7Cm7-F7
Var. 4BbM7Am7b5-D7(#9)Gm7Fm7-Bb7(b9)Eb7Ab7Bb7Ab7-G7C7F7BbM7-G7Cm7-F7

Note that BbM7 with a capital M is an abbreviation for 'Bbmaj7' or 'B flat major 7th'.

I'll cover jazz variation more in its own section, but the above examples should give you a solid grounding in jazz blues form, which you can build on in your own way.

Try transposing these progressions to different keys to challenge your knowledge!

Blues piano chord progressions pdf

Time for a cold one I think. If you've got this far, then you've hopefully learned something new about the flexibility of the blues form. But underpinning it all are those three simple chords: 1, 4, 5.

Master this relationship, and you'll be able to back up virtually any blues jam in any key.

Blues music is a relatively easy genre to absorb and the guitar is an excellent instrument in this style.

Blues course

Here starts a blues course for guitar that include several lessons. It begins with an easy level that explains the basic and when goes into more advanced concepts and various areas like 12 bar blues progressions.
Lessons:

The short and concentrated guide

The must-have chords in blues

The first chords to learn if you want to get a bluesy guitar sound are those that give another color to the sound than the usual major chords and are known as Dominant 7th chords.

E7

A7

B7

Common blues progression

The standard type blues progression is extremely common and are, with some slight variations, present in other styles as well. When you play it, the chance is big what it sounds familiar to you .


E7 – A7 – E7 – B7 – A7 – E7


Hopefully you get some bluesy sound from it. In blues, things repeat them self a lot. The progression above is short and instead for ending at the last E7 you could add B7 as a turnaround and when begin with the same progression all over again.
As mentioned, we are using so-called dominant chords here, which are common in blues. Try the same chord sequence without any seventh notes and you will lose the blues sound.

Blues rhythm (how create a blues feeling with the strumming)

Strumming in a steady rhythm will not bring that blues feeling. A fundamental thing is on which beats to put extra emphasize. Then playing blues, count 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4 . and start with one downstroke on every count. Together with that try to emphasize (i.e. play a little harder) the first and third in every four strokes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4 .
The rhythm is not always the same, slow blues, for example, are often played in 12/8 time.

Besides the chords

Chords aren't everything, you probably want to put in some licks here and there between your chords and also doing some embellishment. And if some other is playing the rhythm guitar, you could jam over it by using some blues pentatonic scales (this site doesn’t focus on scales, but you won't have any problem finding information about it on the web, a recommended resource is GuitarScale.org).

Blues shuffle

Even if you are unsure about what a blues shuffle is, you have almost certainly heard it. A blues shuffle is something you probably want to be able to play, it is one of the most distinguish things that could be heard off when a guitar is near.
A basic blues shuffle could look like this in a tablature:
Try it and you will hopefully recognize a familiar sound. A shuffle is technically played in 12/8 time but is often notated in 4/4 time with triplet feel.

Blues guitarists

Listen to blues music will be a great benefit for you in the quest for the real blues feeling. Among the classic blues guitarists are names like the following:

  • Robert Johnson
  • Lead Belly
  • Muddy Waters
  • Son House
  • Howlin' Wolf
  • John Lee Hooker
  • T-Bone Walker
  • Elmore James
  • BB King
  • Earl Hooker

Blues Chord Progressions Pdf

The 'next generations' of blues guitarists incorporated such names as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Tips for more in-depth readings:
(#CommissionsEarned)
Read also Give your chords more blues feeling.

Jam tracks

Here are some jam tracks to practice with. The following jam tracks are for blues and involves only drums.

Jam track 1
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Jam track 2
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Piano Blues Chord Progressions Pdf

Jam track 3
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Jazz Chord Progressions Pdf


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