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12-bar blues chord progression

The 12-bar blues

The form a whole song is built on: four bars of I, two of IV, two of I, then V, IV, I and V to turn it round. This one has the quick change, IV in bar 2.

C major · one chord a bar
  1. C
  2. F
  3. C
  4. C
  5. F
  6. F
  7. C
  8. C
  9. G
  10. F
  11. C
  12. G

The beat is four bars long, so Play and Use in a beat give you its four-bar fold, I–IV–I–V. The table below has all twelve bars.

Use in a beat
Blues beat · 60 BPM · drums, bass and keys

The 12-bar blues in every key

One chord a bar, in all 12 keys. Use in a beat opens it in that key.

KeyChordsMake a beat
C majorCFCCFFCCGFCGUse
D♭ majorD♭G♭D♭D♭G♭G♭D♭D♭A♭G♭D♭A♭Use
D majorDGDDGGDDAGDAUse
E♭ majorE♭A♭E♭E♭A♭A♭E♭E♭B♭A♭E♭B♭Use
E majorEAEEAAEEBAEBUse
F majorFB♭FFB♭B♭FFCB♭FCUse
F♯ majorF♯BF♯F♯BBF♯F♯C♯BF♯C♯Use
G majorGCGGCCGGDCGDUse
A♭ majorA♭D♭A♭A♭D♭D♭A♭A♭E♭D♭A♭E♭Use
A majorADAADDAAEDAEUse
B♭ majorB♭E♭B♭B♭E♭E♭B♭B♭FE♭B♭FUse
B majorBEBBEEBBF♯EBF♯Use
Chord by chord, in C major
  • IC: the major chord on the 1st note of the scale
  • IVF: the major chord on the 4th note of the scale
  • VG: the major chord on the 5th note of the scale
Where it is used

Blues, rock and roll, boogie-woogie and early rock.

In the editor, these styles start on it: Blues.

More progressions

Or pick a mood and a key in the chord progression generator.

Frequently asked questions

What are the chords of a 12-bar blues in C?

Bars 1 to 4: C F C C. Bars 5 to 8: F F C C. Bars 9 to 12: G F C G. Blues players usually make each one a dominant seventh: C7, F7 and G7.

What is the 12-bar blues used for?

Blues, rock and roll, boogie-woogie and early rock. In the editor, Blues starts on it.

Can I make a beat with it?

Yes, free. Use in a beat opens the editor with a blues beat on its four-bar fold, I–IV–I–V, at 60 BPM: the beat is four bars long, every part its own lane to change or delete. Add a melody, record over it or ask for new drums. No account is needed to start; a free account saves your project.

Build a song on these chords

Use in a beat opens the free editor with drums, bass and the chords. Add a melody, record over it or change any part, one at a time.

Use 12-bar blues in a beatAll chord progressions

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