The standard 12bar blues progression has three chords in it the 1 chord, the 4 chord, and then the 5 chord. Count and play your way through 12bar blues change how to. This style works so well because its built from the most fundamental chords. The twelve bar blues or blues changes is one of the most prominent chord progressions in popular music. However, sometimes a dominant 7th 5 chord is used to create more tension before the return home to the minor tonic. A turnaround bar is a bar that substitutes a v chord for a i chord in the last bar of the progression bar 12 in a 12bar blues. Most effective way of soloing over blues progressions.
Count and play your way through 12 bar blues change how to. Although for jazz and bebop, this progression is often embellished with more complex chords. For the sake of brevity, ill only look at playing blues in the key of c. Chord progression piano software free download chord. The blues chord progression lasts 12 bars thus the phrase 12bar blues that move in a familiar pattern using those three chords. But if you play only 9th chords over a slow 12 bar progression it may sound boring. Its important to understand that the 12 bar blues is a cycle and it is repeated many times during a performance. Welcome to start of the improv series on the 12 bar blues.
The 12 bar blues is one of the most popular chord progressions in popular music, including the blues. The 5 chord stays the same as it would in its major key. See more ideas about blues guitar lessons, guitar lessons and playing guitar. The 12 bar blues is simply a chord progression consisting of the 1, 4 and 5 chords in whatever major key youre working. The only 3 chords you need to master the blues on piano. The chord progression is easy for beginners because it only uses three chords, the root, the fourth, and the fifth.
Here are some of my favourite online music resources. Nov 04, 2015 if you like the lesson then please subscribe. How to play 12 bar blues on the piano when it comes to jazz, the first thing you should learn is how to play the 12 bar blues. The blues may be the most popular chord progression there is. After you get comfortable playing the classic i iv i v i blues progression and have played it enough times you will want to explore other blues chords progressions. So in the blues, musicians just repeat these 12 measures. You will find that the blues is more a feeling than it is just that basic three chord progression. Chordpulse lite will play your automatic accompaniment with drums, bass and chords that you will enjoy playing along. In other words, we only change the 1 and 4 chords to minor. A 12 bar blues is performed, as the name implies, by playing twelve bars in a given arrangement that are repeated through a song. A 12 bar blues is less about the instrument used, and more about a standard chord structure progression, phrase, and duration. Midi files of chord progressions wikimedia commons. The 12bar blues is built on the i, iv and v chords, and everyone from punk bands to jazz composers have used some form of the progression in their music. The 12 bar blues progression is the foundation of the blues.
The first thing to do is to use the 12 bar quick change form, so we have c9 in the second bar, if we play it in the key of g. It is built of only 3 chords making it really easy to play and a perfect skill to learn as a beginner piano player. Although blues music has evolved over time, a fundamental chord progression called the 12 bar blues still lives on. We are going to start this study of improvisation with the topic of chord tone soloing chord tone soloing is the process of creating improvised lines exclusively with. The 12 bar blues has a chord sequence that repeats over and over, usually with different lyrics and perhaps some melodic variation, until you genuinely feel sorry for the storyteller. The 12 bar blues is simply a chord progression consisting of the 1, 4 and. A 12 bar blues is less about the instrument used, and more about a standard chord structureprogression, phrase, and duration. During the last two lessons we discussed the blues click here to learn about the 12 bar blues if you havent read this lesson yet and now after we added the seventh note to the chords check it out in the blues chords lesson were ready to add some chord progression to the plain blues in order to spice it up a little bit.
Chord progressions the best free chord progression lessons on the web the recipe for music is part melody, lyric, rhythm, and harmony chord progressions. Practice and compose with this free auto accompaniment software. In the key of e blues, the 1 chord is an e, the 4 chord is an a, and the 5 chord is a b. Once you learn to play the 12bar blues on the guitar, you can play such classic blues pieces as hound dog, stormy monday, kansas city, st. Chord changes in the 12 bar blues blues piano tutorial. Once you know a blues scale, the next step is to play some melodies over a 12 bar blues chord progression. The minor blues chord progression online piano course. The jazzbluesgenerator is a program written in maxmsp that plays a 12bardominantjazzblues chord progression and generates a fitting solo over it. If you remember, another name for measures is bars. Mastery of the blues and rhythm changes are critical elements for building a jazz repertoire. The 12 bar is an extremely common structure when playing blues. The 12bar blues is one of the most popular chord progressions in popular music, including the blues.
We will then look at enhancing the minor blues form with inversions, substitutions and rehamonisations. For example, an a minor blues progression would typically be. Chord changes in the 12 bar blues blues piano synthesia tutorial. Below is the chord progression for the 12 bar blues. Blues piano tutorial chord progression 12 bar blues. Following on from the improvisation we did in part 3, the next step. This variant can be played with or without a turnaround. In the key of e blues, the 1 chord is an e, the 4 chord is an a, and the 5. The 12 bar blues has long been a favourite amongst music educators for teaching form, triads, the blues scale, cyclical chord progressions and music history. The 12bar blues is by far the most popular form for the blues.
While this does the job as far as creating that bluesy sound, there is a far more effective and expressive way of playing through blues changes. Its simple, fun, and can entertain everybody if done right. In the above example, the last 2 measures use a cadence referred to as a turnaround. What are some chord substitutions for a iivv blues progression. In the final lesson in this series were going to build a 12 bar blues progression and, using the blues scale in the right hand, improvise over the top. Each of these songs follows the 12bar blues pattern. A common variant of the 12 bar blues is to use a quick change. Chord tone soloing tutorial chord tone soloing exercises. Chord variations may also be added for harmonic diversity. I like having the kids begin their rh with 3rd finger on c instead of thumb. Handy chart for transposing any 12 bar blues to any key. Most blues uses a widely recognized structure called the 12bar form, aptly named because each musical phrase of the song is 12 measures long.
Usually based on the i iv v chords of a key, it can be played in any key. Based on the i, iv and v chords of any key, the 12 bar blues is one of the most prominent chord progressions in modern music. Feb 22, 2019 the 12 bar blues is one of the most iconic song forms ever. Jazz blues chord progression generator music production hq. The basic 12 bar blues progression can be played in any key and will use the i, iv, and v chords from that key. There are plenty of arrangements, based on chord progressions, to use.
Today i want to talk to you about the 12 bar blues. Here is the structure of the basic blues progression. The classic 12 bar blues progression is one of the most popular progressions of the 20th century and it spanned beyond blues into jazz and even influenced traditional gospel music. It is usually in 44 4 crotchet beats per bar and uses 1 chord per bar with 12 bars in total thus the 12 bar blues. We have the sheet music and midi files if you need them. It is named after the number of bars in the progression and not the. So the scale would be gbbceb, or with more notes as they are able. Common variations of 12 bar blues chord progressions. This particular tutorial provides a detailed, stepbystep overview of how to play a twelvebar blues pattern improvisation.
Blues chord progressions, beyond the basic 12 bar blues. In general, you can make whats called a tritone substitution on any dominant chord i. It can be used to get to know the chords, modes and sound of the 12bardominantjazzblues as a backing track to practice improvisation over variable chord progressions. The 12 bar blues is one of the most iconic song forms ever.
Soloing over blues progressions a more effective approach most guitarists are taught to play minor pentatonic or the flat 5 blues scale when soloing over a 1 4 5 blues progression. Blues piano scales, chords, and chord progressions for. This particular tutorial provides a detailed, stepbystep overview of how to play a twelve bar blues pattern improvisation. We can also introduce passing chords to add harmonic interest to the 12 bar minor blues progression. After you get comfortable playing the classic i iv i v i blues progression and have played it enough times you will want to explore other blues chords progressions you will find that the blues is more a feeling than. Playing the 12 bar blues chord progression in the key of c lets take a look at the chord progression for the 12 bar blues. Fortunately, the internet is awash in free, highquality uke lessons, like this one from youtubes preeminent tropical tutor, ukulele mike. Nov 04, 2015 in this lesson i cover a variation on the standard 12 bar blues chord progression, one that is often used in jazz especially bebop. Use well known piano songs to learn to play piano by ear. Listen for the chord progression in this 12 bar blues jam and pick out the changes in chords.
Blues music paved the way for many other genres of music we know and love. To play your own 12 bar blues, just follow these easy instructions, playing with either hand or both hands. It is, at its most basic, based on the iivv chords of a key. Common variations of 12 bar blues chord progressions guitar. The blues progression 12 bar blues chord progression. In its basic form, it is predominantly based on the i, iv, and v chords of a key. In its most basic form, it contains just the i, the iv and the v chords of the given key. In this lesson i cover a variation on the standard 12 bar blues chord progression, one that is often used in jazz especially bebop.
The 12bar blues has a chord sequence that repeats over and over, usually with different lyrics and perhaps some melodic variation, until you genuinely feel sorry for the storyteller. With that in mind, well be in the key of e blues through this entire series. Oct 01, 2010 12 bar blues chord progression efers to a number of measures used in playing the blues. The term chord progression refers to a succession of tones or chords played in a particular order for a specified duration that harmonizes with the melody.
Set up a chord progression, select a music style and press play. What are some chord substitutions for a iivv blues. The 12bar is an extremely common structure when playing blues. Blues piano tutorial jazz 12 bar blues chord variation. A 12bar blues is performed, as the name implies, by playing twelve bars in a given arrangement that are repeated through a song. We transcribe sheet music arrangements and tutorials from audio. Most blues uses a widely recognized structure called the 12 bar form, aptly named because each musical phrase of the song is 12 measures long. As most electric slow blues tunes it uses 9th chords instead of 7th chords the first example of a common chord substitution. Essentially, the blues is a specific progression that uses the c7, f7, and g7 chords.
To play it, you change measure 2 from a i chord to a iv chord. Adding intros, turnarounds, and endings to the 12bar blues. Play 12 bar blues in c major with a triad bass line how to. In addition to the 12 bar blues progression, well also learn the 14 chord progression thats simple enough for you to get started with. In the key of c the chords would be c major f major and g major. The blues progression has a distinctive form in chord structure and duration. You should be comfortable with the concepts of chord extensions, altered harmony, and rootless voicings.
The blues progression has a distinctive form in lyrics, phrase, chord structure, and duration. When you have the chord progression memorized, try playing the chords with the left hand while your right hand plays a simple melody, riff, or blues scale. Blues chord progressions 12, 8 and 16 bar examples. Once youve cracked it, its no exaggeration to say that these simple ingredients can provide you with a lifetime of pleasure. To play your own 12bar blues, just follow these easy instructions, playing with either hand or both hands. How to play the blues on the piano or keyboard dummies. The gullah net website includes information about the evolution of blues music and how it influenced. Jul 06, 2017 chord changes in the 12 bar blues blues piano synthesia tutorial. The twelvebar blues or blues changes is one of the most prominent chord progressions in popular music. In the notation below, i notated a repeat sign to indicate the use of a turnaround.
Playing the blues is fundamental to learn gospel piano and praise music. I use the 12bar blues pattern a lot for students doing the guild musicianship phase. The 12 bar blues is a chord progression used in blues and rock music that lasts for 12 bars. My favourite activity for the start of the year even if youve introduced it before or already had a few lessons with a student is to explore the 12 bar blues. The 12 bar blues is the most common blues chord progression. A true full turnaround is, at minimum, a twobar phrase that goes from the i chord to the v chord.
473 908 1452 1057 1212 1389 1240 156 360 1130 1093 1507 497 739 79 846 832 286 1318 41 90 1374 63 551 128 1200 228 163 303 874 719 63 9 709 264 679 697 1029 1007 608 1400 745 898