Hey Bluesman,
I here ya. 12 bar over and over is terribly boring especially for the musicians. I got a vocalist who I attend open jam sessions with...the only tunes he wants to do are major 12 bar shuffles. Ugh. So, to change it up sometimes I switch it around to a jazz blues progression when he actually shuts up. For instance, instead of your regular "V /// | IV //// | I /// | V /// |" turnaround you could do a minII /// | V/// | I VIadd9 minII V|
As far as doing songs for your particular setup, Try not to think of it that way. It is limiting. Take whatever song you like doing...it might even have a string section to it. Then make it yours. I'm in a place where good musicians are RARE, and the type of people who dig my kind of music are even rarer. I sometimes work in a duo with a bass player and we do everything from robert johnson to george benson within the confines of the bass and guitar. As long as you have a groovy arrangement, and put your soul into it...play with passion...people including yourself will enjoy it.
Thats what I believe anyway.
Azrael
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