[hb]

Forgive my ignorance, as I can already hear some laughing, but I've been trying to learn the guitar for about a year and a half and there's a lot of things I've haven't gotten into yet and the 12 bar blues is one of them. My question......just what is the 12 bar blues? Where did it come from and just how is it used in blues or jazz?
thanks,
hb

[scotty_b]

12 bar blues is a common form for about a squillion blues, jazz and rock songs.
The most basic form would be something like this (shown in C)
C for 4 bars
F for 2 bars
C for 2 bars
G for 1
F for 1
C for 1
G for 1
This is only one way to play through the progression. A jazz-blues is a little different, and generally has more chords put in it.

[allthumbs]

Twelve bar blues - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[eddiez152]

Scotty,
Any chance of you posting or playing a 12 bars blues demo file. In C,D,E,F,G,A ?

[hb]

Thanks a bunch! Yea, a demo file would be neat....although I think we have all heard Kirk play this several times in some lessons. I'll have to remember that " Wikipedia" , that looks like it could be a very handy tool.
hb

[scotty_b]

Yeah I home right can post something tonight Eddie, and then hb can get an idea of the sound.

[hb]

After reviewing the posts, would I be correct in saying that the 12 bar blues is a standard way of producing a song that sounds "bluesy"? If so.....what made it so famous? Is it just a standard sound of blues?
thanks,
hb

[scotty_b]

The chord progression in and of itself is not bluesy. It is the use of the blues scale combined with phrasing that gives something a bluesy feel. John Lee Hooker played one-chord vamps, and we also find 8, 16, 24 and 32 bar-blues.

[eddiez152]

Scotty,
The reason I asked, was because I would love to learn them in these different keys. I think many here would also.
Kirk has done a fine video lesson, but would like to hear more. And can it be done with the dropped D ? Probably, as Kirk loves that dropped D tuning.

[GeetarGal101]

Most standard 12 bar blues follow a I, IV, V progression (or one, four, five).

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
6. F
7. G

If the tune is in the key of A, you can easily see the other two keys that are involved, 4 and 5, or D and E. If you're playing in B, then it would become the I and E and F would be the IV and V...and so on.

For jamming purposes, it's perfect. Everyone know what the changes will be and when they will happen. When I play with friends, we sit in a circle (usually), and trade leads in a clockwise manner. At the end of 12 bars, the next person takes the lead...cool!

As to where the blues comes from...I've read that it came from Africa, and later on was evident in "field hollers", etc. My thoughts are that the blues starts in your guts and comes out of your fingers.

[carol m]

Originally Posted by GeetarGal101

My thoughts are that the blues starts in your guts and comes out of your fingers.

Good thoughts you're having there, GeetarGal

[knight46]

It is said that the Blues was born in Africa but it was raised and nurtured in the Mississippi Delta.

[Fretsource]

Just a slight correction there GuitarGal.
In B the I, IV V chords would be B E & F#
and in F they would be F Bb & C.

[GeetarGal101]

Thanks for the correction, Fretsource...I haven't tried playing blues in the key of B yet, lol.

[krissovo]

For blues I love this site Slowhand Blues Guitar - Clapton Style Blues Guitar Tutorial And Forum