Lesson: The History and Basics of 12 Bar Blues on Guitar

Introduction: 12 bar blues is a popular chord progression that has been used in countless songs across various genres of music. It is a fundamental structure that is easy to learn and play on the guitar. In this lesson, we will explore the history of 12 bar blues and learn how to play it on the guitar.

Part 1: The History of 12 Bar Blues 12 bar blues originated in the African American communities in the southern United States in the late 19th century. It was a way for musicians to express their emotions and tell stories through music. The structure of 12 bar blues consists of three chords played in a specific order: the I, IV, and V chords. The I chord is the root chord, the IV chord is the fourth note in the scale, and the V chord is the fifth note in the scale. This structure has been used in countless songs across various genres of music, including blues, rock, and country.

Part 2: How to Play 12 Bar Blues on Guitar To play 12 bar blues on the guitar, you will need to know the basic chords and the structure of the progression. The chords used in 12 bar blues are typically played in the open position, which means they are played using the first three frets of the guitar. Here is a breakdown of the chords used in 12 bar blues:

I chord: This is the root chord and is typically played as a major chord. For example, if you are playing in the key of A, the I chord would be A major.

IV chord: This chord is played as a major chord and is the fourth note in the scale. For example, if you are playing in the key of A, the IV chord would be D major.

V chord: This chord is played as a major chord and is the fifth note in the scale. For example, if you are playing in the key of A, the V chord would be E major.

Now that you know the chords used in 12 bar blues, let’s look at the structure of the progression. The 12 bar blues progression is broken down into three sections, each consisting of four bars. Here is the structure:

Section 1: I chord (4 bars) Section 2: IV chord (2 bars) - I chord (2 bars) Section 3: V chord (2 bars) - IV chord (2 bars) - I chord (2 bars) - V chord (2 bars)

To play 12 bar blues on the guitar, you will need to strum each chord for one bar. Here is an example of how to play 12 bar blues in the key of A:

Section 1: A - A - A - A Section 2: D - D - A - A Section 3: E - D - A - E

Conclusion: 12 bar blues is a fundamental chord progression that has been used in countless songs across various genres of music. It is easy to learn and play on the guitar, making it a great starting point for beginners. By understanding the history and structure of 12 bar blues, you can start to incorporate it into your own playing and create your own unique sound.