Lesson #1The 12 Bar - chord progression

Not just blues guitar lesson-  

The “Standard” blues forms?  

What do most “Blues” songs –like Crossroads, Dust my broom, Red house, Johnny B. goode, Pride and joy, Sweet home Chicago, Houndog, Kansas city, Route 66, Blue suede shoes, Rock me baby, Love me like a man, Statesboro blues, Red rooster, Roll and tumble, Bright lights big city, Sky is crying, Sweet little angel, Thrill is gone, Mojo working, Ramblin on my mind, Goin’ down slow, Hideaway. Yes really! Almost anything by Robert Johnson, Albert and B.B., -Muddy,-Willie,- Lightnin’,- Buddy,- T-Bone, Elmore, Slim, - (Got the idea?) and thousands more have to do with each other? (Most —-not all !)  

Slow “Blues ballads”, medium tempo “shuffles”, very fast “boogies”, –”Delta”, “Chicago”, “Texas”,–Acoustic, Electric, “Slide”,–”Rockin” “,Rock-a-billy”, “Swingin”, “Down-home“.  

Whatever! (You’ll learn to know it when you hear it.) These “Blues” and “Blues based” songs share common ingredients! Chords,–Chord progressions,–scales (“Licks”),–rhythms (“Grooves”). 

So many blues songs share the same foundation! Too easy? (This is exactly what makes artistry and style so important in the “Blues”!) *Start by checking out "The 12-bar".

The 12 bar chord progression

This term 12-Bar will be heard all the time in referring to blues songs.  

This is the foundation for literally thousands of "standard" blues songs, and many folk, swing, rock, rockabilly and jazz songs as well! Unbelievable? -Believe it! Become great friends with it!  

This structure is what you plug the chords, lyrics, and "licks" into.  

That said, there are many blues songs that don't follow the 12-bar.  

(I call this a chord progression because the typical blues player, (and rock, jazz, folk, etc...) follow most songs in reference to chords. When learning these kinds of songs, the most pressing question is; "What are the chords"?)

Audio Tracks

Here are the three audio Tracks for Lesson #1