What is the 12-bar blues?

The 12-bar blues is I7–I7–I7–I7–IV7–IV7–I7–I7–V7–IV7–I7–V7. In C major that is C7, F7 and G7. Dominant 7th chords on I, IV and V across twelve bars. The foundation of blues and early rock 'n' roll.

What are the chords of the 12-bar blues in C major?

C7, F7 and G7. I7 is home, IV7 moves away and V7 pulls back home.

What songs use the 12-bar blues?

You can hear it in Johnny B. Goode, Pride and Joy and Hound Dog, among many others.

Chord progressions · 12-bar blues

12-bar blues chord progression in every key

The 12-bar blues is I7–I7–I7–I7–IV7–IV7–I7–I7–V7–IV7–I7–V7. In C major that is C7, F7 and G7.

Play it

Hear it in any key

chords on I, IV and V across twelve bars. The foundation of blues and early rock 'n' roll.

I7 is home, IV7 moves away and V7 pulls back home. Pick a key and press play; the stay the same while the chords move.

Key

12-bar blues in C major
I7 – I7 – I7 – I7 – IV7 – IV7 – I7 – I7 – V7 – IV7 – I7 – V7
1. C7
2. C7
3. C7
4. C7
5. F7
6. F7
7. C7
8. C7
9. G7
10. F7
11. C7
12. G7
Dominant 7th chords on I, IV and V across twelve bars. The foundation of blues and early rock 'n' roll.
Heard in Johnny B. Goode, Pride and Joy, Hound Dog

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Practise the changes in time Play it with a capo

Every key

12-bar blues in all 12 major keys

Each row is the same progression. Tap a chord to learn its shapes, or a key to hear all of its chords.

12-bar blues in every major key
Key	Chords
C major	C7 F7 G7
G major	G7 C7 D7
D major	D7 G7 A7
A major	A7 D7 E7
E major	E7 A7 B7
B major	B7 E7 F♯7
F♯ major	F♯7 B7 C♯7
D♭ major	D♭7 G♭7 A♭7
A♭ major	A♭7 D♭7 E♭7
E♭ major	E♭7 A♭7 B♭7
B♭ major	B♭7 E♭7 F7
F major	F7 B♭7 C7

Questions

12-bar blues, in short

What is the 12-bar blues?: The 12-bar blues is I7–I7–I7–I7–IV7–IV7–I7–I7–V7–IV7–I7–V7. In C major that is C7, F7 and G7. chords on I, IV and V across twelve bars. The foundation of blues and early rock 'n' roll.
What are the chords of the 12-bar blues in C major?: C7, F7 and G7. I7 is home, IV7 moves away and V7 pulls back home.
What songs use the 12-bar blues?: You can hear it in Johnny B. Goode, Pride and Joy and Hound Dog, among many others.

More progressions

All chord progressions