12 bar blues form

If ever there was a musical format for aspiring players to begin to get into American music, the basic 12 bar blues form is surely one of them. This combination of musical form and basic harmonies is used all around the world by players of all ages and abilities, to tell and share their stories and have fun playing music. The 12 bar blues form originated in America a long time ago and ever since has been the form of choice for testifying blues and jazz players globally. Oftentimes, it is a good beginning point when we jamm with new players, as the form, harmony and pitches are pretty common to lots of players of all levels of ability. And as there are so many cool tunes written in this format, everyone in the jam might have some skill with it. If not, maybe try to teach it to them if the setting is right.

The 12 bar blues is simply three, four bar musical phrases, which when combined together create the 12 bars ( 3 x 4 = 12 ) of one complete cycle of a 12 bar 1, 4, 5 blues. Players call a cycle of this 12 bar form one chorus. The numbers 1, 4, 5 refer to the root numbers of the chords used and are derived by adding numbers to the letter names of the pitches which comprise the blues scale. Here is a chart with these chords in C, example 1.

If new to the blues, learn as much of the melody in the examples within the two links which follow. Getting this line under your fingers will give you a working feel for the blues grouping of pitches.

We can play the blues in either the major or minor tonality, oftentimes using the same groups of pitches in either of these two environments, creating a very cool, dual tonality performance format.

Hip to the form? Need new ideas for blues lines? Blues chords? Examine the pitches of the blues scale? Take the blues challenge perhaps? Explore a modal blues? Click below.

He that will not sail till all dangers are over must never put out to sea. Thomas Fuller