Once you learn twelve-bar blues you'll have the tools to make endless variations on blues music. It's quick and easy and a whole lot of fun.
Instructions
1. A basic blues scale is derived from the minor pentatonic scale with flatted 3rd, 5th and 7th notes. In the key of C the notes would be: C Eb F F# G Bb C. Twelve bar blues is based on the I, IV and V chords of the blues scale. In C these chords are C, F and G.
2. Play the I chord (tonic) for the first 4 bars (measures).
Play the IV chord (subdominant) for the next 2 bars.
Return to I for 2 bars.
Go to the V chord (dominant) for 1 bar.
Drop to the IV chord for 1 bar.
Return to the I chord for 2 more bars.
Repeat as necessary.
3. The melody line of twelve bar blues doesn't exactly move with the chords.
The melody is sung/played over the top of the first 2 bars (I chord). There is a recovery for 2 bars (I chord). The melody is repeated with the same notes over the next 2 bars (IV chord.) There is a recovery for 2 bars (I chord).
The second part of the melody is sung/played over the next 2 bars (V and IV).
There is a third recovery over the last 2 bars (I chord).
4. For example:
I got me a woman always talkin' to other men
I I I I
Said I got me a woman always talking to other men
IV IV I I
But I still love my baby, no matter how mean she's been
V IV I I
