12-Bar Blues Chord Progression

Twelve bars, three chords: the 12-bar blues is the form behind blues, early rock 'n' roll and countless jams. Here it is in every key, with its common variations.

Play them in C major — or pick another key

12-bar blues in C major

The standard blues form: four bars on I, two on IV, two back on I, then the V–IV turnaround. 12 bars, then it loops.

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Chord tones C blues Key note

Press play — or tap a chord above — to see its notes light up. Open the scale in the fretboard tool

Pick a progression

12-bar blues in every key

KeyChords
C majorC7 – F7 – C7 – G7 – F7 – C7 – G7
D♭ majorD♭7 – G♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 – G♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7
D majorD7 – G7 – D7 – A7 – G7 – D7 – A7
E♭ majorE♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7 – B♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7 – B♭7
E majorE7 – A7 – E7 – B7 – A7 – E7 – B7
F majorF7 – B♭7 – F7 – C7 – B♭7 – F7 – C7
F♯ majorF♯7 – B7 – F♯7 – C♯7 – B7 – F♯7 – C♯7
G majorG7 – C7 – G7 – D7 – C7 – G7 – D7
A♭ majorA♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7
A majorA7 – D7 – A7 – E7 – D7 – A7 – E7
B♭ majorB♭7 – E♭7 – B♭7 – F7 – E♭7 – B♭7 – F7
B majorB7 – E7 – B7 – F♯7 – E7 – B7 – F♯7

The progression and its variations

  1. 12-bar blues

    I7 (4 bars) – IV7 (2 bars) – I7 (2 bars) – V7 – IV7 – I7 – V7

    The standard blues form: four bars on I, two on IV, two back on I, then the V–IV turnaround.

    In C: C7 – F7 – C7 – G7 – F7 – C7 – G7

    In G: G7 – C7 – G7 – D7 – C7 – G7 – D7In D: D7 – G7 – D7 – A7 – G7 – D7 – A7

  2. 12-bar blues, quick change

    I7 – IV7 – I7 (2 bars) – IV7 (2 bars) – I7 (2 bars) – V7 – IV7 – I7 – V7

    Like the 12-bar blues, but it visits IV already in bar 2.

    In C: C7 – F7 – C7 – F7 – C7 – G7 – F7 – C7 – G7

    In G: G7 – C7 – G7 – C7 – G7 – D7 – C7 – G7 – D7In D: D7 – G7 – D7 – G7 – D7 – A7 – G7 – D7 – A7

  3. 8-bar blues

    I7 – V7 – IV7 (2 bars) – I7 – V7 – I7 – V7

    A shorter blues form that moves faster between the chords.

    In C: C7 – G7 – F7 – C7 – G7 – C7 – G7

    In G: G7 – D7 – C7 – G7 – D7 – G7 – D7In D: D7 – A7 – G7 – D7 – A7 – D7 – A7

  4. Jazz blues

    I7 – IV7 – I7 (2 bars) – IV7 (2 bars) – I7 – VI7 – ii7 – V7 – I7 – V7

    The 12-bar blues with jazz moves: IV7 in bar 2, VI7 leading to a ii–V in bars 9–10.

    In C: C7 – F7 – C7 – F7 – C7 – A7 – Dm7 – G7 – C7 – G7

    In G: G7 – C7 – G7 – C7 – G7 – E7 – Am7 – D7 – G7 – D7In D: D7 – G7 – D7 – G7 – D7 – B7 – Em7 – A7 – D7 – A7

  5. Minor blues

    i7 (4 bars) – iv7 (2 bars) – i7 (2 bars) – VI7 – V7 – i7 – V7

    The 12-bar form in a minor key, with ♭VI7 leading to the dominant V7.

    In Am: Am7 – Dm7 – Am7 – F7 – E7 – Am7 – E7

    In Em: Em7 – Am7 – Em7 – C7 – B7 – Em7 – B7In Dm: Dm7 – Gm7 – Dm7 – B♭7 – A7 – Dm7 – A7

Why they work

Bars 1–4 stay on I, bars 5–6 move to IV, bars 7–8 return to I, and bars 9–12 are the turnaround: V, IV, I and V again to lead back to the top.

The quick change visits IV in bar 2; jazz blues adds a ii–V in bars 9–10; minor blues swaps in minor i and iv chords and a ♭VI7 before the V7.

See them on the circle of fifths · Chord charts · Metronome

More chord progressions