Getting Started: The 12 Bar Blues

Introduction to Blues Piano

How you doing? I'm Paddy Milner. Welcome to MusicGurus.com, and thanks for checking out this introduction to the Blues piano course.

The Blues Sound World

In this course, I really want to open the door to the sound world of blues piano and get you playing some authentic blues piano. Not just kind of bluesy piano, but some truly authentic-sounding blues piano.

The blues is a big, beautiful, and varied genre with all kinds of different elements within it. We need to find a common point to start from, and I think a great entry point is by looking at the 12 Bar Blues musical form. At the end of the day, this is one of the most common forms used within the blues.

What is the 12 Bar Blues?

As the name suggests, the 12 Bar Blues consists of a repeated form that consists of 12 bars of four beats.

Chords in a 12 Bar Blues

What chords are in a 12 Bar Blues? There are three different chords:

1. I Chord: In the key of C, this is a C.

   • A chord is defined as a triad, which is a three-note chord consisting of the first, third, and fifth of the scale.
   • For C, these notes are:
     • 1: C
     • 3: E
     • 5: G

2. IV Chord: This is the second chord in the 12 Bar Blues, which is an F.

   • The F major scale has:
     • 1: F
     • 3: A
     • 5: C

3. V Chord: This is a G.

   • The G major scale has:
     • 1: G
     • 3: B
     • 5: D

Chord Sequence in 12 Bar Blues

The sequence of chords in a 12 Bar Blues is as follows:

• 4 bars on the C chord
• 2 bars on the F chord
• 2 bars on the C chord
• 1 bar on the G chord
• 1 bar on the F chord
• 1 bar on the C chord
• 1 bar on the G chord

While there are different variations, this is the form we'll focus on as a great starting point.

Practicing the 12 Bar Blues

To get used to this 12 Bar form, we'll play it simply at first, using four beats to the bar in both hands.

Note: This won't sound remarkably bluesy initially, but we're focusing on the basics before we vary it to create a classic blues piano sound.

Playing Instructions

• Count off: "One, two, three, four."
• Start the sequence:
  • C: 4 beats
  • F: 2 beats
  • C: 2 beats
  • G: 1 beat
  • F: 1 beat
  • C: 1 beat
  • G: 1 beat

I've just demonstrated the 12 Bar Blues played as 4 beats per bar in both left and right hands. The left hand plays the root note of the chords:

• C for the C chord
• F for the F chord
• G for the G chord

Practice Tips

1. Fluency: Aim to get these changes between chords as fluent as possible without any gaps.
2. Metronome: Use a metronome to ensure a constant tempo.
3. Hesitation: Think ahead to avoid any hesitation when changing chords. For example:
   • Moving from C to F
   • C to G
   • G to F

To practice, try playing two beats on each chord to get comfortable with transitions.

Internalizing the 12 Bar Blues

One of the main aims of mastering the 12 Bar Blues is for it to become internalized. This allows you to add more complex elements naturally when improvising.

Demonstration

To demonstrate, I'll play a 12 Bar sequence with some more complex embellishments.

• Left Hand: Acts as the rhythm section.
• Right Hand: Focuses on melodic interest, embellishing the basic chords.

Conclusion

Don't forget, everything in this lesson is available on the downloadable PDF, which includes practice tips and extra resources.

See you in the next lesson!