12-Bar Blues
The form, shuffles, turnarounds
The 12-Bar Form
The 12-bar blues is a chord progression that has been the foundation of blues and rock and roll for over a century. It uses just three chords — I, IV, and V:
Bars 1-4: I — I — I — I
Bars 5-6: IV — IV
Bars 7-8: I — I
Bar 9: V
Bar 10: IV
Bars 11-12: I — I (or I — V as a "turnaround")
In the key of A: A-A-A-A / D-D / A-A / E-D / A-A(E). This form has generated thousands of songs.
The Shuffle Feel
Blues uses a shuffle (swing) feel — eighth notes are uneven, with the first longer and second shorter. Think "da-DUM da-DUM" rather than "da-da da-da."
A common guitar shuffle uses boogie patterns — alternating between the root/5th and root/6th on the bass strings.
Turnarounds
The turnaround (last 2 bars) creates tension pulling you back to bar 1. The classic blues turnaround is a chromatic descent on string 4 or 5 leading back to the I chord — one of the most recognisable sounds in blues.
Tab Examples
Boogie shuffle pattern in A
e------------------------------------ B------------------------------------ G------------------------------------ D-----2--4--2-----2--4--2------------ A--0-----------0-----------0--------- E------------------------------------
Classic blues turnaround in A
e---------------------------- B---------------------------- G---------------------------- D--2---1---0----------------- A--2---1---0---0--2---0------ E-----------------0------0--
Tips
- Memorise the form: I I I I / IV IV / I I / V IV / I V
- Use dominant 7th chords (A7, D7, E7) for authentic blues
- The shuffle feel is essential — practice with blues backing tracks
Practice Exercises
- Memorise the 12-bar form and play it in A using A7, D7, E7
- Practice the boogie shuffle pattern on each chord
- Play a complete 12-bar blues with shuffle feel at slow tempo
- Add the turnaround at bars 11-12
- Solo over the form using the A blues scale