Discover the Structure of Blues

It´s most basic form is composed of 3 different chords structured in 12 bars. This 3 chords are Dominat Chords, and are the I7, IV7 and V7.

Meter 12/8 or 4/4

Major Blues

Minor Blues

Blues music is often played in a 12 bar cyclical structure

It´s most basic form is composed of 3 different chords structured in 12 bars. This 3 chords are -7 Chords, and are the I-7, IV-7 and V-7 but in practice most of the time the V-7 is substituted by a V7.

Meter 12/8 or 4/4

Major Blues

Structure

The basic blues consist of 12 bars that are played in a cyclical way, once you finish the last bar of the structure you begin again over and over till stablished by the players. The 12 bars are presented in three different lines of 4 bars each.

When practicing it´s good to focus in one of the 3 lines till feeling confortable with the changes, once you feel confortable you can practice the whole form, the 12 bars what will give you a deeper understanding of the cicle of the structure

Material

You can begin learning chord shapes in order to play the form, there are different ways to learn chord shapes, from barre chord shapes, shell chord shapes or shapes organized by sets of strings what may include drop2, drop2 and 4 or drop 3 chord shapes.

For playing melodies and soloing you may want to learn the Arpeggio scale shapes of dominant chords, the major and minor pentatonic scales, the Mixolidian scale and the enclosures.

When you are in an advanced stage you can learn about upper structures and extensions.

Chords

All the 3 chords are dominant chords ( R 3 5 b7 ). When you play a Major blues in A means that the first chord will be an A7 , the second chord will have the root in the fourth note of the key, D, and like It´s a blues it will be a Dominant chord as well, D7. The last chord will have the root on the 5th note of the key, E, the chord will be a Dominant chord as well, E7.

In an advanced stage you might learn how to add some spices to the dish, adding some unusual chords that will turn the blues into a more complex harmonic battlefield.

Learn Minor Blues

Explore didactic materials to master minor blues guitar techniques, chords, and scales effectively.

Guitar Chord Structures

All the 3 chords may be minor 7 chords ( R b3 5 b7 ). When you play a minor blues in A means that the first chord will be an A-7 , the second chord will have the root in the fourth note of the key, D, and like It´s a blues it will be a minor 7 chord as well, D-7. The last chord will have the root on the 5th note of the key, E, the chord will be a minor 7, E.7 or a Dominant chord as well, E7.

In an advanced stage you will learn different options that can be applied to the chord structure adding for example the bVI Dominant chord to the equation as in Equinox.

Practice Resources

You can begin learning chord shapes in order to play the form, there are different ways to learn chord shapes, from barre chord shapes, shell chord shapes or shapes organized by sets of strings what may include drop2, drop2 and 4 or drop 3 chord shapes.

For playing melodies and soloing you may want to learn the Arpeggio scale shapes of -7 chords, minor pentatonic scales, the harmonic minor scale, the diminished arpeggios & chord shapes, the harmonic pentatonic scale and the enclosures.

When you are in an advanced stage you can learn about upper structures and extensions.

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