April 4, 2022 by Klaus Crow
Hi lovely people, I’ve got a 12 Bar Blues Progression for you today with a basic strumming pattern, a basic turnaround and some extra fancy triplet turnarounds to spice things up.
Basic 12 Bar Blues Progression
This 12 Bar Blues shuffle is in the key of E and moves through the following 12 bar chord progression:
/ E7 / E7 / E7 / E7 / A7 / A7 / E7 / E7 / B7 / A7 / E7 / B7 /
The last four bars of the progression function as the turnaround. You can play this by strumming through the pattern / B7 / A7 / E7 / B7 / or finish it with a more enhanced turnaround that makes the progression sound really cool. Eventually you want to learn both. If you’re a beginner just start with the basic turnaround.
Basic 12 Bar Blues Strumming Pattern
For the strumming pattern we play: ↓↓↑↑↓↑ “down-down-up-up-down-up” for each bar / measure throughout the entire progression.
Below there’s a video lesson where I explain the entire 12 bar blues with the strumming patten and different blues turnarounds.
Enjoy!
Excellent lesson !! Great explanation and video
Thank you
Hi Richard,
Thanks, I appreciate it. Your feedback keeps on the right track. 😉👍
Warm regards,
Klaus Crow
Thanks. Great lesson helped me get a new rhythm on this 12 bar blues. Nice turnaround variations! that adds a lot. Thanks buddy
Hi Alan,
Thanks. Happy to hear you like the lesson. Those turnarounds make it extra fun to play,
and gives it that bluesy edge to the progression.
Have a great one! 😊👌
Klaus, Thanks for expanding my turnaround options.
Hi John,
Sure, you can never have enough turnarounds. :)
If you like some more you can check out the Robert Johnson turnarounds:
https://www.guitarhabits.com/5-robert-johnson-style-blues-turnarounds/
Best,
Klaus
Enjoyed the lesson, moved right along. Liked how there was a lot of different endings.