Now that you have your Dominant 7th chords down it's time to use them and combine in some of your strumming rhythm patterns. We are going to learn two ways of playing a 12 Bar Blues and between them we will use ALL of of our new chords :)

 

12 Bar Blues in the key of E.

Start then by strumminng just 4 down strums to the bar until you can get the chord changes smooth. Once you have that down then try to apply some of the rhyhtm patterns that we learnt earlier to make them sound cool. You might want to try and add a shuffle rhythm if you know it (if not, just leave it until you learn it in a few lessons time...)

Make sure you get the number of strums right for each chord or it won't be a proper 12 Bar - you'll end up playing an 11.5 Blues or something and it will sound pants.

This version is called a "quick change" 12 Bar Blues because it has a chord change in bar 2. Some versions don't have this - it's just a slight variation.

 

12 Bar Blues in G

Once you have that down and wanna try and use the rest of your 7th chords try this blues in G. It features an ending called a 'Turn Around" - you can hear that it makes the tune go back to the start easily. It is also alled a I-VI-II-V progression for those boffins out there :)

Again start by playing "straight fours" just using all down strums and then experiment with other rhythm patterns that you may have down.

 

Onwards

Now you know some good chord sequences - lets have a look at a cool scale that we can use to make up solos over the Blues :) - on to BC-011 • The Minor Pentatonic

 

Video Lesson

 

Donate

Please remember to make a donation if you like these lessons, I keep them free because there are many people that can't afford lessons, but it means that I rely on YOU honorable people that can afford it to donate. The beginners courses I run "in the flesh" cost over £200 (US$400) so you get great value if you only donate 20 bucks :) Don't leave it for others. Donations mean I can spend more time making this site even better!! PLEASE DONATE NOW!