The 12-bar blues (or blues changes) is one of the most prominent chord progressions in popular music. The blues progression has a distinctive form in lyrics, phrase, chord structure, and duration. In its basic form, it is predominantly based on the I, IV, and V chords of a key. Mastery of the blues and rhythm changes are "critical elements for building a jazz repertoire".[1]
Typical boogie woogie bassline on twelve-bar blues progression in C, chord roots in red
The blues originated from a combination of work songs, spirituals, and early southern country music.[2] The music was passed down through oral tradition. It was first written down by W. C. Handy, an African American composer and band leader. Its popularity led to the creation of "race records" and the popularity of blues singers like Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey.[3] The style of music heard on race records was later called "rhythm and blues" (R & B). As the music became more popular, more people wanted to perform it. General patterns that existed in the blues were formalized, one of these being the 12-bar blues.[2]
Basic progressionedit
The basic progression for a 12-bar blues may be represented in several ways. It is shown in its simplest form, without the common "quick change", turnarounds, or seventh chords. For variations, see the following section.
In the original form, the dominant chord continued through the tenth bar; later on, the V–IV–I–I "shuffle blues" pattern became standard in the third set of four bars:[6]
The common quick-change, quick to four, or quick four variation uses the subdominant or IV chord in the second bar.[7]
I
IV
I
I
IV
IV
I
I
V
V
I
I
Seventh chordsedit
Seventh chords are a type of chord that includes the 7th scale degree (that is, the 7th note of the scale). There are different types of 7th chords such as major 7ths, dominant 7ths, minor 7ths, half diminished 7ths, and fully diminished 7ths.[8] These chords are similar with slight changes, but are all centered around the same key center. Dominant 7th chords are generally used throughout a blues progression. The addition of dominant 7th chords as well as the inclusion of other types of 7th chords (i.e. minor and diminished 7ths) are often used just before a change, and more changes can be added. A more complicated example might look like this, where "7" indicates a seventh chord:
There are also minor twelve-bar blues, such as John Coltrane's "Equinox" and "Mr. P.C.".[10] The chord on the fifth scale degree may be major (V7) or minor (v7).[10] Major and minor can also be mixed together, a signature characteristic of the music of Charles Brown.[11]
"W.C. Handy codified this blues form to help musicians communicate chord changes."[12] Many variations are possible. The length of sections may be varied to create eight-bar blues or sixteen-bar blues.
Standard twelve-bar blues progressions variations, in key of C.[13]Play Aⓘ, B, Cⓘ, Dⓘ, and Eⓘ as boogie woogie basslines.
Melodic lineedit
As the chords of a 12-bar blues follow a form, so does the melodic line. The melodic line might just be the melody of the piece or it might also include lyrics. The melody and lyrics frequently follow an AA'B form, meaning one phrase is played then repeated (perhaps with a slight alteration), then something new is played.[14] This pattern is frequently used in the blues and in musical genres that have their roots in the blues.[15]
^Farrant, Dan (9 September 2020). "12-Bar Blues Form: A Complete Guide". Hellomusictheory.com. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
Sourcesedit
Benward, Bruce; Saker, Marilyn Nadine (2003). Music: In Theory and Practice, Vol. I (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill. ISBN978-0-07-294262-0.
Covach, John (2005). "Form in Rock Music: A Primer". In Stein, Deborah (ed.). Engaging Music: Essays in Music Analysis. Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-517010-5.
di Perna, Alan (1991). "Jazzin' the Blues with Charles Brown". Musician, issues 147–152. Amordian Press.
twelve, blues, scott, weiland, album, blues, album, patrick, neate, novel, twelve, blues, novel, blues, blues, changes, most, prominent, chord, progressions, popular, music, blues, progression, distinctive, form, lyrics, phrase, chord, structure, duration, bas. For the Scott Weiland album see 12 Bar Blues album For the Patrick Neate novel see Twelve Bar Blues novel The 12 bar blues or blues changes is one of the most prominent chord progressions in popular music The blues progression has a distinctive form in lyrics phrase chord structure and duration In its basic form it is predominantly based on the I IV and V chords of a key Mastery of the blues and rhythm changes are critical elements for building a jazz repertoire 1 Typical boogie woogie bassline on twelve bar blues progression in C chord roots in red Twelve bar boogie woogie blues in C source source source Problems playing this file See media help Contents 1 Background 2 Basic progression 3 Variations 3 1 Shuffle blues 3 2 Quick to four 3 3 Seventh chords 3 4 Bebop blues 3 5 Minor blues 3 6 Other variations 4 Melodic line 5 See also 6 References 7 SourcesBackground editThe blues originated from a combination of work songs spirituals and early southern country music 2 The music was passed down through oral tradition It was first written down by W C Handy an African American composer and band leader Its popularity led to the creation of race records and the popularity of blues singers like Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey 3 The style of music heard on race records was later called rhythm and blues R amp B As the music became more popular more people wanted to perform it General patterns that existed in the blues were formalized one of these being the 12 bar blues 2 Basic progression editThe basic progression for a 12 bar blues may be represented in several ways It is shown in its simplest form without the common quick change turnarounds or seventh chords For variations see the following section Chord notation in the key of C 4 C C C CF F C CG G C CFunctional notation chords are represented by T to indicate the tonic S for the subdominant and D for the dominant 5 T T T TS S T TD D T TRoman numeral notation I represents the tonic IV the sub dominant and V the dominant 5 I I I IIV IV I IV V I IVariations editShuffle blues edit In the original form the dominant chord continued through the tenth bar later on the V IV I I shuffle blues pattern became standard in the third set of four bars 6 I I I IIV IV I IV IV I I nbsp Twelve bar boogie woogie blues in C source source source Problems playing this file See media help Quick to four edit The common quick change quick to four or quick four variation uses the subdominant or IV chord in the second bar 7 I IV I IIV IV I IV V I ISeventh chords edit Seventh chords are a type of chord that includes the 7th scale degree that is the 7th note of the scale There are different types of 7th chords such as major 7ths dominant 7ths minor 7ths half diminished 7ths and fully diminished 7ths 8 These chords are similar with slight changes but are all centered around the same key center Dominant 7th chords are generally used throughout a blues progression The addition of dominant 7th chords as well as the inclusion of other types of 7th chords i e minor and diminished 7ths are often used just before a change and more changes can be added A more complicated example might look like this where 7 indicates a seventh chord I IV I I7IV IV7 I I7V IV I V7Bebop blues edit This progression is similar to Charlie Parker s Now s the Time Billie s Bounce Sonny Rollins s Tenor Madness and many other bop tunes 9 Peter Spitzer describes it as a bop soloist s cliche to arpeggiate this chord A7 9 V ii VI7 9 from the 3 up to the 9 9 I7 IV7 I7 V7 I7IV7 IVo 7 I7 V ii 9ii7 V7 I7 V ii 9 ii7 V7 nbsp Bebop blues progression source source source Problems playing this file See media help Minor blues edit There are also minor twelve bar blues such as John Coltrane s Equinox and Mr P C 10 The chord on the fifth scale degree may be major V7 or minor v7 10 Major and minor can also be mixed together a signature characteristic of the music of Charles Brown 11 i7 i7 i7 i7iv7 iv7 i7 i7 VI7 V7 i7 i7 nbsp Minor blues progression source source source Problems playing this file See media help Other variations edit W C Handy codified this blues form to help musicians communicate chord changes 12 Many variations are possible The length of sections may be varied to create eight bar blues or sixteen bar blues nbsp Standard twelve bar blues progressions variations in key of C 13 Play A B C D and E as boogie woogie basslines Melodic line editAs the chords of a 12 bar blues follow a form so does the melodic line The melodic line might just be the melody of the piece or it might also include lyrics The melody and lyrics frequently follow an AA B form meaning one phrase is played then repeated perhaps with a slight alteration then something new is played 14 This pattern is frequently used in the blues and in musical genres that have their roots in the blues 15 See also editEight bar blues Sixteen bar blues Bird changesReferences edit Thomas 2002 p 85 a b Gridley 2000 What Is the Blues Pbs org 2003 Retrieved October 12 2021 Benward amp Saker 2003 p 186 a b Kernfeld 2007 Gerow amp Tanner 1984 p 37 cited in Baker 2004 This alteration V IV I rather than V V I is now considered standard McCumber 2006 p 25 Mount Andre Seventh Chords Milnepublishingonline Retrieved November 29 2021 a b Spitzer 2001 p 62 a b Spitzer 2001 p 63 di Perna 1991 pp 180 80 Brown alternates between an Fmin7 and a B7 Minor to major just like the man says Jackson 2002 p 18 Benward amp Saker 2003 Spitzer 2001 Farrant Dan 9 September 2020 12 Bar Blues Form A Complete Guide Hellomusictheory com Retrieved October 12 2021 Sources editBenward Bruce Saker Marilyn Nadine 2003 Music In Theory and Practice Vol I 7th ed McGraw Hill ISBN 978 0 07 294262 0 Covach John 2005 Form in Rock Music A Primer In Stein Deborah ed Engaging Music Essays in Music Analysis Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 517010 5 di Perna Alan 1991 Jazzin the Blues with Charles Brown Musician issues 147 152 Amordian Press Gerow Maurice Tanner Paul 1984 A Study of Jazz William C Brown ISBN 978 0 07 294262 0 Cited in Baker Robert M 2005 Gridley Mark C 2000 Jazz Styles Jazz Classics Compact Disc Sony Music ISBN 0 13 012693 4 Jackson Fruteland 2002 Beginning Delta Blues Guitar Alfred Publishing ISBN 978 0 7390 3006 6 Kernfeld Barry ed 2007 Blues progression The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz Vol 2 Oxford University Press McCumber Dennis 2006 The Total Blues Guitarist Alfred Publishing ISBN 9780739038499 Middleton Richard 1990 Studying Popular Music Open University Press ISBN 0 335 15275 9 Spitzer Peter 2001 Jazz Theory Handbook Mel Bay ISBN 978 0 7866 5328 7 Thomas John 2002 Voice Leading for Guitar Moving Through the Changes Berklee Press ISBN 0 634 01655 5 van der Merwe Peter 1989 Origins of the Popular Style Clarendon Press ISBN 0 19 316121 4 Cited in Middleton 1990 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Twelve bar blues amp oldid 1188493298, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
