Bluesy: the 12-bar blues
The 12-bar blues: twelve bars of three chords that come round again and again.
How to play it
Learn the chords
In G the loop is G7, C7, G7, G7, C7, C7, G7, G7, D7, C7, G7 and D7, one chord a bar. Then it starts again.
Left hand
Play the root of each chord, the note it is named after: G, C and D.
Both hands
The right hand holds the whole chord while the left hand plays its root. Go round the loop slowly, then faster.
Songs in the blues style
- JoleneDolly Parton
- Can't Help Falling In LoveElvis Presley
- The Man Who Sold The WorldNirvana
- Jingle BellsGlee Cast
- Someone You LovedLewis Capaldi
- CreepRadiohead
- Pride And JoyStevie Ray Vaughan
- Marry YouBruno Mars
- Two Of UsThe Beatles
- From Me To YouThe Beatles
- Let's Go CrazyPrince
- Three Little BirdsBob Marley
- Delta DawnTanya Tucker
- November BlueThe Avett Brothers
- Somewhere In My MemoryJohn Williams
- We're Going To Be FriendsJack Johnson
- The Girl In 14gKristin Chenoweth
- Say My NameDestiny's Child
- The PromiseThe Martins
- YesterdayThe Beatles
- Paint It, BlackThe Rolling Stones
- Mess AroundRay Charles
- Juicy WiggleRedfoo
- Walk Of LifeDire Straits
Questions
What chords are in the Bluesy chord loop?
In G it is G7, C7, G7, G7, C7, C7, G7, G7, D7, C7, G7, D7: I7-IV7-I7-I7-IV7-IV7-I7-I7-V7-IV7-I7-V7 in roman numerals. In any other key the numerals stay the same and the chords move with them.
How do you play it on piano?
The left hand plays the root of each chord and the right hand holds the chord, one chord a bar. In another key the chords move with it.
Which songs use the Bluesy loop?
Jolene by Dolly Parton, Can't Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley and The Man Who Sold The World by Nirvana use the Bluesy loop. The songs on this page all are played in the blues style, the most played first.