Learn the foundation of blues guitar with 12-bar progressions and pentatonic scale patterns. Master the scales and techniques that created rock, jazz, and countless other styles.
Blues is an American musical form that originated in the Deep South around the 1860s. It's characterized by specific chord progressions, call-and-response patterns, and most importantly for guitarists, the use of pentatonic scales with "blue notes." Blues forms the foundation of rock, jazz, soul, and R&B music.
The 12-bar blues is the most common blues form, using three chords in a specific pattern:
Bars 1-4: I - I - I - I (4 bars on the tonic)
Bars 5-6: IV - IV (2 bars on the subdominant)
Bars 7-8: I - I (back to tonic for 2 bars)
Bars 9-10: V - IV (dominant to subdominant)
Bars 11-12: I - I (resolve to tonic)
A common blues key that uses open chords:
A - A - A - A
D - D - A - A
E - D - A - A
The pentatonic scale is a 5-note scale that removes the 4th and 7th degrees from the major scale:
Scale Degrees: 1 - ♭3 - 4 - 5 - ♭7
In A Minor Pentatonic: A - C - D - E - G
Guitar Pattern (5th fret):
• Low E string: 5th fret (A), 8th fret (C)
• A string: 5th fret (D), 7th fret (E)
• D string: 5th fret (G), 7th fret (A)
• G string: 5th fret (C), 7th fret (D)
• B string: 5th fret (E), 8th fret (G)
• High E string: 5th fret (A), 8th fret (C)
The blues scale adds one crucial note to the minor pentatonic - the "blue note":
Blues Scale: Minor Pentatonic + ♭5 (blue note)
Scale Degrees: 1 - ♭3 - 4 - ♭5 - 5 - ♭7
In A Blues Scale: A - C - D - D# - E - G
The D# (6th fret on A string) is the blue note that gives blues its distinctive sound
Bending strings is crucial for authentic blues expression:
• Half-step bends: Push the ♭3 up to the 3rd (C to C#)
• Whole-step bends: Push the ♭7 up to the root (G to A)
• Pre-bends: Bend the string before picking, then release
• Bend and hold: Sustain bent notes for emotional impact
Adding vibrato brings life to sustained notes:
• Use finger vibrato by rocking your finger back and forth
• Apply vibrato to bent notes for extra expression
• Vary the speed and width of vibrato for different emotions
A variation where bar 2 goes to the IV chord:
A - D - A - A
D - D - A - A
E - D - A - A
Famous example: "Sweet Home Chicago"
Using minor chords creates a darker, more intense sound:
Am - Am - Am - Am
Dm - Dm - Am - Am
Em - Dm - Am - Am
Famous example: "The Thrill Is Gone" - B.B. King
1. Practice A minor pentatonic ascending and descending
2. Start at 60 BPM, focus on clean notes
3. Practice in different positions across the neck
4. Learn the pattern in all 5 positions
1. Practice bending the 7th fret B string (C) up to C#
2. Use a tuner to ensure accurate pitch
3. Practice pre-bends and releases
4. Add vibrato to bent notes
1. Play the A major 12-bar progression with simple strumming
2. Add dominant 7th chords (A7, D7, E7) for authentic sound
3. Practice playing bass notes on downbeats
4. Loop the progression and improvise with pentatonic scales
"Crossroads" - Robert Johnson (simple 12-bar in A)
"Sweet Home Chicago" - Robert Johnson
"The Thrill Is Gone" - B.B. King
"Stormy Monday" - T-Bone Walker
"Texas Flood" - Stevie Ray Vaughan
"Red House" - Jimi Hendrix
Strong rhythm playing is essential in blues:
Shuffle Feel: Play eighth notes with a triplet feel
Pattern: Long-short-long-short (like "skip-py skip-py")
Strum Pattern: Down-up with emphasis on downbeats
Common in: Chicago blues, boogie-woogie
• Straight 8ths: Even subdivision, more modern sound
• Shuffle: Uneven subdivision, traditional blues feel
• Practice tip: Say "coffee" for shuffle, "apple" for straight
• Delta Blues: Acoustic, fingerpicked style (Robert Johnson)
• Chicago Blues: Electric, band-oriented (Muddy Waters)
• Texas Blues: Guitar-heavy, blues-rock fusion (Stevie Ray Vaughan)
• British Blues: Rock influence (Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page)
• Modern Blues: Contemporary techniques and production