Bb major · I – I – I – I – IV – IV – I – I – V – IV – I – V

12-Bar Blues Chord Progression in Bb major

In Bb major the 12-Bar Blues progression is Bb7 – Eb7 – F7 (12 bars).

The most important chord pattern in blues and early rock and roll, one chord per bar across twelve bars. Hound Dog and Johnny B. Goode are classic twelve-bar blues songs.

The chords

Numeral	Chord	Easiest shape
I	Bb7	`x1013x`
IV	Eb7	`xx1023`
V	F7	`1012xx`

Bar by bar

bar 1 Bb7	bar 2 Bb7	bar 3 Bb7	bar 4 Bb7
bar 5 Eb7	bar 6 Eb7	bar 7 Bb7	bar 8 Bb7
bar 9 F7	bar 10 Eb7	bar 11 Bb7	bar 12 F7

How to practise

Use dominant 7th chords for a bluesy feel, or plain major chords for a simpler sound. The last bar (V) is the turnaround that leads back to the start.

Play one chord per bar at 60 BPM with a simple down-strum on each beat.
Raise the tempo by 5 BPM once you can play eight rounds without a mistake.
Change the strumming pattern: down, down-up, up-down-up.

Key facts about Bb major

Bb major contains the notes Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A. See the full Bb Major scale with fretboard diagrams, and use it to solo over the progression.

12-Bar Blues in other keys

C major Db major D major Eb major E major F major F# major G major Ab major A major B major

Other progressions in Bb major

I-V-vi-IV I-IV-V I-vi-IV-V (50s progression)vi-IV-I-V ii-V-I Canon Progression

FAQ

What are the chords of 12-Bar Blues in Bb major?

Bb7 – Bb7 – Bb7 – Bb7 – Eb7 – Eb7 – Bb7 – Bb7 – F7 – Eb7 – Bb7 – F7 (one chord per bar over twelve bars).

What notes are in Bb major?

Bb major contains Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A.

Which scale can I solo with over 12-Bar Blues in Bb major?

The Bb major scale fits, and the major pentatonic scale from Bb is the easiest choice.

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