F major · I – I – I – I – IV – IV – I – I – V – IV – I – V

12-Bar Blues Chord Progression in F major

In F major the 12-Bar Blues progression is F7 – Bb7 – C7 (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	F7	`1012xx`
IV	Bb7	`x1013x`
V	C7	`x35350`

Bar by bar

bar 1 F7	bar 2 F7	bar 3 F7	bar 4 F7
bar 5 Bb7	bar 6 Bb7	bar 7 F7	bar 8 F7
bar 9 C7	bar 10 Bb7	bar 11 F7	bar 12 C7

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 F major

F major contains the notes F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E. See the full F 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 G major Ab major A major Bb major B major

Other progressions in F 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 F major?

F7 – F7 – F7 – F7 – Bb7 – Bb7 – F7 – F7 – C7 – Bb7 – F7 – C7 (one chord per bar over twelve bars).

What notes are in F major?

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

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

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

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