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From: Solo Song Sam
The 12 bar blues is a simple format that is very popular and easy to implement.
The 12 bar format in the Key of E Major, it consists of three major chords based on the
1st(I), 4th(IV), and 5th(V), notes of the E Major Scale (I=E, IV=A & V=B).
Try to play an E(I) chord, scale or riff for 4 counts (this equals one measure).
Then play that measure a total of four times (4 MEASURES = 1 BAR).
That was just one bar, there are 11 more to go...
There are 12 bars in the 12 bar blues (I, I, I, I, IV, IV, I, I, V, IV, I, V = 12)
Once you get to the IV bar use an A chord, scale or riff.
Notice that the IV bar bets played twice, then it's back to the first riff for two times.
Keep playing from bar to bar untill all 12 bars are played, remember to play B on the V bar.
A total of 12 bars or 48 measures if timed right will give you a 3-5 minute song.
Sometimes it's okay to add an I(E) riff for two bars(8 measures) at the end to make the song long enough and/or to add a cool ending.
In the key of A the three chords are A(I), E(IV), F(V)
The first two bars (I,I,) are generally used as an introduction and the 9th bar (V) is a good place for a climax to the song and should be about 3/4 of the way through the song.
Of course there can be much expansion and manipulating of this format and many pages can be written about all the different ways to implement it and other similar song structures.
Using it as just playing 3 chords over and over may seem un-original and boring. Use your imagination to expand on it, ad notes and chords between bars andmeasures, add more notes and different timings between the notes, etc...Make it yours! Look for this format in many punk, pop and rock song, it's very popular!
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