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Learn Guitar Online – Most Popular Blues Chord Progressions
By Mike Hayes | July 20, 2010
Most guitar players are aware of the blues and the importance of
learning blues licks and chord progressions as a basis for rock,
blues and jazz soloing; but how many blues progressions do you
know?
A good musician knows many variations of the standard twelve bar
blues chord progression and this knowledge helps them play all
styles of music by ear.
It’s often difficult for the newbie player to really get a good
working knowledge of how these progressions work as many of the
popular blues based songs are presented in different keys; to
help get you started I’m going to take you through a simple
metamorphosis of a twelve bar blues chord progressions all
presented in the same key for you to study and enjoy.
Metamorphosis of a blues chord progression
All the blues progressions will be in the key of C
Progression #1
C /// | C /// | C /// | C /// |
F /// | F /// | C /// | C /// |
G7 ///| G7/// | C /// | G7/// || C (last time)
Progression #1 is a standard 12 bar version of the blues; this is
the type of progression everyone should learn to recognize by
ear’.
Progression #2
C /// | C /// | C /// | C /// |
F /// | F /// | C /// | C /// |
G7 ///| F /// | C /// | G7/// || C (last time)
Notice the ‘F’ chord in bar ten, apart from this change the rest
of the progression is the same as progression one.
Progression #3
C /// | F /// | C /// | C /// |
F /// | F /// | C /// | C /// |
G7 ///| G7/// | C /// | G7/// || C (last time)
Blues progression #3 is identical to blues #1 except for the ‘F’
chord in bar two, play both progressions to get a ‘feel’ for the
subtle difference.
Progression #4
C /// | F /// | C /// | C /// |
F /// | F /// | C /// | C /// |
G7 ///| F /// | C /// | G7/// || C (last time)
Again, notice how blues #4 is the exact same chord progression as
blues #2 with the only change being the ‘F’ chord in bar two.
I would recommend learning how to play and recognize these four
progressions, these are your basic 12 bar blues chord
progressions.
Progression #5 has a few harmonic surprises that will add a fresh
sound to a familiar progression.
Progression #5
C /// | C /// | C /// | C7 ///|
F /// | Fm ///| C /// | C /// |
G7 ///| F /// | C /// | G7/// || C (last time)
Blues #5 is based on a blues #2 progression, the differences
being the ‘C7′ chord in bar four and the ‘Fm’ chord in bar six
both of these chords add an element of surprise; check out how
the ‘C7′ chord introduces the ‘F’ chord and how the ‘F’ chord
flows naturally to the ‘Fm’.
Once you have these progressions under your fingers it’s time to
learn them in other popular ‘guitar friendly’ keys; the most
popular keys for guitarists are the keys of: G, D, A & E.
Topics: Guitar Chords, Guitar Tips | No Comments »
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