Beginner 12-Bar Blues Cheatsheet

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In this lesson we're going back to basics and dissecting the 12-Bar blues structure. I'll review what a 12-Bar progression is, then teach you several options for the beginning and ending. We'll use those parts to construct 12 different 12-bar progressions and I'll demonstrate a few of them.

[@guitarman3396]

This lesson is probably one of your best. Very effective and personable teaching style without being overly technical. I would love to see more like this. I dig this immensely. Thank you so much.

[@Texasbluesalley]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@bruceblakeslee3087]

Thank you. This was incredibly helpful to a new Blues guitarist.

[@aegarza2]

Just this single lesson can prove the amazing flexibility of blues music on guitar. I’m an intermediate player but loved this lesson, so valuable!

[@SundayMatinee]

Great easy-to-understand explanation of the 12 bar blues! It's a great refresher for those of us getting back into the blues.

[@ninocicinelli2205]

This is exactly what I’ve been looking for. Thank you for putting it out! Clearly explained. I just subscribed and am looking forward to more of your tutorials. I got so much out of it.

[@sebastiangomez5068]

GREAT lesson, thank you. Perfect at this moment in my learning curve. It will always be relevant to someone... the basics are the basics, hence they are timeless and need to be front and centre

[@cezarcerbam6684]

Great lesson! Thanks for that! Back to basics it’s important to rescue our souls and that’s all blues is about.

[@mrm4453]

This is invaluable! You're a great teacher. Thanks, Anthony.

[@LicksoftheLegend]

This is VERY useful I would highly recommend anyone who’s beginner or intermediate in regards to blues study every variation of this. I’ve been playing guitar for almost 20 years but still would only consider myself an intermediate Texas blues player and I can say without a doubt I’m practicing all of these.

[@Daphr33k]

A lot of experienced players and tubers forget that there are people picking up a guitar for the first time, and I have found very few channels that teach fundamentals. Thank you.

[@johnw4659]

Thank you for a great video. As a self taught beginner I really appreciate you taking the time to dedicate a full tutorial on the foundations of Texas Blues. Take care. JW

[@MichaelZola]

Thanks! That was one heck of 12 bar blues lesson. This should take my shuffle up another level. Exactly as you mentioned, I had problems expanding my blues progression though have been using it for some time. The blues is an art of itself and hope to incorporate these patterns in my playing.

[@druwk]

Nice and clear. I’m a solid intermediate player, and it’s good to review, pickup a new twist, and put the formula down on paper.

[@JohnHorneGuitar]

Great info. Playing and teaching blues and jazz I am always encouraging students to pay attention to all of these small but important differences. Also, if you go down the jazz rabbit hole bars 5-8 have many, many more variations.

[@alwaysrockn2009]

Seriously awesome video dude! I learned a lot and will have to rewatch a few 100 times to get all those notes down you are playing. Thanks for the tips!

[@1cleandude]

No brother very very applicable I’ve been playing for years and find this helpful! In so many things that we do we sometimes have to go back to the basics!! Thanks again for your time and expertise!

[@gregmaxwell3184]

Aloha from, Maui Just started playing, extremely helpful to newbies, I've been learning many things about music that were a mystery for me just in the last month and a half. Mahalo(thanks)

[@InfiniteRiffs]

Good stuff, Anthony! Thanks! And nice tone.

[@reinaldoreyes5631]

I keep my shuffle very simple when jamming to avoid messing my chord changes. This has been helpful in helping me learn more elaborated shuffles while keeping the changes where they belong (by copying yours). Thanks. A easy solo on top to improve phrasing would also be of great help.

[@severnman1]

Thanks I am exactly one of those people that this video has been designed for. I have never had it explained in basic terms. I have only been shown as, play 4 measures of E7 followed by 2 measures of A7 etc. So many many thanks, and keep posting these great lessons

[@deansley174]

These kinds of lessons are more important than people think. I taught myself as a kid by learning songs, so some seemingly obvious things are lost to me. I play solos from other songs in the same key to make it seem like I'm making it up, but a guitar player would notice immediately. It works on girls though.😂 thank you for the lesson!

[@stephenborden5063]

Awesome, very informative video. You helped me look at some things differently

[@mikel917]

What a beautiful studio!

[@nvr2old700]

Nice! One aspect that might be confusing to beginners however is the 1, 4, 5 chord designation shown in the beginning with root on low E string. Simple to see the 1, 4, 5 relationship on fretboard on that string but when playing, that changes when root is shifted to A and other strings. Really opens up options after you discover 1,4,5 relationships on other strings. This type of stuff really confuses beginners at the start.

[@EvanBNW]

Phenomenal lesson!

[@mickfaragher7897]

Fantastic thank you. All knowledge is power. A great help👍

[@matttheknife3652]

Super useful lesson - very very helpful thank you!

[@9jonisi9]

thank you bro, one of the best lesson very nice cheers

[@drewlsy]

the best on yt. great angle on the camera, innovative.

[@blb2388]

As a rank beginner, this has been incredibly informative. Thank-you!

[@stevenorwood3249]

Not too basic at all, really informative and well explained......very solid foundation, thanks for sharing

[@hutchfromba]

Thank you Anthony. Blues On....💙

[@cosmicray007]

Really appreciate your content - it's been super helpful! Just a small note from my experience: the chart might be a bit complex for beginners eager to dive into the blues. In a live blues jam, sticking to standard progressions is key. Deviating too much can throw everyone off, especially if the progression isn't well-known. Also, mastering turnarounds is crucial, as they signal the transitions in the jam. Since timing and counting are often challenging for many, keeping it simple and standard helps everyone stay in sync. Just my two cents for making this awesome learning tool even more accessible to new blues enthusiasts!

[@jesselaing558]

Thank you for helping me to understand the 12bar Blues I really got a lot out of your teaching, thank you.

[@kobusesterhuizen94]

Thank you, what inspiration just to listen!

[@redsox4life]

Very cool! One thing I like to do is on bar 12 for the turnaround, I start off with the V chord. Then, on the first half of the second beat, I go to the flat VI chord then go back to the V chord. It's been done a lot.

[@deansley174]

Thanks for the tip.

[@popmccoy3454]

Terrific video, thank you kindly.

[@thahoustonbassrunnaz4389]

Love this channel

[@chuckpapini8768]

I found this very helpful as a beginner guitarist. Thank you

[@JoshKatinger]

NOT too basic! More of this please.

[@Texasbluesalley]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@jordanalexander436]

Much needed right on time sir!

[@matthewsewellmontegut3691]

So helpful with my blues composition! Thank you for your time and help! BTW I definitely heard some Rick Derringer when you added the II to the mix!! 🆒🎸

[@hhattingh]

I was explaining this exact thing to a musician trying to get messages across. What he take as intuitive, are often skipped over, and yet very important to us newbies

[@davidwarren4569]

Basic 12 bar blues. Hooray!!!!!it always pays to go back to basics to review where you are. Well done son.

[@Texean11]

Very sweet. Added two forms for me. WTG sir.

[@JohnnoDorber]

I've been listening to the blues for more than 40 years. It never gets stale. With this I hope I can say the same for my playing over the next 40.

[@deewekoms]

Christ lord blues is stale and mostly dull by definition, unless your name is J. Dorber and you are well into your fifties. Amen

[@adbraham]

Not too basic for me, thank you, really good stuff!!

[@PedroRAulLopezMacedo76]

Thank you Maestro !!!

[@morais99]

Amazing lesson.

[@donf3877]

It's good, no matter how 'experienced' you are... to get back to the basics. I find when I'm having difficulties (quite often), I get back to very basic scales. Work on the finger positions and picking until it gels. From there I move to basic patterns. Once I 'see' it in my mind again it isn't long before I'm back in the groove.

[@debashissanyal6522]

Thank you - Highly explained.....

[@ekw555]

well, I think the "make up" of the 12 bar blues is sort of simple, BUT what I really want more info/detail/time spent on is what you are actually fretting/strumming playing for your I IV & V. because it's not like you're just plunking away on a couple of bar chords for each position. the accents, fills, occasional note or mini-lick you're getting in there is the reason why your 12 bar blues sounds great and why mine sounds sooo bad. can you either make a FLF video that spends some time on on what you're doing with the chords or direct me to one you already made? the only thing I have much experience with is adding in my pinky two frets higher now & then. it gets old fast, lol. edit - looks like it might be covered in the FLF "power shuffle" lesson. thanks!

[@jnneandersen2754]

nice lesson now i can start to understand what is a 1 4 5 and so on and now I see the connection to the fingerboard aswell. hmmmm new world!!!! :) nice and now rest my fingers they are sliced now. :D

[@beezusondabeats8504]

Great lesson as usual, and damn does that amp sound amazing!!

[@andrewdenine1685]

Looking at the room build in the background that's how I would love to build a studio nice

[@martone6852]

Thanks for doing some basics it is great to go over this stuff again. I also watched the phrasing videos then the essential boxes. It would be great ifyou you could do a video on boxes 3 & 5 explaing when to switch from std pentatonic to these, what chords do they work over ect in something like I'd rather go blind? Thanks for sharing 🤘

[@rva11]

I got "50 Monster SRV Licks" about 6 years ago, and it was the thing that first made lead playing possible for me. This video reminded me what I tend to take for granted and was a great refresher. You have taught so many, so well, for so long and I continue to learn from you to this day. Thank you Sir!!

[@kpb13]

Good stuff, thanks!

[@dickdastardly2560]

I got lost in the tone of that amp...lol!! Man that sounds SWEET!!!

[@jbudgie]

Great stuff.

[@1611_KJB]

This is *NOT* too elementary. I suppose Eric Clapton would find it pedantic, but me, I thought it was perfect. Much, much information I never received and helped me make some sense of things. I'm still terrible, but now I know why...thanks for the video. I will be watching more of you and I have subscribed.

[@SLASHMPI]

Thanks!

[@krauz111]

great info, show us about styles and turnariunds

[@TMats100]

Thanks, Anthony

[@aljohno72]

Love it 👍 from a old arse beginner like me great help, please could you do a lesson using alternative chords 9th 11th etc 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@SB_SHER]

Great great 12 bar blues theory 👌🏾

[@DaydreamVacations]

Great video! Have you done a similar video for minor blues progressions for songs like The Thrill Is Gone?

[@MrSDFD18]

Buddy, if you could create a backing track that loops and displays the color graph it would be a great tool. Watching the moving needle and playing really helps a person improve their meter. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@Dan-nh8nu]

Thankyou.

[@Elliebelly_880]

Brother your playing is on point. You showcase skill and years of dedication but please do something about that beard!!! BTW I can’t even grow a beard so I’m jealous about 99.9% of them. Again much respect

[@thmmke6926]

ok, what chords are you playing for the one chord at 7,50 going along the A string from the 2nd to 4th fret, please what is that? and then what is the four chord that seems to be on the d string 2nd to 4th fret? thank you,

[@chopsonyou2007]

Great !

[@aliveandwell2078]

Your rig sounds awesome! Any info on your set up?

[@kingorbit]

If you make that cheat sheet into a poster and sell it on eBay , I will buy it.

[@miklu26]

Haha same

[@JohnnyRebKy]

Screen shot it. Print it out

[@texwyo1]

Rock on 🤘

[@sempercompellis]

should do this with the various scales one can play over the 1/4/5 12-bar blues prog

[@guitarmanrommel3865]

What about 8bar blues!! . key to the high way... A little discussion on that 8bar would be very helpful. Thanks

[@user-ln1xr5wo2d]

Fine Good Men ,interesting lookin and sound😄

[@R0BERTMAY]

Legend has it that Anthony's beard harbours the souls of past blues men!

[@Texasbluesalley]

I gain power with each one.

[@R0BERTMAY]

@@Texasbluesalley 😂 🤘🏼 seriously though I've been following your chanel for a long time! Thank u so much!

[@frankherbst9207]

Nice way to visualize the 12 bars and maybe get a little creative. Thanks

[@vodoo5748]

On bar 6 you can play iv#diminished or iv minor.

[@henrikmikkelsen6472]

This was w’ers helpfull Thanks 🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰

[@Hemifan4266]

What amp, what pickup are you playing?

[@markwadsley]

hi do you also offer one to one lessons online? or is this primary about online lessons

[@larrypower8659]

The “2” chord in major key blues like this is not always minor - the F#m chord here. It can be a major or a dominant 7th, also. The “2” could be F#m, F#, or F#7. Especially in a 2-5 turnaround - typically F#7 - B7 - in bars 9 and 10.

[@DeltaDonnaLynn]

Dude, I think you seriously underestimate the number of beginners who follow this channel and/or are locals!

[@Texasbluesalley]

Overestimating the experience level of my viewers is a huge blind spot for me.

[@blueeyedsoulman]

What pickups are those?

[@philam1973]

Correct me if I’m wrong but at 11:47 the last 2 bars weren’t I I, but I V because you ended the turnaround on B7.

[@AntonisTzavaras]

Tone❤️

[@MTimWeaver]

I-V-I-I sounds like SRV Looking Out The Window....was that a quick 5 example?

[@Texasbluesalley]

Yup.

[@ariellise]

hey what amp are you using?

[@Texasbluesalley]

Kemper

[@coolwaterdvr]

🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸

[@zDoMinaTe]

Wow

[@bulletsforteeth5029]

It would be nice to see a chord break down on these, kinda hard to follow along with what chords and fingerings you were using... A tab explanation would be more useful.

[@ChocolateJesii]

I V I I Robert Cray's version of Phonebooth

[@hawg427]

Great video. My Pandemic beard is no where as long as yours, but the nice thing about them is you can get a late night snack & clean the beard at the same time LOL

[@Texasbluesalley]

I gotta admit, the whole food in the beard thing has turned out to be a way bigger problem than I would have expected. 😅

[@hawg427]

@@Texasbluesalley LOL My Doxie dog will jump in my lap then start sniffing my beard. LOL Looking for a free snack. I guess.

[@J.vatsal]

What have you done with Ur nails

[@rogerjudy1]

e mail my security saids this could be a hacker trying to get my personal imformation can you make the email link 1oo% safe need to know

[@jimmyt568]

SO MUCH FOR BAR CORDS,, P;LAY IT WITH A SLIDE.. TRUE BAR CORD

[@Icantdrive55]

I’m 57 and a complete beginner and your demonstration was informative although a little over my head. You are calling it basic but I got lost half way through the video. I may have to watch this a few more times. The number system confuses me.

[@j.d.leslie8458]

What exactly is confusing you about the number system?