12-Bar Blues & Variations

Standard 12-Bar Blues

12-Bar Blues Variations

More Examples

Standard 12-Bar Blues

| I | I (or IV) | I | I |
|IV | IV | I | I |
| V | IV | I | I (or V) |

Backing Tracks

8 Bar Boogie (in A): | I | I | IV | IV | I | V | I IV | I V |
12 Bar Blues (in A)

1) James Brown, “I Got You (I Feel Good),” verse 1

From Out of Sight (1964), written by James Brown

Audio: YouTube (0:00–0:21)

D7

I feel good, I knew that I would now

G7 D7

I feel good, I knew that I would now

A7 G7 D7 A7

so good, so good, i got you

2) Led Zeppelin, “Rock and Roll,” verse 1 and chorus

From Led Zeppelin IV (1971), written by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones & John Bonham

Audio: YouTube (0:23–0:56)

[Verse 1]

A

It’s been a long time since I rock and rolled

It’s been a long time since I did the Stroll

D

Ooh, let me get back, let me get back

A

Let me get back, baby, where I come from

[Chorus]

E

It’s been a long time, been a long time

D A

Been a long lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time.

3) Elvis Presley, “Hound Dog,” verse 1

From Hound Dog (1956), written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:00–0:16)

4) Eric Clapton, “Blues Before Sunrise”

From From the Cradle (1994), written by Leroy Carr

Audio: YouTube (0:28–0:56)

D♭7

I have the blues before sunrise, tears standing in my eyes.

G♭7 D♭7

I have the blues before sunrise, tears standing in my eyes.

A♭7 G♭7 D♭7

It was a miserable feeling, now babe, a feeling I do despise.

5) Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention, “Directly From My Heart To You,” verse 1

From Weasels Ripped My Flesh (1970), written by Little Richard

Audio: YouTube (1:18–2:04)

G7

Direct, directly from my heart to you

C7 G7

Direct, directly from my heart to you

D7 C7

Well, you know that I love you

G7

That's why I feel so blue

6) Samuel E. Wright, “Kiss the Girl”

From the film The Little Mermaid (1989), written by Alan Menken & Howard Ashman

Audio: YouTube (0:21–0:43)

D

There you see her, sitting there across the way.

G

She don't got a lot to say but there's something,

D

about her.

A

And you don't know why, but you're dying to try

D

You wanna kiss the girl

7) T-Bone Walker, “Stormy Monday,” verse 1

Single (1947), written by Aaron "T-Bone" Walker

Score: Image
Audio: YouTube (0:06–0:50)

8) Lucinda Williams, “Can’t Let Go,” verse

From Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998), written by Randy Weeks

Audio: YouTube (0:30–0:49)

G7
Told you baby, one more time

Don't make me sit all alone and cry

D7 C7 G7
Well, it's over, I know it but I can't let go

G7
I'm like a fish out of water, a cat in a tree

You don't even wanna talk to me

D7 C7 G7
Well, it's over, I know it but I can't let go

9) B. B. King, “Everyday I Have the Blues,” verse 1

From Singin' the Blues (1957), written by Aaron "Pinetop" Sparks, Milton Sparks

Score: Image
Audio: YouTube (0:25–0:53)

10) John Mayer, “Something Like Olivia”

From Born and Raised (2012), written by John Mayer

Audio: YouTube (0:09–0:37)

[Verse 1]

G

Well, Olivia is taken

C

But a look like hers

G

Can be found from time to time

C

Yeah, Oliva is taken

But a look like hers

G

Can be found from time to time

[Refrain]

D

I'm thinkin' something like Olivia

C G

Is what I need to find

11) The Beatles, “Can't Buy Me Love,” verse 1

From A Hard Day's Night (1964), written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:08–0:25)

12) Roy Orbison, “Ooby Dooby,” opening vocals

From Roy Orbison at the Rock house (1961), written by Dick Penner & Wade Moore

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:00–0:16)

13) Elvis Presley, “Blue Suede Shoes,” opening vocals

From Elvis Presley (1956), written by Carl Perkins

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:00–0:15)

14) Elvis Presley, “Jailhouse Rock,” opening vocals

From Jailhouse Rock (1957), written by Mike Stoller, Jerry Leiber & Leiber-Stoller

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:06–0:29)

15) Miles Davis, “Freddie Freeloader”

From Kind of Blue (1959), written by Miles Davis

Score: Image
Audio: YouTube (0:22–0:44)

16) Beyoncé, “Texas Hold 'Em,” chorus

From Renaissance Act II (2024). Written by Beyoncé, Lowell, bülow, Raphael
Saadiq, Nathan Ferraro & Killah B

Score: Image
Audio: YouTube (0:11–0:39)
Note: The verse is also based on the 12-bar blues pattern, but includes a variation. Which chord is different?

17) 2 Mello, “Alligator Blues,” mm. 4–15

From the video game Later Alligator (2019)

Scores: PDF, Image, MuseScore
Audio: YouTube (0:04–0:22)

12-Bar Blues Variations

Examples that include some kind of variation in harmonic rhythm or chords from the pattern above.

1) Prince, “Kiss,” verse 1 and chorus

From Under the Cherry Moon (1986), written by Prince

Audio: YouTube (0:09–1:03)

[Verse 1]

A

You don't have to be beautiful to turn me on

I just need your body, baby, from dusk till dawn

D

You don't need experience to turn me out

A

You just leave it all up to me, I'm gonna show you what it's all about

[Chorus]

E

You don't have to be rich to be my girl

D

You don't have to be cool to rule my world

E

Ain't no particular sign I'm more compatible with

D

I just want your extra time and your kiss

2) Garth Brooks, “Kickin' and Screamin',” verse 1

From In Pieces (1993), written by Tony Arata

Audio: YouTube (0:35–0:43)

B♭

Well, I don't know what my uncle did

But he must have done it right

They sure strung him up one Saturday night

E♭

He had spent his whole life fussin'

Would have spent his last breath cussin'

B♭ A A♭ Gm F7

'Til he realized the deal was really done

Cm7

He started screamin' "hallelujah"

F7 B♭

Tryin' to make his peace with everyone

3) Janelle Monae, “Make Me Feel,” verse and pre-chorus

From Dirty Computer (2018), written by Janelle Monáe, Julia Michaels, Mattias Larsson, Robin Fredriksson & Justin Tranter

Audio: YouTube (0:24–1:00)

[Verse]

F#7

You keep on asking me the same questions

And second guessing all my intentions

B7

Should know by the way I use my compression

F#7

You've got the answers to my confessions

[Prechorus]

C#

It's like I'm powerful with a little bit of tender

B

An emotional, sexual bender

D#

Mess me up, yeah, but no one does it better

C#

There's nothing better

(F#7)

That's just the way you make me feel

More Examples

Yale Musical Examples Database: See the “Harmonic Progressions” tab at the bottom.
Scott Lipscomb, “12 -Bar Blues Songs,” History and Styles of Rock