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