Blues African vocals with white man's guitar added Pattern (12-bar blues) Bars Chords – I IV I V I Watch video “Guitar Lesson Blues – 12 Bar Blues” e=plcp (Play until 5:40) e=plcp e=plcp Roman numerals tell you which chord to play. If you start on A, that would be the I chord. The IV chord would be D and the V chord would be E.
Blues Later, a chord was added in the 9 th bar, which is now the standard Bars Chords – I IV I V IV I This is pattern used by “Hound Dog” Watch video “Guitar Lessons – Hound Dog by Elvis Presley”
Blues Combination of African melody & rhythm with Western harmony and meter Form of the 12-bar blues can change. This is basic framework to start with. Musician would improvise with this structure in mind.