12-Bar Blues — the 1-1-1-1-4-4-1-1-5-4-1-1 progression

What is the 1-1-1-1-4-4-1-1-5-4-1-1 progression?

12 numbers, 12 chords: each number is the scale degree a chord is built on, so the same chart plays in every key. In C major, 1-1-1-1-4-4-1-1-5-4-1-1 is C7 – C7 – C7 – C7 – F7 – F7 – C7 – C7 – G7 – F7 – C7 – C7. The chords, by role:

• 1 — the home chord (I)
• 1 — the home chord (I)
• 1 — the home chord (I)
• 1 — the home chord (I)
• 4 — the IV, the lift away from home
• 4 — the IV, the lift away from home
• 1 — the home chord (I)
• 1 — the home chord (I)
• 5 — the V, the chord that pulls back to I
• 4 — the IV, the lift away from home
• 1 — the home chord (I)
• 1 — the home chord (I)

12-Bar Blues in other keys

Change the key and every chord moves together. The same 1-1-1-1-4-4-1-1-5-4-1-1 in four common guitar keys:

• G major: G7 – G7 – G7 – G7 – C7 – C7 – G7 – G7 – D7 – C7 – G7 – G7
• D major: D7 – D7 – D7 – D7 – G7 – G7 – D7 – D7 – A7 – G7 – D7 – D7
• A major: A7 – A7 – A7 – A7 – D7 – D7 – A7 – A7 – E7 – D7 – A7 – A7
• E major: E7 – E7 – E7 – E7 – A7 – A7 – E7 – E7 – B7 – A7 – E7 – E7

Every chord in C major — and each key's page lists its own seven, so any progression can be spelled from there.

Why it works

It has the three chords every key is built from — home, the lift away (IV) and the pull back (V). Each chord shares a note with the next, so the changes are smooth, and the V at the end pulls the ear back to the start, which is what makes it loop.

Songs that use 1-1-1-1-4-4-1-1-5-4-1-1

These songs are built on this progression, in whole or in a section. Play any of them and you are playing 1-1-1-1-4-4-1-1-5-4-1-1:

• Johnny B. Goode
• Hound Dog
• Rock Around the Clock
• Sweet Home Chicago
• Pride and Joy
• Crossroads
• Route 66
• Folsom Prison Blues

How to practice it

1. Play it in C — C7, C7, C7, C7, F7, F7, C7, C7, G7, F7, C7, C7 — two beats per chord, until you can loop it without looking at your hands.
2. Open it in the chord builder, press Play, and switch the key while it loops. Your ear will follow the numbers, not the letters.
3. Turn on Smooth Voice Leading and watch it re-finger the changes so each chord moves as little as possible.