This is the first post (and video lesson) of a three part ukulele fingerpicking blues lesson series. Once you’re ready, go ahead to part two where we learn a fingerpicking pattern to go with this.
The blues has arguably been one of the most influential genres of music in the past century. The chants, spirituals, and songs of African-American slaves in the 19th century gave birth to the genre, while descendants of slaves carried their legacy into recorded form in the early 1900s.
Fred McDowell: Mississippi Delta Blues Singer
When people think of the blues, they typically think of a man with a raspy voice singing and playing along with a guitar. While this is a common expression of the blues, it’s not unlikely that in the early to mid 20th century people would sing and play the blues on their ukulele too.
In this lesson, we’re going to take a look at one of the most popular chord progressions in traditional blues music known as the 12-bar blues. The blues are characterized by simplicity, repetition, rhythm, and pure emotion.
12-Bar Blues Video Lesson
In this video lesson, I show you some examples of the 12-bar blues on ukulele.
Feel free to watch this video first, but you may want to keep reading first to understand how the 12-bar blues is structured.
12-Bar Blues Form & Structure
Before we learn any fingerpicking patterns, we need to understand the structure of the 12-bar blues.
As you probably guessed, the 12-bar blues is made up of twelve bars or measures. Each measure gets four beats. Once you complete these twelve bars, you repeat the entire form.
There are three chords commonly used in this pattern: I7, IV7, V7.
The chords above are expressed in roman numerals. The “7″ next to the roman numerals represent that the chord is a dominant 7th chord. The first four measures of the 12-bar blues are played over the tonic chord I7. This means, if we were playing in the key of A, our I7 chord would be A7, if we were playing in key of D, our I7 chord would be D7, and so on.
The first four measures of the 12-bar blues is played of a I7 chord. For this lesson, we will play in the key of A, so our I7 chord is going to be A7 (click to view the finger position for this chord).
For the next four measures, we are going to switch to a IV7 chord for two bars and then switch back to a I7 for two bars. Again, our I7 chord is A7. Our IV7 chord in the key of A would be D7.
For the last four measures, we are going to switch to a V7 chord for two bars and then resolve back to a I7 for the last two measures. Our V7 chord in the key of A would be E7.
Let’s Put It All Together
If we put all this together, our basic 12-bar blues structure looks like this.
As you can see, the structure is pretty simple. We can create a little bit more interest in this progression by using some variations.
12-Bar Blues Variations
The first variation is in the first four bars. To break up the monotony of the I7, we can use a IV7 chord in the second measure.
The second variation is in the last four bars. For the ninth measure, we will still use the V7 chord, but in the tenth measure, we will switch back to a IV7 chord. In the eleventh measure, we will go back to a I7 chord, and then on the 3rd beat of the last measure, we will switch to the V7 chord.
The V7 chord in the last measure really helps the 12-bar progression to keep on going. This is because whenever you play a V7 (or any V chord) it wants to resolve back to the I chord.
This variation is used for the majority of blues progressions. Here’s what this looks like:
Give it a try yourself and let me know how it’s going for you in the comments. Stay tuned because in the next lesson we’re going to take a look at some blues fingerpicking patterns!
Wow, I know as a newbie I am way in over my head here but this is a great challenge, yes, I am all over the shop, but sure will try, look forward to next video.
It’s not so bad! Give it a try
Hi Brett..I have been messing around with this because of the song call “King Bee” you have probably heard of it? Nice little ditty. I was wondering what is the difference between this and what they call Dirty Blues? Can’t wait till the finger picking part..Keith
I haven’t heard of this actually. I need to look it up. Do you have any examples of it that you can link to?
Hi Brett, I was wondering if you could do a song like this? the chords that this guy uses is E A E B7 A E and the song is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGDyz095E5k&feature=colike I met him at a ukulele show but he didn’t have any bees with him and he had a shirt on. Nice guy that I remember. Thanks..Keith
Do you have a few songs to go with this? Keith
Off the top of my head, I don’t have any specific recommendations. The thing with the 12-bar blues is it’s a structure that is used across many songs. This means if you know the 12-bar blues you could probably find any blues song and have a high chance of getting it to work on the ukulele.
Does anyone else have some specific recommendations? I’ll try to dig up some.
good job !
explained well.
Thanks, Tom!
Hi Brett,
You show D7 as played by barring second fret with the index finger 1st string 3rd fret with the middle and then as you are playing you use the middle and I think it’s your ring finger….reason?
Harry, great question. I tend to vary how to play my D7 chord depending on the chords that are coming before and after it. I find that sometimes by barring it with my middle finger it frees up my index finger to get ready for the next chord. Sometimes when I’m playing a chord before a D7 (like an A7) my index finger is wrapped up in playing that chord, but my middle finger is free, so I can switch to the D7 real smoothly. I like to choose the path of least resistance when it comes to play chords so sometimes I experiment with alternate finger positions.
Thanks for showing me something new yet once again. Look forward to learning more from you with as you introduce new material.
Thanks, Greg! You are welcome.
tks for these lessons came in very handy keep them coming
Thanks for your comment, Bernie! Will do!
Excellent, yet simple demo!
Wee bairn asleep…what is there not to like about learnin’ some 12 bar blues over lunch hour…thanks mate it’s made my day. Just got a KALA archtop Tenor f hole shiny Black and sounds peachy with blues. I also I live in Brighton so thanks also for the link about Sophie Madeleine…I think I’ve fallen for her ( well actually Im married but if i was a few years younger you know). Do you know where to find more blues chord progressions? The blues link is fiddly but its’a comin’.
Anyone out there…when people say if you are interested in learning past a beginner then go spend a bit of money on a better uke. It really makes you want to learn harder and faster….it’s got such a lovely ring to it.
Thanks for the comment!
I love the sound and feeling of the blues on my ukulele. It’s fun to play and easily recognized. I’ve been looking for some other blues songs I could teach for the future. Got some ideas brewing…
Your archtop tenor sounds awesome! Are you doing any different alternate tunings? I really like to go to low G tuning with my tenor sometimes. You are very right. There is something very inspiring about investing money into a quality instrument. I think that investment ends up really motivating us to get all that we can out of our instrument. We have something at stake… that’s very motivating!
Hey Brett,
Im not one to leave posts but I have to say your awesome. I never knew the blues would be so much fun to play on the uke. Ive been playing the uke for a few years now, off and on. I try to tackle songs that are way over my level which takes weeks, sometimes months..bohemian raps. but i just need to get back to the basics of jammin. Thanks for the taking the time to post.
Cheers,
Matt
Thanks, Matt!
Definitively a bluesy sound, and just after my 2nd day with an uke! Very nice. Thanks.
Awesome! Keep up the good work
Just bought myself a uke and this is gold for beginners…
Thank you so much
So glad to hear it! Thanks, Asa.
As an example of this progression (with the V-IV-I-I ending), I would suggest (one among a gazillion) “Crossroads”, by whoever may have recorded it, e.g. Clapton.
Brett,
That is awesome! Scooted outside my normal lessons with you to try this and I’m having a ball with this one. I’ve always loved the sound of the blues and had no idea you could get that feel from a Ukulele. Wonder if Stevie Ray ever tried “Mary had a little lamb” on the Uke.
. Keep up the great work and I’m loving the lessons!
Scott
Ha, this sounds fabulous on the uke!
Hey Brett, thanks for this. I’m on a baritone uke and enjoying accompanying your lessons and hearing how the sounds compare!
I’ll keep working on the strumming and try this lesson again!
Brett
Thanks for the lessons, etc. I’m so glad I got on your site and email list
Don
Hey Don, it’s great to have you apart of what’s going on here at Ukulele Tricks! Welcome!
Hi Brett,
So, I’m trying to teach myself the song “When Will My Life Begin” from the movie Tangled. Maybe you’ve heard of it? Anyways, it has a C#m in the song…but as far as I can tell on your Chord library, there is no C#m! I’ve tried looking it up on Google, but there are so many different chords! I can’t tell which one is really the C#m! Please help!
Also, this is a great website! I just got myself a ukulele, and I love going to your website to learn new chords and songs! Thanks!
Hey Emily, here’s a link to the C#m on the chord library:
http://www.ukuleletricks.com/ukulele-chords/?chord=Db&quality=minor&variation=4
The chord C#m can also be considered Dbm which may have been what was throwing you off.
Brett thank you very much! Easy explained how to play the 12 bar blues! Have you got some ideas tips for good blues songs to play on the uke? I have been playing songs like St. James infirmary and cocaine blues by luke jordan. If anybody has any tips or ideas please share!
Hey fellow ukulele player
i have been crazy about learning the 12 bar blues and finally i got shown a way that makes it soo easy and fun! thanks a bunch! keep it up! greetings from Greece 
Hey Hannah, thanks for your comment! I’m glad the lesson is helping.
Having brought my first Uke I was trying the finger positions with no luck, I misunderstood them and at one stage I thought one had to be very clever to get G7 (meaning I had to cross over my fingers) I know, pretty stupid eh, anyway after seeing your video I realise I was way off ha ha. Thanks for making it look easy (I was reading the “Makes Me Happy” book). I will endeavour to practice until I am with it. Many Many thanks and for your downloaded books, are there any fees to pay? please let me know if there are. Cheers! Maureen
Haha, that happens to all of us at one point! I’m glad you got it figured out. No fees to pay for these free lessons. I do have a premium lesson course called Ukulele Strumming Tricks which you can check out here if you’d like:
http://www.ukuleletricks.com/ukulele-strumming-tricks/
Would it be erroneous to pic with I your thumb and pointer finger? Two strings each?
Hey Adam, do you mean to fingerpick only using those two fingers? I’m a big fan of using as many fingers as possible. It gives you the ability to pick faster and more complicated patterns down the road.
Great job Brett..I’m a blues fan learning the uke. Your lessons really helped me.
Awesome! You’re welcome!
Wow, you made that look easy. I’m still learning to tune my Uke but I am inspired!!! I need to – not jump ahead – and get started with lesson one, I am a complete newbie. But now I am jazzed up to think about what I will be doing down the road. I have a vision of sitting on my porch this summer and playing the 12 bar blues without my neighbours coming over to ask me to go back inside, LOL.
Haha, you can do it!
I really appreciate ur way of explanation. Help with more theory work
Hey Brett,
Thank you so much for your website and tutorials! I’ve been through a few sites and I learn from your tutorials much easier and quicker than the others! It’s hard to find uke books in stores in Australia (well, where I live) and your chord library is absolutely awesome!
I’ve only just started uke, but I feel like I know so much from your site, so thank you!!!!!
Thanks, Amellia! Glad you’re enjoying my stuff.
Hi Brett,
Thanks for all the help. In the 12 bar blues. Somewhere you showed how the lick is played. Can’t find it.
Can you direct me?
Rich
Hey Rich, that would be in this lesson here:
http://www.ukuleletricks.com/ukulele-blues-fingerpicking-lesson-pattern-1/