Jam Track 21 - Chords to Easy Texas 12 Bar Blues

The 12-bar blues form is one of the most important progressions in guitar history, appearing not just in blues but in rock and roll, R&B, and pop music from the last 80 years. We'll learn the progression in E major with an "early four" (changing to A7 in bar 2), which is the most common variation used in songs from "Johnny B. Goode" to "I Want to Break Free" to "Should I Stay or Should I Go." The progression follows a I-IV-I pattern with a turnaround using B7-A7-E-B7 in the final four bars.

• Complete 12-bar blues form: E-A7-E-E, A7-A7-E-E, B7-A7-E-B7

• Basic strumming on the beat with full major and seventh chords

• Eighth-note shuffle rhythm: "one and two and three and four and" for authentic blues feel

• Palm muting technique for creating the driving rhythm-and-blues foundation

• E5 power chord option for relaxed finger positioning during extended playing

• Song applications: "Rock and Roll," "Johnny B. Goode," "Give Me One Reason," "Black or White"Temp