How do you write a 12-bar blues verse?

Writing a 12-Bar Blues

1. Pick a Subject. The main subject for the blues is the awfulness of life – how you’re down on your luck and how everything is going wrong.
2. Write the Lyrics.
3. Pick a Key.
4. Sing the Scale.
5. Practise the Rhythm.
6. Practise the Chords.
7. Add the Vocals.
8. Sharing the Blues with a Friend.

How many phrases or lines of text are in a twelve bar blues song?

AAB / 12 Bar Blues is the most common blues song form. An AAB pattern is used in both lyrics and melody (this is often set out in a “question-question-answer” format) made up of three 4 bar phrases in AAB Song Form. The fundamental structure of 12 Bar Blues is three four-bar lines or sections.

What is the 12-bar blues chord sequence?

In whatever key you are in, 12-bar blues uses the same basic sequence of I, IV, and V chords. It is most easily thought of as three 4-bar sections – the first 4, the middle 4, and the last 4 bars. The first 4 bars just use the I chord – I, I, I, I. The middle 4 bars go IV, IV, I, I.

Who is the father of blues?

Handy—the “Father of the Blues”—dies.

What makes the 12 Bar Blues unique?

The twelve-bar blues (or blues changes) is one of the most prominent chord progressions in popular music. The blues progression has a distinctive form in lyrics, phrase, chord structure, and duration. In its basic form, it is predominantly based on the I, IV, and V chords of a key.

What instruments did they use in the blues?

The most popular instruments used in blues are:

• brass instruments – often heard playing with mutes.
• saxophone.
• acoustic and electric guitar.
• Dixieland drum kit.
• double bass – a walking bass line is a common harmonic device in which the bass will play notes of the chord and notes leading to the next chord.

How many lines are in a 12 bar blues?

In a 12-bar blues, the first and second lines are repeated, and the third line is a response to them—often with a twist. Below is an example of a 12-bar blues stanza from “Dust My Broom,” as performed by Elmore James, and broken down by bars (measures), beats, chords, and lyrics:

Which is the third verse in the 12 bar blues?

“A” refers to the first and second four-bar verse, and “B” is the third four-bar verse. In a 12-bar blues, the first and second lines are repeated, and the third line is a response to them—often with a twist. In each 12-bar stanza, the third four-bar segment (in the example above, the 9-12th bars), serves to resolve the previous four-bar segments.

What should be the structure of a blues song?

Blues songs are popular for their slow, melancholy feel and expressive lyrics. Think of an emotional theme for your blues song, like heartache, depression, or loneliness. Use 4-line verses where the 2nd line repeats the first for a classic blues structure. Make your 4th line rhyme with the first 2 if you can, but this isn’t necessary.

When to play V chord in 12 bar blues?

This occurs when the V chord, the dominant, is played for measures 9 and 10 instead of just 9 like it normally would. A song that uses this progression is “Rock and Roll” by Led Zeppelin. A 12-Bar Blues song with an ending turnaround plays a V chord in the final measure rather than a I chord.