The 12-bar minor blues progression is similar to a 12-bar traditional blues progression except that the minor tonality is used in place of the major. Below is an example of a proto typical progression in the key of Am followed by several common variations.
Am / / /
/ / / /
/ / / /
/ / / /
Dm / / /
/ / / /
Am / / /
/ / / /
Em / / /
Dm / / /
Am / / /
/ / / /
Variation #1
Am / / /
Dm / / /
Am / / /
/ / / /
Dm / / /
/ / / /
Am / / /
/ / / /
Em / / /
Dm / / /
Am / / /
/ / / /
Variation #2
Am / / /
Dm / / /
Am / / /
/ / / /
Dm / / /
/ / / /
Am / / /
/ / / /
E7 / / /
/ / / /
Am / / /
/ / / /
Variation #3
Am / / /
/ / / /
/ / / /
/ / / /
Dm / / /
/ / / /
Am / / /
/ / / /
Bm7b5 / / /
E7 / / /
Am / / /
/ / / /
Variation #4
Am / / /
/ / / /
/ / / /
/ / / /
Dm / / /
/ / / /
Am / / /
/ / / /
F7 / / /
E7 / / /
Am / / /
/ / / /
Like the 12-bar major blues, the last two bars of a 12-bar minor blues progression is the turnaround. Below are several possible minor blues turnarounds.
| Am / / / | / / / / ||
| Am / / / | E7 / / / ||
| Am / / / | Bm7b5 / E7 / ||
| Am / F#m7b5 / | Bm7b5 / E7 / ||
| Am / / / | F7 / E7 / ||
| Am / Am/G / / | F7 / E7 / ||
| Am / F#m7b5 / | F7 / E7 / ||
| Am Abm Gm Gbm | F7 / E7 / ||
| Am / Dm / | Am / E7 / ||
Click below for the best in free Minor Blues Progressions lessons available on the web as well as links to various examples.
