Blues Progression Tool

12-bar blues in any key — chords, scale, and turnarounds

I (Tonic)
A7
Home base. Start and end here.
IV (Subdominant)
D7
Tension away from home.
V (Dominant)
E7
Maximum tension → resolves to I.
12-Bar Blues in A
Bar 1
A7
Bar 2
A7
Bar 3
A7
Bar 4
A7
Bar 5
D7
Bar 6
D7
Bar 7
A7
Bar 8
A7
Bar 9
E7
Bar 10
D7
Bar 11
A7
Bar 12
E77
I chord (A7)
IV chord (D7)
V chord (E7)
A Blues Scale — Fretboard
Root (A)
Blue note (b5)
Scale notes
123456789101112EADGBe4b55b7Ab3b7Ab34b55b34b55b7A5b7Ab34b55Ab34b55b74b55b7Ab3
A (1)C (b3)D (4)D#/Eb (b5)E (5)G (b7)
Turnaround Variations

Spice up the last 2 bars of your 12-bar progression

Classic I-VI-II-V
A7 → F#7 → B7 → E7
Quick Change (bars 1-2)
I7 → IV7 → I7 → I7
Minor IV (bars 5-6)
D7 → Dm7
Tritone Sub (bar 12)
E7 → A#7

How to use this tool: Start with the standard 12-bar chart above. Play each chord as a dominant 7th (e.g., A7, D7, E7). Solo over the entire progression using the A blues scale — it works over all three chords.

The blue note (b5) is your secret weapon. Bend into it from the 4th, or slide down from the 5th. Use it as a passing tone, not a resting point.