← All lessonsModule 2 · Chords and keys
Three Chords and the Blues
Three chords. Twelve bars. This little loop gave us the blues, and rock and roll.
In this lesson you'll
- Find the three chords that hold a whole key.
- Play the twelve bar blues.
- Write one of your own.
Music in this lesson
- La BambaRitchie Valens · 1958
- Twist and ShoutThe Beatles · 1963
- Wild ThingThe Troggs · 1966
- Louie LouieThe Kingsmen · 1963 · I – IV – v
- Johnny B. GoodeChuck Berry · 1958
- Hound DogElvis Presley · 1956
- Rock Around the ClockBill Haley & His Comets · 1954
Remember
Chords one, four and five hold every note of the key.
The twelve bar blues. Four bars of one, two of four, two of one, then five, four, one.
Seventh chords, blue notes, and call and response give the blues its sound.