THE 12-BAR BLUES – Adapting This Chord Structure into Improv Comedy

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The 12-bar blues is one of the most important and influential chord progressions in modern music. It’s the foundation of countless blues songs, and it has been borrowed and adapted by musicians in a wide range of genres, including jazz, rock and roll, and pop.

Origins in Oral Tradition

The exact origins of the 12-bar blues are uncertain, as it emerged from the oral tradition of African American communities in the Deep South of the United States towards the end of the 19th century. Enslaved people brought with them a rich musical heritage from Africa, which blended with European musical traditions to create new forms of expression.

Early Influences

The blues drew inspiration from various sources, including:

• Work songs: Rhythmic chants used to coordinate labor and provide a sense of unity.
• Spirituals: Religious songs with roots in both African and European traditions.
• Field hollers: Solo vocal improvisations expressing personal emotions and experiences.

Formalization and Popularization

• W.C. Handy: Often called the “Father of the Blues,” Handy was one of the first to transcribe and publish blues music in sheet music form. His compositions, such as “Memphis Blues” and “St. Louis Blues,” helped to popularize the 12-bar structure.
• Early blues recordings: The emergence of “race records” in the 1920s brought blues music to a wider audience. Artists like Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey became stars, and the 12-bar blues became a staple of the genre.

Evolution and Adaptation

• Jazz: The 12-bar blues became a cornerstone of early jazz music, providing a framework for improvisation and experimentation.
• Rock and roll: In the 1950s, artists like Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley helped to bring the 12-bar blues into the mainstream of popular music.
• Beyond the blues: The 12-bar blues has continued to influence musicians across genres, from pop and rock to country and folk.

Key Characteristics

The 12-bar blues is typically characterized by:

• Chord progression: A sequence of three chords, usually the I, IV, and V chords of a key, played over 12 bars.
• Lyrical structure: A three-line AAB pattern, with the first two lines being nearly identical and the third line providing a resolution or response.
• Call and response: A back-and-forth exchange between the vocalist and the instruments, reflecting the roots of the blues in work songs and spirituals.

Enduring Legacy

The 12-bar blues remains a vital and vibrant part of musical expression. Its simple yet powerful structure continues to inspire musicians and listeners alike, and its influence can be heard in countless songs across genres and generations.

STOP TIME – BLUES IMPROV GAME – 16-bar verses

For the sake of Improv Comedy we usually try to create 16-bar or 32-bar patterns. If you notice all of the 12-bar blues patterns above have THREE lines which make it tough for a traditional AABB or ABCB rhyme scheme. So we have a few ways to create a 4-line verse.

STOP TIME is when we double up the first line of the 12-bar-blues. Jailhouse Rock is a great example of a STOP TIME Blues verse that goes into a 12-bar blues for the final riffs at the end. The BLUES SONG we play in our shows is a direct copy of the pattern form Jailhouse Rock.

HONKY TONK – 16 Bar Blues Song

In many ways BLUES is considered old music now, but is the basis of almost all modern music that has any soul. Once you master the basics, PLAY. Play with rhythm, melody, harmony, and more. But remember, catch your self over thinking and over playing. In JAZZ – LESS IS MORE.