Lesson 1: Understanding 12-Bar Blues

What is the structure of 12-bar blues?
How does form guide musicians’ improvisation?

12-bar blues, form, chord progression, I-IV-V chords

MU:Pr4.2.7a
Explain how understanding the structure and context of musical works informs the performance.
MU:Re7.2.7a
Classify and compare the contexts of music from a variety of genres, cultures, and historical periods.

Students listen to examples of 12-bar blues and map the chord progression and form.

Students may confuse the chord order.
Students may think all blues follow the same tempo or style.

Provide chord charts and visual form diagrams.
Use simple piano or percussion accompaniment for practice.

Students correctly label the 12-bar blues form in a listening example.