Minor blues chords and progressions
The step between major and minor in blues are little and sometimes flowing. For a simple 12-bar blues with three chords all that have be done is to change the I and IV chords from major and minor and keep the V chord as it's.
Blues in E minor
The E minor is probably the most common minor key in blues and the following diagrams shows the main chords to learn:
Em
Am
B7
Substitutions such as Am7 and B9 are options.
12-bar Blues in Em
On way to play the chords in a 12-bar progression. Start from top left and play four beats per measure.
| Em | Em | Em | Em |
| Am | Am | Em | Em |
| B7 | Am | Em | Em |
Note that you can add a turnaround in the last bar by replace the Em by B7. This will add tension that is resolved when the progression starts over again with Em.
You could play the E Pentatonic minor blues scale in 1st position for soloing over the chords.
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More 12-bar Blues in Em examples - with substitutions
The standard progression presented above can be varied in numerous ways. Here are some examples of that:
| Em | Em | Em | Em |
| Am | Am | Em | Em |
| Bm | Am | Em | Em |
Following the natural minor scale, resulting in no dominant chord.
| Em | Am | Em | Em |
| Am | Am | Em | Em |
| B7 | Am | Em | B7 |
Including a quick change (in the 2nd bar).
| Em | A7 | Em | Em |
| Am | Am | Em | Em |
| B7 | Am | Em | B7 |
Replacing the minor with a dominant (in the 2nd bar).
| Em | A7 | Em | Em |
| A7 | A7 | Em | Em |
| B7 | Am | Em | B7 |
Changing quality of the IV chord in whole structure, matching the melodic minor scale.
| Em | Em | Em | Em |
| Am | Am | Em | Em |
| C7 / B7 | Am | Em | B7 |
Including a new chord (C7), resulting in a chromatic sequence in the 9th bar.
| Em7 | Am7 | Em7 | Em7 |
| Am7 | Am7 | Em7 | Em7 |
| G7 / C7 | F#m7b5 / B11 | Em7 | B7 |
Extended chords are used instead of triads for the i and iv chords. Besides that, faster changes are utilized in bar 9th and 10th. F#m7b5 can be fingered as 2X221X, B11 as X21200. This example can be seen a 12-bar jazz-blues progression in minor.
8 Bar Blues in Em
In this example the structure is reduced to eight bars:
| Em | Em | Am | Am |
| Em | Bm | Em | Em |
A common approach is to change quality from minor to dominant for the V and/or IV chords.
16 Bar Blues in Em
This example includes some additional chords:
| Em | A7 | Em | Em |
| Am7 | Am7 | Em | Em |
| C#m7b5 | F#7 | B7 | Am |
| Em | Am | C7 | B7 |
The last measures are a turnaround and the idea is to repeat the full progression and finally end with an Em chord. Short notation for C#7b5 is X4545X.
Blues in A minor
Next to E minor, A minor is the most common key for minor blues considering the guitar.
Am7
Dm7
E7
12-bar Blues in Am
A simple 12-bar blues approach with a quick change (2nd bar) and a turnaround (12th bar):
| Am | Dm | Am | Am |
| Dm | Dm | Am | Am |
| E7 | Dm | Am | E7 |
The last E7 is a turnaround to a second chorus. Finally, Am should be used as the ending chord instead (in the last chorus).
More 12-bar Blues in Am examples - with substitutions
Another progression, but with extended chords and more changes:
| Am7 | E7 | Am7 | A7 |
| Dm7 | Dm7 | Am7 | Am7 |
| Bm7b5 / E7 | Dm7 | Am7 | Am7 |
Short notation for Bm7b5 is X2323X.
| Am7 | Am7 | Am7 | Am7 |
| Dm7 | Dm7 | Am7 | Am7 |
| E7#9 | Dm7 | Am7 | E7 |
E7#9 is substituted for E7. A suggestion is to play this progression with bar chords, fingering for E7#9 is X7678X.
| Am | E7 | Am | E7 |
| F | F | C7 | C7 |
| G7 | G7 | C / C7 | C / G7 |
This progression is partly based on the tune "Hesitation Blues".
Blues in B minor
Another common key for blues in minor is the B minor. Barre shapes is often used in these progressions.
Bm7
Em7
F#7
12-bar Blues in Bm
A simple 12-bar blues approach:
| Bm | Bm | Bm | Bm |
| Em | Em | Bm | Bm |
| F#7 | Em | Bm | F#7 |
More 12-bar Blues in Bm examples - with substitutions
Here are some other examples with variations:
| Bm7 | E9 | Bm7 | Bm7 |
| Em7 | Em7 | Bm7 | Bm7 |
| F#7 | Em7 | Bm7 | F#7 |
Involving extended chords and including a quick change (in the 2nd bar) with E9 substitution for Em. Short notation for E9 is X76777. There is also an option for an B9 substitution in the 9th bar.
| Bm7 | Bm7 | Bm7 | Bm7 |
| Em7 | Em7 | Bm7 | Bm7 |
| G7 | F#7 | Bm7 | F#7 |
G7 is included and creates a chromatic sequence with F#7. A suggestion is to play G7 as X 10 9 10 8 X.
Tips for more in-depth readings:
The Guitar Blues beginner to intermediate ebook
Go back to the main section of Blues guitar.