E, A, G blues 🎵🫐
Before diving into this post, be sure to check out these two posts: Intro to blues and blue scales. In this post, we'll focus on E, A, and G blues on guitar. E and A blues are the most common on guitar because they use open strings and simple chord shapes, while C and F blues are more popular on piano due to their ease for playing and improvising. In jam sessions, if no key is specified, you'll typically find electric blues (Chicago, Texas) in E or A, and traditional or New Orleans blues in C, F, or B♭.
E, A, G Blues scales
The blues scale is an adaptation of the minor pentatonic scale with the addition of a "blue note." In the image above, you can see example shapes for the minor pentatonic scale. By shifting these shapes around the fretboard, you can play the pentatonic scale in different positions.
Pentatonic scale to blues scale:
For the E blues scale, add the blue note: B♭
For the A blues scale, add the blue note: E♭
For the C blues scale, add the blue note: D♭
12 bar blues variations
In Intro to blues, we briefly covered the basic 12-bar blues patterns. In this post, we'll explore a few variations, focusing on E, A, and G blues.
| Style | Chord Pattern | When It's Used |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Change | I I I I IV IV I I V IV I V |
Most common in traditional blues and mid-tempo jams. |
| Slow Change | I I I I IV IV I I V V I I |
Used in slow blues or ballads for a soulful feel. |
| Fast Change | I IV I I IV IV I I V IV I V |
For up-tempo blues, jump blues, or rockabilly styles. |
In the context of E, A, and G blues, we can replace the I, IV, V chord progression with the following:
| Blues Key | I (Root) | IV | V |
|---|---|---|---|
| E Blues | E | A | B |
| A Blues | A | D | E |
| G Blues | G | C | D |
7th chords
In blues, especially in the 12-bar blues progression, dominant 7th chords are commonly used for the I, IV, and V chords (e.g., E7, A7, B7 in E blues). These 7th chords create tension and a characteristic "bluesy" feel that drives the music forward. While it’s typical to use 7th chords in blues, it’s not a strict rule, and sometimes major chords can be used instead. However, the 7th chords remain a key element that defines the blues sound. Below, we show the commonly used 7th chords in E, A, and G blues.
