12-bar blues, quick change (I7 – IV7 – I7 – I7 – IV7 – IV7 – I7 – I7 – V7 – IV7 – I7 – V7)
Moves to IV in bar 2 (the “quick change”), which makes the first line busier.
In C major
In all 12 keys
Mode: major. The capo column shows the fret where most chords become easy open shapes.
| Key | Chords | Capo |
|---|---|---|
| C major | C7 – F7 – C7 – C7 – F7 – F7 – C7 – C7 – G7 – F7 – C7 – G7 | 3. |
| D♭ major | D♭7 – G♭7 – D♭7 – D♭7 – G♭7 – G♭7 – D♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 – G♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 | 4. |
| D major | D7 – G7 – D7 – D7 – G7 – G7 – D7 – D7 – A7 – G7 – D7 – A7 | – |
| E♭ major | E♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7 – E♭7 – A♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7 – E♭7 – B♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7 – B♭7 | 1. |
| E major | E7 – A7 – E7 – E7 – A7 – A7 – E7 – E7 – B7 – A7 – E7 – B7 | – |
| F major | F7 – B♭7 – F7 – F7 – B♭7 – B♭7 – F7 – F7 – C7 – B♭7 – F7 – C7 | 1. |
| F♯ major | F♯7 – B7 – F♯7 – F♯7 – B7 – B7 – F♯7 – F♯7 – C♯7 – B7 – F♯7 – C♯7 | 2. |
| G major | G7 – C7 – G7 – G7 – C7 – C7 – G7 – G7 – D7 – C7 – G7 – D7 | – |
| A♭ major | A♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 – A♭7 – D♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7 – D♭7 – A♭7 – E♭7 | 1. |
| A major | A7 – D7 – A7 – A7 – D7 – D7 – A7 – A7 – E7 – D7 – A7 – E7 | – |
| B♭ major | B♭7 – E♭7 – B♭7 – B♭7 – E♭7 – E♭7 – B♭7 – B♭7 – F7 – E♭7 – B♭7 – F7 | 1. |
| B major | B7 – E7 – B7 – B7 – E7 – E7 – B7 – B7 – F♯7 – E7 – B7 – F♯7 | 2. |
Similar progressions
All chord progressions
- Pop progression (Axis)
- Sensitive pop (vi–IV–I–V)
- ’50s progression (doo-wop)
- Royal road (J-pop)
- Canon progression
- Circle-of-fifths progression
- Authentic cadence (I–IV–V–I)
- Folk and country
- ii–V–I (jazz)
- Turnaround (I–vi–ii–V)
- Minor ii–V–i
- 12-bar blues
- 12-bar blues, quick change
- Three-chord punk
- Mixolydian rock (I–♭VII–IV)
- ♭VI–♭VII–I (victory cadence)
- Andalusian cadence
- Epic minor (i–VI–III–VII)
- Minor cadence (i–iv–V–i)
- Minor ballad (i–VII–VI–VII)
- Dorian vamp (i–IV)
- Major-to-minor IV (I–iii–IV–iv)
Frequently asked questions
What are the chords of the 12-bar blues, quick change in C major?
C7 – F7 – C7 – C7 – F7 – F7 – C7 – C7 – G7 – F7 – C7 – G7 (I7 – IV7 – I7 – I7 – IV7 – IV7 – I7 – I7 – V7 – IV7 – I7 – V7).
Which key is easiest on guitar?
With only open chords and no capo: D major, E major, G major, A major. For other keys, the capo column in the table shows where to clamp it.
What do the Roman numerals mean?
The degrees of the key: I = tonic (1st degree), IV = 4th, V = 5th. Upper case is a major chord, lower case minor; ° means diminished, ø half-diminished and ♭ a lowered degree. That's what lets you move the progression to any key.
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