12 Bar Blues Activities

Choose a 12 Bar Blues Activity to complete below.

Activity 1: 12 Bar Blues Pattern Video & Improv

Watch the first 2 minutes of the video and create your own improv using the 12 Bar Blues Pattern. Pause the video and take time to try it on the keys before moving on to each new idea he presents.
Pianote 12 Bar Blues Piano Tutorial

12 Bar Blues Chord Pattern In C Major:

12 Bar Blues Chord Pattern In C Major:

C C C C

F F C C

G F C C

 

Activity 2: 12 Bar Blues Pattern Composing

Using the 12 Bar Blues Color in My Piano Printable create your own jazz blues music by playing melodies using the notes from the blues scale and adding a Left Hand pattern of your choice.

For more fun try this 12 Bar Blues Summertime Blues Duet Improv with your teacher or another student. Can you spot which measure doesn't follow the 12-bar blues pattern?

Activity 3: 12 Bar Blues Left Hand Variation Samples

Watch each sample blues video and then try to imitate the left hand patterns they use.

Barrelhouse Left Hand: Barrelhouse Blues - Piano Adventures 3B

Think of Intervals 5th-6th 5th-6th/ 5th-6th-7th-6th/

Variation of Barrelhouse: Piano Pronto Mvt 3 #15 Cotton Mills Blues (2nd Half of Blues Medley)

Walking Bass: Piano Playin' Chocolate Eater's Blues

Think of Scale Degrees 1-Flat3-3-5

Mixed Up Left Hand: Chris Conz Boogie Woogie

Think of Scale Degrees 1-1-3-1-5-1-6-5

Activity 4: Learn the "language" of Jazz

Practice improv or jazzy rhythm echos using Jazz Piano Basics  by Eric Baumgartner.