- Definition
The 12-bar blues is a common song structure, especially in blues music, where a repeating pattern of musical chords and lyrics is used over 12 measures. Think of it like a musical sentence that repeats, often with the first two lines of lyrics being very similar.
The song 'Hound Dog' uses the 12-bar blues structure for its verses.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A 12-bar blues is like a song's building plan that has a specific 12-step pattern that musicians follow over and over.
Ask your child: Can you count the measures in this song and see if they repeat in groups of 12?
Common mix-up: Many think 'the blues' is just a sad feeling or a slow tempo. The 12-bar blues is a specific musical structure that can be used to create all kinds of music, from fast rock to slow jazz.
Examples
- The Clash's rock song 'Should I Stay or Should I Go?' is built on a 12-bar blues chord progression.
- Lyrically, the first line is often repeated, and the third line is a response.
12-bar blues is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
