© Bluestronomical Publishing Inc. 2007

By Jackie Don Loe

~ Tools For The Blues ~

There are certain chords you can use as tools to help construct various rhythm patterns while comping behind a soloist. Check out these cool chords that can be inserted into a twelve bar blues. The dominant nine (9) and seven (7) chords sound jazzy, and try the D11 and C11 chords in bars nine and ten for a real open feel. The C#dim7 can be used as a passing chord in bar six and the Daug7 is a great beginning chord. Substitute the chords in the chart for the chords in the 12 bar blues example. And in the words of Maxwell Beat ‘Man, just mix it up, keep the groove going and lay it down, brother!’

Standard 12 Bar Blues – “Key of G” 4/4 time

G / / / | G / / / | G / / / | G / / / | C / / / | C / / / | G / / / | G / / / | D / / / | C / / / | G / / / | G / / / ||

“Tools for the Blues” Chords

* The numbers following the chord letter are where you fret your fingers on the string. If there is a "0" then the string is open, if there is an "x" then no note is played.

Enjoy, and always keep your ears open.

     - Jackie Don Loe -

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