Bass Exercises: The 12 Bar Blues Form

The 12 Bar Blues Form Exercises

Bass Exercise #1: The 12 Bar Blues Form in A

In this exercise you're going to just play root notes to each chord of the A blues. It's not exciting, but essential. I hold your hand the whole way through by telling you what chord you are on in the blues form. On your own you must develop confidence as to where you are at all times.

Bass Exercise #2: The 12 Bar Blues Form in C

In this exercise you play the roots to the blues in C - C, F, and G. Now it's up to you to keep your place. You could also move to root notes an octave higher. I opted to go lower. Try it both ways.

Bass Exercise #3: The 12 Bar Blues Form in ???

This is just the drums from ex. 1. Try playing the blues using the I, IV, and V chords of any key. The cymbal hits on beat 1 of bar 1. If you get back to the beginning before you hear the cymbal, you must've missed a bar or two!