Minor Blues Progression
The 12 Bar Blues in a Minor Key

The Minor Blues Progression is a variation of the standard 12 bar blues progression.

The variation involves changing the I and IV chords in the blues progression to and iv (changing major chords to minor chords).

The V chord remains the same--MAJOR or DOMINANT 7. This quality of MAJOR for the V chord reflects the fact that in a minor key, the V chord is major--necessary to accommodate the HARMONIC MINOR scale.

Here is a chart of minor progressions in the most common keys:

Remember that the flatted seventh note and all of its extensions (9th,11th, and 13th) may be added to ANY or ALL of these chords. Try this means of "extending" the chords in the minor blues progression to give your progression a more colorful or even "jazzy" flavor.

Which scales to use for improvisation:

The pentatonic minor in the same key as the progression may still be used, just as in the standard 12-bar blues progression. In addition, you may use the harmonic minor scale in the same key as the progression.

Related LESSONS:

Pentatonic Minor Guitar Scale

Minor Guitar Scales (Be sure to look for HARMONIC MINOR)

Harmonic Minor Piano Scale

Check back often because I am working on mp3 files and downloadable tabs for this page. Have fun!


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