12-bar blues is a foundation that artists from all genres around the world have used to build their musical visions.
Blues goes beyond just a genre of music. The 12-bar blues progression has become one of the most significant building blocks of American popular music. Its influence can be traced through decades of musical evolution, from the birth of rock and roll to the rise of modern pop and hip-hop.
The 12-bar blues was a chord progression that could be used for improvisation and manipulation to create thousands of works of music. The structure allows for ample room for improvisation and emotional expression, especially when it comes to vocal delivery and instrumental solos.1 It’s easy to see why it became so foundational to blues musicians—it provided both a predictable framework and the freedom to inject personal style and feeling into the music.
Blues started in America. It’s origins are traced back to the late 19th century in the Southern United Stater. It was created by African American musicians and influenced by precursors like ring shouts, work songs, and spirituals.1 Blues was the most popular music for Black Americans for a long period of time, before white people made the style commercially profitable and published (stole) the work of black artists. Blues is also famous for being grass-roots and there are many folktales about where it really started. The start, to me at least, is less important than it’s legacy among American (and non-American) music today.
So what artists have used the 12-bar blues to make their music?
Led Zeppelin uses the 12-bar blues in their song “Rock n Roll”.
Johnny Cash is a country singer who often uses the blues influence in his music.
In the movie The Little Mermaid the song “Kiss the Girl” uses the 12-bar blues.
This extremely popular song might not be thought of as part of the Blues genre by listeners, but it is certainly a blues song that uses the 12-bar blues progression.
John Mayer uses the 12-bar blues his song “Gravity”.
The 12-bar blues is not just a formula—it’s a framework for expressing a large range of deep emotions that encapsulate the universal human experience. As long as musicians continue to innovate, adapt, and express themselves through song, the 12-bar blues will remain a key part of American popular music.