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Chord progression · A♭ major

The 12-bar blues (12-bar blues) in A♭ major

Twelve bars built from the I, IV and V chords — usually as dominant 7ths for that bluesy bite. The last bar (the “turnaround”) sets up the next time through.

Heard in “Johnny B. Goode” – Chuck Berry, “Pride and Joy” – Stevie Ray Vaughan and many more.

Chords in A♭ major
A♭7→D♭7→E♭7
Numerals
I7IV7V7

Play along

12 bars of 4 beats, looping · pick a key above to transpose

1A♭7I7
2A♭7I7
3A♭7I7
4A♭7I7
5D♭7IV7
6D♭7IV7
7A♭7I7
8A♭7I7
9E♭7V7
10D♭7IV7
11A♭7I7
12E♭7V7

Strum pattern: ↓   ↓↑  ↑↓↑ (down, down-up, up-down-up) — count “1 2 & 3 & 4 &”. Learn this strum →

The chords

I7 A♭7
4fr1A♭3E♭1G♭2C1E♭1A♭
1A♭C2G♭3C
CA♭E♭G♭A♭ C E♭ G♭
IV7 D♭7
×2D♭1F3C♭C♭4A♭
1A♭2D♭3F4C♭
C♭C4FA♭D♭D♭7/A♭
V7 E♭7
××1E♭G2D♭3G
G1E♭2G3D♭
C4GB♭D♭E♭E♭7/B♭

Piano voicings use inversions so each chord is as close as possible to the one before — your hand barely moves. Switch to “Root position” to compare.

12-bar blues in every key

CD♭DE♭EFF♯GA♭AB♭B

More progressions in A♭ major

I–V–vi–IVI–IV–V–IVI–vi–IV–Vvi–IV–I–Vii–V–II–vi–ii–VI–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–VI–♭VII–IV–I