Chord progression · F♯ major

The 12-bar blues (12-bar blues) in F♯ 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 F♯ major
F♯7→B7→C♯7
Numerals
I7IV7V7

Play along

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

1F♯7I7
2F♯7I7
3F♯7I7
4F♯7I7
5B7IV7
6B7IV7
7F♯7I7
8F♯7I7
9C♯7V7
10B7IV7
11F♯7I7
12C♯7V7

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

The chords

I7 F♯7
1F♯3C♯1E2A♯1C♯E
2A♯3E1F♯4C♯
C4EF♯A♯C♯F♯ A♯ C♯ E
IV7 B7
×2B1D♯3AB4F♯
3B2D♯1F♯A
ABC4F♯D♯B7/F♯
V7 C♯7
×2C♯1E♯3BB4G♯
1G♯2C♯3E♯4B
BC4E♯G♯C♯C♯7/G♯

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.