12-Bar Blues Quick Change
The 12-bar blues, quick change is the chord progression I7 IV7 I7 I7 / IV7 IV7 I7 I7 / V7 IV7 I7 V7. In the key of C major it is C7 F7 C7 C7 / F7 F7 C7 C7 / G7 F7 C7 G7, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 1(7) 4(7) 1(7) 1(7) / 4(7) 4(7) 1(7) 1(7) / 5(7) 4(7) 1(7) 5(7).
It is also known as quick to four, quick four.
Chords from outside the key of C major: C7, F7.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
The IV chord appears early in bar 2, then the tonic returns until the regular IV in bar 5, so the verse moves sooner. All chords are dominant sevenths, which is a blues habit rather than a major-key rule. The V7 in bar 12 is the turnaround that sends the form back to the top.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweet Home Chicago | Robert Johnson | verse | E A E | A E | B7 A7 E (plays it in A with the E7 turnaround: A7 D7 A7 | D7 A7 | E7 D7 A7 (E7)) | E major |
| Red House | Jimi Hendrix | verse | B7 E9 B7 | E9 B7 | F#9 E9 B7 F#9 | B major |
| Before You Accuse Me | Eric Clapton | verse | E7 A7 E7 | A7 E7 | B7 A7 E7 B7 | E major |
12-Bar Blues Quick Change: Chords and Audio in C, G, D, A and E
Press play to hear each key. The diagrams show the shapes used in the audio, and every chord links to its full page.
More progressions like this one
- Jazz blues: C7 F7 C7 C7 / F7 F#dim7 C7 A7 / Dm7 G7 C7 G7
- 12-bar minor blues: Cm7 Cm7 Cm7 Cm7 / Fm7 Fm7 Cm7 Cm7 / Ab7 G7 Cm7 G7
- Bird blues: Cmaj7 Bm7b5 E7 / Am7 D7 / Gm7 C7 / F7 Fm7 Bb7 / Em7 A7 / Ebm7 Ab7 / Dm7 G7 / C A7 Dm7 G7
- 8-bar blues: C G F F / C G C G
All guitar chord progressions →
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What are the chords of the 12-bar blues, quick change in each key?
In C major: C7 F7 C7 C7 F7 F7 C7 C7 G7 F7 C7 G7. In G major: G7 C7 G7 G7 C7 C7 G7 G7 D7 C7 G7 D7. In D major: D7 G7 D7 D7 G7 G7 D7 D7 A7 G7 D7 A7. In A major: A7 D7 A7 A7 D7 D7 A7 A7 E7 D7 A7 E7. In E major: E7 A7 E7 E7 A7 A7 E7 E7 B7 A7 E7 B7.
Which songs use the 12-bar blues, quick change?
Songs that use it include Sweet Home Chicago by Robert Johnson, Red House by Jimi Hendrix, Before You Accuse Me by Eric Clapton.
