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  3. i - i - i - i - iv - iv - i - i - V - iv - i - i

i - i - i - i - iv - iv - i - i - V - iv - i - i

Also known as the twelve-bar minor blues.

The same twelve-bar frame as the major blues, moved into a minor key. The iv stays minor and the turnaround uses a major V borrowed from harmonic minor, which gives it a darker edge. It underpins a long line of blues, rock and late night jazz tunes.

Hear it in different keys

In A minor

im Am im Am im Am im Am
ivm Dm ivm Dm im Am im Am
V E ivm Dm im Am im Am

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In E minor

im Em im Em im Em im Em
ivm Am ivm Am im Em im Em
V B ivm Am im Em im Em

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Heard in

Famous songs built on this progression. Learn the loop above and you can play along with them.

Each key above has a MIDI download with every chord played back to back, ready to drop into any DAW or notation program.

Roman numerals show scale degree and quality: uppercase for major, lowercase for minor, a small circle for diminished. Tap any chord above to open its full page, with a diagram and playback.