If you want to play blues guitar, you need three chords: E7, A7, and B7. These seventh chords are the foundation for hundreds of blues songs, and once you’ve got them down, you can play a complete 12-bar blues progression.
The Three Essential Blues Chords
Seventh chords have a bluesy sound because they’re “fence-sitters” – not quite major, not quite minor. That in-between quality is what gives blues its character.
E7 – The Home Chord
This is your starting point. Put your first finger on the third string, first fret. Your second finger goes on the fifth string, second fret. Strum all six strings.
The trick here is thumb placement. If you’ve got smaller hands, move your thumb toward the back of the neck to give your fingers more reach. You want each finger coming straight down on the string, not tilted over – that’ll mute the strings below it.
A7 – The Four Chord
Use your second finger on the fourth string, second fret, and your third finger on the second string, second fret. Play all six strings.
Watch your wrist position here. Your fingers need to come straight down, especially since they’re close together. A slight wrist adjustment makes all the difference between muted strings and a clear, ringing chord.
B7 – The Challenge Chord
This one uses all four fingers, and it’s definitely the hardest of the three. First finger on the fourth string, first fret. Second finger on the fifth string, second fret. Third finger on the third string, second fret. Pinky on the first string, second fret. Play five strings (skip the low E).
If you’re struggling, start with just the bottom three strings – third finger on the third string, first finger on the first string, both at the second fret. Once that feels comfortable, add the fourth string with your first finger, then finally add the fifth string with your second finger. Build up to the full chord rather than fighting it all at once.
Putting It Together: The 12-Bar Blues
The 12-bar blues structure is used in thousands of songs across rock, blues, and country. It’s 12 bars (measures) of four beats each.
Think of it in three sections of four bars:
First four bars: E7 for all four bars
Next four bars: A7 for two bars, E7 for two bars
Last four bars: B7 for one bar, A7 for one bar, E7 for two bars
If you’re a raw beginner, just count four beats per bar: 1-2-3-4. Strum down on each beat. Once that feels comfortable, try alternating down-up strums for eighth notes: 1-and-2-and-3-and-4-and.
Practice Strategy
Don’t start with the full 12-bar. Work on switching between chords first.
Practice E7 to A7, back and forth. No strumming yet – just move your fingers as smoothly as you can. Then add B7 to the mix. When you can change between all three without looking, you’re ready to tackle the 12-bar.
Pick through each chord string by string. Every note should ring clear. If something’s buzzing or muted, adjust your finger angle or thumb position until it clears up.
Once you’ve got these three chords down, you can play along with countless blues tracks. Check out our one finger blues lesson for an even simpler way to get started. For lead techniques, the blues riffs for beginners lesson teaches a classic Muddy Waters-style riff to get you playing authentic blues immediately.
For more beginner-friendly blues lessons, visit our Beginner Blues Guitar section.