Blues chords are the foundation of everything you’ll play in blues guitar. But here’s the thing: you don’t need to know hundreds of chord shapes. Once you understand the essential blues chord voicings and how to move them around the fretboard, you’ve got everything you need.
The dominant 7th chord is your starting point. It’s the sound of blues—that slightly tense, unresolved quality that makes blues groove. From there, you’ll learn how to use these chords in the I-IV-V progression, add extensions for more color, and develop the kind of rhythm feel that makes blues sound authentic.
Start Here: The Blues Guitar Chord Mastery Series
If you’re new to blues chords, start with this three-part series. It builds progressively from basic shapes to the 12-bar blues progression to chord substitutions. Work through these lessons in order for the fastest path to playing authentic blues:
- Dominant 7th Chords Guitar — Master one chord shape that unlocks 12 blues chords across the entire fretboard
- 12 Bar Blues Chords — Learn the I-IV-V progression and play the classic 12-bar blues in any key
- Blues Chord Substitution — Add 9ths, 13ths, and other extensions for sophisticated, professional-sounding blues
Essential Blues Chord Lessons
Blues Chords on Guitar: Master the Essential Shapes
Start with the fundamental blues chord shapes that work in any key. Learn how moveable chord shapes unlock the fretboard, how blues chords connect to each other, and the practice strategy that builds clean chord changes. This lesson covers hand position, technique, and how to drill these shapes until your fingers go to the right place automatically.
Dominant 7th Chords Guitar: Master 12 Blues Chords with One Simple Shape
Learn how one E7 chord shape unlocks every dominant 7th chord you’ll ever need for blues. This lesson teaches you root notes, transposing, and how to move chord shapes up the fretboard without memorizing individual positions.
Once you’ve got this down, you’ll understand how the fretboard works and you’ll never run out of chords.
12 Bar Blues Chords: Master the I-IV-V Progression in Any Key
Now that you know how to play dominant 7th chords, learn how to use them in the I-IV-V progression—the foundation of every 12 bar blues. This lesson explains what I-IV-V means, how your guitar is tuned to make finding these chords easy, and how to play through the classic 12 bar blues form in any key.
Once you understand this progression, you’ll be able to follow along with any blues jam and transpose to different keys without thinking about it.
Blues Chord Substitution: Add Color to Your Blues Chords
Ready to take your blues chords to the next level? Learn how to embellish basic chords with 6ths, 9ths, 13ths, and other extensions. Chord substitution is what makes the difference between playing three basic chords and playing sophisticated, colorful blues that sounds professional.
This lesson covers the most useful chord substitutions including the dominant 9th, the famous Hendrix chord (7♯9), 13th chords, and minor chord variations. You’ll learn when to use these substitutions and how to work them into your playing naturally.
Master Specific Ninth Chords
Once you understand chord substitution, these focused lessons give you the exact fingerings and techniques for the most important ninth chord voicings. Each one solves a specific problem and adds a distinct color to your blues guitar playing.
How to Play the D9 Chord (Without the Muted String Mess)
The D9 chord trips up more guitarists than any other blues voicing. This lesson solves the common fourth string problem and shows you the thumb wrap technique that makes every note ring clearly. Once you’ve got this shape down, you’ll use it constantly in your blues playing.
9th Chords Guitar: Root 6 Voicings for Blues
These moveable ninth chord shapes work in any key and give you the flexibility to add sophisticated color anywhere in your progressions. Learn how to build root 6 ninth voicings, switch smoothly between 7th and 9th chords, and use them in a complete twelve-bar blues.
The Hendrix Chord: How to Use the Sharp 9 in Blues
The sharp ninth chord (7♯9) adds that aggressive Hendrix edge to your blues playing. Used sparingly, it creates tension and release that makes people turn their heads. This lesson shows you how to build the shape, where to use it in a 12-bar progression, and how to keep it musical without overusing it.
Keep Learning
These lessons give you the complete foundation of blues chords. From here, the best thing you can do is practice these concepts in real music. Play along with backing tracks, jam with other musicians, and listen closely to how great blues players use these chords.
If you’re just getting started with blues, check out our complete beginner blues guitar lessons. And for a comprehensive look at blues guitar from chords to scales to soloing, see our full blues guitar curriculum.