Banjo · Level 3 · Beginner
The 12-bar blues in D♭ major on Banjo
Don’t just read about The 12-bar blues in D♭ major. Play it.
Create a free TempoJam account in 30 seconds. Then try the tuner, metronome and Jam Room free for 14 days and record your first take tonight.
The 12-bar blues uses just I, IV and V in a fixed pattern that rock, jazz and soul musicians all share. Knowing the form lets you jam with anyone.
D♭
Notes: D♭ · F · A♭
G♭
Notes: G♭ · B♭ · D♭
A♭
Notes: A♭ · C · E♭
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: D♭, G♭ and A♭. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- The short fifth string (g) is only played open; let it ring when it fits the chord.
- Set the tempo to 53 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Count bars aloud in groups of four: three lines of four bars each.
- Pinch the bass and top strings on beat one, then roll thumb–index–middle through the other strings.
- Raise the tempo to 70 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for the turnaround in the last bar that sends you back to the top.
Listen for
Aim for the turnaround in the last bar that sends you back to the top. A common mistake is losing count during the four bars of I at the start.
Why it works
Each four-bar line has a job: establish home, move away to IV, then cadence through V and IV back to I.
D♭ major has 5 flats; its relative minor key is B♭ minor.
Questions
What are the chords in I–IV–I–V–IV–I in D♭ major?
In D♭ major the progression is D♭ | D♭ | D♭ | D♭ | G♭ | G♭ | D♭ | D♭ | A♭ | G♭ | D♭ | A♭.
What is the key signature of D♭ major?
D♭ major has 5 flats. Its relative minor is B♭ minor.
Is this lesson right for my level?
This is a level 3 lesson (beginner). If it feels too hard, start with “Playing in a minor key”.
Your hands learn faster than your eyes.
Reading a chord chart is step one. Play it to a metronome, record it, and hear yourself get better, all in one app.
Start practising free