KEYS TO THE BLUES BLUES CHART AND CHEAT SHEET

FOR HARP N GUITAR

By George Goodman

Copyright 2016 George Goodman

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Blues Harp Cheat Sheet

Blues Chart

Wrap Up

Introduction

Keys To The Blues was developed to take the guess work out of playing

The Blues and consists of two main sections.

1. Blues Harp Cheat Sheet

2. Blues Chart for the 12 Bar Blues Progression

Learning and understanding these two references will quickly put you on

the path to Blues mastery.

The Blues Harp Cheat Sheet provides the cross harp harmonica key to

use so you always have the right instrument for the job.

It also displays where the choice notes are on the harmonica so you’re

playing with confidence and sounding like a pro.

For the guitarist, the Blues Harp Cheat Sheet lays out the chords for

every key.

The Blues Chart for the 12 Bar Blues Progression provides the most

common chord sequence for the Blues and displays music and guitar

tabs so you’re comping a great sound.

It also reveals the secret to the Blues feel which if you don’t know, it’ll

show.

Harmonica Tabs Basic harmonica tabs are provided to indicate which holes to blow or

draw and bends or overblows if any.

Each hole of the harmonica is numbered 1 through 10 which you will

see on the top plate just above the corresponding hole. So in the

harmonica tabs, numbers refer to the hole on the harmonica.

Tab Key

4 = Blow on 4

-4 = Draw on hole 4

b = Semi-tone bend

bb = Whole tone bend

o = Overblow

Blues Harp Cheat Sheet

Blues Key

The first column in the Blues Harp Cheat Sheet is the Blues Key

column. There are 12 different keys in music and this column displays

the 12 possible different keys that the Blues can be played in.

The most common Blues keys would be A and E which is due more to

the tuning of the guitar than anything else. Playing Blues in A or E

allows the guitarist to use open strings while comping or playing

rhythm. This is displayed in the Blues Progression section below.

As you go down the Blues key column, the key goes up by a 5th

or 5

notes. C is the first key shown in the Cheat Sheet, then going up a 5th

we

arrive at G. The next key is D, then A, E and so on.

I7, IV7, V7

A standard Blues progression uses 3 chords that usually take the form of

dominant 7th chords. These 3 chords are noted in roman numerals and

are built on the root or first note of the key, I7, the fourth note of the

key, IV7, and the fifth note of the key, V7 or shortened to I, IV, V.

Under columns I7, IV7, and V7 are the chords that are used for a typical

Blues. For example, if the Blues key were G, the three chords used

would be G7, C7, and D7.

Cross Harp

Cross Harp is the key harmonica to use in relation to the Blues Key.

Looking again at the Blues Key of G, a C harmonica would be used for

cross harp. Blues in A would require a D harmonica and Blues in E

would require an A harmonica for playing in cross harp which is also

known as second position.

The Cross Harp is determined by going up a fourth or four notes from

the Blues key.

For example, if the Blues key is C, then count up four notes from C with

C being 1, D is 2, E is 3 and F is 4. Use an F harmonica for Blues in C.

Let’s try another example, Blues in E. Go up four notes from E starting

with E – E F G A. Use an A harmonica for Blues in E.

Chord Tabs

The Chord Tab row of the Blues Harp Cheat Sheet shows the

harmonica tabs for each of the three chords in a typical Blues

progression. The Blues chords are made up of four different notes. The

harmonica tabs for each chord is divided into 4 columns with each

column representing a note in the chord.

Melodies and riffs incorporate the notes of the chord. These are the notes

that fit; that sound right when played during the chord. So if you know

the notes that make up a chord and where they are on your harmonica,

you can’t go wrong.

The first column signifies the root note of the chord, the second column

signifies the 2nd

note of the chord, the third column signifies the third

note of the chord and the fourth column represents the fourth note of the

chord.

Without delving into theory too much, these chords are four note chords

consisting of a root, major third, fifth and minor seventh.

I7 Harmonica Tabs

Let’s look at each of the chords separately using our C harmonica

starting with the I7 chord. If we look at our Blues Harp Cheat Sheet

and locate the C harmonica in the Cross Harp column, then look across

to the I7 column, we see that the I7 chord will be G7. Again, the C

harmonica is used for Blues in G.

The first note we see for the I7 chord, -1, is in

the third column and so represents the third

note of the chord. The next note, -2bb is in the

fourth column and represents the fourth note

of the chord.

The second row of the I7 harmonica tabs

show -2 -3 -4 and -5 which is the full four note dominant 7th

chord.

The third row also shows the entire 4 note dominant 7th

chord which will

sound a full octave higher than the second row: 6 -7 -8 -9.

The fourth row shows a single entry in the root column, blow 9.

When the I7 chord is playing during the Blues progression, if you play

any of the notes in the I7 harmonica tabs, you will be playing a note that

fits the chord and will sound great.

IV7 Harmonica Tabs

Go back to the Blues Harp Cheat Sheet and look at the row for Cross

Harp C. Under the IV7 column is the C7 chord.

The full IV7 chord can be sounded in the

lower range of the harmonica shown in the

first row. The first note in the chord is the root

and is blow 1. That’s followed by blow 2,

blow 3 and draw 3 with a semi-tone bend.

The second row displays the entire IV7 chord

as well starting with blow 4, blow 5, blow 6, and then to get the fourth

note of the chord you need to overblow hole 6.

The third row starts at blow 7 for the root, then blow 8 and blow 9.

There is not a way to get the fourth note of the IV chord in the upper

range of the harmonica and so that space is marked x.

Finally you can sound the root again on blow 10.

V7 Harmonica Tabs

Back to the Blues Harp Cheat Sheet, Cross Key of C row and we see

that the V7 chord is D7.

The C harmonica can’t play D7 above the

first octave because that would require the

note F# (Our C harmonica has an F

natural, not F#). In this case, the

harmonica can play the notes to a Dm7

chord which are here on the C harmonica:

1 -1 -2bb -3bb 4 -4 -5 -6 7 -8 -9 -10 10.

The V7 chord is possible in the first octave of the harmonica by using

bending. Here are the tabs for the D7 chord in the bottom octave:

-1 -2b -3bb 4 – a single bend on draw 2 produces F#.

In the Blues Harp Cheat Sheet, notice that the first line of tabs for the

V7 chord shows -2b(b). A single bend on draw 2 is part of the V7 chord.

A double bend on draw 2 would result in a minor seventh chord similar

to the upper octaves.

Blues Scale Tabs

The Blues Scale is a six note scale that is characterized by flatting

certain pitches to create the signature Blues sound.

The Blues Scale can be played throughout a Blues progression

irrespective of the chord being played whether on the I, IV, or V.

For example, if the Blues key is G, playing a C harmonica in second

position, the G Blues scale can be played throughout the Blues

progression.

The tabs are broken into octaves over the rows with each row sounding

an octave higher than the row above it. The columns represent a

particular note in the scale.

Looking at the first column we see the harmonica tabs -2, 6, and 9.

These are the first or root notes of the Blues scale. Each note is the same,

but in a different octave. 6 is an octave above -2; 9 is an octave above 6.

As you can see, there is a lot of bending required to achieve the Blues

scale and get that real dirty, bluesy sound.

Blues Chart

Blues Progression – 12 Bar Blues in E

A typical 12 Bar Blues progression is shown above. This particular case

displays the Blues in the key of E. This is one of the most common keys

for the Blues because it allows the guitarist to play in an open string

format.

Guitar Tabs

If you are new to guitar tabs, let me break it down for you.

Guitar tabs consist of six lines; each line representing a string on the

guitar. The top line in the tab represents the first string or high E string.

The next one down in the tab is the second string, B. The third line down

is the third string, G. The fourth line from the top is the fourth string, D.

The fifth line from the top is the fifth string, A and finally the bottom

line represents the sixth string, low E.

The numbers on the tabs represent the fret in which to put your finger.

Looking at the first bar or measure of the tab above, the sixth string is

played open. This is signified by the number 0. 0 mean play the string

open – you don’t place a finger on any fret on the sixth string.

The tabs in the first bar also shows that you need to place a finger on the

second fret for two notes, then on the fourth fret for two notes, then on

the fifth fret for two notes and then back to the fourth fret for two notes.

Place your left hand so that your first or index finger is in the second fret

and use this finger for playing the fifth string, second fret.

Space your left hand fingers so that each of the fingers are in their own

fret. Your second or middle finger will be in the third fret. In our tabs

there is no 3 or fretting in the third fret, so this finger won’t be used for

this pattern.

Place your third or ring finger in the fourth fret and use this finger on the

fifth string.

Finally place your fourth or pinkie finger in the fifth fret and use this for

playing in the fifth fret on the fifth string.

This is an easy but great sounding comping pattern that only requires

playing two strings and for most of the pattern, one of the strings is

played open.

During the chord E7, the sixth string is open while the notes change on

the fifth string.

The exact same thing happens during A7 but with the fifth string open

and the notes changing on the fourth string.

The B7 is more challenging and requires placing your first finger on the

fifth string in the second fret, your third on the fourth string in the fourth

fret and your fourth finger on the fourth string in the sixth fret. This

stretch will take some practice.

Chord Progression

This progression is known as the 12 Bar Blues.

This is because it consists of 12 bars or measures of music that repeat

over and over throughout the song.

Some variations to this progression are common but this represents the

most common form of the 12 Bar Blues.

This example shows the 12 Bar Blues in the key of E.

In the first four bars, the I7 chord is played. If we look at the Blues Harp

Cheat Sheet in the I7 column for Blues key E, we see the chord E7.

Looking at our Blues Progression we see E7 in the first four bars.

In bars 5 and 6, the IV7 chord is played. Again back to our Blues Harp

Cheat Sheet, we see the IV7 chord for the Blues key of E is A7. Our

chart shows A7 in bars 5 and 6.

For bars 7 and 8 we are back to the I7 chord, E7 in our example.

In bar 9, we play the V7 chord. The V7 chord in the key of E is B7.

Bar 10 is the IV7 chord, A7.

Bar 11 is back to the I7 chord, E7.

Finally in Bar 12 we play the V7 chord.

Bars 1 – 4: I7

Bars 5 and 6: IV7

Bars 7 and 8: I7

Bar 9: V7

Bar 10: IV7

Bar 11: I7

Bar 12: V7 (I7 if last time around)

The Blues Rhythm

Notice at the top of the music is the word Shuffle which indicates the

style to play. This is one of the most important elements to create the

Blues feel.

Shuffle is similar to Swing.

Each bar of music in our 12 Bar Blues is made up of four beats.

Each beat can be divided into two notes, called eighth notes.

The shuffle is produced by giving the eighth note that lands on the beat,

2/3 of the beat instead of half the beat. The eighth note that lands on the

offbeat only receives 1/3 of the beat.

Because the offbeat eighth note is reduced in duration, it is usually

accented to give it an extra push.

This is what drives the Blues rhythm. Getting a feel for where the

offbeat eighth note lands is a huge part of getting the Blues sound.

Very rarely is a Blues ‘straight’ where the eighth notes are of equal

duration.

Wrap Up

If you are new to the guitar and harmonica and music in general, then I

have thrown a lot at you.

Watch the video and read through this repeatedly and it will all become

clearer.

Key #1

The Blues can be played in all 12 different keys and is made up of three

chords, the I, IV and V.

Key #2

To play Cross harp, go up four notes from the Blues key. The Blues key

counts as 1. Eg. For Blues in G: G, A, B, C. C is four notes up from G

and would be the key harmonica to use for Blues in G.

Key #3

Melodies and riffs incorporate the notes of the chord. These are the notes

that fit; that sound right when played during the chord. So if you know

the notes that make up a chord and where they are on your harmonica,

you can’t go wrong.

Key #4

The Blues scale provides notes that sound great over the entire Blues

progression. Learn these and you’ll be sounding like a pro.

Key #5

The Blues is typically a 12 Bar progression with the same chords

occurring in the same bar throughout the song. All you have to do is

learn what chord is in each of the twelve bars and you’ve learned a

thousand Blues songs.

Key #6

Learn to shuffle. This is the key to getting the Blues feel.

…and finally

Key #7

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