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Worksheet

Build the 12-Bar Blues in Every Key

The reference sheet works this out in the key of A. It's the same form everywhere — only the letter names change. Fill in the chord for each Roman numeral below. The quick change (bar 2) and the turnaround (bar 12) are marked the same way as on the reference sheet.

Key of A Worked example

1IA7
2IVD7
3IA7
4IA7
5IVD7
6IVD7
7IA7
8IA7
9VE7
10IVD7
11IA7
12VE7

Key of E 4 sharps

1I
2IV
3I
4I
5IV
6IV
7I
8I
9V
10IV
11I
12V

Key of B 5 sharps

1I
2IV
3I
4I
5IV
6IV
7I
8I
9V
10IV
11I
12V

Key of F♯ 6 sharps

1I
2IV
3I
4I
5IV
6IV
7I
8I
9V
10IV
11I
12V

Key of D♭ 5 flats

1I
2IV
3I
4I
5IV
6IV
7I
8I
9V
10IV
11I
12V

Key of A♭ 4 flats

1I
2IV
3I
4I
5IV
6IV
7I
8I
9V
10IV
11I
12V

Key of E♭ 3 flats

1I
2IV
3I
4I
5IV
6IV
7I
8I
9V
10IV
11I
12V

Key of B♭ 2 flats

1I
2IV
3I
4I
5IV
6IV
7I
8I
9V
10IV
11I
12V

Key of F 1 flat

1I
2IV
3I
4I
5IV
6IV
7I
8I
9V
10IV
11I
12V

Key of C No sharps or flats

1I
2IV
3I
4I
5IV
6IV
7I
8I
9V
10IV
11I
12V

Key of G 1 sharp

1I
2IV
3I
4I
5IV
6IV
7I
8I
9V
10IV
11I
12V

Key of D 2 sharps

1I
2IV
3I
4I
5IV
6IV
7I
8I
9V
10IV
11I
12V

Check yourself: IV sits a perfect fourth above the key, V a perfect fifth — and every chord you write should be a dominant 7th.