Below is a comparative listing of common twelve-bar blues progressions. The chart shows
traditional (first twelve examples), quick change (the next seven examples), and backcycled (the last
example) blues progressions. All progressions were transposed to the key of E to more easily see
commonalities and variations. In case you are not familiar with Blue River, it was a song I wrote
five years ago trying to use as many chord substitutions as possible in a twelve-bar blues progression.
I play the song in a steady 4/4 tempo with a jazz (not blues) feeling. Try playing a quick change
blues song like Call It Stormy Monday over a minor blues progression or a minor blues tune such
as The Thrill Is Gone over a traditional major blues progression.

Bar:
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Johnny B. Goode; Mabellene; School Days; No Particular Place To Go
E	E	E	E	A	A	E	E	B	B	E	E
In The Mood
E	E	E	E	A	A	E	E	B7	B7	E-A6	C7-B7
Oh Boy; Shake Rattle And Roll; Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby
E	E	E	E	A	A	E	E	B7	A	E	E
Hound Dog; Honey Don't; Be Bop A Lula; Jail House Rock
E	E	E	E	A7	A7	E	E	B7	A7	E	E
Rock Around The Clock; Blue Suede Shoes
E	E	E	E	A9	A9	E	E	B9	B9	E	E
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
E	E	E	E7	A	A	E	E	B7	A7	E	E
Tutti Fruiti; Mean Woman Blues
E	E	E	E7	A7	A7	E	E	B7	A7	E	E
Rock And Roll Music; One After 909
E7	E7	E7	E7	A7	A7	E7	E7	B7	B7	E7	E7
Can't Buy Me Love
E7	E7	E7	E7	A7	A7	E7	E7	B7	A7	A7	E7
What'd I Say; Boys; Money; Mustang Sally; Wooley Bully
E7	E7	E7	E7	A7	A7	E7	E7	B7	A7	E7	B7
I Got You (I Feel Good)
E7	E7	E7	E7	A7	A7	E7	E7	B7	A7	E9	E9
She's About A Mover
E7	E7	E7	E7	A7	A7	E7	E7	B7-A#7	A7	E7	E7
Crossroads; Never Been To Spain
E	A	E	E	A	A	E	E	B	A	E	E
Your Mama Don't Dance; Ramblin' On My Mind
E	A7	E	E	A7	A7	E	E	B7	A7	E	E
Sweet Home Chicago
E	A7	E	E	A7	A7	E7	E7	B7	A7	E7	B7
Roll Over Beethovan
E7	A7	E7	E7	A7	A7	E7	E7	B7	B7	E7	E7
Honky Tonk; Before You Accuse Me; The Sky Is Crying
E7	A7	E7	E7	A7	A7	E7	E7	B7	A7	E7	B7
Route 66
E	A9	E	E	A9	A9	E	E	F#m7	B9	E-Go	F#m7- B7
Call It Stormy Monday
E7	A7	E7-F7	E7	A7	A7	E- F#m7	G#m7- G7	F#m7	C9	E7-A7	E7- B+
Blue River
EM7	D#m7b5- G#7b9	C#m7- F#13	Bm7- E13	AM7	Am7- D9	GM7	Gm7- C9	F#m7	F#m11- F7b5	E13- C#7#9	F#m7- B7b9