How to Play a Jazz Blues Sequence (In a Few Simple Steps)
Get ready, folks, as we embark on an educational journey with none other than the legendary Rufus Philpot, an extraordinary bassist and a dedicated instructor at SBL!
Today, Rufus is here to guide you through the intricate world of the jazz blues chord sequence, and, here's a secret—it's not just for jazz!
This versatile sequence can be applied across various musical contexts, so don't be misled by the "jazz" label. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned jammer, mastering this sequence is essential for any bassist.
Check out the video here before we go into detail in the content below:
Originally published on March 27th, 2021, this post was updated and republished on October 31st, 2023.
The Basic Form of Jazz Blues
Our journey begins with a close look at the foundational structure of the blues.
In a typical jazz 12-bar blues, you'll encounter a more intricate chord arrangement than its rock and roll counterpart.
In the downloadable PDF, you can see the sequence we’re going to talk about. So if you haven’t downloaded it already, grab the FREE workbook here.
For our exploration, we'll use the key of F, a favorite choice among jazz greats such as Charlie Parker.
Here's the sequence at a glance:
- Bar 1: We kick off the blues journey with an F7
- Bar 2: Transitioning smoothly, we meet the Bb7
- Bar 3: Returning to our home base, we're back at the F7
- Bar 4: Bar four allows for flexibility, but keeping it simple with F7 works wonders
- Bar 5: Time to revisit the Bb7
- Bar 6: Brace yourself for a twist—the diminished chord, specifically B diminished 7
- Bar 7: We make a safe return to the F7
- Bar 8: Brace yourself for something different—the D7, the sixth chord
- Bar 9: The landscape shifts with a Gm7
- Bar 10: An exciting twist—the C7, a five-chord
- Bars 11 and 12: As we approach the conclusion, play two chords per bar—F7, D7, Gm7, and C7
Play that all together and you should have a general idea of what the sequence sounds like.
A Deeper Look Into the Walking Bass Line
Let’s try that same sequence but with a walking bass line. Rufus plays this for you in the video, so just go back and watch it again if you want to hear how it sounds.
We also provide the walking bass line in the downloadable workbook.
When crafting a walking bass line, simplicity can be your ally. You don't need a unique note for every beat, you can actually repeat notes. This type of strategic note repetition can work wonders.
Understanding the Sequence
Learning this jazz blues sequence can be tackled in two ways. You can memorize the chord names, or you can embrace a more versatile approach using Roman numerals.
The numbers system is a dead simple and extremely valuable addition to your musical toolbox. It equips you with the ability to transpose the sequence into any key seamlessly and communicate with other musicians with a common musical shorthand.
If you’re not familiar with it, learn about the numbers system before you go any further!
So if we go through using the jazz blues sequence with the numbers system, we get this formula:
- Bar 1: The I chord
- Bar 2: The IV chord
- Bar 3: Returning to the I chord
- Bar 4: The I chord again
- Bar 5: The IV chord
- Bar 6: The sharp IV diminished chord
- Bar 7: Revisiting the I chord
- Bar 8: The VI dominant 7 chord*
- Bar 9: Embracing the II min7 chord
- Bar 10: The V chord
- Bars 11 and 12: The grand finale, the turnaround – I, VI, II, V
*Note: It's common practice in jazz to make the VI chord in an iii–VI-ii–V progression dominant (major). Why? Simply because the sound of a dominant chord "pulls" more than a minor chord would to the ii in terms of tension and release.
Beyond the Jazz Blues
And there you have it—a ridiculously versatile sequence that’s easy to learn!
If you want to learn more really great techniques from some of the bass players in the world just like Rufus Philpot, then sign up for the Academy.
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