Jazz lead sheet · Beginner
12-Bar Blues in E♭
The basic blues in the key horns call most often at jam sessions.
- Composer
- Traditional form
- Form
- 12-bar blues
- Key
- E♭ major
- Style
- Blues
- Length
- 12 bars
BluesE♭ major
I7E♭ Mixolydian
IV7A♭ Mixolydian
I7E♭ Mixolydian
I7E♭ Mixolydian
IV7A♭ Mixolydian
IV7A♭ Mixolydian
I7E♭ Mixolydian
I7E♭ Mixolydian
V7B♭ Mixolydian
IV7A♭ Mixolydian
I7E♭ Mixolydian
V7B♭ Mixolydian
For students
What to notice
- The I–IV–V chords are E♭7, A♭7 and B♭7, all dominant 7ths.
- E♭ is a warm key for saxophone and trumpet, so blues in E♭ appears constantly in the repertoire.
- Compare the guide tones with the F version: the same half-step pull, moved down a whole step.
Practice plan
Three steps to improvising
- Play the roots, then the guide tones, listening for A♭ (the 7th of A♭7) fall to G.
- Arpeggiate the three chords ascending and descending.
- Use the E♭ blues scale and add the major 3rd (G) to outline the dominant sound.
For teachers
Using this chart in class
- Project the chart with Play along running and loop one section while students find the guide tones.
- Choose Practice → Name the numerals for a whole-class quiz: students vote, then reveal the explanation.
- Mixed ensemble? Print the worksheet once per transposition: B♭, E♭, F and bass clef parts all line up bar for bar.
- Share a link: the key, instrument and view you choose are saved in the address bar.
Chord changes are common performance versions written out by Music Theory Lessons. No melodies or lyrics are reproduced. Names of songs and composers are used only to identify each tune.