Jazz lead sheet · Intermediate
Minor Blues in C
A 12-bar blues in minor, with a ♭VI7 to V7 move that defines the sound.
- Composer
- Traditional form
- Form
- 12-bar blues
- Key
- C minor
- Style
- Blues
- Length
- 12 bars
BluesC minor
i7C Dorian
i7C Dorian
i7C Dorian
i7C Dorian
iv7F Dorian
iv7F Dorian
i7C Dorian
i7C Dorian
subV7/VA♭ Lydian ♭7
V7G Altered
i7C Dorian
iiø7D Locrian
V7G Altered
For students
What to notice
- The tonic is a minor 7th chord, and the IV chord is minor too (Fm7, iv7).
- A♭7 in bar 9 slides down a half step to G7: it works like a tritone substitute leading to the dominant.
- Bar 12 is a minor ii–V (Dm7♭5–G7alt) that pulls back to Cm7 at the top.
Practice plan
Three steps to improvising
- Play C minor pentatonic over the whole form, then switch to G altered in bars 10 and 12.
- Arpeggiate A♭7 → G7 and hear the half-step pull.
- Write a two-bar motif and adapt it to fit the iv chord.
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.