Jazz lead sheet · Intermediate
St. Louis Blues
The W. C. Handy classic, played here as a 12-bar blues with a II7–V7 finish.
- Composer
- W. C. Handy
- Form
- 12-bar blues
- Key
- G major
- Style
- Blues
- Length
- 12 bars
BluesG major
I6G Ionian
I6G Ionian
I7G Mixolydian
I7G Mixolydian
IV7C Mixolydian
IV7C Mixolydian
I6G Ionian
I6G Ionian
V7/VA Mixolydian
V7D Mixolydian
I6G Ionian
V7D Mixolydian
For students
What to notice
- It is a 12-bar blues in G, but the final phrase visits A7 (II7) before D7 (V7).
- The move to the IV chord (C7) in bar 5 is the heart of the tune.
- Handy wrote a verse as well; most jazz groups play the 12-bar chorus.
Practice plan
Three steps to improvising
- Play roots in a slow, even quarter-note pulse.
- Play the guide tones through bars 5–12 and hear each resolution.
- Improvise with the G blues scale, then add C♯ over A7.
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.