Bop jazz blues 1 (Simple)

12 bars · 2 changes per bar · Common blues heritage sequence · Often played in B♭

Usage

Mrs. Parker of KC - Eric Dolphy (in B♭) (1960)
Billie's Bounce - Charlie Parker (in F) (1945)

Summary

This 12-bar blues sequence blends classic blues movement with rich jazz harmony. It opens by moving to the IV7 in bar 2, drops back to I7 in bars 3 and 4, then returns to the familiar IV7 in bar 5. From there, it adds colour with a sharp IV diminished 7th in bar 6 before resolving to I7 in bar 7. The second half introduces a more jazz-influenced feel, with bar 8 moving through III to VI, bar 9 landing on IIm7, and bars 10 to 12 cycling through a series of II–V progressions that create smooth forward motion and set up the turnaround back to the top.