The basic blues progression uses 3 chords - the Tonic (I) or the chord that the song is centered on, the Dominant (V) or the chord based on the fifth step of the Tonic scale, and the Subdominant (IV) or the chord based on the fourth step of the Tonic scale. In the example below, we use the key of F major. Thus the Tonic is F, the Dominant is C and the Subdominant is B-flat.

There is a cadence starting in measure 9 going from the Dominant (V) to the Subdominant (IV) finally to the Tonic (I) in measure 11. There are many variations on this cadence and may be V-IV-I or V-I or II-V-I, etc.

General Elements of the 12-bar Blues progression:

1. The progression is 12 measures long.
2. The 5th measure is typically the Subdominant (IV chord), or the chord based on the fourth step of the Tonic scale.
3. The 9th measure begins a cadence progressing to the Tonic (I chord).