Blues in E — shuffle rhythm
The same 12-bar E7-A7-B7 grid as the beginner sheet, but played with a shuffle feel: instead of even eighth notes, each beat splits like a triplet where only the first and third note are played - a long beat followed by a short one. That bounce is the rhythmic signature of the blues; two identical chord grids sound completely different depending on whether they're played straight or shuffled. Here the chord changes are in: the difficulty is holding the shuffle without tightening it as you move from E7 to A7 or B7.
Tips
Say 'ta-ki-ta' on each beat (the full triplet), then drop the middle syllable: it's the only way to keep a stable long-short ratio as the tempo climbs.
Aim for a light bounce, not a rigid dotted-eighth-sixteenth that sounds military.
Work the chord move on its own, slow loop, before putting it back in the full shuffle.
Chord progression — E
Chords
Suggested progression plan
Related sheets
- Improvisation — blues in D (Level 3)
- Blues in G — fingerstyle (Level 3)
- Blues in E — fingerstyle (Level 3)