Let me ask you a question…

Have you ever sat down with your guitar, eager to play the blues, only to feel overwhelmed by complex chord names, weird shapes, or endless theory?

You’re not alone.

The truth is, most guitarists overcomplicate blues. They think they need to know 30 jazz chords or some Berklee-approved voicings to sound legit.

But here’s the kicker:

Some of the most iconic blues songs of all time were built on three simple blues guitar chords.

That’s it. Three.

So today, I want to hand you the simple system I use—and now teach hundreds of players inside FretDeck—to play great-sounding blues with basic shapes you can actually use. Whether you’re a beginner or a weekend player, this will help you sound amazing faster than you thought possible.

I’ll even give you a way to join our Kickstarter pre-launch and Guitar Freaks Hangout Discord so you can learn alongside other blues-loving guitarists just like you.

Let’s dig in.

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The Blues is Simple… Until Someone Overcomplicates It

Blues is supposed to be fun.

It’s emotion. Groove. Feel.

And yet, most of us were taught like this:

• “You need to learn barre chords.”
• “You must know dominant 7 extensions.”
• “Your rhythm must swing like a metronome programmed by Muddy Waters himself.”

And I get it—there’s a time for nuance. But if you want to start playing and sounding great today, all you need are a few simple blues guitar chords.

In fact, some of the most famous blues songs in history use this exact recipe:

🎸 E7 – A7 – B7
🎸 A – D – E
🎸 G – C – D

That’s it. These are the foundations of the 12-bar blues.

And I’m about to show you how to use them to play, jam, and create without confusion.

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The 12-Bar Blues Formula: Your Gateway to 1,000 Songs

Let me show you the magic formula that’s powered blues for over a century.

Here’s the basic 12-bar blues in the key of E:

nginxCopyEditE7 | E7 | E7 | E7  
A7 | A7 | E7 | E7  
B7 | A7 | E7 | B7

You can use open chords, power chords, or dominant 7 chords.

Let’s break it down using simple shapes you already know or can learn in 5 minutes.

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The 3 Essential Simple Blues Guitar Chords (Key of E)

🎸 E7 (E Dominant 7)

This one’s easy:

plaintextCopyEdite|---0---
B|---0---
G|---1---
D|---0---
A|---2---
E|---0---

It’s basically your open E major chord with the pinky off the 2nd string. Classic blues vibe.

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🎸 A7 (A Dominant 7)

plaintextCopyEdite|---0---
B|---2---
G|---0---
D|---2---
A|---0---
E|---x---

Again, super simple. This is just the A major shape with your ring finger lifted.

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🎸 B7 (B Dominant 7)

plaintextCopyEdite|---2---
B|---0---
G|---2---
D|---1---
A|---2---
E|---x---

Looks weird at first, but it’s worth learning. Once you have this one, you’re golden in the key of E.

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Now you’ve got your three simple blues guitar chords. From here, you can loop the 12-bar form and jam for hours.

Better yet?

You can apply this form to any key.

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Real Talk: Why Simple Wins in Blues

Blues isn’t about speed or flash. It’s about feel, space, and emotion.

B.B. King didn’t wow you with 50-note runs. He hit one note, bent it with soul, and made you feel something.

That’s the power of simplicity.

So don’t get caught up in the myth that you need to learn every jazz voicing or 9th chord extension before you can sound legit.

Start with three chords.
Add rhythm.
Add attitude.
Then go from there.

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Try This: Your First Jam with Simple Blues Chords

Here’s a beginner jam you can try right now:

1. Set a metronome to 80 BPM (or find a slow blues backing track in E).
2. Play the 12-bar blues with E7, A7, and B7.
3. Loop it 4–5 times.
4. Try changing the rhythm each time. Start with simple downstrokes, then add some swing.

Congratulations—you just played your first blues rhythm progression.

🎸 Want to learn how to solo over it too?
That’s where our FretDeck system shines. We’re launching it now on Kickstarter:

👉 Join the FretDeck Kickstarter Pre-Launch

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Add Some Flavor: The Shuffle Groove

Want to make your rhythm sound more authentic?

Try the shuffle feel:

Instead of strumming full chords, play two-note power shapes on the low strings.

Example: E Shuffle

e|-----------
B|-----------
G|-----------
D|-----------
A|--2--4--2--4--2--4--2--4--
E|--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--

Same thing for A and B.

This is how guys like Stevie Ray Vaughan built their signature sound—by combining simple blues guitar chords with infectious rhythm grooves.

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3 Creative Practice Prompts You Can Try Today

🔁 Prompt #1: 12-Bar Memory Loop

Play the 12-bar form in E without looking at a chart. Then try the same thing in A or G. This builds muscle memory fast.

🎵 Prompt #2: Chord + Riff Layer

Add a small lick in between your chord changes. Start with something simple, like a hammer-on between E and E7.

🤝 Prompt #3: Call-and-Response Jam

Strum a measure of E7, then answer with a single-note lick. Go back and forth like a conversation.

These are just a few ways to train your feel—and it’s exactly what we do inside the Guitar Freaks Discord every week.

👉 Join the Guitar Freaks Hangout on Discord

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How FretDeck Helps You Connect the Dots

Most players learn chords over here… and scales over there.

But they never learn to connect them.

That’s why I created FretDeck: Pentatonic Scales—a deck of visual cards that teaches you how to see scales, use them, and improvise over blues chords like a pro.

Inside the deck, you’ll find:

• The 5 pentatonic patterns in every key
• Color-coded notes and root locations
• Creative practice prompts
• Real-world application tips

And guess what?

We’re launching it right now on Kickstarter.

🎸 👉 Click Here to Back the FretDeck Kickstarter

We’ve already got a crew of early backers and Guitar Freaks students using these decks—and the results are 🔥.

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From Simple to Soulful: The Path to Authentic Blues

Let’s recap:

• You don’t need fancy chords to play great blues.
• You just need 3 simple blues guitar chords, a steady rhythm, and the desire to tell a story.
• The 12-bar form is your template.
• Add shuffle groove, riffs, or call-and-response to evolve.
• Join our Kickstarter and Discord to stay inspired.

This isn’t about being perfect—it’s about finding your voice and falling in love with the process.

If you want a fun, creative, and structured way to build your blues skills from the ground up…

🎸 Join the FretDeck Kickstarter here:
👉 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/602587062/fretdeck-pentatonic-guitar-scales

🎸 Then hop into our Guitar Freaks Discord:

We’ve got lessons, jam prompts, live hangouts, and a ton of inspiration waiting for you.

Because the blues isn’t just a genre—it’s a language. And with the right chords, the right rhythm, and the right crew?

You can speak it fluently.

See you inside.

—
Justin Comstock
Founder, Guitar Freaks + FretDeck

👉 Read: Soul Guitar Chords – The Groove, the Feel, the Flow

👉 Ultimate Guitar Tabs – for chord charts and blues tabs