Which progression is described as I, I, I, I, IV, IV, I, I, V, IV, I, I?

Which progression is described as I, I, I, I, IV, IV, I, I, V, IV, I, I?

• A. 8-bar blues progression
• B. 12 bar blues progression
• C. 16-bar blues progression
• D. 24-bar blues progression

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is how the blues uses a fixed bar-count pattern with chords built on I, IV, and V. A standard 12-bar blues goes four measures on the I chord, two measures on the IV chord, two measures on the I chord, one measure on the V chord, one measure on the IV chord, and two measures on the I chord again. The sequence I, I, I, I, IV, IV, I, I, V, IV, I, I fits that exact layout, totaling twelve bars. For example in C major, that would be C for bars 1–4, F for bars 5–6, C for bars 7–8, G for bar 9, F for bar 10, and C for bars 11–12. This 12-bar structure is so common because it creates a simple, looping framework that feels complete after a dozen measures, making it easy to improvise over and repeat. Shorter forms like eight bars or longer ones like sixteen or twenty-four bars alter the feel and length, but the classic blues groove is defined by that twelve-bar form.

The idea being tested is how the blues uses a fixed bar-count pattern with chords built on I, IV, and V. A standard 12-bar blues goes four measures on the I chord, two measures on the IV chord, two measures on the I chord, one measure on the V chord, one measure on the IV chord, and two measures on the I chord again. The sequence I, I, I, I, IV, IV, I, I, V, IV, I, I fits that exact layout, totaling twelve bars. For example in C major, that would be C for bars 1–4, F for bars 5–6, C for bars 7–8, G for bar 9, F for bar 10, and C for bars 11–12. This 12-bar structure is so common because it creates a simple, looping framework that feels complete after a dozen measures, making it easy to improvise over and repeat. Shorter forms like eight bars or longer ones like sixteen or twenty-four bars alter the feel and length, but the classic blues groove is defined by that twelve-bar form.