12-Bar Blues in G Major — Chords & Free MIDI

12-Bar Blues is the backbone of blues, rock and roll, and early jazz. Written out in G Major — 1 sharp (F#) — it becomes G – G – G – G – C – C – G – G – D – C – G – D. The numerals are what stays the same from key to key: 12-Bar Blues is the same set of relationships whether it lands on G or on any of the other eleven keys, which is why songwriters think in numerals and only pick a key afterwards.

12-Bar Blues in G Major, chord by chord

The same progression, related keys

Numerals travel: 12-Bar Blues is the same set of relationships in any key, so if G Major sits wrong for a singer, move it and the shape survives.

• E Minor scale — relative minor — the same seven notes, resolving to a different home
• G Minor scale — parallel minor — the same tonic, a different third

How it works

Pick a key, a scale, and one of the classic progressions, and this tool writes the chords into a MIDI file you can drop straight onto an instrument track in any DAW. Each roman numeral is voiced as a triad built from the scale — enable 7th chords for a jazzier sound, or arpeggiate to spread each chord into eighth notes. Press play preview to hear the progression before downloading. Here the tool arrives preset to 12-Bar Blues in G Major, so the file you download voices G – C – D exactly as shown above.

Popular progressions included

• I – V – vi – IV — the "four chords" behind countless pop hits.
• ii – V – I — the fundamental jazz turnaround.
• The 12-bar blues — the backbone of blues, rock and roll, and early jazz.
• The Andalusian cadence, the 50s doo-wop changes, the J-pop royal road, and more.

Because every progression is spelled from the key you choose, moving 12-Bar Blues out of G Major is one dropdown away — but in G Major itself you get G, C, D, chords that sit comfortably under most vocal ranges and lead instruments.

Progressions are a starting point — if you want full arrangements with melodies, basslines, and drums written around G – C – D, open the MIDI Maker studio and generate a complete track.

12-Bar Blues in every key

• 12-Bar Blues in C Major
• 12-Bar Blues in Db Major
• 12-Bar Blues in D Major
• 12-Bar Blues in Eb Major
• 12-Bar Blues in E Major
• 12-Bar Blues in F Major
• 12-Bar Blues in Gb Major
• 12-Bar Blues in Ab Major
• 12-Bar Blues in A Major
• 12-Bar Blues in Bb Major
• 12-Bar Blues in B Major

More progressions in G Major

• I–V–vi–IV in G Major
• vi–IV–I–V in G Major
• I–IV–V–IV in G Major
• I–vi–IV–V in G Major
• ii–V–I in G Major
• I–vi–ii–V in G Major
• i–VII–VI–V in G Minor
• i–VI–III–VII in G Minor
• i–iv–VII–III in G Minor
• I–V–IV–IV in G Major
• IV–V–iii–vi in G Major

Or head back to the chord progression tool to build any combination yourself.

Keep building: scales, drums and more

• G Major scale MIDI
• G Major Pentatonic scale MIDI
• House drum MIDI
• Techno drum MIDI
• Boom Bap Hip-Hop drum MIDI
• Trap drum MIDI

Frequently asked questions

What chords are in the 12-Bar Blues progression in G Major?

In G Major, 12-Bar Blues is G – G – G – G – C – C – G – G – D – C – G – D. Those are built from the g major scale — G, A, B, C, D, E, F# — stacking thirds on each numeral's degree.

What notes make up each chord?

G is G, B, D; C is C, E, G; D is D, F#, A.

Can I get 7th chords or arpeggios instead of block triads?

Yes — enable "7th chords" to stack a diatonic seventh on every chord, or "Arpeggiate" to spread each chord into eighth notes before downloading.

Is this chord progression MIDI free for commercial use?

Yes — the download is free, requires no sign-up, and chord progressions themselves are not copyrightable, so you can use the MIDI in any personal or commercial production.