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The basic 12bb pattern I know, but it's very typically played with a "chunka-chunka" rhythm where it alternates back and forth between two chord variants each beat (Is this also known as a shuffle or is that something else?)

On guitar I can play this on 2 strings and you can get away just be moving one string a tone up/down each strum, but I don't know what the underlying chords are.

Can someone explain the chords/theory?

Mr. Boy
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  • I would add I have heard this called a "train" or "chugga-chugga" pattern. Basic to blues and rock and roll. Suggestive of the action (and sound) of the wheels on an old fashioned steam engine. – memphisslim Feb 05 '15 at 18:01

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I agree with Tim's answer, but I'd like to add that you shouldn't think of it as changing chords. What you're doing (i.e. playing this on two strings) is actually correct and it's not like 'getting away' with something, but that's all that's to it. It's a line imposed over a chord: the chord is a dominant seventh chord (i.e. in a basic blues either the I7, IV7, or V7) and the line goes from the 5th of the chord to the 6th (and it sometimes moves on to the b7th). It happens quite often that the basic harmony is static while some line is moving. See also this answer for the more general concept of a moving line over a static chord.

Community
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Matt L.
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  • So you're saying I'm effectively alternating between different 2-note chords, each a subset of the 'real' chord? – Mr. Boy Feb 05 '15 at 16:11
  • @Mr.Boy Yes, that's the way it is usually played on the guitar, not only by beginners. – Matt L. Feb 05 '15 at 16:20
  • I only used guitar as the example I know well though - how would it work on a piano for instance? – Mr. Boy Feb 05 '15 at 16:22
  • @Mr.Boy: Same thing. – Matt L. Feb 05 '15 at 16:35
  • Your left hand would typically just play 2 notes? I assumed it would be different (but related) 3-note chords - with a 7th chord you have 4 notes so you'd be picking a different set of 3, or something :) – Mr. Boy Feb 05 '15 at 16:47
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    @Mr.Boy: No, the basic boogie woogie left hand pattern would be two notes at the same time only. – Matt L. Feb 05 '15 at 17:05
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You are playing a root and the 5th above it. That 5th then gets changed to a 6th. It sometimes then goes up one more fret to a m7th note. As in E - E (bottom string open) with 5th string 2nd fret, 4th fret, then, if you want 5th fret, often coming back to fret 4th fret.

So, the underlying chords would be maj (minor also works, but is unusual), 6th, then b7th.

Tim
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