How Long (8-Bar) · Blues

C7 · G7 · F7 · F7 · C7 · G7 · C7 · G7

I7 · V7 · IV7 in the key of C

The eight-bar blues. It comes round sooner than the twelve-bar, which gives it a restless feel, and it is the one to learn second.

Four bars of how long (8-bar) in the key of C, written I7 · V7 · IV7 and played half notes over a half-time groove at around 96 beats per minute. The chord shapes are below, and you can hear the whole thing play (and slow it down) without an account.

Chord diagrams for C7, G7, F7, F7, C7, G7, C7, G7 (I7 · V7 · IV7 in C)

Practice this progression →

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How it should feel

Strum: Half notes
Groove: Half-time
Tempo: 96 bpm
Key: C
Voicings: Glue

The smallest possible movement between chords. The voices barely leave their seats.

The shapes

Low E on the left, high e on the right. 0 is an open string, × is one you do not play.

Chord	E	A	D	G	B	e
C7	×	×	5	5	5	6
G7	×	×	5	7	6	7
F7	×	×	7	8	6	8
F7	×	×	7	8	6	8
C7	×	×	8	9	8	8
G7	×	×	9	10	8	10
C7	×	×	8	9	8	8
G7	×	×	9	10	8	10

More Blues

Posted Sep 8, 2026. Part of a growing library of guitar chord progressions.

Chord	E	A	D	G	B	e
C7	×	×	5	5	5	6
G7	×	×	5	7	6	7
F7	×	×	7	8	6	8
F7	×	×	7	8	6	8
C7	×	×	8	9	8	8
G7	×	×	9	10	8	10
C7	×	×	8	9	8	8
G7	×	×	9	10	8	10

Chord	E	A	D	G	B	e
C7	×	×	5	5	5	6
G7	×	×	5	7	6	7
F7	×	×	7	8	6	8
F7	×	×	7	8	6	8
C7	×	×	8	9	8	8
G7	×	×	9	10	8	10
C7	×	×	8	9	8	8
G7	×	×	9	10	8	10

Chord	E	A	D	G	B	e
C7	×	×	5	5	5	6
G7	×	×	5	7	6	7
F7	×	×	7	8	6	8
F7	×	×	7	8	6	8
C7	×	×	8	9	8	8
G7	×	×	9	10	8	10
C7	×	×	8	9	8	8
G7	×	×	9	10	8	10