12-bar blues

The foundational blues structure: 12 bars following a I-I-I-I-IV-IV-I-I-V-IV-I-V pattern. Basis for rock'n'roll.

songs

Analysis

Song count per year

% of each member's catalogue with this tag (by writing credit)

Early6 · 30%

Mid-period4 · 20%

Late10 · 50%

Book

All the Songs

Margotin & Guesdon

Book

The Beatles: Complete Scores

Hal Leonard

Sheet music

Musicnotes – Beatles Piano/Vocal/Guitar

Musicnotes

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Year

Album

Writer

Lead vocal(s)

#	Title	Year	Album	Lead Vocal(s)	Notes
1	Little Child	1963	With The Beatles	John, Paul	-
2	Can't Buy Me Love	1964	A Hard Day's Night	Paul	-
3	You Can't Do That	1964	A Hard Day's Night	John	-
4	I'll Cry Instead	1964	A Hard Day's Night	John	-
5	She's a Woman	1964	Past Masters	Paul	Solo and outro are classic 12-bar blues
6	Baby's in Black	1964	Beatles For Sale	John, Paul	-
7	I'm Down	1965	Past Masters	Paul	both instrumental breaks are twelve-bar frames

8	Run for Your Life	1965	Rubber Soul	John	Guitar solo is 12-bar form
9	The Word	1965	Rubber Soul	John, Paul	-
10	Flying	1967	Magical Mystery Tour	-	-
11	Revolution	1968	Past Masters	John	Verse follows blues progression in B
12	I'm So Tired	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	John	Verse uses 12-bar AAB
13	Why Don't We Do It in the Road?	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	Paul	-
14	Yer Blues	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	John	-
15	Revolution 1	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	John	Blues-influenced verse harmony
16	Birthday	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	Paul, John	-
17	The Ballad of John and Yoko	1969	Past Masters	John	I, IV, V harmony
18	For You Blue	1970	Let It Be	George	-
19	One After 909	1970	Let It Be	John, Paul	-
20	Dig It	1970	Let It Be	John	I-IV-V vamp in F