Most often, blues songs use the following chord progression

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

When evaluating common blues harmonies, it helps to recall the typical chord relationships used in traditional blues progressions.
Option 1 posits III, VI, II, and V chords. While these chords can appear in other genres (e.g., a cycle of fourths or jazz-enhanced turns), they are not the standard backbone of classic blues harmony, which centers around tonic, subdominant, and dominant functions built on I, IV, and V.
Option 2 suggests I, II, V, I. The presence of II (the supertonic) instead of IV as a primary member is unusual for traditional blues. Blues progressions commonly emphasize I, IV, and V to establish the in-key tonal center and the characteristic move to the dominant before returning to tonic; using II in this core lineup would sound nonstandard for the traditional blues feel.
Option 3 presents I, IV, V, and I. This matches the foundational structure of many blues forms: a tonic (I) region, a move to subdominant (IV), a move to dominant (V), and return to tonic (I). This sequencing underpins the recognizable blues cadence and 12-bar feel.
Option 4 lists II, IV, and I chords. This omits the pivotal dominant (V) function that drives the tension and release central to blues music. As a result, this set would produce an atypical, less bluesy progression and lacks the familiar drive toward V for a strong resolution back to I.
In summary, the options differ in how closely they align with the classic blues harmonic framework. The combination that aligns with the expected I–IV–V movement returning to I is the one that mirrors the traditional blues progression, while the others introduce elements that are less characteristic of conventional blues harmony.

MUSIC-15A-40785-F25 Unit One Chapters 1-5 Review Quiz

Most often, blues songs use the following chord progression

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