Learning jazz chords is essential for any guitarist interested in jazz music, as well as many other genres like rock and blues.
Important is learning these chord shapes through repetition in multiple keys and playback. Memorizing is not enough: internalizing requires playing them out on an instrument as often as possible to internalize.
Start out by learning shell voicings, which only contain the roots and thirds of each chord, to lay a strong foundation for learning other chords.
Major and Minor Scales
Major scales form the backbone of jazz guitar, from which chords are constructed. Other than major and minor scales, which provide more of a chromatic feel to jazz music, minor scales may also be utilized for their more chromatic sounds or exotic modes like the pentatonic blues scale which create that signature blues sound.
Jazz chord shapes are built upon several major and minor scale patterns, so it is crucial that you understand their relationships between each other. Once you do so, applying jazz chord shapes in any key becomes much simpler.
Each major scale contains a specific ‘bass note’ which serves as the foundation of each chord. For instance, C7(#5) becomes C7(b5) when played on bass string; similarly for other chords. This also makes it simple to switch out chord shapes on fretboard for new sounds when creating new compositions.
Major and Minor Triads
Chords can be formed using major and minor triads. A major 7th chord comprises four notes from the major scale: root, third, fifth and flattened seventh (1 3 5 7), while its minor 7b5 counterpart features roots minor third flattened fifth seventh (2 b3 5b7) as its four note configuration.
Major-minor seventh chords (mD7) are an often used chord type in jazz. With its major 7th but no sixth, this chord creates an effect that sounds both major and minor; sometimes abbreviated to “mD7 + 9”, or just simply mD7.
Dominant voicings are integral to jazz, rock, blues and classical music alike. While not fully diminished, these dominant voicings typically remove one sixth or ninth note while other instruments fill in any gaps with filler notes that need filling in by other instruments – which requires skill and teamwork from all involved musicians.
Major and Minor Sevenths
Seventh chords found in jazz music typically exhibit either major or minor sound signatures; they may even be altered through augmenting or diminishing.
Example of Bm7b5 chord. Also referred to as half diminished chord or circle with a line through it (indicating diminished), you can write this chord using min7b5, -7b5 notation or even as circle with line through it to indicate diminished.
These chords are frequently utilized in jazz music and should be played using proper technique – using a metronome, experimenting with various voicings, and being aware of their uses in progressions.
Another type of seventh chord often used in jazz is an augmented triad, 1 3 #5. Although slightly more challenging to play, understanding its function is essential in creating melodies with more tension and interest in melodies that include this chord type. These chords can also be found frequently used across other genres like rock, blues and classical. Practice these chords regularly until you develop an instinct for them!
Major and Minor Eighths
Typically speaking, most jazz chords can be divided into one of four groups:
Once you’ve gained a firm grasp on these basic chord shapes, there are other variations that can add depth and character to your chord progressions. These include augmented triads (formed by adding an extra note above a major or minor third), as well as drop voicings where one of the highest notes has been dropped down into bass range.
Other more advanced guitar chord voicings make use of guide tones built into each chord to connect them together, for instance the seventh note of a major triad descending to the root note of dominant seventh, etc. This allows for quicker comping in certain circumstances; shell or “drop” chords (a term often applied to jazz guitar movable chords) also highlight harmonic resonance more effectively than typical chord versions.