Chord Extensions - How To Add Extensions to Jazz Chords

[@JensLarsen]

Do you have another way of working with extensions and creating voicings? 🙂

[@JensLarsen]

@IronPump89 Depends on where you play, if it is in a band I would work on leaving out the root. I also would not always use a 9th, depending on the context other notes can be beautiful as well :)

[@25756881]

I usually start with a drop 2 chord (but in some case drop 3 works better). I either choose a chord on the top 4 strings, alter the note on the first string, then add a bass note on the 5th or 6xth string (e.g. I add a 9th, I still want to play the root, so I play one of the bottom strings). This way I sometimes skip two strings (because I also skip the fifth if it's impossible two play), but I like richer bass. Or I pick the extension on the first string first, then find the drop 2 chord (played on strings from 2nd to the 5th), closest to that note. E.g. I'd like to add #11 to Dmaj7, I pick the 4th note on the 1st string, than figure out how I can play the rest of the chord below (sometimes I still have to skip the fifth, or add further extensions). Sometimes it leads to tricky chords, some of them are impossible to play.

[@tyjordan6470]

I remember when you only had a few thousand subscribers. Awesome to see how much your channel has grown!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much Ty! Glad you stick around! If you have any suggestions for topics or things you are looking for the feel free to let me know 👍

[@michelefaragalli]

That's a really good way to begin with extensions. I find that it's always good to start from what you know (i.e basic chords) and build something new from that (like extensions), in order to expand your vocabulary and to build connections between the ideas. Then, when you're familiar with it, you can take some handy shortcuts, like superimpositions (which I use a lot for comping and soloing).

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much Michel! I like that it is also building chords that you sort of know because you made them from something else 🙂

[@MorningCarnival]

this is a Bingo moment. thanks Jens.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad it is useful!

[@andreluissilvakamla4548]

Great video Jeans, I play a little,but your videos,help me so much, to understand the jazz world.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad to hear it Andre! Good luck on the Jazz Journey!

[@KennethGonzalez]

Exactly the method that I use! Good to see this being shared. Thank you, Jens :-)

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks Kenneth! Glad to hear it! 🙂

[@Silviossb]

Very good , beautiful job ! I'm from Brazil and I always played achords with extensions, but I did not understand them.I learned to play guitar listening to bossa nova.your explanation made everything clearer.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Silvio! 🙂 Glad you find it useful!

[@cbolt4492]

This is going to be on the list of things to work on...

[@TheMetalslayer100]

Thank you for another great video! Your videos are really great, so that we can expand musicality in our guitar playing, and also to come up with new great ideas. 🤟🏽

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much! I am glad you found it useful! If you have any suggestions for topics or things you are looking for the feel free to let me know 👍

[@MaPaPir]

another great video, great explaination and straight to the point. thank you for making these videos.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much! I am glad you found it useful! If you have any suggestions for topics or things you are looking for the feel free to let me know 👍

[@carlossuarez254]

Watching this while I'm writing the chord melody for my next gig :) thanks master

[@joerimland]

Excellent lesson taking a logical approach to chord extensions.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Joe! Glad you like it!

[@jumemowery9434]

Thanks Jens. I recommend checking out the book Chord Chemistry by Ted Green

[@JensLarsen]

That is indeed a great book Jume 👍🙂

[@x-man8889]

Thank you Jens! Great video :)

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it 👍🙂

[@qwertyuiop9060]

Really really helpful! Love your vids!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! Glad you like them 👍🙂

[@kierenmoore3236]

Great vid, Jens. :)

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much Kieren!

[@sergemelomano]

I really like your videos. All of them well explained and with complete and usefull information. Im a bass player who plays guitar mostly 'cause i find it easier to understand music theory rather that with only the 4 strings of my bass. Now... what i dont really get is why and when we can change the 9, 11 and 13th into # or b. Probably you already explained this but i wanst lucky enough to find it in your channel. Thanks in advance and keep the good work

[@JensLarsen]

Do you mean why we can alter the 13 and 9?

[@sergemelomano]

@@JensLarsen yes please

[@JensLarsen]

@@sergemelomano That is not really based on rules that you can learn about a single chord. You need to understand both the music and also have an idea about how you want it to sound, what the habits are for the music you play.

[@mfw4900]

Wow nice!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much! I am glad you found it useful! If you have any suggestions for topics or things you are looking for the feel free to let me know 👍

[@jamessinclair9497]

Would you recommend an Epiphone sheraton? Thanks for the video

[@JensLarsen]

Yes, they are really good value for the money, though I did change the pickups in the one I am playing in this video 🙂

[@larspetersen7196]

Thank u, so much.

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome Lars! I am glad you like it! 🙂

[@ayuningtyas6april2023]

Nice guitar I like it

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you 🙂

[@ayuningtyas6april2023]

@@JensLarsen you are welcome

[@ayuningtyas6april2023]

@@JensLarsen Nice to meet you in youtube

[@milaortiz]

Nice Jens! I wonder... If it's a comping situation, should I be aware of the melody in order to add the extensions. Is it better to add extensions that aren't too close to the melody note? Especially in the dominant chord. Take care!

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks Mila! Hope the hand is better? Yes you should always try to be aware of the melody (also the register makes a difference, a lot #9 can be tricky 🙂)

[@milaortiz]

Jens Larsen yeah! It's better, thanks for asking! But if I have to choose an extension I'd be better if it's no too close to the melody. Let's say for example the melody is in the 5th grade and the chord is dominant. Is better to think in a 9th instead of a #11, right?

[@JensLarsen]

Yes, unless you play a #11 that is higher than the melody then it can work. This is very very context sensitive :)

[@pipborthwick6313]

Is there a rule for when you use major or minor extentions? It seems some minor extentions use scale tones from the major scale. Im writing this before i forget, hopefully youll answer haha

[@gilregev4823]

can a 9 be played in b5 chord? for example: Harmonic Major scale : C D E F G Ab B the 2nd degree is : D E F G Ab B C. the chord is Dm7(b5). If 9 is added we will get D E F Ab C wich is Enharmonic to E7(b9)(#5). E7 is a dominant chord, so can a 9 be added to Dm7(b5) ?

[@JensLarsen]

Yes it can. Why should it not? Though adding a 9th on a chord does not really make that 9th the root :)

[@gilregev4823]

thanks

[@RandyBakkelund]

I notice all of these extended chords are 4 notes. Do you ever use 5 or 6 notes for an extended chord? Is that impractical for jazz, since the bass guitar plays part of the chord?

[@JensLarsen]

I do, the ones in the intro and at the end of the video 🙂 But mostly I play 3 or 4 note voicings since they are more flexible when comping

[@DESIENASHOES]

last chord voicing Cmaj7(9.#11,13) almost impossible to play in a live context with the 5 notes : - )

[@JensLarsen]

It is playable, but maybe not for real comping?

[@JensLarsen]

And.. now with the table of contents in the description.....

[@W.E.]

:)

[@W.E.]

At 03:22 you have 'work' twice ... clearly you are overworked! lol.

[@Shuzies]

Ha Ha....With all this info...you think I'm goimg to play the Root?

[@JensLarsen]

Haha! I beginning to doubt it 😄

[@Shuzies]

We could play ...guess what note I'm playing now?

[@JensLarsen]

A lot of the bassplayers I play with are doing that :)

[@Shuzies]

Who ever came up with reharm......Glad your having fun with it.....thanks for your time Jens