Guitar Shell Voicings - The Ultimate Guide

Guitar shell voicings allow you to play ANY jazz chord using just 8 shapes. Learn how in this lesson.
🎸 Get my FREE Method Booklet - Play any jazz chord with just 8 shapes → bit.ly/3msntbe
IMPORTANT CORRECTION: Major triad at 10:47 should be spelled "1 3 5" not "1 3 b5".
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🔗 LINKS & LESSONS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:
🎸 My website → www.soundguitarlessons.com/
🎸 This lesson adapted in written form → www.soundguitarlessons.com/bl...
🎸 Full playlist of this series → • SERIES: Chord Theory: ...
🎸 Sus chords lesson → • Sus Guitar Chords - Th...
🎸 6th chords lesson → • 6th Chords - Who knew ...
🎸 The Girl From Ipanema chord tutorial → • The Girl From Ipanema ...
🎸 Bossa nova comping pattern rhythm → • Bossa Nova Rhythm on G...
🎸 Chord extensions explained → • 9, 11, 13 Chords | Gui...
🎸 Adding extensions to shell voicings → • Jazz Guitar Extended C...
🎸 Get my FREE Method Booklet - Play any jazz chord with just 8 shapes → bit.ly/3msntbe
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💬 LESSON DESCRIPTION:
For years I've been teaching a method for how to play any jazz chord using as few as eight simple chord shapes by leveraging the power of guitar shell voicings.
It sounds like the promise of an infomercial but it really works!
The shell voicings method is such a powerful system for jazz accompaniment.
In this tutorial, I walk through the whole guitar shell voicings method and play examples of how it can sound while jamming.
If you're interested in jazz guitar or classic standards then learning these powerful but simple chord shapes is definitely the way to go.
This is the kind of material that can be a complete game changer for your playing.
You may find yourself using it many years to come!
I hope you enjoyed this lesson about guitar shell voicings and found it beneficial.
Let me know what you thought in the comments.
Thanks! :)
- Jared
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🎸 Get my FREE Method Booklet - Play any jazz chord with just 8 shapes → bit.ly/3msntbe
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
🕛 VIDEO CONTENT OUTLINE (WITH TIMESTAMP LINKS):
0:00 - About this shell voicings lesson
0:55 - About the “Any Jazz Chord” method
2:28 - Shell voicings explained
5:48 - All the shell voicing chord shapes you need
6:29 - Major 7 shell voicing
7:17 - Major 6 shell voicing
7:32 - Dominant 7 shell voicing
7:42 - Minor 7 shell voicing
7:58 - Half diminished shell voicing
8:35 - 7sus4 shell voicing
8:58 - Minor 6 shell voicing
9:16 - Diminished 7 shell voicing
10:08 - Min(maj7) shell voicing
10:47 - Major triad (spelled "1 3 5" not "1 3 b5")
11:54 - Minor triad (use same shape as min7)
12:38 - What to ignore
14:49 - Note names along the 6th & 5th string
15:10 - Lead sheets / Get iReal Pro
16:39 - Putting it to the test!
18:52 - Shell voicings in real music example
19:39 - Recommended tunes to practice
19:51 - Conclusion / Outro / What’s next
#jazz #guitar #jazzguitar #shellvoicings #guitarchords #guitarlesson

[@jayseb]

One of these moments where you suddenly get something and go "Oh now I really get it!" - Crazy how my abilities are amplified when teachers present "shapes" - this is simply next level teaching. The value we get here is phenomenal. Great video.

[@Akerfeldtfan]

This is like...an epiphany for me. I've always been intimidated by the crazy jazz chord shapes, but this makes it so much easier to compose!

[@soundguitar]

Yay, that's what I like to hear! Glad it was helpful :) -Jared

[@pianoatthirty]

I was just thinking the other day how much I wanted someone to just break down this process into its simplest components and here your channel is doing that so masterfully. Thank you!!!!

[@fivefingerfullprice3403]

This video is amazing

[@hristoistoyanov]

Not a jazz guitar player, but absolutely struck by the quality of these videos... One of the best guitar channels hands down!

[@soundguitar]

~~ Many thanks, Hristo! :) Cheers -Jared

[@GRJ-uz7kf]

(2nd comment) Not a jazz guy, but this is (unexpectedly) the single most valuable insight I've had in 50 years. Opens up so much more than anyone might expect. Thanks.

[@soundguitar]

Wow, awesome! Glad to hear that! :) ~~ J

[@stringbender57]

Wow... Probably the best jazz chord lesson I have seen in my 50+ years of playing guitar. Very clearly explained and demonstrated. Another one of your lessons that would have saved me a lot of time and headaches decades ago. Jared, thank you SO much!

[@DR-nh6oo]

I always suspected that headaches were probably not compulsory..

[@theguitar1st]

I've got to agree, I've been playing for over 40 years and this was so concise and complete, easily the best jazz chord lesson I've come across. Much of what you have here I knew, but never had it all put together so clearly in my mind. Thanks!

[@BJ-fj6jw]

Your explanation was like rain in a desert. I needed to hear every drop. Thank you!

[@soundguitar]

I wish all the comments were poetic like yours. haha, thanks! and glad you found it useful :) -Jared

[@zeekmx1970]

Mr. Jared, You've changed my life and I can't thank you enough.

[@paulsoderquist4788]

I just learned what shell voicings are today. I think it's interesting that they are basically the polar opposite of power chords used in a lot of early 2000s punk/alternative rock stuff. Power chords are ambiguous because all you have is the root and fifth. I used to love that music and now I can't stand it. Jazz is what I'm most interested in now. The fact that even in simplifying chords jazz chooses to omit the fifth and retain everything else is a beautiful contrast

[@soundguitar]

ha, that's cool, never thought of how they are the exact opposite of power chords. good point! :)

[@ippotsk]

@@soundguitar On a similar note, I sometimes also see shell voicings as """"jazzy power chords"""" due to how easy they are to play (not requiring huge stretches), and also because a lot of indie rock/punk bands seem to use them, particularly with overdrive/distortion (which imo also sounds pretty neat) :D

[@thatonetyeguy2330]

Yeah you can use jazzy shell voicings in any genre, whether it be pop, rock, metal, r&b, rap, etc. They are quite versatile. There are also voicings that are maj 7/min 7 that do include a 5th. Like the x324xx shape and x757xx shape. Extensions can be added to these to. In metal it works pretty well in the right context.

[@uepapele5600]

There’s too much talking 😂

[@tfwnoyandere]

​@@uepapele5600 you might be in the wrong genre lol

[@havenprice]

That introduction was sick. I was reelin from the long chord names you mentioned lol

[@d36williams]

I share this with my friends looking to get into jazz after learning rock and roll on guitar

[@IcePlays]

As someone with a music and theory background but just new to the guitar it's refreshing to see a lesson that's accurate on the role of extensions and how not to get lost in the weeds. So many videos don't bother with that sort of thing. This is great.

[@samuelm860]

One of the greatest guitar teachers I have ever seen, keep going!!

[@kevycanavan]

“Best I can do is G7”

[@jensjensen2691]

This is amazing. I never knew of Shell Voicing before. A whole new world just opened up. Thanks for sharing!

[@grady9752]

I learned guitar initially in the days of rock. We played stuff like Allman Brothers, Santana, BB King style blues, etc. And for our rhythm playing, it was all just great big huge clunky bar chords. If we wanted to leave space, we turned the volume knobs down on our guitars and just kept pounding out the bar chords like cinder blocks! It's taking me a long time to unlearn all that muscle memory and begin to trust that all chords don't have to be full strum, all strings and usually rooted on the sixth string. I really appreciate this video. I'm sure there are thousands of people like me who are afraid to admit that they only ever learned major bar chords, minor bar chords, seventh bar chords and ninth chords and have no idea what to do with an A major 7/flat 5/#13 etc, etc! This information is something I can actually use right now and maybe go sit with people who know more than me so I can learn some things from them. Thanks!

[@soundguitar]

I totally came from the same place! Just playing clunky bar chords like that for years, so I totally understand. I'm glad this video helped and that you feel like you can apply it right away. That's great! Thanks for the thoughtful comment. Cheers, -Jared

[@bastianb.3802]

By far the best lesson on Jazz chord voicings for beginner/semi-intermediate guitarists that I have come across so far. Love your style of teaching. Thank you so much, good sir! 🙏🏼

[@soundguitar]

Thanks so much Bastian! Glad you liked it, cheers ~~ Jared

[@kicksterama]

Part way through this my mouth just dropped open. I was just blown away. I feel like you revealed the magic secrets I've been trying to understand for years!!! Thanks so much!!!

[@stringsofpassion2598]

Thanks Jared, your video is one of the best online lesson on Jazz, giving more clarity to chord voicing

[@leyffwenderangalao9734]

I really want to learn jazz, but I don't know where to start. there are so many videos on the internet about jazz but I don't understand it is very complicated for me but you have been a blessing to me. I hope you don't get tired of uploading videos to teach us your music knowledge, you are the best music teacher on the internet sir.

[@that_complexity_guy]

Dense yet comprehensible--really helpful.

[@Giorgi.Japiashvili]

This is how you tackle a complicated subject. Great way of teaching, thanks!

[@raulenriquemoya6292]

y can't teachers teach like U, so precise, relationships & detailed information - Thx U!!!!

[@micaelakingslight]

This is an absolute revelation, thank you so much for sharing this...I'll definitely be subscribing and trying out all your other lessons soon!

[@clydespace411]

what a secret revealed.. i'd been using most of these shell voicings, but always working on finding those extra notes. Lots of work. Wondered if I'd ever be able read chord charts at speed like rock songs. This was the first time revealed to you can just skip out of so much extra stuff and plug right through with the naked shell voicings. Still worth working out those nuances of full chords if you have time to get fancy, but to be able to move through the real book in substituting easier choices is a game changer. thanks

[@hellspark]

This video and document saved my ass! I got hired to play for this show choir gig, and one of our numbers includes Putting On The Ritz at a pretty fast tempo. 7th and augmented chords walking up and down the neck at high speed. There's no way I could have learned it in time without shell voicings 👍👍

[@Roberto47664]

All I can say is,,,this is EXELLENT.

[@soundguitar]

Thanks, Roberto. Cheers! :)

[@josephcopeland6172]

You are a gifted musician and a very good teacher….thanks for your help in making a very effective and practical change in my journey to being a more efficient guitarist.

[@soundguitar]

You're very welcome! Thanks for the kind words. Regards ~~ Jared

[@johnwhitaker750]

Great lesson. Very clear. Love how this simplified what was otherwise a daunting domain. Thank you!

[@BubblenetAsia-jq8db]

Great lesson

[@richardprost6282]

J'AI BEAUCOUP APPRÉCIÉ LA SIMPLIFICATION DE L'HARMONIE TELLE QUE TU L'EXPLIQUES. UN GRAND MERCI. 🎸

[@blakejackson4483]

By far the best lesson on KZbin !

[@araujoao]

Thank you so much for that. This is amazing information I have been looking forever. Incredible how you simplified it to that level.

[@gitarrezeit2184]

Great lesson! So clearly explained and so useful, thank you so much! I've been a guitar teacher for almost 40 years now, always trying to keep things clear and understandable. That's the way we get motivated, that's how you teach! So inspiring! Thanks a lot!!!! Thanks for sharing your Pdfs, how wonderful, love your lessons! Best regards from Vienna, Austria

[@stoyanovasparuh4990]

Thank you, Jared. This lesson is gold for someone like me who is just going into jazz guitar.

[@soundguitar]

Glad it was helpful! :)

[@soundguitar]

IMPORTANT CORRECTION: Major triad at 10:47 should be spelled "1 3 5" not "1 3 b5".

[@quicklooksentertainment3217]

That's okay, Jared...minor oversight, not a major. It doesn't diminish your teaching ability; it actually augments it. : ) ( Sorry, That was too juicy to let go.) Mahalo for the humble correction. You're a good teacher. Shows that you are conscientious to teach correctly.

[@soundguitar]

@@quicklooksentertainment3217 HAHA nice! 🤣. and thanks! :) -Jared

[@msuarezluna]

It is incredible how in 22 min you can provide such a wonderful lesson and practice exercises, I really appreciate your teaching, thank you Jared, you are a great teacher!!!

[@organjoe]

Love hearing a great jazz tone from a Tele - awesome!

[@lovesong252]

Excellent. Many thanks. Using the same 3 note (R, 3, 7 or R, b3, b7 etc.) approach I've applied it to strings 3 and 4 (d and g). This is a major breakthrough for me. Knowing those 3 note voicings on the higher strings has also been helping me soloing

[@EduardoBerth]

LOVE IT! Thanks for such an enlightening lesson! ❤

[@iamalijahmorton]

VERY helpful. Thanks for posting!

[@dtjones8706]

How refreshing! Thanks!

[@markbrown8666]

Fan-freakin’-tastic! Such a clear smooth breakdown of the concept.

[@proalberti5998]

You packed it all in here man. Thank you!

[@DevanArya]

I'm so overwhelmed right now because the video is so clear that I don't have any excuse to not practice this. Definitely ignoring the 5th interval make these shapes way easier to understand. Can't wait to get familiar with these so I can start adding the extensions!

[@DevanArya]

Here I am 9 days later. I've been practicing these shell chords extensively and I'm really glad that I added them to my vocabulary. I've also learnt from your channel the Bossa-Nova rhythmic pattern and combined them with shell voicings, it's just amazing. Now that I'm familiar with shell voicings and able to perform any chord at any note, I will start adding those 9s, 11s and 13s to these chords for extra flavour! Your Chord Theory Series: How to Learn Guitar Chords - Beginner to Advanced is also amazing, I've been following the series. The first videos were basic to me but I still watched them because they covered some basic blindspots that I had and made me look at the instrument differently. Sometimes it is worth going back to the rudiments. I cannot recommend your channel enough. Your explanations are so simple and straightforward that it's just a scam that you provide these lessons for free. Once I get more proficient in these jazz chords, I might enroll to your Jazz Comping course. Congratulations on your channel Jared, you're at 26.3k subs atm and I hope your channel grows!

[@user-mu4mz2cs5u]

You nail it Sir. Thumb up for you. I really want to learn more from you 🥳🥳🥳

[@gregorystewart1837]

I would absolutely love to see you use what you are teaching us on familiar songs! And when I say familiar, I mean familiar for the average person. Sinatra, Bublé, etc

[@azad0n409]

love your video, very concise accurate information. made it easy to take notes and capture everything. thank you for making this!!!!

[@AidanRKelly]

I wish I could like this a thousand times.

[@soundguitar]

You're very kind. thanks! ~~ Jared

[@stuartarnold4495]

This is exactly the kind of lessons I like. Begin easy and expand. Thanks Jared for sharing

[@soundguitar]

Glad you liked it!

[@msheboigen]

Your lessons are fantastic! Decades ago I took a jazz ensemble class, the professor had us buy "Chord Chemistry" by Ted Greene, and I proceeded to get totally lost. All these years later I've decided to learn theory in earnest and your clear and relatable explanations cut straight through the "mental gymnastics" I'd taken chord theory to be. Many, many thanks!

[@danqodusk8140]

I had the book years ago. Ted knew his stuff, but his Chord Chemistry Book had so many positions and inversions, it was ridiculous. That's when I decided to draw up a fretboard diagram of my own and map out all the practical fingerings for most positions and inversions. I learned a lot in the process!

[@msheboigen]

@@danqodusk8140 Great idea! It's these practical things I'm focusing on now. I like to pull out the Real Book, pick a random tune, and use theory to experiment with different voicings.

[@robertbourke7935]

Jared, many thanks for this fantastic instructional video and I have downloaded your booklet. It is a great teacher who can simplify things.

[@sg84eva]

I’ve only watched 5 minutes so far but I already think he’s one of the best guitar teachers in KZbin history

[@guitar_man_15]

thank you SO much! I've been struggling to keep up in my Jazz class with comping and this video was exactly what I needed!

[@666gcain]

I am a beginner who is new to the guitar, and I stumbled upon your teaching video. Although I can’t play the tune yet, I am still very interested in your booklet. Thank you for sharing your teaching~

[@gnvtr20s]

Great vid. Very succinct instruction/ explanation. Thanks!

[@lindsaybrown3883]

Thank you so much for creating this awesome lesson and the FREE PDF book. This is amazingly helpful. Wishing you a great day!

[@ChristofferKeizer]

Great lesson, sir.

[@humble_roots]

Wow thanks brother! This information is gold.

[@norte.oficial]

One of the best videos I’ve ever seen 👏🏻

[@davidkelly1220]

Thanks, so well explained

[@docthebilly]

Found your teaching style very clear and effective. Best explanation of shell chords i ever heard and ive been at this for a long time.. 👍

[@soundguitar]

Thanks for the positive feedback! Much appreciated. I'm glad you found it clear and effective. Cheers, -Jared

[@danbromberg]

You've got all bases covered: just as I was questioning "...what about ***"?, within the next few moments, you answered it. Thanks very much for these well-thought-out lessons.

[@GRJ-uz7kf]

Best and clearest discussion I've seen on this important topic. So many insights I never knew after years of playing. Cuts through so many unnecessary and intimidating complications. Thanks.

[@soundguitar]

Glad it was helpful! thanks! ~~ Jared

[@quicklooksentertainment3217]

Thank you, Jared. I'm happy to find you. This is the clearest and most concise teaching on shell voicing I've ever heard. I like the "huge" tip of just play the 7ths for now. Looking forward to following up more on your teachings. Aloha.

[@soundguitar]

Awesome, thank you! Glad you found it helpful :) -Jared

[@Luxaudiodesigns]

This is a fantastic lesson.

[@GRumpyonekinobi]

some of these shapes are what i noticed i play alot without knowing what they are...when im messing about i often end up playing them because i like their sound...ive often wondered what the theory might be behind them...i thought they were triads...never heard of shell chords/shapes...subscribed!

[@FlaschDJ]

Very well explained. I Liked and Subscribed. I hat the presenter says is TRUE. For someone migrating to Jazz, Shell Voicings are a powerful brodge. However, you’ll only believe this after you’ve cross the bridge.

[@brookeaday9423]

This video helped me a lot! Really made a breakthough in my theory knowledge and more importantly application and use. Thanks!

[@paulsoderquist4788]

This is the holy grail of jazz guitar! Thank you

[@soundguitar]

Glad you're finding it useful! Def a game changer to learn these shapes and super fun. So many awesome tunes to play! :)

[@kayve214]

Thanks for the great content!

[@markowalski1]

Clicked because of the tele for jazz, stayed because this is an amazing lesson. Thank you so much!

[@shaniconnell6582]

That was awesome! Thanks 😊

[@feathercrestguitars1542]

Thank you so much. This has been eye opening again, thank you thank you.

[@basclef7]

nice lesson

[@GrandaddyJeff]

Discovered this from a link in your newer video yesterday or the day before? So useful and really helped my confidence, as well. Also, as someone who thumb wraps, not that these arent simple as is, but switching between them is even easier when using the thumb wrap grip. Super simple, but sounds beautiful and as you demonstrate, works with all kinds of chords.

[@GM-qz9fo]

Thanks, very good lesson.

[@jacobsmith1877]

Ok man this is absolutely some of the most premium content for guitar I've ever seen. You've definitely earned a sub from me today

[@soundguitar]

That's very kind of you, thanks so much! :) Glad you like it -Jared

[@dieterheinrich8377]

Mind blown! What a great lesson.This is huge. Every player should learn this early on.

[@soundguitar]

Thanks so much, Dieter! Glad you found it helpful :) Cheers, ~~ Jared

[@cindystratton4166]

fantastic tutorial, many thanks!

[@arunraviji]

This is the best, most useful video ever on giving practical advice and improving playability of Jazz.. I recently got introduced to some Jazz chords. While the 9,11 & 13th notes do add the desired flavor, Im highly impressed just playing the shell voicing. I’ve typically done shell voicing whenever I saw complex chords before, but following this video makes it rigorous and consistent. Thank you for making this video. I hope more aspiring jazz players can see this somehow.

[@FernandezMusic]

This is a wonderful presentation of this method of jazz voicing.

[@soundguitar]

Glad you like it! Thanks :)

[@JR-pr8jb]

First saw this a couple years ago, and it's one of the most important and useful things I ever learned. We're simply not required to finger the full 5 or 6 strings in a chord. Thanks.

[@nathanreding8131]

This helped me so much, thank you!

[@MrRickkramer]

I like how this enables one to ignore and leave stuff out and still get the essence.

[@soundguitar]

indeed!

[@Baghdadbatterymusic]

One of the clearest and most concise lessons I've ever had the pleasure of seeing. So much info in this video I wish I had learned years ago. Happily subbed!

[@soundguitar]

Glad it was helpful, thanks so much! :) -Jared

[@stringbender57]

@Jack Onderisin - My exact thoughts! I could not have said it any better.

[@fattyz1]

I know it’s considered a sin in certain circles, but I don’t like jazz. When you start looking for more advanced chords a lot of jazz stuff comes up. I’m still doing all the lessons, ALL of them. Thanks so much!

[@prcastro]

Very good. Excellent !

[@gillesjean7849]

Jared you are the best. Such a good teacher. Son clear. Everything you do is just outstanding. You are giving us so much. I am going to join you school. The problem I have is I am not sure what course to select for my level.

[@johnhendricks8140]

That was awesome stuff to utilize, ive seen jazz guys playing together and i always wondered why the chords sounded so good without being in the way of the other instruments.

[@john3music]

Great video. I use shell voicings to play blues tunes. It really opens up the fretboard especially from playing open chords.

[@TS-so2xi]

This is a “save to favs” kinda video. Thanks a bunch!

[@jamesbarros950]

Thank you so much. This was my before work watching but I think I’m going to be going through your entire curriculum shortly. Jens Larsen talks about these b he doesn’t have this level of detail or examples. I feel like with this and your other videos and not too much time I’ll actually be able to hit the real book seriously. Thank you thank you thank you !!!

[@soundguitar]

Awesome goal - You'll definiltey be able to hit the real book seriously! Even just purely with these chord shapes which is why I love this method. I'm so glad to hear that you found this helpful. Thanks for the comment :) -Jared

[@Will-sh8kl]

I've watched many many lessons and I must say this is at the top of the list. Well done and very well explained! Thank you kindly!

[@soundguitar]

You're very welcome! That's great to hear. Thanks for the kind words! :) -Jared

[@Will-sh8kl]

@@soundguitar I'll tell you something else... I was having trouble keeping track of the intervals. This particular lesson has helped me locate them easier. I've seen plenty of other videos showing interval numbers on fretboards, but for some reason yours clicked better for me. Thanks again!

[@soundguitar]

@@Will-sh8kl That's great to hear, thanks for sharing the feedback, Will!

[@ozanekinyamen1467]

Watching this video is best way to start playing jazz chords on guitar.

[@soundguitar]

agreed, thanks! :)

[@seamusduibheannaigh7380]

Wish I learned this earlier... going to learn... have subscribed to channel...awesome

[@soundguitar]

Thanks and welcome aboard!

[@resb1714]

I totally agree ... with every point mentioned 😎👌!!! I even knew all those shapes already, but made the entire story always way too complicated for myself ... talking about 9/11/13 and so on. However, better late than never 😎✌️!

[@polyphant]

Loving these videos! Great teacher!

[@soundguitar]

Cheers, Thanks Stuart! :) -Jared

[@chitlun]

Looks like I’ve just found me a new jazz guitar tutor, thank you. A new sub here for thee sir, peace ✌️

[@soundguitar]

Yay, haha thanks! :) Cheers -Jared

[@ZakBreaux]

Thanks man!

[@dansebastian1067]

This channel is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!