Jazz Guitar Chords: Unlock Hundreds of Voicings From THREE Easy Shapes!

- Get the free PDF + backing Tracks for this lesson here: bit.ly/3hNPpqT
- And check out my FREE 3 ebook bundle here: bit.ly/3zfqFh6
Tired of wading through huge overwhelming books of jazz chord shapes? Then this jazz guitar lesson is for you...
In this video you'll discover how the most useful jazz guitar chords are constructed, and how you can easily derive literally HUNDREDS of cool jazz chords from just THREE basic shapes.
This lesson will also give you some great exercises for playing ii - V - I progressions like a pro on the bandstand.
If you want learn jazz comping and want the ultimate quick start, then this guitar lesson will show you everything you need to know.
I hope you enjoy this lesson - let me know what you think by leaving a comment below...
Peace,
Greg O'Rourke
Founder, FretDojo.com
World Leader in Online Jazz Guitar Education
Learn to play jazz guitar here: www.fretdojo.com

[@FretDojo]

- Get the PDF + backing Tracks for this lesson here: bit.ly/3hNPpqT - And check out my FREE 3 ebook bundle here: bit.ly/3zfqFh6

[@michaelcharlesbulla8926]

In

[@owenbanda7569]

In

[@TbirdMan]

I was a photography instructor for 33 years until I retired several years ago. I know good teaching when I see it and you're it. Some of these guys who just play along (at full tempo) and 'say' the chord or play the melody - that's useless if you don't know how an A# flat 9 half diminished with a cherry on top...is played. I first found your A Train video and found the tabs, chords, etc. very easy to follow...for an old man learning jazz guitar. Please keep doing what you are doing.

[@FretDojo]

Much appreciated Tim! Enjoy!

[@dubchile]

Ta Tim, you just saved me a heckuvalot of typing. I couldn't agree with ye more. After just one watch I now know 100+ chord voicings in one foul swoop.. Some of which I've been playing since the 80's (namely, a track called 'Dis And Dat/ 🤔') and only just learnt what they are in the past 15 minutes!

[@TbirdMan]

@@dubchile Another angle is the student who has not, for whatever reason, played a guitar for a very long time. I was plodding along, going nowhere until I did some of the pieces at this site - now I'm learning and playing at a much higher level. Also, I have picked up some tools that will translate to a wide range of music with a jazz subtext. Carry on, Easy.

[@rhabdob3895]

This is the first jazz lesson that didn’t make me feel stupid for not already knowing jazz. Thanks!

[@FretDojo]

Love to help! Glad you found the courage to try something new

[@jomerapachecha6031]

The technical instruction and demonstration of clamping finger on each jazz chords is so nice. I am just learning how to play jazz guitar.

[@vincentdinatale6962]

This is an excellent example of a COMPLETE lesson! Delivered by a competent musician AND teacher! KUDOS!

[@jasonkesser]

Really glad I found you, I think thanks to Jens. Your method is the best method. It’s taken me 30 years to get to the point where I can clearly build my own chords. If I’d had this from the start it would have been different. Please keep going. I think all your lessons I’ve seen are so far smashing. But if you build up chords in lessons, note for note, you’ll be doing something really unique. When people call out notes of chords, they’ll say the note (who cares what note it is) or the position. We need intervals, not notes. Your tone, style, and pace is super classy when you’re speaking as well my dude, and compliments what you’re doing. Excellent. My first real break through was when building chords, let’s say on the sixth string, I’d say ‘well fifth string would probably have my five. My major three lives here too. My sevenths live on my fourth string, also a major sixth. On the third string lives my…’ and so on. Your videos help strengthen this strategy. I have yet to do it going backwards, like taking a fourth string root and building back towards the lower strings. Cheers teach, and thank you.

[@danielheppner188]

Finally! A jazz guitar video that made some sense! Good work, thanks

[@FretDojo]

Glad you found it useful Daniel!

[@erlingwesth7055]

Hi Greg, Thanks for your very inspiring and easy-to-understand teaching. I have spent many years with my guitar, but youbring new ideas to me. So great!

[@marc_leblanc]

I've been slowly adding some jazz flavors to my playing - this is super useful. I love your teaching method as well!

[@dr123hall]

Voicing, mood, flow - key breakdown clearly explained and demonstrated using your simple dom, maj, min chord examples! Bravo!

[@alfonsotenreiro9388]

Best Jazz guitar lesson I've seen!!!! There are many amazing guitarists but very few can teach. You're an amazing instructor and I'm sure an amazing performer as well. Thanks!!!

[@FretDojo]

Thanks so much for your kind words Alfonso, much appreciated! Glad you enjoyed this lesson :)

[@ayeleraberra4338]

I agree!

[@sambadonald5504]

yes I do Sri

[@LuvhandleR]

Great lesson and a very friendly teaching style. I subscribed and look forward to more great lessons. Thanks!

[@nickowen1480]

Greg - Found the use of colours for the 3 chord types certainly aided my understanding . Thanks mate

[@paulbillingham6769]

There is such a wealth of information in this lesson and given in an easily assimilated manner. Great job !

[@FretDojo]

The fun part is trying to assimilate all of it into the brain 😅

[@josephbusuttil3030]

As a rocker & middle of the road to ballad musician I have found this introduction to using Jazz chords to colour up my chord selections to my compositions very very helpful. Thank you for demystifying the Jazz Chords & helping me to understanding them in a very practical way that I will definitely be using in the future. Joe from Tasmania

[@FretDojo]

Thanks so much for the kind words Joe! Glad it was useful to you!

[@rickjensen2717]

Great content. You are a really first class teacher Greg 👏👍

[@Chimp_No_1]

Incredibly interesting and helpful ! Thank you for sharing !

[@EngRMP]

Wonderful. Straight forward but very informative. Thanks so much...

[@steveparkins6854]

Greetings from Perth Greg-🙏 Thanks for demystifying jazz for us-and in such a great teaching and laymans style--excellent stuff, ill certainly be getting your course

[@bobtaylor170]

Terrific video. Thank you.

[@waynecristaudo7220]

Fantastic lesson

[@robins8135]

As a complete newcomer to jazz guitar I have been alternatey impressed/depressed by Gregg's lessons for several years. This is one of the best/most encouraging I have watched.

[@gwag8410]

I’m a new subscriber, I love your teaching style, thank you for sharing..

[@alfredbellanti3755]

I can tell you right now Greg, this has added a geat dimension to my playing of jazz chords. ✔

[@backpackerway8533]

Excellent video as i get into jazz , really clear perfectly done ! Thanks dude for the work of this video and to share that , god bless !

[@FretDojo]

My pleasure. One step at a time and enjoy the process!

[@solotralafolla]

Amazing video.. thank you

[@henryfaulkner6051]

Great Video...thanks so very much..!

[@juliamckechnie256]

Thanks, very easy to understand.

[@robertpritchard5010]

Fab lesson! Learned a huge amount…thanks! Wonderful teaching style! Bobelvis

[@FretDojo]

Rock on! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@jaenalalianggara94]

Tnks u mr 🙏🙏🙏

[@seongbinchoi917]

You are the best man! Subscribed right away

[@FretDojo]

Thanks very much Seongbin - I appreciate you!

[@ChristianRobinson]

excellent teaching. Thank you.

[@marcgreene6343]

Excellent lesson!

[@user-rj2yk9uy7s]

..GOD BLESSYOU .. THANKYOU SO MUCH .. 감사합니다 .. AMAN .. .. 아멘 .. .. 감사합니다 .. .. 감사함으로 받으면 버릴것이 없나니 .. 아멘 .. AMAN ..

[@conartist267]

Really great simple lesson

[@buzzsears2588]

Awesome Lesson

[@tylerconley7739]

Brilliant lesson. Thank you

[@FretDojo]

Thanks for watching!

[@theetea5961]

Thanks a lot I'm try now

[@commanderdawson3773]

Great lesson

[@timopeedu6077]

Thank you very much!

[@bmurray4882]

great lesson

[@cliftonjarvis8010]

Great jazz music is the best

[@donrichard7923]

Great system!

[@FretDojo]

Thanks! Hope you get some good use out of it!

[@farhadamiri647]

You are awesome teacher 👌

[@FretDojo]

I am very humbled by your kind feedback Farhad :)

[@gallp13]

Marvellous lesson. Thamkyou

[@FretDojo]

Thanks so much - glad you enjoyed!

[@asfasdfadf9820]

wonderful!

[@FretDojo]

Glad you think so!

[@lushkordz6643]

i dont' know why ? but this dude makes me feel good about chords 🤓

[@theWARMJET]

Excelente

[@nigelhajjar]

Wonderful Many Thanks.New Sub.

[@badscrew4023]

Very useful

[@gregoryolsen4509]

Good advice there, Greg! 🙂

[@taaslie9906]

Nice jazz lesson👍

[@FretDojo]

Thanks so much!

[@GuitaristPranav]

Its amazing 😍😍👍👍👍

[@henryfaulkner6051]

I am an older player mostly played Country music and sixties rock...My first Jazz experience was the Great Howard Roberts...And I was kinda hooked...I have in the last few Years got into Gypsy Jazz...lots of listening and not playing as I am layed up

[@cliffbungalow9373]

Jazz guy plays thousands of chords to three people Rock n roll guy plays three chords to thousands of people

[@MikeSmith-tx2lp]

I’d forgotten that nugget 🤣. Rock player who loves jazz.... 🧐🤟

[@jodyguilbeaux8225]

haaaaaaaaa, so true indeed. hard rockers that i know, dont have a clue of music theory or jazz harmony. they can wail that loud guitar, but there creativity is very limited and there is no musical growth.= their boxed in.

[@isolateddemon9438]

Great content sir.I am a metal guitar player but,I wanna spice things up you know🤘🏻

[@peterprice6365]

Really a nice approach.. I will spend some time then maybe sign up

[@FretDojo]

Thanks for watching. Please do give the FretDojo Academy a try!

[@concretecullen]

Thank you

[@FretDojo]

You're welcome Paul - thanks for watching!

[@motorbike650]

Just the sound I've been looking for! thanks.. only I can't move my pinky like you did..it seems to not want to leave my ring finger

[@ronkean3398]

I got the 6th, thanks

[@raulenriquemoya6292]

O’Rourke さま，どもありがとうございます．あなたはとても良いギターの先生です

[@allenmorgan]

Thanks for a lesson that left me thinking "I can do this" rather than I've got an impossible mountain to climb.

[@FretDojo]

You're very welcome!

[@ckinc89]

As most others had put them gud positive comment.... SURE do me..... ITS' among A good one💪 🙏🙏🙏tq for sharing.

[@johnnymakoc1094]

Thank you so much. So clever teaching Jazz simplified. Truly appreciate your video. How do I get back tracks to practice

[@FretDojo]

Thanks Johnny, Get the PDF + backing Tracks for this lesson here: bit.ly/3hNPpqT And check out my FREE 3 ebook bundle here: bit.ly/3zfqFh6

[@leandroviegas7917]

muy buen video!! que guitarra es la que usas?

[@eddieschneider1947]

3 minutes 40 seconds to get started. i like that.

[@refusedone]

nice lesson thank you! what model ibanez is that?

[@dananthony6258]

I remember the Joe Pass Hotlicks video that used to be on KZbin. There was so much info in it.

[@hphughes5858]

Not to be picky, but wasn't that last chord Gmi6??? Love your presentation. I'm gonna check out more. oops

[@townbeach3604]

Oy, mate, Boston,, thanks!!! Vegimity

[@Siama77]

Good

[@Doones51]

Great teaching. Thanks for taking it slow on us jazz newbies. This explanation is very clear and concise and the finest teaching i have seen on jazz. i am retired and watch guitar instruction videos all the time and this is the most helpful one i have seen. I think your likes are going to go way up when you get more exposure on YT.

[@FretDojo]

Thank you so much and I'm thrilled that you were able to get something out of this lesson. If you like our style of teaching please visit us at FretDojo.com and consider joining us as a member in the Academy. There's a LOT of lessons, masterclasses, tune lessons and more available there!

[@gustavochiozza6465]

Hi. Thanks for your lesson. It is very helpful for me. May I ask you a question? I find that in minute 21:23 you write Gm7 but you are playing Gm6, am I wrong?

[@Arycke]

No, you're not wrong. It's not Gm7.

[@miochemannetje7801]

Nice guitar you have! Is that an older model Ibanez Emperor?

[@FretDojo]

Hi! It's an Ibanez Artcore Expressionist

[@robertscoggin]

As professional guitarist with limited theory who plays lots of standards mostly by ear, I often decide on a minor 7 b 5 when a minor 7 doesn't sound like enough and a dim. sounds like too much. Works for me. (Sometimes lol)

[@chrisparkin9947]

What about dim and aug chords? They are types of chords too.

[@rashidrani2333]

Hi Greg, do i get this lesson and more if i join your online class? Tq

[@FretDojo]

Yes you get a full comprehensive program on all jazz guitar topics, including this one by joining my online jazz guitar classes.

[@myvid222]

21:25 is not Gm7 - you have G Bb D E, you need F instead of E

[@timchurchill6975]

what scale would you use for soloing

[@FretDojo]

Hi Tim, I reckon have a look at this video for a good start with scales for jazz: kzbin.info/www/bejne/poincnmveKaDd6s

[@MikeSmith-tx2lp]

Play what you hear in your head, scales become restrictive and beginners obsess about them. ......if you play a bum note, just repeat it and the audience will think it was intentional...... that’s jazzz

[@Joseph124269]

One thing I can not understand as a new jazz learner, if it’s in the key of G why does the progression start with Am7? It’s different in classical or pop music at list on the keyboard. If the song is in the key of G should it start in G?

[@FretDojo]

Many jazz standards do start on the I chord, but this practice is for ii V I(i) progressions which are extremely common in jazz. Hope that helps!

[@Patrick_Bruno]

Nice. Thank you. Yet, this is not really sufficient to play any progression, as one would need also the chords where the root of the ii and I are played on 5th string, and the root of V played on 6th string.

[@FretDojo]

Yes this is only bare bones.The other shapes would be needed to not have to traverse the neck as much and for smoother voice leading for sure

[@sambadonald5504]

hi

[@bluesman6873]

Great lesson, thanks. BUT - Why is a dominant chord a dominant chord? Isn't it a major chord like the others? So basically it's just two categories, right? Major and minor.

[@hottempsand]

A dominant chord contains a minor 7th or a flat 7th, where the major chord has a major 7th.

[@bluesman6873]

@@hottempsand So the minor seventh chords are the dokinant chords? But they are minor chords right? So it's the same question again.

[@TomCPlus1]

@@bluesman6873 just go by the spelling -- Major chord = 1, 3, 5 Major 7th chord = 1, 3, 5, 7 Dominant chord = 1, 3, 5, b7 Minor chord = 1, b3, 5 Minor 7th chord = 1, b3, 5, b7 And then all the alterations as he discussed. A dominant chord is major but with the b7, and a minor chord isn't dominant. Teacher calls out three categories because of the three distinct sounds involved, but you could claim that there are only two (major and minor) and not be "wrong". Some would claim four distinct sounds. Or more.

[@robertscoggin]

The terminology is actually sort of inconsistent but when you say major 7 or dom. 7 it refers to the 7. Both have a major 3rd. But if you say minor 7 it has a dom. (flat) 7 and minor 3rd. A bit confusing at first. Blues guyz will often refer to dom. as major and min. as min. because there's not that much major in blues, mostly dom. and min. again with a maj. or min. 3rd.

[@bluesman6873]

@@robertscoggin It's ok thanks. I figured it out in the meantime. The source of confusion was that in my language the Dominant is called (dúr 7) or major 7 and the major 7 is called Dúr Major - or translated Major Major. :D So no wonder it was confusing.

[@RaKanMusik]

Five fingers, you can of course use your thumb as well.

[@jodyguilbeaux8225]

the dominant 7th is = to the flat 7th, not the natural 7th. the natural 7th belongs to the major family, like the I OR 4 chord of the diatonic scale. i understand what your saying or meaning, but the diagram is labeled wrong. just saying

[@lucyfuir6386]

I'm lucky I guess my hands are big so I can bar 2 strings with just my finger tip I play a lot of chords that way

[@lightningrt434]

Father Dougal.

[@roxythebassman]

M

[@drsamgm]

Guitar instructors need to name the fingers- index, middle, ring, little or pinky. Reference Hand Surgery Society 8:47

[@gg-dw1yq]

there is nothing easy with jazz chords ... seriously massive finger pretzel chords !

[@FretDojo]

haha maybe, it definitely takes practice!

[@CraZFrug]

A C9 what⁉️

[@rjlchristie]

Your description of the system confuses terminology in regard to chord type, you conflate it with chord function. You are correct to describe major and minor as chord types, and the terms don't necessarily describe function nor define their roots in a diatonic key. However dominant is not descriptive of a chord type, when referring to a chord it is only descriptive of the position of a chord's root note. Same as the words tonic, mediant etc However, SEVENTH chords of the dominant, by virtue of their uniqueness within each key of the diatonic key system, are chords that are strongly functional (in this case requiring resolution), and along with their resolution serve to define both a key and their position within it . It is therefore often helpful, as your system does, to consider them as a group, in terms of their function and construction. Summary: There are not three chord types: major minor and dominant. There are four basic types: major, minor, diminished and augmented. Others types, such as those known as altered, are less common. SEVENTH chords of the dominant are so highly and uniquely functional, that they can be regarded as a functional family, particularly for the practical reasons required in anyone's jazz chord repertoire. Finally, extensions can be added to any of the chord types according to convention.

[@Discrimination_is_not_a_right]

You know he's keeping it simple, right?

[@rjlchristie]

@@Discrimination_is_not_a_right Sure, keeping things basic is fine but inaccurate definitions can lead to misconceptions.

[@roccodinosantino1474]

20 minutes this guy sits on one chord

[@lowtone9]

Uh, hello...Diminished?

[@willisdav]

Diminished has minor 3rd so minor class

[@415TCrider]

22 mins but no simple tabs of the chords........pfft

[@FretDojo]

Check out the free PDFs in the video description! Hope that helps

[@atomicflash1753]

Spends 20 minutes on one chord

[@shermanpup]

You know , it would help if you had a video for experienced players . There is way to much talk . just play the chords and hold them start with the basic shape and then go on with the add ons. Sorry but I can't wait for the slow verbal definitions of everything . No offense meant

[@mrCetus]

Greg - Found the use of colours for the 3 chord types certainly aided my understanding . Thanks mate

[@leandroviegas7917]

muy buen video!! que guitarra es la que usas?