Jazz Chord Shapes
When playing any style of Jazz guitar a knowledge of Jazz chord shapes is essential. Most Jazz guitarists play common bar chords with an alternative fingering. Often the bar is not used and any strings not containing a fretted note are muted. Some popular alternative chord fingerings are shown in these diagrams.
Major (root six)
Major (root six)
Major (root five)
Major (root five)
Minor (root five)
Seventh (root five)
String Muting
When using Jazz chords it is important to be aware of the strings not being played. It is essential that these strings are muted so they do not sound. Open strings can cause unwanted noises such as overtones and feedback. Four methods of muting are:
- Touching the bass strings near the bridge with the palm of the right hand.
- Touching the bass strings with the left hand thumb.
- Touching the bass strings with the tip of a left hand finger.
- Touching the first string with the side of the first finger.
Study these photos and try applying the technique to the new chord shapes.
Try the following progression using these chord shapes.
Minor Seventh Chords
Minor Seventh (root five)
Minor Seventh (root six)
The next set of chords to learn are the minor seventh Jazz chord shapes. Study the following two diagrams that highlight the root six and root five minor seventh
Minor seventh chords feature in the following example. Damping is also recommended on some of the chords. These damping indicators are only suggestions. As you become comfortable with the example you may find you are using alternative damps.
Bass Chord Rhythms
There are a variety of interesting rhythms than can be created using the bass chord style. An example of a bass chord rhythm is shown next.
The next progression features another example of a bass chord rhythm.
Seventh (root six)
The next example is a Jazz-Blues progression that makes use of a constant bass chord rhythm. A new Jazz chord is introduced, an alternative fingering for the root six dominant seventh chord.
Major Seventh Chords
Major Seventh (root five)
Major Seventh (root six)
The next set of chords to learn are the major seventh Jazz chord shapes. Study the following two diagrams that highlight the root six and root five major seventh chords.
Major seventh chords and a variety of bass chord rhythms feature in the following example.
