Jazz guitar chords are probably the most important thing for beginners to learn. No matter how you slice it, chords are going to be most of what you do as a jazz guitarist.
But chords are also usually an overwhelming part of learning jazz guitar… at first. It seems like there is so much you need to learn, even if you’re already a pretty good guitar player.
There are chord symbols you haven’t even heard of. Everyone says jazz chords are complicated, and it seems like they’re right.
The more you look into jazz guitar, it seems like you really need to learn a bunch of music theory first. Before you even think about playing jazz guitar chords.
But it doesn’t have to be that way for you.
You don’t have to memorize thousands of shapes. Or twist your fingers into pretzels playing complicated finger patterns.
And you don’t have to understand complex theories behind chord construction. In fact, you can get really good at jazz guitar chords without understanding much about music theory at all!
A Simple Approach to Jazz Guitar Chords for Beginners
There are simple jazz guitar chords that are easy for beginners to play -and they sound good, too. In fact, these chords aren’t just “beginner” jazz guitar chords. Even though they’re the best place to start.
Pro jazz guitar players use these chords all the time. They just work, and they make your life easier when you’re playing through jazz standards.
Just a couple of simple shapes will cover 90% of everything you need for jazz guitar playing. But the best part is you can learn the basics in an afternoon – and start playing jazz standards today.
In this lesson, we’ll take a look at:
- Common problems with jazz guitar chords
- The answer – easy jazz guitar chords for beginners
- Ways to put these chords to use and make them your own
Grab your guitar, and let’s dive in!
Common Problems Beginners Face with Jazz Chords
Difficult Chord Shapes
Sometimes even the “easy” jazz guitar chords you learn aren’t really easy. Open up a jazz guitar chord book or an “easy jazz guitar chords” article and you’ll find some chords that aren’t easy at all.
They can have awkward finger patterns and feel pretty unnatural for you. And these are supposed to be the easy ones!
A lot of authors and teachers forget that some of these chords are hard, because they have been playing them for so long.
Check out this lesson on easy jazz guitar chords (that are actually easy) to learn more.
Stretchy Chords
If your fingers aren’t used to them, many jazz guitar chords can feel like an impossible stretch. It can be frustrating to have to pause and stretch out your fingers to reach the new chord position.
Especially if you’re already a pretty good guitar player. Why do jazz chords make you feel like a beginner again?
When I was first learning, I had to do special exercises to stretch out my left hand so I could reach the “basic” chords I was being taught.
It helped me in the long run, but it turns out there were some easier ways I could have gotten started.
Fast Chord Changes
On top of having chords that are difficult to play or more stretchy than you’re used to – sometimes those chord changes go by fast.
In some big band charts, you have to change a chord on every beat of the measure! I remember that being a real learning experience in my high school jazz band years.
It’s hard to catch all of those changes when you’re struggling just to get your fingers into the right shape!
And in more typical jazz standard situations it’s still not uncommon to play more than one chord per measure. So we have to find some way to make jazz guitar chords a little easier for beginners. At least for a while.
Overwhelming Information
Most of the information out there falls into one of two categories:
- Overwhelming amounts of chords to learn. This is where you’re given an endless to-do list of chord shapes and types to learn.
- Way oversimplified (yet somehow still overwhelming) information. Someone might tell you to “Just learn shell voicings, drop 2 chords, and maybe drop 3 chords.” This kind of advice doesn’t really tell you something, and downplays how much work they actually gave you to do.
It’s easy for people who have been playing for a while to forget how much they struggled at first. Or take something they learned years ago for granted.
That’s why it’s important to find some simple, step by step advice that will help you sound better today. And set you up to be better tomorrow.
The Solution: Jazz Guitar Chords for Beginners
The best option for most beginners is to learn some simple, 3-note chord shapes that cover most of the bases.
These chords are going to help you sound good today when you’re playing songs. And they’ll also leave you room to grow and learn as your skills improve over time.
The chords I’m talking about here are technically called “Shell Voicings.” You can check out my full guide to shell voicings here.
These 3 note chords give you a clear impression of the harmony, without any extra stuff to get in the way. Plus – they’re easy to play, and friendly on your fingers.
I’ve simplified the shell voicing concept further in my lesson on Easy Jazz Guitar Chords. This is the system I developed through grad school to help people learn jazz guitar chords fast.
I also still use it every day for my own playing, and in professional situations. These are the chords we’ll be focusing on today, because they are the fastest track to you playing songs and sounding good.
The Basics: Jazz Guitar Chords for Beginners
We’re going to be working with 3 note chords here. Each chord is going to be built using a root (1), third (3), and seventh (7).
These shapes are easy to get under your fingers, and give you a clear way to see what your hand does differently for different types of chords.
Major 7
Major seventh chords have a root (1), a major third (3), and a major seventh (7). The most common chord symbols for these are maj7, M7, and ∆7.
This chord shape will also work on different variations of the major 7th chord symbol: like Maj7#11 or Maj9.
6th String Form
5th String Form
Dominant 7
Dominant seventh chords have a root (1), a major third (3), and a minor (or flat) seventh (b7). The most common chord symbol for this is 7. (G7, C7, you get the picture)
This chord shape will also work for all variations of the dominant 7 chord symbol: like 9, 7#11, 7alt, 7#9, 7#5b9, or anything like that.
6th String Form
5th String Form
Minor 7
Minor seventh chords have a root (1), a minor (or flat) third (b3), and a minor (or flat) seventh (b7). The most common chord symbols for this chord are min7, m7, and -7.
This chord shape also covers you for variations like min9, min11, and min7b5.
6th String Form
5th String Form
Note: When we’re talking about chord construction, I always prefer to talk in terms of flat intervals rather than minor intervals.
I always prefer saying flat third over minor third – and flat seven over minor seven. This will give you a more clear understanding of what you’re actually doing to the note in order to change the type of chord being played.
Applying Shell Voicings in Progressions
The ii V I chord progression is an important one to become familiar with.
The ii V I is one of the most common progressions in jazz. And you will use this progression all the time in jazz standards as a turnaround back to the home key – or to set up a key change.
This progression is also a great way to work out your jazz guitar chord shapes – especially for beginners.
Practicing this progression lets you easily review all 3 of the chord types in this lesson in one exercise. And as a bonus, it sounds like music. So that makes it a little more fun to work through.
When you get good at recognizing ii V I progressions, they almost start to play themselves – even when you’re reading through a tune for the first time. You’ll catch yourself getting set up for the ii chord (minor 7), and then the rest of the ii V I just happens.
If you practice these finger patterns, that is.
We can break ii V I progressions down into 2 finger patterns: one that starts on the 6th string, and one that starts on the 5th string.
Memorizing these progressions in terms of the finger patterns is going to save you a lot of effort and time – making it easier for you to play songs sooner.
6th String Pattern
5th String Pattern
Practice Tips: Jazz Guitar Chords for Beginners
Work on the ii V I Progression
Use the chart below to practice each pattern of the ii V I progression in all 12 keys. You’ll get used to finding your min7 chord, and letting the finger patterns take care of the rest.
Apply Your Chords to Jazz Standards
The best ways to get these jazz guitar chords for beginners under your fingers is to use them – a lot.
Take a few days and force yourself to only use these chords. Crack open your realbook (affiliate link), irealpro (not an affiliate link – it’s just a great tool), or grab your jazz band music and get to work. You’ll be surprised at how fast you learn.
Using these chords in context is what will really get you up to speed and change your jazz guitar playing.
In fact, that’s exactly how I learned these shapes in the first place. I was at a jazz camp, and I got taught these shapes during my audition.
These new chords were easier than what I had been doing before, so I just used them all the time for that week.
They quickly became my go-to shapes because I got so familiar with them in such a short time.
So take a week. Do your best to avoid reverting back to your “old” chord shapes – whatever those may be.
Before you know it, you’ll be playing these jazz guitar chords for beginners like a pro.
Learn Jazz Guitar Chords for Beginners
Jazz guitar chords don’t have to be hard for beginners to learn.
The truth is, you don’t even need to know very much to be able to play these chords. They’re only complicated once you start “studying” them instead of playing them.
… and if you can play them in the first place – they’re not too hard to understand anyway.
The 3 chord types covered in this lesson will have you covered for a long time. They sound great, and you can use them in every playing situation you might find yourself in.
They also give you plenty of room to grow. These jazz guitar chords for beginners are easy – but they form the foundation of a great chord vocabulary. One that will serve you well for years.
So grab your guitar, and start playing these chord shapes. You’ll be surprised at how far they can take you.