Basic Jazz Chords (7th Chords)

The following are basic jazz chords. These chords will be built from standard barre chords. As barre chords are moveable shapes so will these basic jazz chords be moveable shapes as well. In each example, there are 3 chord shapes. The first chord shape is a standard barre chord, the second chord shape changes the barre chord into a 7th chord, and the finale chord shape is the resulting 7th chord shape that all jazz players know. Part I will deal with chords with the root on the 6th string while part II with the root on the 5th string.

Jazz Chords With The Root On The 6th String

The first example builds a major 7th chord. To change a major barre chord into a major 7th barre chord, move the note on the 3rd string down one fret. Play the major 7th barre chord, you may find it doesn't sound right, this is because there are so many notes in the chord, if you eliminate the notes on the 5th and 1st string, you have the last chord shape in the example below, this chord sounds much better.

The next example builds a dominant 7th chord. To change a major barre chord into a dominant 7th barre chord move the note on the 3rd string down 2 frets. Eliminate the notes on the 5th and 1st string to change it into the standard jazz chord shape.

The next example builds a minor 7th chord. To change a minor barre chord into a minor 7th barre chord move the note on the 3rd string down 2 frets. Eliminate the notes on the 5th and 1st string to change it into the standard jazz chord shape.

Part II - Jazz Chords With The Root On The 5th String