The Basic Jazz Chords Every Beginner Should Start With

When you are just starting to explore Jazz and Jazz chords, it is easy to get lost in complicated Jazz chords that are difficult to play and even more difficult to use on a song. That's not where you want to start. Instead, I'll show you some very easy chords and five ways you can use them to play music, and it is almost a walk through jazz history.

3 Basic Jazz Chord Exercises That Will Change Your Playing in 2024

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Content:
00:00 Start With The Right Jazz Chords
00:20 The Shell-Voicings
01:26 #1 Almost not Jazz
02:09 #2 It's The Wrong Band, Freddie!
03:09 #3 The Magic Split
05:38 #4 Walking Away
06:51 #5 Rootless voicings And Lots Of Color
07:55 Bonus: Bossanova
09:05 How Joe Pass Thinks About Chords
09:20 Like the video? Check out my Patreon page!

My name is Jens Larsen, a Danish Jazz Guitarist and Educator. The videos on this channel will help you explore and enjoy Jazz. Some of them teach you how to play jazz guitar, but other videos focus on Music Theory, like Jazz Chords, or offer advice on practicing and learning Jazz on guitar or any other instrument.

The videos are mostly jazz guitar lessons, music theory, song analysis, and videos on jazz guitars.

My Gear:

[JensLarsen]

It is more about what you can do with the chords than how many you know. Do you agree?

[Nihuaching]

You are an encyclopedia of knowledge Jens when it comes to jazz guitar. Thanks for your passion in sharing your genius.

[ReinholdBinder-dn]

That was an eyeopener Jens. Absolute brilliant. Simple but effective and moveable chords. Thank you for this.
The first time I had the feeling Jazz is not algebra. I hated Algebra at school. When it comes to Jazz-theory and Algebra I am dyslexic. This lesson opened a door for me.

[KenPullen-lo]

Thank you, Jens, This is what I need at my level and I am beginning to do these things today. Very thankful for what you do, and how you teach.

[arvh]

Jens .. the first three chords that you played and said were too complicated were so beautiful 😂😂😂. I'm hooked to them now !

[CsokaErno]

This video helped to make a decision :) Although just a week ago I bought a full jazz course, but I stopped it because Jens's course so wonderfully constructed and built. Even if you don't have experience with the guitar you can learn by his method. Really, really beautiful. It has been one of my best investment in my jazz life. Beginner jazz people MUST go for it. And no, Jens does not pay for me, my review is free.

[RobKandell]

With my background in folk and country, shell voicings with open strings is a great sound, even if it is “cheating” from a jazz perspective.

[HEPBbI-B-NORME]

Браво, Маэстро! Отличная работа! Однозначно Лайк! Берегите себя! 🎸🎸🎸🔥🔥🔥💯💯💯

[sqlsmarty]

Awesome! Such great examples! Thank you. 😎🎶🎸

[simonwj]

Ah ha, the Sheraton is out! I love mine, and it's thanks to you, Jens, I bought one!

[JuergFehr]

absolutely incredibly useful material and explanation! Thank you so much, this is an eye-opener for me (very old beginner).

[tomcripps]

There's an excellent book by Charlton Johnson called Swing and Big Band Guitar that I find essential. A great reference tool and it I've found these chords useful for many forms of music.

[tomm]

I’ve been following you for 2 years. I think this is finally the perfect course for me. Let’s see how my ADD handles this 😂

[ouncebird]

Good stuff Jens. You laid this out so that even I can understand it. Joe Pass is out of this world.

[waylovesmulah]

Just subscribed. I hope I can make some jazzy sounds

[rickjensen]

Top players actually use these very simple chords a lot

[JF-emhr]

Thank you for the Basic Beginner stuff. A little is enough...for me.

[Kenny-gr]

Love the Homer pop-ups. Coming from Rock, feels like that sometimes 😅

[valentinexyz]

Dear Jens and everyone out there!
I've been following the videos (fantastically helpful) and I'm definitely on board with Jens being the most accessible (and nicest!) tutor out there. Thing is, I've accumulated quite a decent knowledge of chord shapes through the years, but without any solid foundation in any music theory. This is all well and good when I'm faffing and noodling alone - but, a different game when jamming with people that know the names of all these chords.
I know the chords, but I really struggle to remember what they are!
e.g, I happily throw in a Dm7(flat5) noodling alone... but if someone asked me to play one, I can't marry up the chord and the name, and I'm lost!

Can anyone relate, or even better, advise on what I can do? I'm currently watching Jens videos, and marking out chords I'm being shown, onto pre-printed chord boxes, and marking them with the chord names.
Perhaps I'm lacking some fingerboard knowledge, as I know I'm playing all over it, but note/chord identification is elusive.

[stevecharlton]

Another great vid jens. I don't know if you've did any django gypsy lessons. But his diminished runs need looking at. Keep up the good work. Thanks