The Ultimate Jazz Chord Guide - 12 Most Important Voicing Types

Jazz Chords are incredible! Let me show you an overview of 12 practical and important types of chords that will open up what you can do with chords and help you play beautiful things.

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Content:
00:00 Incredible Jazz Chords
00:40 #1 Shell-voicings
01:25 Most Important Exercises For Chords
02:35 #2 Drop 3
04:18 #3 Shell-Derived
05:09 #4 Drop2 with a bass note
06:21 #5 2-Note Shells
07:15 #6 Triads
08:45 #7 Drop2
09:13 What Are “Drop Voicings”?
10:52 #8 3-part Quartal Voicings
11:58 #9 Spread Triads
12:47 #10 Cluster-like
13:46 #11 4-Part Quartal Harmony
14:28 #12 Drop2&4 - Instant Holdsworth
15:39 But what about my favorite chord?
16:07 Like the video? Check out my Patreon page!

My name is Jens Larsen, Danish Jazz Guitarist, and Educator. The videos on this channel will help you explore and enjoy Jazz. Some of it is how to play jazz guitar, but other videos are more on Music Theory like Jazz Chords or advice on how to practice and learn Jazz, on guitar or any other instrument.

The videos are mostly jazz guitar lessons, but also music theory, analysis of songs and videos on jazz guitars.

My Gear:

[JensLarsen]

Which is your favorite jazz chord or voicing? 😎

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

[chrisegonmusic]

This has to be one of the most comprehensive and useful videos on this channel so far.
Thanks a lot Jens.

[Aaaron]

Can't believe this lesson is free.
Thank you.

[waynemiller]

I got invited to play guitar in our choir. One of the songs were doing is "a house is not a home". A lot of these voicings sound like things that I need to be doing in that song. Thank you so much for taking the time to post this comprehensive lesson.

[keeroe]

Your videos are very dense (for a beginner/int) but I ❤️ your teaching style. I can always (and usually) rewind. Covered a lot of ground here.

[titosmith]

Wow, this is a masterclass in chords in 16 minutes. There's so much good info here. Well done!

[teun]

This is amazing. I have recently bought acces to the jazz guitar roadmap, which focusses mostly on the pharsing and improvisation side. This is probably the most comprehensive video about jazz chords I have ever seen, a must for someone who wants to develop their chords and soloing simultaniously. Thank you for all your effort!

[carloganz]

Hey Jens,
I would like to thank you for putting so much effort into the videos, I really appreciate that. Making the PDF available to us for free, is not a given.
Thank you very much for that.

[BinaryBard]

Malmsteen's doing what he loves, lol. And I can't argue with him bc he's forgotten more about music than I'll ever know 😆

[rickjensen]

At least six months study material here 👏!

[henryanderson]

This is the best vid I’ve found discussing drop voicings and inversions

[billa]

A phenomenal compendious reference for all guitarists, regardless of skill level. This is a keeper for daily practice routines. (Okay, all of your lessons are “keepers, ” Jens, but this is a keeper on steroids). 😎 Thank you!!!

[LuizFelipeLima]

The thing that amazes me the most is how you approach the same exercises/licks/arpeggios in many different ways throughout your videos. For me, it has been a super effective way to teach the most difficult thing in Music - not the lick itself, but the CONCEPT behind it.

I don't feel like I'm learning jazz licks, I feel like I'm learning JAZZ. Thanks a lot, Jens!!!

[trombonemunroe]

Your #3 "shell-derived" is commonly called a 4-note spread voicing (you can do this with 5 voices as well). Bass is usually (but doesn't have to be) on the bottom, guide tones in the middle, melodic note or chord tone/available tension on top. You can optionally swap the bottom note out for a chord tone or available tension where appropriate.

[CotBySloths]

Back in the late 70's I took lessons from Bill Thrasher in Santa Barbara. Bill wasn't much on teaching theory or I just couldn't absorb it at the time. Bill once said that he auditioned for George Shearing and Shearing asked him if he could read music. Bill said that he replied "Not enough to hurt my playing".
I have not picked up a guitar in about 50 years. Now that I believe I have the mental resources to study, I think I've got a chance to understand what I'm doing although the music well seems infinitely deep. Thanks for the incredibly helpful insights into guitar. For every 30 seconds of your videos I accumulate about two hours of practice and study. I'm about 6 months behind so far.

[steellemonstudios]

New Jens Larsen video with an Yngwie reference? My day is made! Ha! Nice one, Jens. This is a handy one for us teachers, too.

[andyl]

Great lesson man. Very helpful.thanks for doing this!!

[racepace]

GREAT lesson! You've packed so much useful info here. I believe investing time to build all these concepts into my musical muscle memory will take me far! Your ability to share your love and knowledge of music is much appreciated. Thank you Jens. 🧡

[Jazzman-tj]

My Fav voicing :- Drop 2 & 4, Shell voicing with the 3rd and also with the 5.
Well explained and demonstrated with a lot of guidance ! Thank You 🙏♥🙏 Much Love & Respects !

[ericm]

You are such a good teacher. Great materials. Thanks much.