One Of The Best Exercises For Jazz Chords (and most fun)

This exercise is probably one of the best ways to really explore and discover beautiful Jazz harmony and chord voicings, and it is one of my favorite things to do but I don't really work on it that often.  In fact, there are a few weird things about this way of practicing.

The Biggest Misunderstanding About Jazz Chords And How To Quickly Fix It

5 Basic Jazz Chord Exercises That You Want To Know

Get the PDF on my website:

Get the PDF and GuitarPro files on Patreon:

✅DOWNLOAD A FREE E-BOOK with 15 II Valt I licks!
Sign up for my newsletter:

Content:
00:00 An Amazing Nerdy Chord Exercise
00:49 Why The Basic Exercises Are Not Enough
03:04 Not Everything is A Chord!
04:52 Beautiful Wrong Notes
05:53 From A Static Voicing To Moving Music!
07:03 You're Fired!
07:36 Flexible Chords Is The Way To Go!
07:42 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]

How do you develop your Jazz chord skills?

[michelouchinsky]

Dear lens
I've long wanted to thank you for the clarity of your teaching. As well as for the humor that accompanies it and the concern to make people understand the notion of producing beautiful notes. I've been following your teaching irregularly for at least ten years. What an evolution! Thank you so much for helping us to discover that jazz is all about finding the way to the notes that sound good !
🙂

[Yourguitarworkshop]

It's just crazy how everything on your channel has developed. The content (as always) is fantastic, but the on-screen graphics, videography, all of it is on such a high level. Then there is the story telling. It all just comes together really nicely, very inspiring to see 🙂

[tomcripps]

I love this kind of stuff. It's usually what I mess around with when I'm procrastinating and can't decide what I want to do next. It's a relief that I don't always need to call it something. Lenny Breau worked with those kinds of chords often leaving the pinky on one note on the b string while moving the other fingers around.

[nelsonramos]

I did two Barry Harris workshops with Danny Harper, 25 years ago one and about 7 years ago. My entire vocabulary changed for the better. Everything your teaching locks in with the Barry Harris concept.

[robst]

Thanks for this great lesson, Jens. For too long, I've been feeling stuck in terms of too often playing the same kinds of chord shapes (voicings), but these (for me) novel and beautiful ways of subtly moving between familiar shapes have got me fired up and greedy for more! Your teaching is crystal clear and inspiring, and I will definitely be watching more of your videos.

[dannychoriki]

You're a great teacher and this comment speaks more to my ineptitude than your ability to convey information, but every single time i watch one of your videos I realize I know literally 80% less than I thought I did about music.

[nightguy]

You sir are a great teacher. Thank you, you’ve gotten me fired up about learning jazz.

[mortensommerdonslund]

I may never get to grips with all you are showing us, but your videos are really entertaining so at least I'll have that.
Keep doing what you do!

[HandyL]

Thanks! You are the best jazz guitar teacher on YouTube ✌🏽

[kevindonnelly]

I look forward to watching this one tomorrow Jens. It will be on at 4.00am here in Aussie-land. Break a leg in Taiwan.

[RCSmiths]

It's amazing to always get Jazz Chords down in a way that is both sophisticated and simple! Versatile and clean!

[zurab]

Inspiring, useful and good, as always! -Your great fan from NYC! 😘😇🙏

[audiobasement-studio]

thx Jens, totally inspiring! finally one i can follow again! i sometimes have difficulties with the speed of your
Due to watch them after a workingday, plus, rarely finding/taking any practice time! (but at least playing since 1986).O)
Fell in Love with Jazz of the 60s&70s when i was young. I recommend Eddie Jefferson The Live-Liest or Chet Baker Trio.
i will stay tuned for sure, love following your Bebop-Mind. cheers

[kencutter]

Just what I need new cord voicings
I like watching your hand move slow enough to watch and the chords above sometime you got to listen to the beauty of the chord I'll be able to use this in soundscapeing
Peace ✌️

[williamrosen]

Jens, really nice lesson. Isn't this what Barry Harris calls "borrowing notes from the diminished scale" . I realize you're doing it more by ear and melody but this method really opens up chords and voicings i never would have thought of. Thanks

[michaeldennisguitarlessons]

I'll BOLDLY give 2 Thumbs Up 👍👍for "Systems with Lots of Inversions" at 1:01 - I, personally, find all "4" Am7 inversions shown in the graphic "very useful" - for example, move the G note to F# on each diagram to create a iim7-V9(No Root). Additionally, move the A note to B on each diagram, add an open A string pedal to create some "Beautiful" Am9 voicings.

[cartermechanics]

Jens....Wonderful. Like it very much. Would You reveal what kind of chord software You used in this video?

[kencutter]

I'm new to your channel
Have you done a lesson on scale chords
Like the chords of a mixolydian scale with its extensions. With a nice voicing pattern
Peace ✌️

[michaeldennisguitarlessons]

At 4:30 reminds me of a Cycle of Thirds - Ebmaj7[Eb Bb D G] - Cm7[Eb Bb C G] - Am7b5[Eb A C G] - F7[Eb A C F] - Dm7[D A C F] etc. Obviously, NOT relevant to this tune but still interesting to explore.