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Jazz Guitar Chord Charts Series :

Chords in Three Scales
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This installment of the jazz guitar chord charts series is the next step in chordal
playing. I will show you how to derive chords from common scales and appropriate
fingerings for each. This is basically the continuation of the other basic jazz guitar
chord charts found on this website (where we examine chords of each types from
a C root note).

Additional Info

So, our method here is to use scales to get lots of chords. With the major scale,
melodic minor scale and harmonic minor scale we will get a total of 21 chords...

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melodic minor scale and harmonic minor scale we will get a total of 21 chords...
Few... that's alot!

eBook Compilation

Don't worry though. I'll start simple and build from there. No mysticism or magic
here. Just chords!

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Building Chords: The Theory

So the approach is the harmonization of a scale to get the chords it contains. We
simply add "stacked thirds" to get four-note chords on each scale degree. See,
three scales (all with C tonic, or root) are harmonized in thirds here:

In exchange, I will give

you this 215-page
eBook...

As you may or may not know, the chords above are almost all impossible to play
on the guitar (in this format at least)... take your best shot. But most of them
required stretches that are *impossible*.

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)-:
They're called "closed" voicings, try them on the piano when you have a chance.
On the guitar, we need a different "spacing" between the notes AND we want to
keep the root of each chord on the two bottom strings.
I wanted you to understand the process behind the following chord shapes and
that is why I posted these jazz guitar chord charts (with theory) on the website...

Solving the Stretches: from "Closed" to "Dropped" Voicings

Sooooo : We will use the first "C major 7th" chord (upper-left corner above) play
the same notes (ex: C E G B) but in a different order (ex: C G B E) keeping C in
the bass.
Check this out :

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Et voila!
This C major 7th shape will be the reference point for now. For the record, we call
this a drop-2 voicing. We use mostly drop 2 and drop 3 voicings throughout jazz
guitar chord charts ... more on this later.
A Quick Drop-2 Explanation : From a closed voicing, the second voice from the top
is taken down an octave. Look at the spacing on the above C-G-B-E (on the right
...) The lowest (C) note was taken down an octave from its assorted closed
voicing which was G-B-C-E. But don't worry if you don't get this right away...

Drop 2 Voicings in C major, melodic minor and harmonic minor

Let's play the drop-2 chords in three scales (major, melodic minor and harmonic
minor) in the key of C.
Note:
-The "little triangle" means major 7th
-The "little circle" means diminished 7th
-The "dashed little circle" means minor 7th flat 5

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Performance: don't forget to descend the scale also! See how to play chords in
these jazz guitar chord charts in this video:

New Chords?! (with SHARP fifth!)

As you may have noticed, this approach brings up two new chord shapes that
were not part of the previous jazz guitar chord charts:
-major 7th with a raised 5th (spelled 1 3 #5 7)
-minor with a major 7th (spelled 1 b3 5 7)
They are both only "one finger away" from an chord that has already been
discussed :
Good old major 7th ! (1 3 5 7)

Expanding on chord shapes your already know should become a habit! It will also
be covered in other installments of the jazz guitar chord charts series. But for
now...

...and another set of strings (with skip!)

Let's now proceed the same way with the bass on the 6th string. I will use the key
of G to demonstrate another "spacing" between the notes of a chord. In musical

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terms, another *voicing*. This one involves non-adjacent strings.

Et voil again!!!
This one is the new point of reference (for now) and it's called a drop-3 voicing.
Notice the string-skip.
A Quick Drop-3 Explanation : From a closed voicing, the third voice from the top is
taken down an octave. Look at the spacing on the above G-F#-B-D (on the right
...) The lowest (G) note was taken down an octave from its assorted closed
voicing which would be F#-G-B-D. Once again, don't worry about understanding
the theory so much ... just play the chords!

Drop 3 Voicings in G major, melodic minor and harmonic minor

So let's play the drop-3 chords in the three scales (major, melodic minor and
harmonic minor) but in the key of G.
Note
-The
-The
-The

(same as above):
"little triangle" means major 7th
"little circle" means diminished 7th
"dashed little circle" means minor 7th flat 5

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As in the drop-2 (the key of C), we get two "new" drop-3 shapes: major 7th with
raised 5th and minor with major 7th. Also don't forget to play them descending!
(as in the video)

Jazz Guitar Chord Charts Series: Wrap-up

So we now have the two basic voicings to play "chords in a scale". They sound
good and are easy to play.To take full advantage of this approach, I strongly
suggest you go further than the written examples. You can cover more territory on
your fretboard by using the following suggestions:
-1Use all the frets you have
Going further up or down on the fretboard in the same key until you reach the nut
(or the bridge!!!) Meaning that you keep using the SAME set of 4 strings to play
up and down the guitar.

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-2Use different set of strings

Playing the same chords in the same order but varying the string sets. All the
above examples are all "four chords per string set". Check this one out :

It could be qualified as a "six ... then two chords per string set". Use your
imagination and you'll find what works for you. (ie, decide when it's time to change
string set when ascending or descending the chord-scales.)
Remember also that this whole process is applicable starting from any root on the
guitar neck! Take the time to learn other keys on your fretboard! I repeat: LEARN
OTHER KEYS! You'll be glad you did. :-)

Summary
Drop-2 = adjacent set of strings (with bass on 5th or 4th). In C major above.
Drop-3 = non-adjacent set of strings (with bass on 6th or 5th). In G major
above.
Cover all available frets in the key (up AND down).

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Play "4 chords per string" then find you own way (switch string set when you
want).
Use in major, melodic minor and harmonic minor scales.
Available in 12 keys... (-;
Don't always rely on jazz guitar chord charts ... memorize the chords!
Have fun!

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