JAZZ

#1
GUITAR
CHORD CHART 2Edition
nd

p i c k u p j a z z . c o m
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock
Congratulations, your search for a
practical chord chart is over.
Within the pages of #1 Jazz Guitar Chord Chart (Second Edition), you will find all
you need to master jazz guitar chords. Be sure to check out Quick Start Guides
to instantly expand your chordal pallete, otherwise browse to any chord type you
wish to explore.

This Second Edition is an opportunity for me to add new material and fix a few
errors from the first edition, published two years ago. The new ideas and chord
shapes you’ll find come directly from my time spent in NYC studying my Master
of Music in jazz guitar. I was very lucky to learn from two masters; Paul
Bollenback and Lage Lund.

This free eBook is my opportunity to share the knowledge I was generously

given. Thanks for reading it, please feel free to share it with your friends!

All the best ~ Sam Blakelock

#1
JAZZ
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com GUITAR
CHORD CHART
Table of Contents
I. Key
II. Quick Start Guides
Top 10 Beginner Jazz Guitar Chords
Top 5 Modern Chord Voicings
III. Chords (updated)

Major
- Most essential Major Chords *new*

- Major Chord Chart

Minor
Dominant
Altered Dominants
Suspended Dominant
Half Diminished | Diminished
I V. Understanding Chords
What is a Chord?
6 Fundamentals of Jazz Guitar Chords *new*
What are Rootless/ Multi-Function Chords?
How to Construct Minor Chords - Lesson *new*
V. Chord Formulas
VI. Useful Resources extra: 10 Turnaround Licks & Chords #1
JAZZ
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com GUITAR
CHORD CHART
Part I Key

Root Note
Note
Don’t play string
Root (don’t play)

Numbers indicate which

finger to use
2 The Root Note
3 1
TARGET this white circle on
your chosen root note.
4
e.g. this is F# Maj7

#1
JAZZ
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com GUITAR
CHORD CHART
Part II Quick Start Guides
Top 10 Easy Jazz Guitar Chords
Here are my top 10 jazz guitar chord voicings I recommend beginner jazz guitarists learn.
These chords will enable you to play almost any jazz standard. Awesome, right?
I recommend you have a basic understanding of bar chords before attempting these chords.

maj7

min7 min9

dom9 dom13

m7b5 dim7 dom7#5

or half diminished or dom7b13

#1
JAZZ
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com GUITAR
CHORD CHART
Part II Quick Start Guides
Top 5 Colorful Jazz Guitar Chords
Want some chords with a little zing and zap? I am happy to share with you a few
of my secret jazz-guitar-chord-weapons. Swap out plain chords for these ones
and you will immediately sound more sophisticated and ‘jazzy’ (if that is a term).

open strings

Am9 (open string) m9 ‘pinky stretch’ You can also use this as a major7
voicing with the relative major chord.

e.g with this voicing on Am9, it also

works as C maj7. That half-step
crunch is now the root and 7th of the
maj7 chord.

Cool, right?

5th fret
stretch that pinky (4th) finger!

The Charmeleon Chord

This awesome chord can take on 6 different functions
dom13b9 depending on which root note you use
min6
Pick any white diomand as susb9
your root note. In RED is the
maj7#11
chord you are now playing.
m7b5 add4
Listen to the b9 , mmm
This note is always played but dom13
doesn’t have to be the root note.

The Modern Chord min b13 dom7#9b13

This is another multi-use chord often used
by modern guitarists (and probably over
used by me!)

maj7 add9
maj13#11
min11

maj add4
#1
JAZZ
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com GUITAR
CHORD CHART
Part III Chords
Essential Major Chords
These 8 chords are the most used major 7 chord chapes. Make sure you know all 8 then move on to the next page.

#1
JAZZ
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com GUITAR
CHORD CHART
Part III Chords
Major Chords
major = maj = ∆

maj7

Stretch that pinky (4th)

finger!
maj6 maj9

A good rhythm voicing

ala Freddy Green

maj69 maj7#11 maj7#5

maj7#11 chords use A very modern sound.

the Lydian Mode.

‘The Modern Chord’

maj9#11 maj69#11 This chord’s function changes depending on
which root note you choose. You have three options:

maj9
maj13#11
A
Quick
Definition
of
Major
Chords maj add4 add6
A major chord is any chord with a root, major 3rd, and perfect 5th. Major chords may have an added 7th,
which must be a major 7th. Common extensions on major chords include a 6, 9, 11, #11, 13th. Common
major chords include: C, Cmaj7, C6, Cmaj9, Cmaj7#11, Cmaj69, Cmaj7#5
#1
JAZZ
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com GUITAR
CHORD CHART
Part III Chords
Minor Chords
min7
min9 chords are
often used instead
of min7 chords in
jazz.

min9

Bit of a stretch but totally

worth it.

Stretch that pinky

(4th finger)!

min6 min69
Dorian mode
chords

min11 My favourite
minor voicing.
min-maj7 min-maj9

‘The Modern Chord’

This chord’s function changes depending on
which root note you choose. You have three options: A
Quick
Definition
of
Minor
Chords
Super hip voicing.
A Minor chord is any chord with a root, Minor 3rd, and Perfect 5th. Minor chords
min7b13 (This root note is played) may have an added 7th, which may be a Minor 7th or a Major 7th. Common
extensions on Minor chords include a 6, 9, 11, Common Minor chords include:
min11 (this root note isn’t played) Cminor, Cminor7, Cminor9, Cminor11, Cm69, Cminor6

A minor chord cannot have a major 3rd.

#1
JAZZ
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com GUITAR
CHORD CHART
Part III Chords

Dominant Chords

A
Quick
Definition dom7

A Dominant 7 chord is any chord with a root,

major 3rd and b7 (diminished 7th).

e.g. C7 = C E G Bb
dom9
cho
Common extensions on Dominant chords include
9th, 13th and 11. These extensions can be altered
to increase the tension on a dom7 chord: for
Same shape as a min7b5
example b9, #9, b13, #11 chord.

Common Dominant chords include: C7, C9, C13, dom13

C13sus, C7#9, C7b9, C7Alt

Dom7 is short for Dominant 7

My favourite dominant voicing!
C7 = C Dominant 7

#1
JAZZ
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com GUITAR
CHORD CHART
Part III Chords
Altered Dominant Chords
b5 = #11
b13 =#5

dom7#11 dom9#11 dom13#11

#11 chords are most
often used with the
lydian dominant mode.
A triad off the 2nd,
see it?

dom7#9 dom7b9 dom7#5

HENDRIX CHORD The upper part of dom7b9 is a dim7 chord.

dom7#5#9 dom7#5b9 dom7b9#11 dom7#11#9

The most common

A triad off the b5,
Altered Dominant dom13b9 see it?
chord voicing.

13b9 chords are awesome! Use them with the half-whole diminished
scale. You can always move 13b9 voicings up/down minor thirds (just
like dim7 chords).
#1
JAZZ
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com GUITAR
CHORD CHART
Part III Chords

Suspended Dominant Chords

dom7sus4 Use sus7 chords with the
mixolydian scale.

dom9sus4 dom13sus
dom11

Susb9 Chords
susb9 Use susb9 chords with the
Susb9 scale - the second mode
of the melodic minor.

sus13b9

#1
JAZZ
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com GUITAR
CHORD CHART
Part III Chords

Half-Diminished Chords

m7b5

m9b5 m7b5sus4
Use with the Locrian #2
scale. (Way hipper than
normal m7b5 chords).

Note: any min6 voicing can be played as a m7b5 voicing (and vise versa). Just play a min6
chord a minor 3rd interval above your m7b5 root. e.g. Bm7b5 = Dm6

Diminished Chords
dim7 Use with the whole-half
diminished scale.

Note: any notes in a dimished chord can be a root note. Awesome, right?
You can also move any dim7 voicing up or down minor thirds (3 frets).

#1
JAZZ
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com GUITAR
CHORD CHART
Part IV Understanding Chords
What is a Chord?
A chord is created by stacking up notes from your chosen a scale on top of a root note.

Cmaj7
e.g you can stack up notes above a C using the C Major
Scale to create Cmaj7

The most important notes of any chord are the Guide Tones; the 3rd and 7th. Why? Because those two notes define
the chord as either major, minor or dominant.

If you keep stacking up notes in thirds onto any chord you create the full, complete chord with all available extensions.

Cmaj13 - full chord

Can you see the 3rd and 7th (your guide tones)?
What other extensions can you see?
As guitarists, we can’t play this mega-chord so we pick, chose
and rearrange these notes to create jazz guitar chords. Exten-
sions are our colour notes (9,11,13) which add flavor to our
guide tones (3,7) and core (root, 5th).

#1
JAZZ
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com GUITAR
CHORD CHART
Part IV Understanding Chords
The 6 Fundamentals of Jazz Guitar Chords
#1: Jazz Chords: Not Only Used in Jazz
Whether you are playing pop, rock, funk or reggae, jazz guitar chords can adapt to virtually any style of music. So even if you
aren’t strictly a jazz guitar player, this ebook will be of great value to you.

#2: Rock and Pop Chords: are NOT Used in Jazz

The second fundamental is the opposite of #1. Rock and Pop Chords: are NOTNO Used in Jazz You can’t use big clunky pop barre
chords, rock power chords, or even simple open string chords in a jazz setting.

#3: Barre Chords = Very Handy For Jazz

Although your usual plain barre chords will be out of place in jazz the majority of jazz guitar chords are made by barring the
guitar neck with your finger. This means your ability to play simple barre chords is a great start, nice job. Barre Chords = Very
Handy For Jazz

#4: Know How To Transpose Chords

Transposing means keeping the same chord shape and moving it up or down the neck to a different root note.

#5: Maintain A Chord’s Function, Change its Color

A Cmaj7 and a Cmaj9 have the same function but they have a slightly different musical color one has just a major 7th and one
has a major 9th, but both are Cmajor chords. But take for example: Cmaj9 and C9: these two chords have a similar color (the 9)
but they have different functions and therefore CANNOT be substituted for each other.

We don’t have many rules on pickupjazz but here is one for: Swapping Chord Colors is Great! But Never Swap Chord Functions

#6 Build Your Bag of Chords, Know How To Use Them

As you develop your ear and your guitar skills, you will develop a bag or repertoire of chords colors that at any time you can pull
out on the fly.

#1
JAZZ
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com GUITAR
CHORD CHART
Part IV Understanding Chords
Why are some Chords Rootless?
Most often the bass player will be playing the root. Removing the root from a
chord voicing frees up your fingers to play more interesting upper extensions.

What are Multi-Function Chords? min11

In this chord, you don’t play the
Many of chords in this eBook can take on multipile uses. This means you
root note (diamond), leaving your
can play the exact same shape but change the root note to create a totally fingers free to play the b3, b7,
new chord. e.g. Am9 = Cmaj7 9,11 - much more colorful notes!

These chords share the exact same notes therefore any voicing you know
for Am9 can be used for Cmaj7 and vise versa. Wow, suddenly your chordal
vocabularly just doubled!

Check it out: Amin7 = C6

Amin9 = Cmaj7
Am11 = Cmaj9
Am69 = G#7Alt, Bsusb9, F#m7b5
Amin-maj9 = Any ‘A Melodic Minor’ chord
Adim7 = Cdim7, Ebdim7, F#dim7, Ab7b9, D7b9, F7b9
Am7b5 = F9, Cm6
Can you discover any others?

#1
JAZZ
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com GUITAR
CHORD CHART
In this segment you will construct a Minor from the ground up. You’ll start with a single
root note, add a triad, add a 7th and finally add some color notes.

Step 1. Find Your Root Note

The root note is the tonic or home note of a given chord. For example the root note of
C Minor 7 is C. Unlike the piano, on the guitar we have many different places to play
the same C note.

For example:

Step 2. Create Your Triad

Chords can be created on top of any root note by stacking up other notes on top of it.
Play all these notes at once and you play a chord. The simplest chord is a triad, which
you can create by adding two more notes onto your chosen root note.

For example:

#1
JAZZ
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com GUITAR
CHORD CHART
Step 3. Expand to a 7th Chord

Once you have the foundation of your house (the triad), it is time to add in a fourth
note: the 7th (think: the walls and windows). This new note adds further complexity
and color to your triad. Whereas triads may sound simple and pure, having that 7th
note adds an extra level of harmonic complexity and emotional power.

So in order to create a Minor 7th chord, on top of your Minor triad you need to add a
‘Minor 7th note’. For example:

Adding the note Bb above our simple triad creates a Cmin7 chord. The note Bb is a
minor 7th interval above the root – C.

What if you wanted to create a Minor 6 chord? For min6 chords, substitute a ‘major
6th’ for the Minor 7th. For example, in a Cmin6 we would have the note A on top of our
triad.

#1
JAZZ
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com GUITAR
CHORD CHART
How to Construct Minor Chords PAGE 3
How To Read Minor Chord Symbols

Minor chords can be written in many different ways.

All of these mean the same thing:

C Minor 7
CMin7
C-7

CMinor6 = Cm6
CMinor69 = Cm69
CMinor11 = Cm11
C minor-major 7 = Cmin-maj7
Cm7add 4 = Cminor 7th with an added 4th

A Clarification: The Difference between Minor7 and Minor 7th

difference between a Minor 7th interval

It is important you can understand the di
and a Minor7 chord. It can be confusing, right?

Minor 7th: an interval between two notes. e.g. there is an interval of a Minor
7th between C and Bb.

Minor7: Is a 4-note chord, e.g. CMinor7 Chord

Minor 7 vs Minor 6 vs Minor 9: What’s the Difference?

In lesson 1, ‘The Beginner Guide to Jazz Guitar Chords’, you learned that you
the performer have the ability to choose which extensions (or flavor) of chord
you would like to play. This harmonic flexibility is what makes Jazz interesting to
play and listen too.

#1
JAZZ
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com GUITAR
CHORD CHART
Part V Chord Formulas
Below are formulas for every chord type. You should memorize and (more importanly) accustom your ears to
each chords unique sound.

#1
JAZZ
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com GUITAR
CHORD CHART
Part VI Useful Resources
Congratulations on making it through #1 Jazz Guitar Chord Chart!
As an added bonus, I have attached a PDF of 10 Turnaround licks and chord shapes
for you to explore.
Thank you for downloading my ebook. See you around at pickupjazz.com and
remember to keep learning and have fun!
~ Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com

#1
JAZZ
Copyright © 2016 | Sam Blakelock | pickupjazz.com GUITAR
CHORD CHART
Bonus Material
Below you will find a collection of bonus PDF’s on various
chordal topics. Enjoy!

‘Autumn Leaves Easy Chords’

‘Autumn Leaves Small Chords’
‘Blue Bossa Style Chords’
II V I Shell Chords
10 Jazz Guitar Turnaround Licks
 Autumn Leaves Small Chords
A‹7 D9 GŒ„Š7 CŒ„Š9
° # ™™44 w w
w w
& w w w
w w
w
™ 5 5
5 4
3
4
™ 5 4 4 2
¢⁄
F©‹7(b5) B7(b13) E‹9
° #w
w #w
w nw
w w
w ™™
& w w w w
10
9
8
8
7
7
7
7
™
10 7 5 5 ™
¢⁄
F©‹7(b5) B7(b13) E‹9 E7(b9)
° #w
w #w
w nw
w nw
& w w w #w
w
10 8 7 6
9 8 7 7
10 7 5 6
¢⁄
A‹7 D9 GŒ„Š7 CŒ„Š9
#
& V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
Use the same chord shapes as above

F©‹7(b5) B7(b13) E‹9 E¨9 D‹9 D¨9

° #w
w #w
w n˙˙˙ b˙˙˙ ˙˙ b˙˙˙
& w w n˙
10 8 7 7 5 5
9 8 7 6 5 4
10 7 5 5 3 3
¢⁄
F©‹7(b5) B7(b13) E‹9
#
& V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
Copyright © 2015 | Pickupjazz
Minor 9 Shape Maj7 Shape m7b5 Shape
White circle is root note. Dbmaj7 = 4th Fret Dm7b5 = 5th Fret
Cm9 = 3rd Fret
Fm9 = 8th Fret
Ebm9 = 6th Fret

7b13 Shape Dom13 Shape

G7b13 = 3rd Fret Ab13 = 4th Fret

copyright © 2015 pickupjazz.com

II V I Jazz Guitar Chords
pickupjazz.com
0010_CH_L Shell Chord FAQ

- Shell = 3rd and 7th of Chord

3rd
7th
Root
} Shell - Root not played
- A shell is the core sound of a chord
(not played) - Can be in any octave. Usually added color
extensions are above the 3 + 7.

{
Shell II V I

{
+ Color

{
+ Altered Dom

}
}
Root 6th String Root 5th String

{
Create Your Own

copyright © 2015 pickupjazz

 10 Jazz Guitar Turnarounds
Pickupjazz

B¨Œ„Š7 G‹7 C‹7 F7 B¨Œ„Š7 G‹7 C‹7 F7 B¨Œ„Š7

° bb 4 ˙ b˙˙ ˙˙ ˙˙ œ œ œœœ œ œ œ w
& 4˙ ˙ œ œœ
n˙ ˙ ˙
œ œœœœ
6 8 8 6
7 10 8 8 7 8 5 5 8
7 8 8 7 7 5 8 8 7
¢⁄ 7
10
8
8
6
5 8

B¨Œ„Š7 G7(b9) C‹7 F9 B¨Œ„Š7 G7(b9) C‹7 F9 B¨Œ„Š7

° bb ˙ bb˙˙˙ ˙˙ ˙˙
˙ n˙ b œ œ œœ w
& ˙ œ œ œbœ œ œ œ œ nœ
n˙ œ nœ œ
9 8 8 6
7 10 8 8 5 8 7
7 8 8 7 7 6 5 8 7
¢⁄ 7 6
5 8 8 5
7 8
6

D‹7(b5) G7(b9) C‹7 F9 D‹7(b5) C‹7 G7(b9)

F9 B¨Œ„Š7
° b b ˙˙˙ ˙˙ ˙˙ ˙˙ œ œ œ œnœ œ œb œ œ œ œ#œn œ nœ œ œ
& b ˙ n˙ b˙ n˙ w

9 9 8 8 9 8 11 8 9 10 8
10 10 8 8 10 8 7 7 10 10 8 7
10 9 8 7 10 9
¢⁄ 10

B¨Œ„Š7 Bº7 C‹11 F7(b9) B¨Œ„Š7 Bº7 C‹11 F7(b9) B¨Œ„Š7

° bb ˙ b˙ b˙
& ˙ n˙ b˙˙˙ ˙˙˙ œnœb œ œ œbœnœbœ œ
n˙ n˙ ˙ œ œ œn œ œ œ œ w

6 7
7 8 8 8
7 7 8 7 5 6 5 8 7
¢⁄ 7 7 8
8 5 6 8 8 5
7 8
6 9 8 6 5

Copyright © 2015 | Pickupjazz

2

D‹7 D¨º7 C‹11 B7(#11) D‹7 D¨º7 C‹11 B7(#11) BŒ„Š9

œœœ œ
° bb ˙˙ n˙
& ˙ bb˙˙
b˙˙˙ ˙˙
˙ œbœnœ œ œnœbœ œ nœbœ œ œ w
˙ n˙
5 6 5
6 6 6 5 8 6 5 6
10 9 8 8 7 6 8 7 6 5 5
10 8 8 7 7
¢⁄ 10 9 8 7

D7(#9) D¨9 C‹9 B9 D7(#9) D¨9 C‹9 B9

° bb n˙˙ b˙˙ n˙˙ n#˙˙ ‰ œJ œ bœ nœ bœ œ œ nœ œ bœ œ b œ bœ œ œ
& #˙˙ nb˙˙ n ˙˙ n ˙˙ 3
4 2 4 4
6 4 3 2 6 4 4 6 3 3
5 4 3 2 3 4 6 3
4 3 1 1 5
¢⁄ 5 4 3 2

B¨Œ„Š7 D¨Œ„Š7 G¨Œ„Š7 BŒ„Š7(#11) B¨Œ„Š7 D¨Œ„Š7 G¨Œ„Š7 BŒ„Š7(#11) B¨Œ„Š7

b œ bœ œ
° b ˙˙ ˙˙ ˙˙ b˙˙˙ ‰ œœ œb œ œ œ bœ œnœ œ œbœ w
& b n˙ ˙ b˙ J
˙ n˙
6 6 6 6 9 7 7 6
7 5 10 8 5 7 6 8 8 6 6 8
7 8 8 8 8 9
¢⁄ 6
5 9
7

D13 D7(b13) G9(“4) G7(b9) C‹9 G¨9 F9(“4) F7(b9)

° b #˙˙˙
n b ˙˙
˙ n˙˙˙ b ˙˙ ˙˙˙ bn˙˙ bn˙˙˙ b˙˙
&b ˙ ˙ ˙ n˙˙
˙
bb ˙˙ ˙ n˙˙

12 11 10 9 8 9 8 7
11 11 10 10 8 9 8 8
10 10 10 9 12 8 8 7
¢⁄ 10 10
10 10
8
9 8 8

D13 D7(b13) G9(“4) G7(b9) C‹9 G¨9 F9(“4) F7(b9)

œ n œ œ b œ œ œ œ œ œ œb œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ b œ œ œ œ bœ ˙
° bb ‰ J #œ #œ œ œ˙
& œ˙
10 10 10 10 10 8 11 9 8 2 2
12 11 11 10 10 8 9 9 7 8 10 11 10 11 6 4 4
11
7 7
¢⁄
Copyright © 2015 | Pickupjazz
4

C‹7 A7(b13) D‹7(b5) G7(b9) C‹7 A7(#9) D‹7(b5) G7(b9) C‹7

° bb ˙ #˙˙ n˙˙ ˙ œœ
& b ˙ ˙ b ˙˙ n˙˙˙ ‰ j œ œ j nœ œ œ œ œ œnœ œ œœœœ ˙
˙ n˙ œ #œ J
4 3
4 6 6 6 3 6 3 4
3 6 5 4 5 3 5 5 4 5 5
5 6 6 5 3 6
¢⁄ 3
5
5 5 3 6 4

C‹9 A7(b13) A¨13 G7[äÆ]

° b ˙ b ˙˙
& b b ˙˙ #˙˙˙ n
b˙
˙˙ n˙˙
˙ n˙ b˙
6
3 6 6 4
3 6 5 4
1 5 4 3
¢⁄ 3
5 4

C‹9 A7[äÆ] A7[áÆ] A¨13 G7[äÆ] G7[áÆ] C‹9

° b œ œ nœ #nœœœ œœ œœ
œ œ bbœœ bbœœ bbœœ
˙˙ ™™™
&b b nœ œœ œœ nœ n œœ œœ œœ nœœœœ ˙˙ ™
œ >
8 8 6 6 6 4
6 8 6 6 6 3 4 4 4 4 3 3
8 6 6 6 5 4 4 4 4 4
5 5 5 3 3 3 5 5
¢⁄ 3 6 6

Copyright © 2015 | Pickupjazz