Jazz Guitar Chords

Major 7

This is the basic major type chord used in jazz. This chord can be played on keeping its root on 6th fret or 5th fret. What this actually means is that which string will determine the name of the chord. Following pictures shows the configurations available for you to play:

Dominant 7

This is the second most common chord form for seventh chords.The word dominant, is used to clarify a particular type of seventh chord. Often when referring to these chords they are just called 7th chords (C7, D7). In reality, all of the chords that you are learning in this lesson are 7th chords, so dominant helps to show a difference in referring to 7th chords in general, or this particular 7th chord. I know this is a little confusing, but don't dwell on it to long, you will understand more as you learn more about music theory and jazz.

Minor 7

Minor chords for jazz can also be played keeping its root on 6th or 5th string.

Minor 7b5

The minor 7 flat 5 chord is not just an altered minor 7 chord. It has it's own unique sound and used in jazz.

Diminished 7

These are two forms of the diminished 7 chord (the small o before the 7 means diminished) The root of the chord could actually be any on of the notes, but for simplicity and lack of further explanation, just think of the lowest note as the root (6th or 5th string)

Jazz Guitar Chords Chart

OK, so here is the complete list of jazz guitar chords you can play in jazz music.

Major	Abr	C	Db	D	Eb	E	F	Gb	G	Ab	A	Bb	B
6th	6	R				3			5		6
6th add 9th	6add9	R		9		3			5		6
6th flat5 add 9th	6(-5)add9	R		9		3		b5			6
7th	7	R				3			5			b7
7th flat 5th	7(-5)	R				3		b5				b7
7th flat 9th	7(-9)	R	b9			3			5			b7
7th flat 5th flat 9th	7(-5-9)	R	b9			3		b5				b7
9th	9	R		9		3			5			b7
11th	11	R		9		3	11		5			b7
13th	13	R		9		3	11		5		13	b7
Maj 7th	M7	R				3			5				7
Maj 9th	M9	R		9		3			5				7
Maj 11th	M11	R		9		3	11		5				7
Maj 13th	M13	R		9		3	11		5		13		7
Minor	Abr	C	Db	D	Eb	E	F	Gb	G	Ab	A	Bb	B
min 6th	m6	R			b3				5		6
min 6th add 9th	m6add9	R		9	b3				5		6
min 7th	m7	R			b3				5			b7
min 7th flat 5th	m7(-5)	R			b3			b5				b7
min 9th	m9	R		9	b3				5			b7
min 11th	m11	R		9	b3		11		5			b7
min 13th	m13	R		9	b3		11		5		13	b7
min Maj 7th	m(+7)	R			b3				5				7
min Maj 9th	m9(+7)	R		9	b3				5				7
Aug & Dim	Abr	C	Db	D	Eb	E	F	Gb	G	G#	A	Bb	B
aug	+	R				3				#5
7th aug	7+	R				3				#5		b7
7th aug flat 9th	7+(-9)	R	b9			3				#5		b7
9th aug	9+	R		9		3				#5		b7
dim	°	R			b3			b5			bb7
Suspended	Abr	C	Db	D	Eb	E	F	Gb	G	Ab	A	Bb	B
6th sus 4th	6sus4	R					4		5		6
6th sus 4th add 9th	6sus4add9	R		9			4		5		6
7th sus 4th	7sus4	R					4		5			b7
9th sus 4th	9sus4	R		9			4		5			b7
Maj 7th sus 4th	M7sus4	R					4		5				7
Maj 9th sus 4th	M9sus4	R		9			4		5				7

Jazz Guitar Practice Secrets

Downlod this jazz guitar practice secrets lesson (from Berklee College of Music) here.