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Basic Jazz Chords

Basic jazz guitar chords are typically 7th's. In our maps below, we use the E, A, and D chord forms to build the qualities of Major 7, minor 7, minor 7 flat 5, & fully diminished 7. The qualities are in the box on the left and some common symbols for each are below the box. Vertical block lines between fret dots are bars. Most of these chords need to be fretted as shown, but if you figure out a different or better way to finger any of them, go for it!

7th Chord Shapes from E, A, & D Forms

basic jazz guitar chords

fully diminished 7 guitar chords

Every tone is every chord component in fully diminished

Practice fretting each of these voicings. Once you have working fingerings, practice progressions. In Jazz, the most common chord progression [stream of sequentially changing chords is 2-5-1 (ii-V-I)]. With the 7th's, the qualities will be iimin7-V7-IMaj7.

ii-V-I in All Keys

Bm7 E7 AMaj7
C#m7 F#7 BMaj7
Dm7 G7 CMaj7
Em7 A7 DMaj7
F#m7 B7 EMaj7
Gm7 C7 FMaj7
Am7 D7 GMaj7
Bbm7 Eb7 AbMaj7
Cm7 F7 BbMaj7
Dbm7 Gb7 CbMaj7
Ebm7 Ab7 DbMaj7
Fm7 Bb7 EbMaj7
G#m7 C#7 F#Maj7
Abm7 Db7 GbMaj7