How to Play A Jazz Chord Progression Using Block Chords

Jazz Chords in Blocks -- Jazz Guitar Lesson on Chords

Jazz Chords in Blocks - Jazz Guitar Lesson on Chords

How’s it going, guys? My name is John McClennan
and I’m here with guitarcontrol.com, excited to bring
you this video lesson. What we’re looking at right
now is a series, a jazz chord progression using
what I call block chords. So kind of like the way
a piano player might move through a series of
chords while comping in a rhythm section. Click
the link below for the tab for this so you
can follow along with the chord shapes.

We’re going to begin on a D6 chord, which is 3, 4,
4, 5 and then I move that up a half step for E flat
6, G minor 7, which is all on the 3rd fret here,
barring. And then G minor 7, sort of going up to
the next voicing here which would be 5, 7, 6, 6.
F minor 9, which is rootless here. It’s just this
shape here. F minor 7. This is a great chord here
where I’ve got 8, 10, 8, 9, 11. And then I go to a
D13 over B flat, a real cool sounding chord. So I’ve
got the 13 fret, the 10th, the 11th and the 12th and
the 10th. So here’s your straight D13. Add the E flat
in the bass. And here we’re going to get an E flat
major 9 with no 3rd. So that would be 6, 8, 7, 8, 6, 6.
So again, slowly, here it is. Some hip chords there.

Remember, with these jazz shapes, because there’s
no open strings, you can play them on any fret.
So every new shape that you learn you’ve got that
chord times 12 because you can play here. I’ve
got a D6 then I can play E flat 6, B6, F6, F sharp
6, G6. So one more time from the top. Again,
be sure to click the link for the tab.

I’m John McClennan and thanks for watching.

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