Jazz Chord Base: a new Approach for Jazz Chords on Guitar

Name: Jazz Chord Base: a new Approach for Jazz Chords on Guitar
Rating: 4.7 (435 reviews)

Learn how to accompany Jazz Tunes on Guitar in a structured and logical manner.

Created byStefan Mens

Last updated 11/2024

English

What you'll learn

To accompany jazz tunes on the guitar
To have an accurate orientation on the fretboard

Course content

8 sections • 121 lectures • 3h 22m total length

Goal of the Course and Requirements1:48
In this lecture you will learn about the Goal of the Course, what the Requirements are and you may download a description on how to install iRealPro (check the file on the left called "iRealPro_E.pdf"). You can also download a file which contains all the exercises for the Jazz Chord Base in iRealPro format (file called "The Jazz Chord Base Exercises.html")

The Basic Principle4:20
Explanation of the Basic Principle of the Jazz Chord Base
Common Knowledge: The Names of the Notes1:05
Learn the Names of the Notes of the Scale
Beertime! The # in a Music Lesson0:38
Every once in a while in this course I will tell you a story from my life as a musician or as a teacher. These anecdotes are all real!
Where are these Notes on the Guitar Strings?3:03
Learn to find the notes on the guitar
Exercise A: Find the notes1:16
A note is announced and you have to play it within a second.
Exercise B: Find the notes, including accidentals2:22
A note is announced and you have to play it on both the E- and the A- string. Includes semitones.
Test your knowledge about the notes on the guitars lowest two strings

Preview of Section 3: The Three Basic Chords1:25
Preview of Section 3 and explanation of the three basic chords. Downloadable PDF: "How to read chord symbols.pdf"
The 7 (dominant 7) chord0:38
Get to know the first shapes. These are the E- and the A-shape of the 7-chord.
Exercise 1a: Blues in A1:10
Use the 7-chord for the first time.
Exercise 1b: Blues in A - starting with A-shape0:50
Play the same Blues in A - but this time start with the A-shape on fret XII.
Exercise 2: Blues in D1:38
Let's try the Blues in another key (in D) with the 7 chords.
Exercise 3: Blues in B0:51
The same thing, now in the key of B.
Exercise 4: Blues in Bb1:31
...and in Bb.
The Guitar as a Whole Band1:55
First steps to become a single accompanist.
Exercise 5: Blues in Bb with Chord Walkbass1:03
Make use of the Tritone Substitute and the Chromatic Approach
The Minor7 - Chord2:07
Get to know the new shapes and learn something about the terminology of the Minor and Major modes.
Exercise 6: Minor Blues in A0:37
Jazz Waltz in 3 with Minor Chords
Exercise 7: Minor Blues in D0:45
The Jazz Waltz Blueswith Minor Chords in D.
Exercise 8: Minor Blues in A with Substitute-Chords0:37
The Chromatic Approach works in the mode of Minor as well.
The Major7-Chord0:51
The last of the 3 Basic Chords
Exercise 9: Chord Progression with Major7-Chords0:33
Practise the Major7 Chord in various positions
Table of the Shapes of the 3 Basic-Chords including the Root0:11
Download the PDF and print it out.
Songs for the 3 Basic Chords0:43
Learn how to use the basic chords in songs
Exercise 10: Song: Mack the Knife1:19
Let's swing! Your first song....
Beertime! The least trustworthy Prison Scene in the History of Theater2:14
Mack the Knife sits in jail under extreme measurements of security...
Exercise 11: All of Me3:28
Try this famous standard. At the end you find an explanation of the next exercise. You find the mentioned download in the next lecture.
Exercise 12: All of Me with Walkbass1:23
Some more walkbass.
Exercise 13: I got rhythm1:19
Another classic tune. Can you add the walkbass yourself?
Beertime! How to play a Broadway Show2:56
The Rare Chords: The Minor7b51:23
The first of the Rare Chords.
Exercise 14: Chord progression with Minor7b51:16
Work on the Minor7b5 in the context of a Chord-Progression
The Diminished Chord (o7)1:45
The Diminished Chord is one of the coolest chords ever.
Exercise 15: Chord Progression with o7-chords0:25
Practise this nice chord in the context of a Turnaround Progression.
The Augmented 5th Chord0:57
A chord for building up tension.
Exercise 16: Chord Progression with Augmented Chords0:25
Let's swing the #5.
The 6 Chord2:22
The 6 Chord: A jazz chord without the seventh.
Exercise 17: Chord progression with 6 chords0:26
A Latin cliché.
Table of All Shapes, including the Root0:12
Download the PDF and print it out.
Extremely rare: The Minor-Major7-Chord1:08
The famous "Hitchcock-Chord"
Exercise 18: Chord progression with Minor-Major7 Chord0:25
A quite psychedelic chord-progression
Effective Practicing5:04
Effective practising saves time. Here are a few tips to optimize your practicing sessions.
Change of the Left Hand's Position1:40
What can you do when you get too low on the fretboard?
Exercise 19: The same Chord with different Shapes2:00
Learn to switch the shapes of the same chord.
Exercise 20: Blue Bossa1:33
The bossanova - rhythm works great for some finger picking.
Exercise 21: Satin Doll2:30
Practice the II-V progression in a song
Exercise 22: Confirmation2:34
First a slow version of this BeBop - classic, then up tempo - followed by an outlook to the next section.
Beertime! A little Philosophy of the Arts1:17
The Jazz Police

Preview of Section 44:22
A short preview of the next section - Explanation of the notation of chords with tensions - Basic rule: Which tension suits which chord.
The Basic Chords with Tension Notes: The 7/9 and the 7/131:25
The first few chords with tensions.
Exercise 23: Blues in A with Tension Notes0:45
Add tensions to your Blues accompanyment.
Exercise 24: Blues in Eb with Tension Notes1:03
Add tensions to this Blues in Eb
Exercise 25: Blues in Eb with Tension Notes and Walkbass1:20
Add a walkbass to this Blues with tensions and learn the shapes for triads with their 3rd in the bass.
The Minor 7/9, Minor 7/11 and Minor 7/130:42
Very brief: Shapes of the Minor7 with tensions.
Major 7/9, Major7/#11, Major7/13 and the 6/91:27
Add tensions to the Maj7 and to the 6
Exercise 26: IIm7-V7-Imaj7 Cadenza with Tension Notes0:53
Let's combine the basic chords with tensions.
Exercise 27: IVmaj7-V7-Imaj7 Cadenza with Tension Notes1:25
NEUES PLAYVIDEO MACHEN!
The 7/b9, 7/#9, 7#11 and 7/b13 Chord1:44
Discover the chords with tensions which appear mostly in pieces in the mode of minor.
Exercise 28: IIm7(b5)-V7-Im7 Cadenzas in Minor with Tension Notes1:49
This Exercise focuses on the II-V-I Cadenza in the mode of minor. Let's add tension notes.
Table of the Shapes with Root and Tension Notes0:11
Download the PDF and print it out.
Exercise 29: A Girl from Ipanema1:29
Jobims Latin Classic for practising with tension notes.
Exercise 30: All the Things You Are1:29
Another classic with tension notes.
Exercise 31: Misty2:56
A Ballad with tensions.
Exercise 32: My Romance2:23
Last but not least: A song that includes a lot of differet chords.
Beertime! Ze Italianne Radio Stationne1:19
Learn different accents while driving

Preview of Section 52:06
Why playing chords without the root? - Imagine the root on the fretboard - Which fingers to use when playing two-voiced chords.
The 7 without Root0:43
Your first shapes without root notes.
Exercise 33: The 7 Chord Progression0:30
Probably the easiest exercise of all.
Exercise 34: Blues in Bb without Root0:37
Probably too easy, but do not forget to imagine the root notes.
Minor7 and Major7, without Root0:33
Another two chords without root.
Exercise 35: Minor-Blues in A with Substitute Chords1:02
You will recognize this exercise from section 3. Try it now without root notes.
Exercise 36: Connection of Minor7 and Major7, without Root0:58
This exercise is not hard to play. But understanding the relation between the (imaginary) root note and the chord tones is not that simple.
Diminished and Half-Diminished Chords, without Root0:54
The more rare chords without root.
Exercise 37: Blue Bossa, without Root Notes1:24
The same piece as in the previous section - without roots.
Exercise 38: Satin Doll, without Root Notes2:03
Let's focus on the II-V progression - in two voices only and without root.
Exercise 39: Let’s boost it! Confirmation2:04
Let's take it slow first. Then follow the fast version.
Exercise 40: April in Paris2:07
The last exercise for the two-voiced chords without root.
Beertime! I'm playing in the rain!2:20
I'll do anything for the show!

Preview of Section 62:24
Why it is great to play chords with tensions without roots - new diagrams explained
The 7/9, the 7/13 and 7/9/13 chord0:37
The most common 7 chords with tensions and without root.
Exercise 41: Business First, Pleasure Second2:00
Tap that bass!
Exercise 42: Blues in Excessive Tenso1:40
Similar basic chords in this blues feature different tensions.
The 7/#110:36
Two similar shapes.
Exercise 43: Blues with Tritone Substitute (#11)2:11
Play the tritone substitute chords with a #11. How would it sound if you'd play all the chords with a #11?
7/b9(#9)1:57
Add melodic fragments to your accompaniment and use a diminished chord instead of a 7b9.
7/b13 = 7(#5)0:58
The shapes of this chord may be used for two different chords.
Exercise 44: Chord Progression with #50:23
A short exercise to practise the #5.
More 7 Chords with Tension Notes0:45
Different ideas for tensions
Exercise 45: Connecting Tension Notes1:28
Play little melodies with the tension notes.
How to memorize all these shapes?0:49
Memorize only 2 shapes and you can derive the remaining tensions.
Minor-7/9 and Minor-7/110:37
Exercise 46: Minor7 (IInd step) to 7(Vth step)0:56
II on V with tensions.
Exercise 47: Home Cookin’1:16
A piece with lots of Minor7-chords.
The Most Used Shapes for Major7 and the 6 Chord, with Tension Notes1:32
Get to know the easiest chord progression of this course.
Exercise 48: Triste - Major7 in Exchange with the 6 Chord1:24
A latin groove without root notes.
Shapes for Minor7(b5) with Tension b90:34
The last few shapes.
Table of Shapes without Root, including Tension Notes0:12
Download the PDF and print it out.
Exercise 49: Autumn in New York – A Ballad with Many Tension Notes2:09
A beautiful ballad wich is perfect for training of the chords with tensions, without root notes.
Exercise 50: But not for me1:15
Try to add tensions to this nice mid-tempo song.
Exercise 51: Hallucinations4:36
The last piece for training in this section. For training you will find a slower version in this video as well.
Beertime! A true Hare Krishna Monk.2:48

What to Play When – Accompaniment means Listening7:31
A few examples and thoughts about accompaniyng
Exercise 52: A Foggy Day as a Duet1:40
Practise your accompaniment in a duet.
Exercise 53: A Foggy Day as a Duet, with Walkbass1:23
The same piece with a walkbass.
Exercise 54: A Foggy Day as a Duet with Fills1:53
Add some spice to your accompaniment.
Accompaniment with Small Band With You Playing the Only Harmonic Ins0:53
A few tips if you are the only harmony instrument in a band.
Exercise 55: A Foggy Day with Horns, Bass and Drums1:10
Accompaniment is different with more instruments in the band.
Beertime! James Last … But Not Least…1:42
Don't be arrogant when some old dude approaches you!
Accompaniment in an Ensemble, with Multiple Harmony Instruments1:43
A few tips for accompaniment if you are not the only harmonic instrument.
Exercise 56: A Foggy Day with Piano, Horns Bass and Drums1:47
The last exercise for "A Foggy Day": Be the accompanist in a band with piano and horn section.
Exercise 57: I’m in the Mood for Swing – Big Band Accompaniment with No Further4:27
Learn to accompany in a Big Band.
Exercise 58: Accompaniment in an Orchestra. – Old Gumbie Cat from Cats7:43
Learn to accompany with a conductor.
Exercise 58: Conductor Video for Old Gumbie Cat5:37
Play "Old Gumbie Cat" along with a conductor.
Beertime! Musicians and Pilots1:20
Be careful with musicians that are also pilots!
Soloing with Chords2:25
3 Tricks to use the learned shapes in chord solos.
Exercise 59: A Chord Solo Over “After You”2:32
Try this very slow chord solo.
Exercise 60: Bonus: Transcription of a Chord Solo by Wes Montgomery0:58
Transcription of Wes Montgomerys' Solo from West Coast Blues.
What's next?3:42
Some ideas for areas of further studies and list of Credits for The Jazz Chord Base
Bonus: The Jazz Chord Base as a printed book and find the Facebook JCB-page0:29
More infos on resources for the Jazz Chord Base

Requirements

Basic Knowledge on Guitarplaying
You know how to play open chords
No need to read music
a bit of interest in harmony teaching helps

Description

Do you like jazz? But playing and understanding all these fancy chords seemed hard for you?

The Jazz Chord Base is a system to accompany jazz tunes in a way that will let you understand the chords quick and easy. The course is filled with explanations of the chords, many exercises and every once in a while Stefan tells funny stories of his life as a musician.
Learn the structure of chords, understand how they are developed and then practise them with the many exercises. All the exercises are demonstrated on video, include the lead sheets and come with files to use in iRealBook (an app (not included in the course) that plays a band on your computer with bass, drums and piano in your desired practising tempo). And if you don't own iRealPro: each exercise has an audiofile for download to play along.

Learn to find your way on the fretboard in a logical system and start playing these cool jazz chords from the scratch.

Completing the course will make you a great accompanist either as a single player with a singer/soloist or in a band. Also included is: Playing Chord solos and playing with a conductor.

Here are some statements from guitarists, who have taken the course:

P.O. writes: «… this course seems brilliant. Just enough simplification to make it pretty easy …”
T.T. writes: “… Simplified and broke down the complicated chord theory in to pieces, easy to digest, step by step exercises make the whole learning experience fun and achievable!! Excellent!!!”
C.B. writes: “I have learned more in the last three days than I did in six weeks!...”

This course is also available in German.

Who this course is for:

Students of guitar
Young professionals or amateurs who like to accompany jazz tunes
This course is also available in German!

Jazz Chord Base: a new Approach for Jazz Chords on Guitar

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction1 lecture • 2min

Goal, Requirements and Structure of the Course2 lectures • 5min

The Basic Principle and Common Knowledge6 lectures • 13min

7th Chords as Triads, including the Root41 lectures • 57min

7th Chords with Four Voices, including the Root17 lectures • 27min

7th Chords with Two Voices, without Root13 lectures • 17min

7th Chords as Triads or as Chords with Four Voices, without Root23 lectures • 33min

The Guitarist as an Arranger18 lectures • 49min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: