<\/p>\n
He included diminished and augmented chords in the dominant chord family. His reason was that we usually use diminished sevenths or augmented sevenths. Both types of chords have a kind of flat 7.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If we jump in and have a quick look at some basic jazz guitar chords, we get:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Major Chord Family<\/h3>\n\n\n- Major 7<\/li>\n
- Major 9<\/li>\n
- Major 6\/9<\/li>\n
- Major 6<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
Minor Chord Family<\/h3>\n\n\n- Minor 7<\/li>\n
- Minor 9<\/li>\n
- Minor 7b5<\/li>\n
- Minor 6<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
Dominant Chord Family<\/h3>\n\n\n- 7b5<\/li>\n
- 7b9<\/li>\n
- 7#5<\/li>\n
- 7#9<\/li>\n
- 9th<\/li>\n
- 9b5<\/li>\n
- 13th<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
While far from a complete list of chords or even guitar voicings, these cover all you need to know to get started. They will allow you to enjoy playing the majority of jazz standards. Think songs like \u2018Fly Me to the Moon,\u2019<\/em>\u00a0\u2018All of me,\u2019<\/em>\u00a0\u2018Blue Bossa,\u2019<\/em>\u00a0\u2018Kind of blue,\u2019<\/em>\u00a0\u2018Girl from Ipanema\u2019<\/em>, etc.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
If you don’t know many of these chord voicings, treat yourself to a copy of my Essential Jazz Guitar Chords eBook<\/a>. This book covers all of the jazz guitar chords you’ll ever need.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jazz Guitar Comping<\/h2>\n
Everyone starts by playing full chords and trying to swing them! In most band situations, you only want to play a few notes and stick to your own lane.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So, over time you\u2019ll want to move away from using full chords and learn some\u00a0partial chords<\/a>\u00a0(start with my ebook!) to give the piano player and bassist space to shine.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Piano players are a great source of ideas when learning how to play behind the soloist. So, it\u2019s worth listening to and analyzing as many as possible. Try your best to borrow their lines, chord movements, and ideas.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It might take a while for you to incorporate their ideas into your playing. But it’ll be totally worth the effort.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"jazz](\"https:\/\/www.ashleyjsaunders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/jazz-guitar-comping.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jazz Guitar Solos<\/h2>\n
The best place to start is with arpeggios. They are easy to play and memorize. Also, if you swing them, you’ll sound like you’re halfway there to faking a jazz guitar solo!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
When you\u2019re comfortable with arpeggios, don\u2019t think about scales. Instead, sing melodies. I\u2019ve said this a thousand times. No one wants to listen to you play scales (however incredible you might be at them!). They want to hear something melodic which moves them.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Once those arpeggios are happening, you might want to use some scales. Here are Emily Remler<\/a>‘s general scale rules that work quite nicely.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Major scale<\/h3>\n
Use the Major scale over the I, IIm, IIIm, IV, and VIm chords. It\u2019s simple and sounds great. You can use it to resolve any tension super-imposed on the V chord.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Non-resolving dominants<\/h3>\n
For any dominant chord that isn\u2019t resolving (i.e. going back to the I chord), play the jazz minor scale up a 5th from the chord you start on. The jazz minor scale is a major scale with the third note lowered by a half step. Easy!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Resolving dominants<\/h3>\n
However, if the dominant\u00a0IS<\/em>\u00a0going home (V to I chord movement), play the jazz minor scale a half step above the dominant chord.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Struggling to know where to start?<\/h3>\n
If this all seems too complex, take one new scale and work on that. After a few attempts, you should get it. It will seem quite simple while sounding beautiful.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Record your own backing<\/h2>\n
Another soloing tip from\u00a0Emily Remler<\/a>\u00a0is to play over simple homemade rhythm tracks. She used to tape record (remember this was the 80s!) herself playing the chord changes with a metronome on 2 and 4. Next, she\u2019d play the tape back and try to solo over the changes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
If she couldn\u2019t find a lick to play or messed up over a certain chord change, she would stop the tape. She would then figure out what she should play and rehearse the lick 15 to 20 times until she could play it confidently.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Not only did her timing improve this way, but she also became a great soloist. Use this method to improve your playing regardless of the style.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"jazz](\"https:\/\/www.ashleyjsaunders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/jazz-guitar-soloing.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It’s about that swing<\/h2>\n
One of the most important jazz guitar basics to master is getting everything to swing! The easiest way to make music swing is to practice with the metronome on 2 and 4. While this is very difficult to start with, it will do wonders for your playing and timekeeping.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
- \n
- Major 7<\/li>\n
- Major 9<\/li>\n
- Major 6\/9<\/li>\n
- Major 6<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
Minor Chord Family<\/h3>\n
\n- \n
- Minor 7<\/li>\n
- Minor 9<\/li>\n
- Minor 7b5<\/li>\n
- Minor 6<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
Dominant Chord Family<\/h3>\n
\n- \n
- 7b5<\/li>\n
- 7b9<\/li>\n
- 7#5<\/li>\n
- 7#9<\/li>\n
- 9th<\/li>\n
- 9b5<\/li>\n
- 13th<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
While far from a complete list of chords or even guitar voicings, these cover all you need to know to get started. They will allow you to enjoy playing the majority of jazz standards. Think songs like \u2018Fly Me to the Moon,\u2019<\/em>\u00a0\u2018All of me,\u2019<\/em>\u00a0\u2018Blue Bossa,\u2019<\/em>\u00a0\u2018Kind of blue,\u2019<\/em>\u00a0\u2018Girl from Ipanema\u2019<\/em>, etc.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If you don’t know many of these chord voicings, treat yourself to a copy of my Essential Jazz Guitar Chords eBook<\/a>. This book covers all of the jazz guitar chords you’ll ever need.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jazz Guitar Comping<\/h2>\n
Everyone starts by playing full chords and trying to swing them! In most band situations, you only want to play a few notes and stick to your own lane.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So, over time you\u2019ll want to move away from using full chords and learn some\u00a0partial chords<\/a>\u00a0(start with my ebook!) to give the piano player and bassist space to shine.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Piano players are a great source of ideas when learning how to play behind the soloist. So, it\u2019s worth listening to and analyzing as many as possible. Try your best to borrow their lines, chord movements, and ideas.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It might take a while for you to incorporate their ideas into your playing. But it’ll be totally worth the effort.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jazz Guitar Solos<\/h2>\n
The best place to start is with arpeggios. They are easy to play and memorize. Also, if you swing them, you’ll sound like you’re halfway there to faking a jazz guitar solo!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
When you\u2019re comfortable with arpeggios, don\u2019t think about scales. Instead, sing melodies. I\u2019ve said this a thousand times. No one wants to listen to you play scales (however incredible you might be at them!). They want to hear something melodic which moves them.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Once those arpeggios are happening, you might want to use some scales. Here are Emily Remler<\/a>‘s general scale rules that work quite nicely.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Major scale<\/h3>\n
Use the Major scale over the I, IIm, IIIm, IV, and VIm chords. It\u2019s simple and sounds great. You can use it to resolve any tension super-imposed on the V chord.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Non-resolving dominants<\/h3>\n
For any dominant chord that isn\u2019t resolving (i.e. going back to the I chord), play the jazz minor scale up a 5th from the chord you start on. The jazz minor scale is a major scale with the third note lowered by a half step. Easy!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Resolving dominants<\/h3>\n
However, if the dominant\u00a0IS<\/em>\u00a0going home (V to I chord movement), play the jazz minor scale a half step above the dominant chord.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Struggling to know where to start?<\/h3>\n
If this all seems too complex, take one new scale and work on that. After a few attempts, you should get it. It will seem quite simple while sounding beautiful.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Record your own backing<\/h2>\n
Another soloing tip from\u00a0Emily Remler<\/a>\u00a0is to play over simple homemade rhythm tracks. She used to tape record (remember this was the 80s!) herself playing the chord changes with a metronome on 2 and 4. Next, she\u2019d play the tape back and try to solo over the changes.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If she couldn\u2019t find a lick to play or messed up over a certain chord change, she would stop the tape. She would then figure out what she should play and rehearse the lick 15 to 20 times until she could play it confidently.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Not only did her timing improve this way, but she also became a great soloist. Use this method to improve your playing regardless of the style.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It’s about that swing<\/h2>\n
One of the most important jazz guitar basics to master is getting everything to swing! The easiest way to make music swing is to practice with the metronome on 2 and 4. While this is very difficult to start with, it will do wonders for your playing and timekeeping.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n