Jazz Guitar 3 note voicing system

Believe it or not, over 90% of the chords you will play on your guitar are based on these three chords, the -7, dominant 7th and the major 7th chords. One of the easiest ways to remember guitar chords is to think of them in shapes. So to become a good jazz guitar player in a jazz band, you first need to memorize all the chromatic notes on the two bottom strings. Use the dots to help you accomplish this task. After you have memorized all the notes on the bottom two strings, notice that the 3 note voicing system either bases the chord on the 6th string or the 5th string. Then, the next step is to memorize the 3 shapes with their chord qualities on the 6th (lowest) string, and then the 3 shapes with their chord qualities on the 5th string. 

When you are first starting out, you will want to only stay on one string. This will sometimes require you to have to slide your hand a long ways to get to the chords you need. But when you get better, you will learn that if you can play chords going between the strings that you will not need to move your hand on the fretboard so much. This will allow you to play quicker tunes without too much trouble.

*7th chords require 4 notes, but the 3 note system omits the 5th of the chord. This is perfectly fine because often the 5th is being played by the bass and piano. Also, 3 note voicings can sound cleaner in situations where you are playing with a piano. 

1. Memorize all the chromatic notes on the 5th and 6th strings. (These are the two lowest strings.)

2. Memorize the shapes and their chord qualites on string 5. Only strum strings 5, 4 and 3.

3. Realize that the shapes are MOVEABLE! Wherever your finger is on the 5th string is the name of your chord!

4. Memorize the shapes and their chord qulaities on string 6. Learn to mute string 5 while playing these shapes. Strum strings 6 through 3.

5. Realize that the shapes are MOVEABLE! Wherever your finger is on the 6th string is the name of your chord!

6. Begin to notice how you can go between the strings so you don't have to move your hands too much.