More Jazz Chords

Major 6 or 13 Chords

Here are some Major 6 or 13 jazz chords. Chords

named, for example C6, C69, or C13 are the same thing.

These chords are written in music form below.

Play these chords above with the mp3 below. Each chord should be played for 4 beats and just go around the circle!

MINOR7THmp3.mp3

7b9 Chords

There are really only three 7b9 chords. So if you want to play a B7b9, D7b9, F7b9, or Ab7b9 you would play the notes in the first chord below IN ANY ORDER THAT YOU LIKE.

To figure out the correct 7b9 chord in your head, you need to know what the b9 note is. The b9 note of a chord is 1/2 step up from the name of the chord. For example, if you want to play a C7b9, you find the b9, which is Db(C#). You then go to the chart above and find the chord that has a C# in it. If you want to play a G7b9 then the b9 is Ab(G#). Look up to the chart and find the chord with an Ab(G#). If you can find your chords this way, then there is really no need for you to look at the 7b9 chart below. If you don't understand this explanation then you can just use the chart below.

Half Diminished Chords

Here we have half diminished chords. Composers write the term "half diminished" 4 different ways but they mean the EXACT same thing: D-7b5, Dm7b5, Dmin7b5 or with a circle with a slash like this:

Dimished Chords

Composers write diminished chords 3 different ways: Ddim, Ddim7 and the other one has a little circle that means diminished:

There are really only 3 diminished chords. So if you wanted to play a Cdim, Ebdim, F#dim, or Adim, you would play the notes in the first chord below IN ANY ORDER THAT YOU LIKE.

Actually, these are the exact same notes as the 7b9 chords. BUT, if the chord is, say, Cdim, then you just find the chord that has a C in it. You don't have to think 1/2 step up like in 7b9 chords. Here are two examples of the difference in dim and 7b9:

Notice that the dim chord actually has the note name of the chord in it. For example, Cdim has C in the chord. But the 7b9 chords don't have the name of the chord in it. For example, to play a C7b9 chord you have to find the b9, which is C# and play that dimished chord. It's interesting to note that the Cdim and the Adim chords above have exactly the same notes, just in a different order, so you can play either one for each chord. The same is true for the C7b9 and A7b9.

251HALFD.mp3

Aug or + Chords

Here we have Aug, or + chords. Composers write these chords two different ways: either G+ or Gaug. They mean exactlly the same thing.

There are really only 4 aug, or + chords. So if you wanted to play a C aug, E aug, or G# aug, you would play the notes in the first chord below IN ANY ORDER THAT YOU LIKE.

Playing the Half dim-7b9-Major13 sheet

*It would be best to print these sheets out before attempting this exercise*

Play the chords on the Reference sheet below using the pattern from the Half dim-7b9 Major13 chord sheet above on the left, holding each of the first 2 chords for a measure and then holding the maj13 or 6 chords for 2 measures. We are holding these chords out a specific period of time because when you later play this exercise with the recording, that is how long you will need to hold them.

The first three chords on the above sheet are Cm7b5-F7b9-Bb6. When you look at the chords below, you see that the very first chord is the Cm7b5. Hold that chord for a measure, then go down a staff just below the Cm7b5 and there is your second chord, F7b9. Hold that F7b9 for a measure, then go down another staff and there is your third chord Bb6, and hold that for 2 measures.

The next 3 chords on the sheet above are Bm7b5-E7b9-Amaj13. They are lined up below, just like the first three chords were. Play them; Bm7b5-E7b9-Amaj13, always holding the first 2 chords for 1 measure each and holding the maj13(or 6) for 2 measures. Then go to the next 3 lined up chords... and you get the pattern. When you see the pattern, you can just read the music below and not have to look at the chart above. When you get good at the chords, PLAY ALONG WITH THE MP3 JUST ABOVE THE REFERENCE SHEET! REMEMBER to hold the first 2 chords for 1 measure each and the maj7s for 2 measures because that is how it is on the recording.

If you will be playing these chords with a band, then these chords should be played with your LEFT HAND. With your right hand, pick one note from the chord that you are playing with your left hand, and play it higher with your right hand. You should also play that note in octaves. You should almost always play both hands at the same time.

251HALFD.mp3

*Print out this chart. To print, just click the chart. It has every half dim, 7b9, and maj13 chord that you will need.*

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