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15 Popular Jazz Chords
One of jazz music’s most prominent characteristics is its rich harmony. Unlike many other forms of music, it’s full of intricate chord progressions and full-bodied chords. It can look a little intimidating to an outsider looking in, but anyone with a basic knowledge of chord structures is not too far off!
In this post, we will explore 15 basic, root position jazz piano And Guitar chords you can incorporate into your piano playing—whether you are new to jazz piano And Guitar playing or have been trying to improve your jazz chops for a while.
The piano chords we’ll cover are found across so many common jazz chord progressions. By learning these 15 jazz Guitar And piano chords (in every key), you can play through any jazz standards you come across.
We’ll cover essential major chords, dominant chords, minor chords, the diminished chord, and essential extensions so you’ll be able to sit in with other jazz musicians at the next jam session:
Major 7th Chords
Major 9th Chords
Major 6/9 Chords
Dominant 7th Chords
Dominant 9 Chords
Dominant 7(b9) Chords
Dominant 7(#9) Chords
Dominant 7(#5) Chords
Dominant 7(b5) Chords
Minor 7th Chords
Minor 9 Chords
Minor 6 Chords
Minor 7(b5) Chords
Diminished 7th Chords
How To Understand The Music Theory Behind These Guitar And Piano Jazz Chords Charts
We will play all these jazz chords from the root note of C, so you won’t have to worry about transposing these shapes… yet! Though, to master Guitar And piano jazz chords (and jazz piano And Guitar more broadly), you’ll want to take these 15 jazz [Guitar And piano] chords through all 12 keys.
Also, we’ll give numeric formulas for each chord based on the distance away from the root note, which is C in this case. These numeric formulas are based on the twelve tones in the octave. We can build the C major scale using this formula, and it looks like this:
- C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C
- rt. – 2nd – 3rd – 4th – 5th – 6th – 7th – 8th
Therefore, a C major triad would look like this: [rt. – 3rd – 5th], and a C major 7th chord would look like this: [rt. – 3rd – 5th – 7th]. We use (#) or (b) to denote pitches outside of C major for alterations to the numeric formula.
So, dominant chords are spelled like this: [rt. – 3rd – 5th – b7th] and minor 7th chords are spelled like this: [rt. – b3rd – 5th – b7th].
1. Major 7th Guitar And Piano Jazz Chord
- Formula: Root-3rd-5th-7th
- Notes for Cmaj7: C-E-G-B
This basic major 7th chord is commonly used as a key center’s I chord. Here’s what the notes look like on the piano And Guitar:
2. Major 9th Guitar And Piano Jazz Chord
- Formula: Root-3rd-5th-7th-9th
- Notes for Cmaj9: C-E-G-B-D
This major chord is an extension of the Major 7th chord. You are adding the 9th to the top of the voicing. Here’s what the notes look like on the piano And Guitar:
3. Major 7(b5) or (#11) Guitar And Piano Jazz Chord
- Formula: Root-3rd-b5-7th
- Notes for Cmaj7(b5): C-E-Gb-B
This chord is often used as a I chord in a given key and is sometimes substituted for the Cmaj7 for more of a Lydian approach. Here’s what the notes look like on the piano And Guitar:
4. Major 6/9 Guitar And Piano Jazz Chord
- Formula: Root-3rd-6th-9th
- Notes for C6/9: C-E-A-D
This one is often written out as the I chord in a song or simply used as a replacement for a major 7th chord. Note that the 6th replaces the 5th, and the 7th is left out. Here’s what the notes look like on the piano And Guitar:
5. Dominant 7th Guitar And Piano Jazz Chord
- Formula: Root-3rd-5th-b7
- Notes for C7: C-E-G-Bb
Dominant 7th jazz chords are used for many different purposes. In a blues, it can represent the I7 or IV7 chord. It often is used as a V chord moving to a I chord, or it can sometimes be substituted for a minor vi chord, among others. Here’s what the notes look like on the piano And Guitar:
6. Dominant 9 Guitar And Piano Jazz Chord
- Formula: Root-3rd-5th-b7-9th
- Notes for C9: C-E-G-Bb-D
This dominant chord can be substituted for most dominant 7th chords and is simply adding the 9th as an extension. Here’s what the notes look like on the piano And Guitar:
7. Dominant 7(b9) Guitar And Piano Jazz Chord
- Formula: Root-3rd-5th-b7-b9
- Notes for C7(b9): C-E-G-Bb-Db
This is another extension of a dominant 7th chord often used to voice lead to a I chord. Here’s what the notes look like on the piano And Guitar:
8. Dominant 7(#9) Guitar And Piano Jazz Chord
- Formula: Root-3rd-5th-b7-#9
- Notes for C7(#9): C-E-G-Bb-Eb(D#)
This dominant 7th chord extension can add tension leading to the I chord but can also be used in a blues situation on the I7 chord. Here’s what the notes look like on the piano And Guitar:
9. Dominant 7(b5) Guitar And Piano Jazz Chord
- Formula: Root-3rd-b5-b7
- Notes for C7(b5): C-E-Gb-Bb
This chord can also be a dominant 7(#11) chord if you use the b5 (or #11) as an extension. You will see this chord specifically asked for in certain jazz standards. Here’s what the notes look like on the piano And Guitar:
10. Dominant 7(#5) Guitar And Piano Jazz Chord
- Formula: Root-3rd-#5-b7
- Notes for C7(#5): C-E-G#-Bb
This chord can also be a dominant 7(#11) chord if you use the #5 (or #11) as an extension. You will see this chord specifically asked for in certain jazz standards. Here’s what the notes look like on the piano And Guitar:
11. Minor 7th Guitar And Piano Jazz Chord
- Formula: Root-b3-5th-b7
- Notes for Cm7: C-Eb-G-Bb
These chords are used in many situations, such as a minor i chord or minor vi, iv, iii, or ii chords. Here’s what the notes look like on the piano And Guitar:
12. Minor 9 Guitar And Piano Jazz Chord
- Formula: Root-b3-5th-b7-9
- Notes for Cm9: C-Eb-G-Bb-D
This is a common extension for a minor chord, and it’s best used on minor i, iv, or ii chords. Here’s what the notes look like on the piano And Guitar:
13. Minor 6 Guitar And Piano Jazz Chord
- Formula: Root-b3-5-6
- Notes for Cm6: C-Eb-G-A
This chord is often substituted for a i chord minor 7th or originally written that way. Here’s what the notes look like on the piano And Guitar:
14. Minor 7(b5) Guitar And Piano Jazz Chord
- Formula: Root-b3-b5-b7
- Notes for a Cm7(b5): C-Eb-Gb-Bb
This chord is almost always used as a ii chord in a minor ii-V-i. From time to time, it is also used as a passing chord. Here’s what the notes look like on the piano And Guitar:
15. Diminished 7th Guitar And Piano Jazz Chord
- Formula: Root-b3-b5-bb7
- Notes for a Cdim7: C-Eb-Gb-A
Diminished 7th chords have an extensive study of theory around them. They can be substituted and used in many different ways. Some common uses are passing chords or substitutions for a dominant 7(b9) chord. Here are the notes:
We’ve covered basic root position major chords, minor chords, dominant chords, and even diminished chords. So what’s next? Now we can use all these jazz Guitar and piano chords in some actual jazz harmony.
Using Root Position Jazz Piano Chords In A Chord Progression
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