Today I’m going to show you a super cool concept on guitar that starts off as a fun party trick, but actually lays the foundation for jazz guitar.

You’ll be able to play everything in this lesson in just 5 to 10 minutes – I promise. I even taught this exact lesson at a local high school during a clinic for junior guitar players, and now I’ve updated it for YouTube.

The Concept: Less Is More

In jazz, we don’t always need big, full chords that use every string. Instead, we often use smaller 3-note chord voicings that sound clean, smooth, and pro.

🎸 Here are the 3 chord shapes you’ll learn:

• Major 7: Index is on the root note, middle and ring are one fret higher.
• Minor 7: All three fingers line up on the same fret.
• Dominant 7: Ring finger is one fret higher than index and middle.

That’s it – just 3 shapes!

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Step-by-Step: Chord Progression

We build chords off the root note on the 6th string.

Here’s the main progression:

1. A♭maj7 – Index on 4th fret, use Major 7 shape
2. B♭min7 – Index on 6th fret, use Minor 7 shape
3. A7 – From the previous shape, move index/middle back one fret. Ring finger stays.

See how similar they are?

These slide around the fretboard easily – no need to lift your fingers! In fact, many people find this easier than basic chords like C or G.

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Add the Fingerpicking Pattern

Once you’re comfy with the shapes and changes, add this fingerpicking pattern:

Do this pattern a few times on each chord to get into the groove.

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Want a Challenge?

Try adding a light smack on beats 2 and 4 to get more of a rhythmic jazz feel.

1. Practice it on a single chord
2. Then try it through the whole progression

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Practice Materials + More

🎵 Want to go deeper into fingerstyle? Check out my full fingerstyle course

If you’re already in the course, don’t forget to share your progress in the Good Guitarist Community. I love seeing what you’re working on!

Have fun practicing and I’ll see you soon!