15 Easy Jazz Guitar Chords For Beginners

How Chords Are Built ?

Chords are built with a root (1), a minor (b3) or a major third (3), a fifth which can be perfect (5), diminished (b5) or augmented (#5) and a seventh, which can be major (7), minor (b7) or diminished (bb7). 

Generally speaking, chords are constructed by stacking thirds (minor and major). Here is a summary chart about the construction of the main types of chords.

You will find below 15 guitar fretboard diagrams with formula charts related to these chords. Three positions for each type of chord. One with the root on the sixth string, one with the root on the fifth and one with the root on the fourth string.

Keep in mind that all these chord positions are movable. Find the root and you'll get the chord.

Major 7 Chords

Major seventh chords are built with root (1), major third (3), perfect fifth (5) and major seventh (7). 

Abbreviated Chord Symbols

There are several different ways of writing the same chord or scale sound. The most used symbols for major seventh chords (example in C) are CM7, C∆ and maj7. 

Minor 7th Chords

Minor seventh chords are built with root (1), minor third (b3), perfect fifth (5) and minor seventh (b7). 

Abbreviated Chord Symbols

The main symbols for minor seventh chords (example in C) are Cm7, C-7, Cmin7, Cmi7.

Dominant 7 Chords

Dominant 7th chords are made up of a root (1), a major  third (3), a perfect fifth (5) and a minor seventh (b7). 

Abbreviated Dominant 7th Chord Symbol

Basically, dominant chords are chords with just a number, without any “major” or “minor” definition but only a "7". For example, C dominant 7th will be written "C7".

Half-Diminished Chords

Half diminished chords are built with root (1), minor third (b3), diminished fifth (b5) and minor seventh (b7). They can also be named "minor seventh flat five chords" (m7b5), because they are minor seventh chord with a fifth lowered by a 1/2 step.

Half Diminished Chord Notation and Symbols

Half diminished chords may be found written in several ways : Cm7(b5), Cm7b5, Cmin7b5 or CØ. The last one should not be confused with the diminished notation that is a circle without a bar through it. 

Diminished 7th Chords

Diminished seventh chords (dim7) are made up of a root (1), a minor third (b3), a diminished fifth (b5) and a diminished seventh (bb7). Therefore, they are built with a diminished triad (1-b3-b5) and a diminished seventh interval (bb7).

Diminished 7th chord notation 

Diminished seventh chords can be written º7 or dim7. 

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