Jazz Theory for playing Jazz music

Jazz Theory has been an integral part of my development in Jazz guitar playing. I have had the good fortune of playing with some really good piano, guitar and saxophone players. In my experiences of jazz music, I found that it was very important to know how to read, interpret and understand Chord Symbols.

In Jazz theory there are basically six chord types that are normally used in jazz music and these are:

1.Major-Major chords are written with the capital M

2.minor- minor chords are written with a small m

3.Dominant

4.Diminished

5.Augmented

6.Half-diminish

Roots are the anchors of the chord and from them, notes are placed one above the other to form chords. Chords are normally built in intervals of Major or minor 3rds, fourths and fifths, or mixed intervals.

In theory of jazz, we will first start with building triads by stacking the notes one above the other and in thirds, e.g. C, E, G, B, D, F#, A.

Jazz theory- Chords built in thirds.

1.C,E,G,=CMaj

2.E,G,B,=Em

3.G,B,D,=G

4.B,D,F#,=Bm

5.F#,A,C,=F#diminish

6.A,C,E.= Am

In Jazz sheet music you will find these Symbols used for minor chords. These minor chords are written with a small m or mi to indicate the type of intended chord.

Cm7,C-7,Cmin7,

Extensions are: CmiMaj7, Cmi6, Cmi9, Cmi11, Cmi13,

Altered Chords:

These chord extensions are used to either raise-(#) or lower a note-(b) some examples are; C7b9,C7#9,C7b5.

Symbols used are: Caug(augmented), C+

Dominant Chords in Jazz playing:

Dominant chords are the V7 chord of the scale, because of the tri-tone(diminished 5th interval B-F) it always has the tendency to want to resolve.

G7= G,B,D,F or 5,7,2,4

G7b9= G,B,F,Ab or 5,7,4,b6

G7#9= G,B,F,Bb or 5,7,4,b7

G7b5= G,B,Db,F

G11= F,A,C,/G bass or 4,6,1,/5bass

Cdim= C,Eb,Gb,A or 1,b3,b5,bb7

Half diminished chords or min7b5

F#mi7b5= F#,E,A,C or #4,3,6,1

The basic chord groups are written for you to understand how chords function and how they color the notes a sharp(#) raises the note, while a flat lowers a note

In Jazz, Major Chords are built from the notes that are diatonic or belonging to the Scale of the moment,e.g.

CMaj chord of the moment, refers to the diatonic notes or notes that belong to the scale of C Major,

Diatonic Scale in C Major: C,D,E,F,G,A,B,C

C, E, G, B, D, F, A.

C is the Root or Tonic

E is the 3rd of the root

G is the 5th from the root

B is the 7th from the root

D is the 9th from the root

F is the fourth or eleventh from the root

A is the thirteenth from the root

Another interesting short cut I learn t in theory was to learn to use Numerical s

Instead of using C,E,G, the numerical s 1, 3, 5 were used. I found this system very simple and a tremendous help, in times of transposing music.

In Texas and in Europe these numerical-numbers were used as an easy way to transpose music.

When forming a Major chord in numerals, the Root, third and fifth were used e.g. 1, 3 ,5.

So using this theory of 1, 3, 5 , from the intended root, any major chord can be easily worked out.

1.FMajor scale - F,G,A,Bb,C,D,E,F= F,A,C,FMajor =1,3,5 of the F scale.

2.BbMajor scale-Bb,C,D,Eb,F,G,A,Bb= Bb,D,F,BbMajor=1,3,5,of the Bb scale.

3.EbMajor scale-Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb,C,D,Eb=Eb,G,Bb,EbMajor=1,3,5,of the Eb scale.

Try these examples and see if you understand the theory of forming Major scales.

Jazz Theory summary.

Understand the Symbols and the Numerical s that belong to the Diatonic scale of the moment. Work out the numerical s and try them out in all 12 keys. The next lesson will be on the Extensions or Higher Tensions used in jazz theory.

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