Beginning 7 String Jazz Guitar

This lesson shows how you can adapt chord voicings you already know to the 7 string guitar. It is intedned for able jazz guitarists who are attempting to make the transition from 6 to 7 string jazz guitar. The 7th string is tuned to A, like george Van Eps. We'll look at voicings with the root on the A string, and different ways you can join them up. Change the key, play backwards, and experiment with your right hand. I Like Pick and Fingers to bring out the different parts. Enjoy! Example 1

Jazz Guitar

&
C

0 1 0 2 3

Dm9
5 5 3 5

5 5 3 5

b
E7(#9)
8 7 6 7

8 7 6 7

n
F7
10 9 8

10 9

7-string Electric Guitar

E B G D A E A

0 1 0 2 3

Example 2: Harmonised C Maj Scale. 5

J. Gtr.

w & w
C7
5 4

w w
D7
6 5

w w
E7
8 7 5 7 5 7 7 7 5

w w
F7
10 9 8 8 8 8

E. Gtr.

3 3 3 5

J. Gtr.

w w &
G7
12 10

w w
A7
13 12 10 10 10 12 12 12 12

w w
B7(b5)
15 14 14 13 14 13

w w
C7
17 16 15 15 15 15

E. Gtr.

10

13
Example 3: Turnaround with Walking Bass

J. Gtr.

w &w b
D7

w w b
G7
4 3 3 5

j n b # bb n n b b n b n b n
C7
4 2

E7 E7
6 4 5 6 7 5 7

B7
7 6 6

A7

E. Gtr.

5 3
5 5 6 4 4 5 6 5 4

3 4 3

Copyright Sam Dunn

Example 4: Bass Line in 10ths 17

J. Gtr.

& n # n
D7

# n # b
G7

# b n b b n b n b n
C7 B7
7

A7

E. Gtr.

3
5 6 4 5 6 2 4 3 5 5 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 3 4 2 3 3 5 4 6 5 6 7

Example 5: Bossa patter. Playing 7 String Really helps Bossa Accompaniment, try to make the bass part feel separate from the chords. 21 j j

J. Gtr.

E. Gtr.

nn b b n & n b n G13 C7 F9 E7 E9 Dm9 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 3 8 8 5 5 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 8 8 7 7 6 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 7 7 5 5 5 3 5 0 5 3 8 7 6

Example 6: 12 Bar Walking Blues. Play As written, then try to play the chords off the beat where possible. Experiment with sustaining certain chords over the bass line, or playing them short. Try transposing bars, or even the whole piece into different keys.

25

J. Gtr.

# &

n b # # b n n n n n n b n n b n n b b n # n b n
G7 C7
2 1 0 1 2 3 2 0 3 1 4 3 2 2

G7
5 4 3 3 6 5 6 7 5 7

D7
6 5 3 4 5

G7
5 4 3 3 4

E. Gtr.

5 4 3 3

29

J. Gtr.

# bn b b & b b n b
C7
3 3 2

# b n b b b n n
G/D C7
3 3 2 4 3 1

C
5 3 5 3 3 3 4 6 8 6 8 7 4

B7(b5)
3 2 3 1 2

E7
7 6 6 7

5 4 3 5

E. Gtr.

33

J. Gtr.

# n n n n & n b n # n # b n b n b #
A7
5 5 5 0 3 4 3 4

# b
A7
5 5 5 0

D7
5 4 5 5 5 6 5 4 4

G13
5 4 3 3 6

E7
7 6 6 7

D7

5 4 4 5

E. Gtr.