Clinical Informaticist · Pediatric Hem/Onc / Arkansas Children's · UAMS · Little Rock, AR
Index/Projects/Shell Chords

Shell Chords.

Jazz shell chord voicings — root, 3rd, and 7th. The harmonic skeleton of jazz guitar.

Chord Reference

Shell chords use only three notes: root, third, and seventh. The fifth is dropped. These guide tones define chord quality and create smooth voice leading through any progression. Shown here in G — use the Explorer to transpose to any key.

Dominant 7

G7str 6-4-3
3freBGDAE×××Rb73
Dom7 — Root on 6
G7str 5-4-3
9freBGDAE×××R3b7
Dom7 — Root on 5

Major 7

Gmaj7str 6-4-3
3freBGDAE×××Rmaj73
Maj7 — Root on 6
Gmaj7str 5-4-3
9freBGDAE×××R3maj7
Maj7 — Root on 5

Major 6

Gmaj6str 6-4-3
2freBGDAE×××R63
Maj6 — Root on 6
Gmaj6str 5-4-3
9freBGDAE×××R36
Maj6 — Root on 5

Minor 7

Gm7str 6-4-3
3freBGDAE×××Rb7b3
Min7 — Root on 6
Gm7str 5-4-3
8freBGDAE×××Rb3b7
Min7 — Root on 5

Minor 6

Gmin6str 6-4-3
2freBGDAE×××R6b3
Min6 — Root on 6
Gmin6str 5-4-3
8freBGDAE×××Rb36
Min6 — Root on 5

Minor 7♭5

Gm7♭5str 6-3-2
2freBGDAE×××Rb3b5
Min7♭5 — Root on 6
Gm7♭5str 5-4-3
10freBGDAE×××Rb5b7
Min7♭5 — Root on 5

Go deeper in the Explorer

Transpose to any key, switch between voicings, and see tritone substitutions in real time.