Movable Jazz Guitar Chords

Are you interested in learning more about movable jazz guitar chords? While difficult for players to learn, movable guitar chords can quickly increase a player's skill level and create more "jazz" sounding chords.

Movable jazz guitar chords are not contrary to their name: they are chords that move up or down the fretboard to produce different sounds in different keys. However, they also involve not using any open strings (strings where a players finger is not on a string but is still played).

This factor can make the chords difficult to play for two reasons. The first reason is that most movable chords do not use all of the strings and it can be especially difficult for a beginning player to pick the proper strings and make the chord sound right. The second reason is that it can be difficult to play movable chords because of the equal pressure a player must apply to multiple strings. Most barre chords and power chords are movable chords.

A few more relevant tidbits about movable chords includes the following:

• Don't be surprised that there are not movable chords for C and G major. The shapes of these chords make it difficult to play outside of the high end of the guitar neck.
• Some movable chords are straight barre chords (like A major and E minor), but others involve far more stretching of the hand (such as B minor and D major). Begin with what you can play easily, and then move up to the more advanced movable chords.

One of the simplest ways to learn how to play movable chords is to pull up a chord chart and get in some practicing. If you are having trouble playing the chord, here are a few quick tips:

• If the chord doesn't sound right, try to play each note of the chord separately. Slowly try to combine the notes (play two at a time, and then three, etc.) until you create the full chord.
• If you are trying to play a movable barre chord, concentrate on applying pressure as evenly as possible.
• Remember that movable chords can be played most places up and down the guitar's neck. If you are trying to play the chord on the first few frets, try to move it up the neck to the higher frets. Sometimes chords are easier to play higher up the neck. You can always move back to the fret where you originally tried the chord once it is easier for you to play.

Here are versions of some chords that are easy to move:

• E major - Place one finger on the seventh fret of the 2nd string, the sixth fret of the third string, the fourth fret on the fourth string and the fifth fret on the fifth string.

• F major - Place one finger on the first fret of the first string, the third fret on the second string, the fourth fret on the third string and the second fret on the fourth string.

• B minor - Place one finger on the first fret of the second string, one finger on the third fret of the third string, another finger on the fourth fret of the fourth string and another finger on the second fret on the second string.

You can also find a listing of more movable chords at The Guitar Suite. The site features several chord charts highlighting movable chords and comments on how to play them.

Guitar players expand at their own rate. If you find yourself having trouble with movable jazz chords, don't fret. Slow down and experiment at your own pace and you are sure to learn the chords soon!

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