Jazz Guitar Lesson - A Simple Jazz Progression

Let’s start with the chords we are going to be playing - GM7, G#dim7, Am7, and D7.

To comp or play rhythm with these chords, I am using my fingers. My thumb is playing the lowest note of the chord with my other fingers each playing a particular string - with a GM7 chord, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings. When playing these chords and most jazz related chords, you won't play any strings you don’t have fingers on. This is not a rule, but just a common occurance. Let’s look at the whole chord progression. Here’s a variation on this rhythm figure. Play the thumb first and then the other fingers. I am muting the strings after I play by resting my fingers on the string.