Chords
Shell voicing
A shell voicing strips a seventh chord down to three notes: root, third and seventh. It is the simplest and clearest way to play jazz chords on guitar.
What is a shell voicing?
A seventh chord has four notes: 1, 3, 5, 7. The fifth adds almost nothing to its identity. A shell voicing drops it and keeps root, third and seventh.
The third tells you major or minor, the seventh tells you maj7, 7 or m7. Those two notes are the chord's guide tones. The result: three notes, three fingers and a clean sound that leaves room for the singer, the bass player and the soloist. It is the rhythm guitar sound of Freddie Green in the Count Basie Orchestra.
Shell voicing shapes to learn
There are two layouts for each root string: 1-7-3 (seventh in the middle) and 1-3-7 (third in the middle).
| Chord | 1-7-3 | 1-3-7 |
|---|---|---|
| Gmaj7 | 3x44xx | 324xxx |
| G7 | 3x34xx | 323xxx |
| Gm7 | 3x33xx | 313xxx |
| Cmaj7 | x3x45x | x324xx |
| C7 | x3x35x | x323xx |
| Cm7 | x3x34x | x313xx |
In 3x34xx (G7): G on the low E string at fret 3, F on the D string at fret 3, B on the G string at fret 4. Mute the A string with the underside of the finger playing the root. One exception: in a m7♭5 chord the flat fifth defines the sound, so add it on the B string, for example Gm7♭5 = 3x332x (G F B♭ D♭).
Example: a ii-V-I in C without moving your hand
Alternate the two layouts so the guide tones move in small steps:
- Dm7: x535xx (D F C)
- G7: 3x34xx (G F B)
- Cmaj7: x324xx (C E B)
On the D and G strings, F stays put from Dm7 to G7 while C slips down a half step to B, then F falls to E while B stays. Apart from the bass, only one note moves at each change. That is the essence of a well-played ii-V-I. Then play only the D and G strings (xx35xx, xx34xx, xx24xx): you can still hear the progression with no roots at all.
When should you use a shell instead of a full chord?
- In a big band or with a pianist: fewer notes, fewer collisions.
- To read a jazz chart: with six shapes you can comp through almost any standard.
- As a base for extensions: add a ninth or thirteenth on the B string and the shell becomes an extended chord.
- To improvise: shell notes are ideal targets for your lines. The solo builder shows these target notes for each chord of a progression.
For four notes on adjacent strings, move on to the drop 2 voicing.
Key takeaways
- Shell = 1, 3, 7: the fifth is gone.
- Two layouts, 1-7-3 and 1-3-7, with the root on the low E or A string.
- Alternating them gives a ii-V-I where, above the bass, only one note moves at a time.
- Shells are the ideal voicing type to start jazz comping.
Frequently asked questions
Why drop the fifth and not the third?
Because the perfect fifth is shared by major, minor and dominant chords, so it distinguishes nothing. The third and seventh define the chord quality. Without them, the ear cannot tell Cmaj7 from C7 or Cm7.
Do shell voicings sound good without a bass player?
Yes, because they keep the root in the bass. Rootless versions (third and seventh only) do need a bass player or pianist covering the bass.
What is the difference between a shell voicing and a power chord?
A power chord has root and fifth, no third, so it is neither major nor minor. A shell voicing does the opposite: it keeps the third and seventh and drops the fifth, which makes it harmonically precise.
Related terms
Practise in the workshop
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