Joe Pass Guitar Chords (Mel Bay Presents) by Joe Pass

One of the finest books available on jazz guitar chords. Joe covers all the bases with two sections on chord forms and chord passages. Chords are divided into six categories: Major, Seventh, Augmented, Minor, Diminished, and Minor Seventh Flat Fifth, each showing substitutions and inversions that Joe would play when confronted with "basic" chord symbols. The chord passage section is divided into nine categories, including such topics as Major Sounds, Diminished Sounds, Augmented Sounds, Standard Patter Chord Substitutions, and other chord progression - related topics.

My guitar teacher recommended this to me, and I was surprised when I got it. It was so short, compared to the Ted Greene bible of every chord ever made! Where were the chord names? Not even the roots were marked! What was I supposed to do with this book?

My teacher told me to take each chord and try different roots on it. One shape can have several distinct functions. Record each voicing in a modal vamp that ascends chromatically each measure and practice playing a coherent line over it. Use one voicing to play a whole progression, or practice voice leading with many different chords. If you're willing to experiment, everything you really need to know about jazz chords is in this book.