Using Jazzy Chords in Your Bluegrass Rhythm

Lesson ID: A0172

In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to use jazzy chord shapes in your bluegrass rhythm guitar. This technique will really make your rhythm guitar stand out at your next bluegrass jam. First, we’ll go over some useful jazzy chords that you can use to replace standard open chords. Then, you’ll learn some strumming patterns that work great with these jazzy chord shapes. Finally, we’ll work through a practice progression so you can get an idea of how to use these jazzy chords in a bluegrass song.

Overview

Chords & Strumming

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	G6 Chord
02:13 min	C7 Chord
03:29 min	D7 Chord
04:05 min	“Foggy Mountain Special” Chord Progression
06:24 min	Alternate Voicing for a G Major chord
08:07 min	C9 Chord
09:14 min	D9 Chord
09:38 min	Strumming Patterns
15:24 min	Standard Bass Line Walk (Available to CGO Members)
19:06 min	Jazzy Bass Line Walk (Available to CGO Members)
23:57 min	Extra Tips (Available to CGO Members)

Practice Progression

Member Content

Jam Along

Here is a video of Russ Carson and Jake Workman playing “Foggy Mountain Special” on banjo and guitar. Try jamming along by playing the jazzy practice progression that you learned in this guitar lesson. You can hear Jake Workman playing some jazzy bluegrass rhythm guitar at 1:50 in this video.