Zakk Jones Explains How to Add Spice To Basic Triads

ByZakk Jones February 7, 2022February 7, 2022

???? CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE to JAZZ GUITAR TODAY YOUTUBE Tons of great interviews and studies… Subscribe, watch, learn, and be informed on the latest in contemporary improvisational music language and the artist who are leading us all …

JGT contributor Zakk Jones provides a quick lesson that should add some spice to those basic triads.

For those brave souls that dare enter the world of jazz harmony on the guitar, it can be very easy to get lost in a sea of extensions, alterations, and dense voicings. We have to remember that Western harmony is predominantly built with triads. Even our most widely extended chords are often just a series of triads stacked on top of each other:

Cma13#11 = C E G B D F# A or…C, Em, G, Bm, D, Am triads.

Having a command of our triad inversions on every string set (any three consecutive strings) in both closed and open/spread positions will give us a strong foundation on which we can start hearing and applying more advanced harmonies. In this lesson, I talk about “Add2” or “Add9” chords and their inversions. This is a simple 4-note chord, but instead of having a 7th, we add the 2 (or 9, depending on how you think of it) instead. This lesson covers the I, ii, IV, and V chords in C major, in two basic progressions (I IV V and ii V I). I’m playing drop 2 voicings and their inversions, all of which can be found in the accompanying handouts.

C(add2) = C D E G

Dm(add2)) = D E F A

F(add2) = F G A C

G(add2) = G A B D

This is just the beginning of a series of video lessons that will cover triads and their many applications. I overwhelmingly visualize the fretboard in terms of triad shapes and it’s been invaluable in my development to practice and internalize these all over the neck and in many different harmonic progressions/tunes etc. I hope you find some lovely new sounds with this “Add2” concept!

Subscribe to Jazz Guitar Today – it’s FREE!

Zakk Jones

Zakk Jones is an Ohio based guitarist, bandleader, composer and educator. In 2022 he received his Master's of Music in Jazz Studies from Bowling Green State University, and holds a B.M. in Jazz Studies from Capital University. He is currently an adjunct professor and head of guitar studies in the Conservatory of Music at Capital University, where he directs the big band, guitar ensembles, and teaches applied lessons. In addition he is the guitar area coordinator at Truman State University. As an educator, Zakk has previously been on faculty at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University, Bowling Green State University, and hosts online masterclasses for students from around the world. Outside of his busy gigging and teaching schedule, Zakk is an avid composer/arranger, writes educational articles for JazzGuitarToday.com and hosts the podcast "Beyond The Frets".