Intro to Jazz Piano Chords in 7 Days
Build an authentic jazz chord vocabulary
Beginner piano players
This class is designed for beginners who can play in time with both hands. If you know basic triads and can play the C major scale, you’re ready to begin.
7 days
Josh will guide you through 7 days of step-by-step instruction with daily practice plans and assessments.
Foundational jazz vocab
Transform basic chords into authentic jazz voicings while building up vocabulary you'll use every time you sit at the piano.
Take the next step
Once you've mastered this challenge, keep learning with more challenges and guided Learning Pathways.
What you'll learn
In this class, Josh Jacobson breaks down the core sounds that give jazz piano its unmistakable character. Each day, you'll learn a practical concept that you can immediately apply in guided exercises and jam sessions
- Learn the language of jazz
- Comp through essential progressions
- Demystify the theory of voice leading
- Develop your rhythm skills
Curriculum
Stay focused with this step-by-step learning program designed by our expert team of music educators.
Your guided learning experience
In this 7-day Challenge, Josh will help you learn the three core skills that define classic and modern jazz: lush 7th chords, smooth voice leading, and a swung groove.
Major 7 chords
Jazz might sound complicated, but getting started is easier than you think.
You'll kick off the class by learning one of the most foundational sounds in jazz: the major 7 chord.
In this lesson, Josh will show you how to turn a basic triad into a more colorful two-hand voicing.
Connected chord movement
Next, you'll discover how jazz pianists connect chords with minimal movement.
By working on a simple Cmaj7 - Fmaj7 progression with small hand shifts and shared notes, you'll learn how to make your chord changes sound smoother and more musical.
Minor and dominant harmony
With your major 7 chords feeling comfortable, you'll add two more essential chord types: minor 7 and dominant 7.
These new sounds will open the door to iconic chord progressions that define jazz. You'll also start connecting these chords with smooth voice leading so they feel natural under your fingers.
Day 6. Jazz harmony and the ii-V-I
Josh will introduce the number system, and then you’ll learn the most important progression in all of jazz: the ii-V-I. You’ll learn how to comp through this progression with connected chord movement.
Day 7. Adding the vi chord
Round out your jazz vocabulary by adding the vi chord and using it in the classic I-vi-ii-V turnaround. This progression is a staple of jazz and a great way to tie everything you've learned together
Performances
You’ll finish the challenge by applying your new chord vocabulary in a full performance piece. These arrangements combine 7th chords, voice leading, and comping patterns so you can hear how these concepts come together in real music.
Day 1. Major 7 chords
You’ll start the class by learning how one added note can completely change the sound of a basic chord. Josh will show you how to build major 7 chords, spread the notes across both hands, and begin playing with a swing feel.
Josh will help you turn basic C and F major triads into colorful voicings that define the sound of jazz. You’ll practice closed shapes and two-hand voicings to help the sound feel familiar from day one.
Days 2-3. Chord changes and voice leading
In these lessons, you’ll learn how to connect Cmaj7 and Fmaj7 in a jazzier way. You’ll practice moving between chords with better timing, cleaner transitions, and less unnecessary movement.
Day 2. Cmaj7 to Fmaj7
You’ll combine your first two jazz chords into a simple I-IV progression. Josh will guide you through left-hand movement and right-hand shapes so you can change chords with more feel and control.
Day 3. Voice leading Cmaj7 to Fmaj7
Now, you’ll make that same progression sound more connected using voice leading. Josh will show you how to keep common tones in place and use smaller right-hand movements to create a more polished jazz piano sound.
Days 4-5. Minor and dominant 7 chords
In these lessons, you’ll expand your chord vocabulary with two more essential jazz sounds: minor 7 and dominant 7 chords. These chords will help you hear how jazz harmony creates color, as well as tension and release.
Day 4. Minor 7th chords
Josh will show you how to move your 7th-chord shape through the key of C to create Dm7 and Em7. You’ll practice standard and alternate voicings while building muscle memory for common jazz changes.
Day 5. Dominant 7th chords
In this lesson, you’ll learn one of the most important tension-building sounds in jazz: the dominant 7th chord. Josh will guide you through G7 voicings, comping rhythms, and different progressions so you can hear how dominant harmony pushes the music forward.
Days 6-7. Jazz progressions
In the final two days, you’ll use everything you’ve learned to play two foundational progressions in jazz: the ii-V-I and the I-vi-ii-V turnaround.
Day 6. Jazz harmony and the ii-V-I
Josh will introduce the number system and show you how the ii, V, and I chords work together in the most common progression in jazz. You’ll practice right-hand voice leading, root movement, and simple comping ideas.
Day 7. Adding the vi chord
To finish the class, you’ll add Am7 and use it in a classic I-vi-ii-V turnaround. Josh will bring in a bossa nova-inspired feel so you can practice your new chord vocabulary with a relaxed groove and stronger rhythmic awareness.
Performances
Now that you’ve worked through the core sounds of jazz piano chords, it’s time to use them in full performance pieces. You’ll play two original Josh Jacobson arrangements that combine 7th-chord voicings, connected harmony, and beginner-friendly comping ideas.
REAL students
Don’t take our word for it, take theirs
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Your Instructor
Josh Jacobson
With roots in both jazz and contemporary music, Josh Jacobson helps pianists discover the sounds and techniques that make jazz so rewarding to play.
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