A Chordal Concept for Jazz Guitar (Revised Edition): Guitar Book

This book refuses to treat chords as isolated patterns. O'Mara builds understanding progressively from triads upward, grounding each new concept in the logic of how chords function and relate to one another. Your students will finally grasp why certain substitutions work, not just which fingerings to use.

The book unfolds like a conversation with someone who has spent years figuring out why certain voicings work. It's methodical and logical, but never dry, each new concept builds naturally on what came before, creating the kind of clarity that makes improvisation feel possible.

Guitarists with foundational knowledge who are ready to understand jazz harmony rather than just memorize voicings. This works well for students transitioning from classical or pop styles into jazz, or any guitarist who has felt limited by a shape-based approach.

• Work through the triadic foundation thoroughly before moving to 7th chords. A guitarist who truly understands three-note shapes will learn extensions and substitutions far more quickly.
• Test yourself on chord substitution relationships by playing the same progression multiple ways. This active experimentation is where the book's logic clicks into place.
• Apply the concepts to tunes you're already playing. Hook the new material directly to real changes from standards or contemporary repertoire.

Assign this as a standalone study or anchor it to your jazz ensemble repertoire. Students working through it will bring more thoughtful voicing choices to rehearsals and will ask smarter questions about what they're playing.

• Recognizing and voicing major, minor, and dominant seventh triads across the fingerboard
• Understanding chord extensions (9ths, 11ths, 13ths) and their function in jazz contexts
• Applying chord substitution relationships (tritone, relative minor, modal interchange) to standard progressions
• Reading and executing complex jazz voicings from lead sheets
• Analyzing and reharmonizing chord changes using logical principles rather than memorized patterns