SHELL VOICINGS

Lesson by: Camilo Velandia

A "shell voicing" is a voicing of a chord that leaves out the 5th (it's unnecessary to determine major or minor ) and uses the root, the third, and the seventh. For this lesson, we are going to look at three-note shell voicings. The three-note shell voicings will give us enough information about the chord to know whether it is a major, a minor, a dominant, or diminished. The shell voicings will fit into one of two structures, and they are:

VOICING SET 1
R  III  VII

VOICING SET 2
R VII III

Now, we will take a long at the four different shapes of shell voicings, with the root starting on the 6th string. (Keep in mind these voicings are movable throughout the fretboard).

These voicings are very versatile and are great for comping with a singer.

Let's take a look at the four different shapes of shell voicings, now with the root starting on the 5th string. These are movable as well, as long as the root is on the 5th string.

A good way to practice with these, is to take them and play II V I's through all keys. Then, a step further would be to take them and use them on a standard.

Let's take a look at a few standards:

Now let's look at a longer one...

Now, let's go with a more advanced one...