Lesson 04: Top-Note Voicings

Practice Goals:

• To master new chord forms that utilize the higher strings (1-4), known as Top-Note Voicings.
• To develop the ability to consciously control the highest note of a chord, creating melodic lines within your accompaniment.
• To expand your comping vocabulary with sophisticated voicings that work well in a band setting.

 

In our last lesson, we learned the foundational chord forms rooted on the 6th and 5th strings. But as you start playing with other musicians, you quickly have a realization: those trusty, full-sounding chords can sometimes feel heavy and clunky. I can't tell you how many times I found myself fighting for space with the bass player or creating a muddy sound with the piano.

My first breakthrough in solving this problem came when I changed my perspective. I stopped seeing chords as just big, six-string "chunks" of harmony and started seeing them as "melodic groups" led by their highest note. This is the world of Top-Note Voicings. Today, we're going to learn how to control the highest note of your chords and make them sing like a melody.

What is a Top-Note Voicing?

A "voicing" is the art of arranging or stacking the notes of a chord. The same C△7 can have a completely different color and feel depending on which note is placed on top. Top-Note Voicing is the technique of intentionally choosing which chord tone (Root, 3rd, 5th, or 7th) will be the highest sounding note of the chord.

I like to compare this concept to a vocal group. The top note is the group's "lead singer," and the notes below are the "harmony members." The entire character of the group can change depending on who is singing the lead. By changing your top note, you can express the same chord in a variety of colorful ways. This skill is essential for elevating your comping and soloing to the next level.

The Four Top-Note Voicings

1. Root as the Top Note 

This is the most stable and foundational voicing. I’ll never forget the "aha!" moment I had with this shape. If you look closely at the 6th-string root barre chord from Lesson 3, you'll see that this new voicing is simply the top part of that bigger shape. It’s like discovering a miniature, more agile version of something you already knew.

2. 3rd as the Top Note 

Because the 3rd determines a chord's quality (major or minor), this voicing makes the chord's character sound out most clearly. The root of this voicing is found on the 4th string, which is exactly one octave up from the 6th-string root. This proves that every new voicing is just a hidden facet of a shape you are already familiar with.

3. 5th as the Top Note 

The 5th is the "pillar" that gives a chord stability. Placing it on top creates a neutral and clean sound. The easiest way to think about this voicing is by relating it to the 5th-string root forms. The note on the 1st string at the same fret as the root on the 5th string is the 5th. Understanding these relationships turns memorization into logical deduction.

4. 7th as the Top Note 

This voicing emphasizes the 7th, the note that gives jazz chords their sophisticated color. Using this voicing on a △7 chord creates a beautiful, dreamy atmosphere, while using it on a 7 (dominant) chord maximizes its exciting tension.

Completing the 16 Block Chords

So, for each of our four basic chord types (△7, 7, m7, m7♭5), we can now create four distinct voicings based on the top note. This gives us a complete set of 4 x 4 = 16 new chord forms. In jazz, this set of voicings is often referred to as "Block Chords."

At first, the number 16 can feel overwhelming. My students always ask, "When am I ever going to memorize all of these?" My answer is always the same: "Don't try to memorize them. Play with them." Pick one chord, cycle through the four top-note voicings, and just listen to the sound change. When you connect the shape to the sound, your fingers will start to remember on their own.

CHALLENGE

Applying Top-Note Voicings to an 'Autumn Leaves' Progression

Theory truly comes to life in practice. Let's take the chord progression from the famous jazz standard "Autumn Leaves" and apply the block chord voicings we learned today.

The 16 top-note voicings we learned today are a lot to take in. To be honest, it will likely take two months or more of consistent practice before these chords feel completely natural in your hands and you can use them freely in any situation.

But don't be impatient. This is more than just a memorization task; it's a process of learning to see the fretboard more broadly and to understand the colors of harmony on a deeper level. It is the most direct path to elevating your playing from a beginner to an intermediate level.

Even mastering just one or two new shapes a day is great progress. If you practice consistently, you'll eventually discover that your accompaniment has become much more colorful and sophisticated. 

And if you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below