Shell Voicings
Reduced chord voicings that omit the 5th
A shell voicing keeps only the notes essential to a chord's character, usually by dropping the 5th and never doubling a pitch class. The 5th is the most neutral note in a chord — it does not distinguish major from minor, or major 7th from dominant 7th — so removing it loses little while giving a clearer sound that is easier to play and to move between. Shell voicings are especially common in jazz, where tetrads change quickly into other chords or melodies.