Learning Jazz, 17 new chord shapes, any help?!

So after 20 odd years of playing I went for lessons, it really bucked up my technique and helped my theory no end. My teacher always plays jazzy noodles. I very sheepishly looked at him and said I would like to play jazz, I like jazz but don't think I'm 'good enough' Jazz is for elite guitarists. 
we started with Ella Fitzgerald, It's only a paper moon - a great introduction. 
Next Laver Baker, on reunion day. lots of 6th, 7th, 9th and minor 7th chords. I know 2/3 of these shapes, but these chord aren't sticking, every time I play along, I'm like 'what the hell shape is that chord' i have to look it up. quite simply all the numbers after the chords might be confusing me.

Any advice from the jazzers, thank you.

I like Jens Larsen's explanation which is to think of the basic chord and then all the notes you play in the bar are just additional notes. Yes, technically you can write out each chord plus melody note as a different chord but for some it helps to keep it simple: chord plus melody (and/or bass notes). In time your curiosity will lead you to want to know what chords these are, such as A7 plus a B is A9, Am7 plus an Eb is Am7b5, just to give two examples. Don't try to jam too much new stuff into your head all at once; take it at whatever pace is comfortable for you.

Whistler said:

… think of the basic chord and then all the notes you play in the bar are just additional notes...

Very much this. Even simple chords are just extra notes on top of the root, 5th, 3rd, 7th, minor 3rd, minor 7th. With jazz chords it just keeps going. Most of these notes can be added to an existing shape. Sometimes you have to change your fingering to make the resultant shape playable. There very few usable chord shapes which don’t look like they were based on CAGED shapes, and you pick these up when you need them. I’ve being playing for 50 something years, and it was only last month that I used x6576x for the first time.

Hard work. 

Unless you're playing solo, don't bother. Just use basic Maj/Mi/7 chords and let the rest of the ensemble fill the rest out. Particularly root notes, they're for the bassist ;)

GuyBoden said:

My experience:

Chords go by very fast on Jazz standards, so you need to be fast, I only use three note basic shell voicings.

Root+7th+3rd(10th)

I only use three chord types:  Major 7, minor 7 and Dom 7.

I ignore any chord extensions, Dm7b5, G7b5 etc

So for Dm7-G7-CM7

Dm7 uses notes D-C-F

G7 uses notes G-F-B

CM7 uses notes C-B-E

So, I would suggest, using these three chord types with three note chord voicings, then you can play almost all Jazz Standard.

Advanced:

Drop the root, play 3rd and 7ths, if playing with a fussy Bass player or piano player.

Play substitute chords to vary your comping. Sub like Db7 for G7 etc

Edit: Don't get bogged down learning too many chord types, you'll never remember or need them all.

The guy who is really good on YouTube is Adam Levy. He is also interviewed on "That Pedal Show".
  Look up his video on shell chords. He does a really good video on how to play the song " All of me "
  The word Jazz can sound intimidating and complicated but like most things it doesn't have to be.
  I'm 73 and have played guitar since 1960s I don't consider myself to be a Jazz guitarist but I have been a pro guitarist and
  at times had to play standard/dance music so have a goo chordal knowledge every little helps.
  I have seen many songs played with different chords and voicings and they all sound fine.
  You may have heard of the real book here is the free online version and with this you can change the key of the song if
  you want to....  https://realbook.site/    Keep at it good luck.

I appreciate all the advice, With Jazz you just have put in the hard work, there's no quick tricks. I mastered the song, just practice and as you guys said, form the d chord shape then add on the 6's & 7's, form the F, get that sorted than do a variation. It just takes a while. Thanks for your advice. 

I've got loads of lesson material at jon green/ hubpages.com, just ask if you have any questions. Robin Nolan, Adam Levy, Jimmy Bruno, Frank Vignola on YT are all good.

Brad said:

Roland said:

I’ve being playing for 50 something years, and it was only last month that I used x6576x for the first time.

This, I find interesting. 

That EbMaj9… was it the case that you simply never had a reason to learn it until now? Did you know it was a Maj9 chord, or was it just moving/adjusting fingers until you found it? Do you wish you’d have had that chord in your vocab for 40 years, as opposed to the last month? 

I’d never needed that shape. I knew it was there, but when playing solo I was always voice leading on other strings, and playing with other people I’d be using simpler chords for clarity. The song is Got To Be Real by Cheryl Lynn, which we play without keys. The keyboard motif, which I’m playing on guitar, is on the 2nd/3rd strings.

Roland said:

Brad said:

Roland said:

I’ve being playing for 50 something years, and it was only last month that I used x6576x for the first time.

This, I find interesting. 

That EbMaj9… was it the case that you simply never had a reason to learn it until now? Did you know it was a Maj9 chord, or was it just moving/adjusting fingers until you found it? Do you wish you’d have had that chord in your vocab for 40 years, as opposed to the last month? 

I’d never needed that shape. I knew it was there, but when playing solo I was always voice leading on other strings, and playing with other people I’d be using simpler chords for clarity. The song is Got To Be Real by Cheryl Lynn, which we play without keys. The keyboard motif, which I’m playing on guitar, is on the 2nd/3rd strings.

Ahhh I get you now. It read to me like you’d never played that chord before and only discovered it recently. I’m impressed and perplexed in equal measure how you’ve managed to nearly make it to 50 years of playing before you’d used it!