What are Drop 2 chords on the guitar?
Drop 2 chords on guitar are a common voicing technique used to create fuller, more spread-out chord shapes by "dropping" the second highest note of a chord down an octave. Here's a breakdown of what they are:
How Drop 2 Chords Work:
Basic Structure: Take a chord in its "close position" (where all notes are as close together as possible).
Drop 2 Method: You "drop" the second highest note in the chord down one octave.
For example, in a standard four-note chord:
The highest note is the 1st voice.
The second highest note is the 2nd voice.
The next highest note is the 3rd voice.
The lowest note is the 4th voice.
To form a drop 2 voicing, you take the second highest note (the 2nd voice) and move it down one octave, creating a wider spread of notes.
Example of a Drop 2 Chord:
Let’s take a Cmaj7 chord:
In close position: C (root), E (3rd), G (5th), B (7th).
The second highest note is G.
To create a drop 2 voicing, you move the G an octave lower.
Now, the voicing order is G, C, E, B. This spread of notes creates a more balanced sound on the guitar, often used in jazz and contemporary styles.
How to Play Drop 2 Chords on Guitar:
Drop 2 chords can be played on four adjacent strings, most commonly:
6th to 3rd strings
5th to 2nd strings
4th to 1st strings
Why Use Drop 2 Chords?
Fuller Sound: They make the chord sound more open and less cramped.
Easier Fingerings: On the guitar, drop 2 voicings often result in more comfortable chord shapes.
Popular in Jazz: Drop 2 chords are a staple in jazz guitar playing because of their smooth voice leading and flexibility.
Here are some common Drop 2 chord shapes for guitar, focusing on basic seventh chords. I’ll give you examples for Cmaj7, Cm7, C7, and Cm7b5 in Drop 2 voicings across different string sets:
1. Cmaj7 (Major 7) Drop 2 Voicings
6th to 3rd strings (root on 6th string):
Frets: 8 (C), 9 (E), 9 (B), 9 (G)
Voicing: G, C, E, B
5th to 2nd strings (root on 5th string):
Frets: 3 (C), 5 (E), 4 (B), 5 (G)
Voicing: G, C, E, B
4th to 1st strings (root on 4th string):
Frets: 5 (G), 5 (C), 5 (E), 4 (B)
Voicing: G, C, E, B
2. Cm7 (Minor 7) Drop 2 Voicings
6th to 3rd strings (root on 6th string):
Frets: 8 (C), 8 (Eb), 8 (Bb), 8 (G)
Voicing: G, C, Eb, Bb
5th to 2nd strings (root on 5th string):
Frets: 3 (C), 4 (Eb), 3 (Bb), 5 (G)
Voicing: G, C, Eb, Bb
4th to 1st strings (root on 4th string):
Frets: 5 (G), 5 (C), 4 (Eb), 3 (Bb)
Voicing: G, C, Eb, Bb
3. C7 (Dominant 7) Drop 2 Voicings
6th to 3rd strings (root on 6th string):
Frets: 8 (C), 8 (E), 8 (Bb), 8 (G)
Voicing: G, C, E, Bb
5th to 2nd strings (root on 5th string):
Frets: 3 (C), 5 (E), 3 (Bb), 5 (G)
Voicing: G, C, E, Bb
4th to 1st strings (root on 4th string):
Frets: 5 (G), 5 (C), 5 (E), 3 (Bb)
Voicing: G, C, E, Bb
4. Cm7b5 (Minor 7 flat 5) Drop 2 Voicings
6th to 3rd strings (root on 6th string):
Frets: 8 (C), 8 (Eb), 8 (Bb), 7 (Gb)
Voicing: Gb, C, Eb, Bb
5th to 2nd strings (root on 5th string):
Frets: 3 (C), 4 (Eb), 3 (Bb), 4 (Gb)
Voicing: Gb, C, Eb, Bb
4th to 1st strings (root on 4th string):
Frets: 5 (Gb), 5 (C), 4 (Eb), 3 (Bb)
Voicing: Gb, C, Eb, Bb