Drop 2 voicings are one of the most useful chord structures for guitarists. They're created by taking a closed-position seventh chord and "dropping" the second-highest note down an octave.
The result is a four-note chord that spans four adjacent strings, making it very practical on the guitar. Drop 2 chords can be played on string sets 6-5-4-3, 5-4-3-2, or 4-3-2-1.
Drop 2 voicings are essential for jazz guitar accompaniment and are widely used in many styles of music.
Drop 2 Cmaj7 – Strings 6, 5, 4, 3
Root Position (R-5-7-3)
1st Inversion (3-7-R-5)
2nd Inversion (5-R-3-7)
3rd Inversion (7-3-5-R)
Drop 2 Cmaj7 – Strings 5, 4, 3, 2
Root Position
1st Inversion
2nd Inversion
3rd Inversion
Drop 2 Cmaj7 – Strings 4, 3, 2, 1
Root Position
1st Inversion
2nd Inversion
3rd Inversion
Key Tasks
Learn all four inversions on each string set (12 total chord shapes).
Practice moving through the inversions up and down the neck on each string set.
Practice voice-leading from one chord to another by choosing the closest inversion.
Apply these chords to a real song or chord progression like Cmaj7 – D-7 – G7 – Cmaj7.
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The dominant 7th drop 2 voicings are essential for jazz, blues, and many other styles. These chords have a distinct sound due to the tritone interval between the 3rd and ♭7th.
Below are all four inversions of the C7 chord in drop 2 voicing on each set of four adjacent strings.
Drop 2 C7 – Strings 6, 5, 4, 3
Root Position (R-5-♭7-3)
1st Inversion (3-♭7-R-5)
2nd Inversion (5-R-3-♭7)
3rd Inversion (♭7-3-5-R)
Drop 2 C7 – Strings 5, 4, 3, 2
Root Position
1st Inversion
2nd Inversion
3rd Inversion
Drop 2 C7 – Strings 4, 3, 2, 1
Root Position
1st Inversion
2nd Inversion
3rd Inversion
Key Tasks
Learn all four inversions on each string set (12 total chord shapes).
Practice the dominant 7th chords in the context of a ii-V-I progression.
Try adding extensions like the 9th or 13th to these voicings.
Use these voicings to comp through a blues progression.
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Minor 7th drop 2 voicings are extremely common in jazz and pop music. They have a warm, mellow sound and work well in many musical contexts.
Below are all four inversions of the C-7 chord in drop 2 voicing on each set of four adjacent strings.
Drop 2 C-7 – Strings 6, 5, 4, 3
Root Position (R-5-♭7-♭3)
1st Inversion (♭3-♭7-R-5)
2nd Inversion (5-R-♭3-♭7)
3rd Inversion (♭7-♭3-5-R)
Drop 2 C-7 – Strings 5, 4, 3, 2
Root Position
1st Inversion
2nd Inversion
3rd Inversion
Drop 2 C-7 – Strings 4, 3, 2, 1
Root Position
1st Inversion
2nd Inversion
3rd Inversion
Key Tasks
Learn all four inversions on each string set (12 total chord shapes).
Practice the minor 7th chords as the ii chord in a ii-V-I progression.
Try playing through the diatonic chords of a major key using drop 2 voicings.
Experiment with comping using these voicings over a jazz standard.
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The minor 7♭5 chord (also known as half-diminished) is essential for playing in minor keys. It serves as the ii chord in minor key ii-V-i progressions.
Below are all four inversions of the C-7♭5 chord in drop 2 voicing on each set of four adjacent strings.
The min7♭5 chord is built from the 7th degree of the major scale, making it the diatonic vii chord in major keys as well as the ii chord in minor keys.
Drop 2 C-7♭5 – Strings 6, 5, 4, 3
Root Position (R-♭5-♭7-♭3)
1st Inversion (♭3-♭7-R-♭5)
2nd Inversion (♭5-R-♭3-♭7)
3rd Inversion (♭7-♭3-♭5-R)
Drop 2 C-7♭5 – Strings 5, 4, 3, 2
Root Position
1st Inversion
2nd Inversion
3rd Inversion
Drop 2 C-7♭5 – Strings 4, 3, 2, 1
Root Position
1st Inversion
2nd Inversion
3rd Inversion
Key Tasks
Learn all four inversions on each string set (12 total chord shapes).
Practice the min7♭5 chord in a minor ii-V-i progression: D-7♭5 – G7 – C-.
Compare the min7♭5 voicings to the minor 7th voicings – note the single note difference (the ♭5).
Use these voicings when playing jazz standards in minor keys.
As the creator of Hub Guitar, Grey has compiled hundreds of guitar lessons, written several books, and filmed hundreds of video lessons. He teaches private lessons in his Boston studio, as well as via video chat.
