Drop 3 voicings are created by taking a closed-position seventh chord and "dropping" the third-highest note down an octave. This creates a chord with a gap between the bass note and the upper three voices.
Drop 3 chords span five strings with a muted string in the middle, making them excellent for accompaniment, especially when you want to add a walking bass line. They can be played on string sets 6-x-4-3-2 or 5-x-3-2-1.
Drop 3 voicings give you more room for bass movement and are particularly useful when playing solo guitar arrangements.
Drop 3 Cmaj7 – Strings 6, x, 4, 3, 2
Root Position (R-x-7-3-5)
1st Inversion (3-x-R-5-7)
2nd Inversion (5-x-3-7-R)
3rd Inversion (7-x-5-R-3)
Drop 3 Cmaj7 – Strings 5, x, 3, 2, 1
Root Position
1st Inversion
2nd Inversion
3rd Inversion
Key Tasks
Learn all four inversions on each string set (8 total chord shapes).
Practice moving through the inversions up and down the neck.
Try adding a walking bass line by playing the bass note and then changing to a different bass note while holding the upper structure.
Compare these drop 3 voicings to the drop 2 voicings – see how the same chord tones are arranged differently.
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Drop 3 dominant 7th voicings are powerful tools for comping and solo guitar. The wider spread of these voicings gives them a rich, full sound.
Below are all four inversions of the C7 chord in drop 3 voicing on each set of strings.
Drop 3 C7 – Strings 6, x, 4, 3, 2
Root Position (R-x-♭7-3-5)
1st Inversion (3-x-R-5-♭7)
2nd Inversion (5-x-3-♭7-R)
3rd Inversion (♭7-x-5-R-3)
Drop 3 C7 – Strings 5, x, 3, 2, 1
Root Position
1st Inversion
2nd Inversion
3rd Inversion
Key Tasks
Learn all four inversions on each string set (8 total chord shapes).
Practice these dominant 7th chords in the context of a ii-V-I progression.
Try playing a blues using only drop 3 voicings for the I7, IV7, and V7 chords.
Experiment with adding the 9th or 13th to these voicings.
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Drop 3 minor 7th voicings have a rich, spread-out sound that works particularly well for ballads and solo guitar arrangements.
Below are all four inversions of the C-7 chord in drop 3 voicing on each set of strings.
Drop 3 C-7 – Strings 6, x, 4, 3, 2
Root Position (R-x-♭7-♭3-5)
1st Inversion (♭3-x-R-5-♭7)
2nd Inversion (5-x-♭3-♭7-R)
3rd Inversion (♭7-x-5-R-♭3)
Drop 3 C-7 – Strings 5, x, 3, 2, 1
Root Position
1st Inversion
2nd Inversion
3rd Inversion
Key Tasks
Learn all four inversions on each string set (8 total chord shapes).
Practice these minor 7th chords as the ii chord in a ii-V-I progression.
Compare the drop 3 minor 7th voicings to the drop 2 minor 7th voicings.
Try playing diatonic chord progressions using only drop 3 voicings.
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The drop 3 minor 7♭5 voicings are essential for minor key playing. Their spread structure gives them a haunting, dramatic quality.
Below are all four inversions of the C-7♭5 chord in drop 3 voicing on each set of strings.
The min7♭5 chord is used as the ii chord in minor keys and as the vii chord in major keys.
Drop 3 C-7♭5 – Strings 6, x, 4, 3, 2
Root Position (R-x-♭7-♭3-♭5)
1st Inversion (♭3-x-R-♭5-♭7)
2nd Inversion (♭5-x-♭3-♭7-R)
3rd Inversion (♭7-x-♭5-R-♭3)
Drop 3 C-7♭5 – Strings 5, x, 3, 2, 1
Root Position
1st Inversion
2nd Inversion
3rd Inversion
Key Tasks
Learn all four inversions on each string set (8 total chord shapes).
Practice the min7♭5 chord in a minor ii-V-i progression: D-7♭5 – G7 – C-.
Compare these drop 3 voicings to the drop 2 min7♭5 voicings.
Use these voicings when playing jazz standards that modulate between major and 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.
