Arranging for Solo Guitar: Drop 2 Voicings on The Top Four Strings | Berklee Online

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In this video, Berklee Online guitar instructor John Baboian teaches you about Drop 2 chord voicings on the top four strings of the guitar. Drop 2 voicing means taking a closed-position chord and dropping the second-highest note down an octave in order to create an open-position chord. In this video you’ll learn how to play multiple types of four-note, drop 2 chords, such as major 7, dominant 7, minor 7, and minor 7b5. He teaches all inversions of these chords, and provides helpful tips for remembering and transposing them.
About John Baboian:
Guitarist, composer, and educator John Baboian has been on the faculty at Berklee College of Music in Boston since 1980. Although best known for his work in the jazz and swing idioms, he has performed in the classical, blues, rock, R&B, Latin, and world music genres, and he has been a featured performer on more than 20 recordings in a variety of musical styles, including performances with the Boston Big Band, the World Leaders, the Black Sea Salsa band, and more. His compositions and arrangements have been heard on television shows Walker, Texas Ranger, UPN’s Seven Days, ABC’s All My Children, HBO’s The Sopranos, and others.
About Berklee Online:
Berklee Online is the continuing education division of Berklee College of Music, delivering online access to Berklee's acclaimed curriculum from anywhere in the world, offering online courses, certificate programs, and degree programs. Contact an Academic Advisor today:
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Guitar | Guitar Lessons | Techniques | Skills | Chords | Drop 2 Chords | Chord Voicings | John Baboian | The Sopranos | Intermediate Guitar | Berklee Online | Berklee College of Music

[@johnmcgrath8886]

knows what he's talking about and presents it simply and clearly- sign of a good teacher!

[@gitarwoman2]

I know all this but the way he explains this is eye opening!!! Great teacher plus he’s funny.

[@joseirarragorrimusic]

John is an incredible guitar player as well as an amazing educator.! I learned so much from him while studying in Berklee. Thank you John.

[@rthavi4166]

The "puzzle" method he does at the end is magic for memorizing these. I'm getting a ton of mileage out of that method of practice.

[@jinjxmusic]

Thank you so much. I've been playing guitar for so many years and have gotten in the habit of using mainly the "middle four" strings. I will play the straight chords and invert them though I believed playing in this way was more beautiful because it utilizes one of the bass notes. I recently went to a jazz camp and was quickly and politely challenged on that. A great teacher said: "So, I know you play solo so using your low A and low E work great with that. But for ensemble work, I'd like to challenge you to use your top four strings with a focus on the 3rd and 7th chords." It's sent me back to the drawing board in a way and watching this chord puzzle has me smiling ear to ear. Thanks or giving us the tools.

[@FullMetalDMZ]

This video is a gift from the gods! Thank you!

[@intersweat]

That was a lot of info. Awesome. Gonna need to watch it 1000,000 more times to get it to sink in but everyday is a school day :)

[@MrSatriani77]

intersweat uuh ji

[@kevinelliott5823]

Starting to learn jazz guitar (theory) now and this really helps my head hurt way less😃 thank you a ton!!!

[@victorhugosanchezhuerta5715]

what a lesson! it was great, I really learned and understand the concept, thanks!

[@DrSticktrick]

Amazing Video. Just what I was looking for. Thank you!

[@robertgreen3702]

Excellent lesson. Thank you!! 😊🎸

[@kamyarkashanizadeh7995]

he's a very nice teacher i knew all but i couldn't resist to whatch em all

[@ironfront9573]

This is a way better lesson for learning about inversions that ricks.

[@oscarmorales1621]

Great lesson, great teacher

[@roanmccormick7923]

Great lesson!

[@MisterRorschach90]

It’s crazy that there is all this theory behind stuff I sat in my room and figured out as a kid. I could never commit to learning how to read music or even understand anything beyond what the chords were. I’m gonna have to watch more of these.

[@petermuller161]

drop 2 chords are really great to know

[@jazzattak]

This guy is good!...love this!

[@tobiashofer6638]

Great! Thank you very much!

[@jodyguilbeaux8225]

a good lesson, but i learned the inversions of chords , extensions , and altered tones many years ago from van moretti. he explained it all in a little 20 page booklet and mel bay put out a book about all the chords deriving from the major and minor inversions. i am older now and as i look back, i am glad i did my homework back then. mr john is right, there is a ton of memory work to play jazz guitar or reharmonize a tune.

[@MoviesAndMoreShorts]

wow what an eye opener. Sparkly chord is my favourite too! haha

[@joffle86]

Dion Patrick I call it the repetitive strain injury chord

[@qazjvm]

key takeaway for solo player: 1. inversions in lower 4 strings: keep in mind the root 2. inversions in higher 4 strings: keep in mind the last note

[@alfonshomac]

"Who cares?! that note is meaningless except for it's an integral part of the chord" hahah

[@oscarmorales1621]

Lol that was gold!

[@elementsofphysicalreality]

Isn’t the maj6 chord just a m7 inverted?

[@tedspencer6212]

Jesse Carpenter it’s a substitution

[@handdancin]

maj 6 and minor 7th have same notes, as do half dim and minor 6

[@mid2139]

I have the same question, I don't understand why he says it has a major chord quality when he is literally playing an Emin7

[@bokai77]

@@mid2139 it has a major chord quality because the 6 and the 9 are colors you can add to a maj7 chord, and he is not literally playing an Em7, because his bass note is different, although the shape is the same (it's all about the bass).

[@softailspringer9915]

This is Money!

[@henkdevries7336]

Woah i’m having a raging nerd on right now

[@afronprime51]

Its like the C.A.G.E. system.

[@rodzombi2556]

I’m 46 seconds in and I’m totally lost,

[@ChristianVirial]

yes, this requires a bit of knowledge beforehand hahaha