How To Learn Drop 2 Jazz Chords The Right Way

Drop 2 voicings are often made into this mysterious thing that is hard to practice and learn. Something that you have to spend months practicing to get into your playing and be able to use.
That is of course not true and in this video, I am going to show you some of the simple things you can practice, how to remember the chords and how you start using it in your playing.
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Content:
0:00 Intro
0:35 Keep it Practical
1:11 3 Types of Drop2 voicings
1:23 Basic Set of Voicings - FInding Chords For Solar
3:23 Chorus 1
4:02 Anlaysis of Chorus 1 - How To Remember The Chords
7:04 Adding Melody - Making Music
7:31 Chorus 2
7:58 Analysis - From Chords to Musical Statements
8:53 Expanding What You can Play
9:24 Chorus 3
9:50 Analysis - Adding the voicings that fit with what we already know
11:13 Like the video? Check out my Patreon Page
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My name is Jens Larsen, Danish Jazz Guitarist, and Educator. The videos on this channel will help you explore and enjoy Jazz. Some of it is how to play jazz guitar, but other videos are more on Music Theory like Jazz Chords or advice on how to practice and learn Jazz, on guitar or any other instrument.
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[@JensLarsen]

How do you practice Jazz Chords? Share good tips and exercises :) Content: 0:00 Intro 0:35 Keep it Practical 1:11 3 Types of Drop2 voicings 1:23 Basic Set of Voicings - Finding Chords For Solar 3:23 Chorus 1 4:02 Analysis of Chorus 1 - How To Remember The Chords 7:04 Adding Melody - Making Music 7:31 Chorus 2 7:58 Analysis - From Chords to Musical Statements 8:53 Expanding What You can Play 9:24 Chorus 3 9:50 Analysis - Adding the voicings that fit with what we already know 11:13 Like the video? Check out my Patreon Page

[@christiankurtboutot5658]

So Great Jens...I understand !!!! thanks for what you share with us. I consider this as a human gift coming from heart and passion. Sorry for the stupid comments I said about your vidéo on scales practicing. Christian

[@pyschointellectual]

The best method i have seen yet to get started with jazz comping, amazing work Jens. Love the way you delivered the lesson adding a whole diatonic chird scale. It so much more interesting to learn a complete scale and practice in a practical musical way rather than just copying a four chord patten. MORE PLEASE

[@JuanG.AcostaHABITACIONSONORA]

I've seen how your work have been improving more and more over this past 2 or 3 years, it's pretty amazing that you are still getting better and better with each video. Congrats and thanks for your work!

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks! That's really great to hear :)

[@gamzer]

I love your advice about associating the voicings with chords you already know. Some advice I wish I had years ago but discovered eventually and really made the drop2 inversions stick! Picked up some new ideas here too about reusing voicings. Great video!

[@JensLarsen]

That's great that you can put it to use! I do think that is so essential in learning new things :)

[@pororin60]

Mr. Larsen, Tons of thanks from Kobe JAPAN. Great lessons I love. Masaki SHIMAZAKI

[@clyderichardson6475]

Thanks so much Jens. Your videos always push me forward.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you can put it to use 🙂

[@cfibanez]

Great lesson Jens! Thanks very much!

[@jumemowery9434]

You're the best Jens!!!

[@Patriciovaldivieso]

Quality stuff, thanks for posting.

[@merttalay9702]

Love you man.Your videos are very well.Just respect!!!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Mert :)

[@salvadorgarcia8661]

Como siempre una excelente lección. Muchas gracias maestro.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Salvador! Glad you like it!

[@beraldolilli8965]

Thanks Jens. really enjoyed this lesson.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad to hear it :)

[@christiankurtboutot5658]

I reaaaaly apreciate your vidéos Jens because I ubderstand what you explain. Though sometimes you go fast and I have to stop to understand !!!! lol You are the "Solar" !!!!! Thanks Jens ....so many things to practice...it never ends that s why maybe muzik is so passionating for we always "run " after something new to learn, that we "need" to know.

[@JensLarsen]

Go for it Christian! :)

[@christiankurtboutot5658]

@@JensLarsen Do not thank me for you are the one who must be principally thanked at first !!!!

[@GBKim_Guitar]

I love this lecture!❤

[@rogerball6265]

@Jens Larsen, Very good use of drop 2 voicings, especially in the context of a song. One thing you might want include is that sometimes those voicings with the highest voice on the 1st string may in many circumstances are not the best choices when a guitarist is accompanying a soloist. They may be better suited when accompanying a bass solo. This point could be the subject of another video lesson. There are many guidelines that apply to how a guitarist voices chords as an accompanist.

[@JensLarsen]

They work fine with a soloist, but as always you have to listen so that you don't clash.

[@ninoingravido1069]

Great lesson!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! Glad you like it!

[@mikkinmusic1886]

Thanks Jens!

[@JensLarsen]

You are very welcome 🙂

[@EclecticEssentric]

Thanks for your time. Always informative, even if not my genre (which is the reason that I watch). Learning can't always be simple and easy, ya know?

[@JensLarsen]

True, but hopefully it isn't all uphill? :)

[@EclecticEssentric]

@@JensLarsen No worries, I'm a mountain man. I've learned more in 8 months than I previously did in 3 decades, I love every grueling second of practice because it is working magic where before was only mundane. :)

[@Dang...]

Thank you!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad it was helpful 🙂

[@joseluiscaballero1125]

Thank you so much teacher, you are really humble yo make better musician un the wolrd, cheers for you. Todo bless you.

[@JensLarsen]

My pleasure! Glad you like the videos!

[@joseluiscaballero1125]

God bless you master, i really apreciate your teaches, im very glad for talk with people like you, humble and generous. God bless you every day, greetings from Cancún, México. I'm guitarist too, but i need study much to be better, and every day i seen you videos, really thankfull with you master.

[@joseluiscaballero1125]

@@JensLarsen kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHe3ommrnNuarcU

[@dionmbd1328]

I've been playing guitar for fun for a while but I missed some of the basics. Sometimes I don't know where to start to learn them but your channel has been a big help! Thank you so much!

[@JensLarsen]

Really glad you like the videos :)

[@henrikduende]

9 people didn’t like this.... what’s wrong with the lesson?? It’s clear and to the point. Does’t waste our time etc 🤷🏻‍♂️. What the hell did they expect ??

[@JensLarsen]

You can't please everybody :)

[@JohnMcGFrance]

I suspect that it was too much for some people to understand the topic. However, that’s not a reason to dislike In my opinion. I’m new to jazz guitar and this was beyond me but I learned a few things and appreciate Jens putting it up. Hopefully I’ll come ba to it in a years time and get more from it. It was worth watching just to hear him play.

[@Betterthantelly]

Great lesson thank you. I know all those shapes but get confused when trying too hard to invert whatever chord is occurring thereby losing my place!!

[@bubba4001]

Hi Jens, The chord symbols beginning around 1:25 in the video shows the forth chord as a Cma6. What does that indicate? Sorry if this is a silly question. Great lesson and inspirational. Thank you. Regards, David

[@stevewebertampainvestments2097]

First comment woohoo. This video is perfect, really appreciate it.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it, Steve!

[@user-mq2rl4wz3r]

Larsen .Мне очень нравятся твои уроки,особенно этот.Спасибо друг.

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome :)

[@RobertoManzoli]

Hi, I appreciate the effort saving in arranging the accompaniment, in fact I learned a lot from this video. But I have a note to make: the first C minor chord, in the original version of "Solar" has the major seventh, in fact the second note of the theme is a natural B, which creates a dissonance with the Cm6 chord. Thanks for the dose of Jazz.

[@JensLarsen]

The Natural 7th is not dissonant against the Cm6 chord, and for tonic minor chords Cm6 and CmMaj7 are interchangeable.

[@RobertoManzoli]

@@JensLarsen You are right. Plus I was wrong about the first chord. I asked to my teachers at the conservatory and they told me the first chord of "Solar" is Cm6. I was confused because I had found a sheet with the CmMaj7. Thanks again!

[@JensLarsen]

@@RobertoManzoli No worries :)

[@mjazzguitar]

@@RobertoManzoli I wonder if you could write that Cm#7. Most musicians would probably know what it meant.

[@RobertoManzoli]

@@mjazzguitar Although Cm#7 is almost never used to indicate a CmMaj7 it would simply be: 9888 one the first 4 strings. Now I have a question for you which scales would you use to improvise on the first chord of "Solar"?

[@davidbrunner2583]

Hello thanks for the amazing videos and help you are giving!! It has helped me so much. Quick question though, kind of unrelated to the video, but whenever practicing a new scale I usually think of it with intervals, such as the Root, 3, 7, 6, ect. Should I instead visualize the specific notes inside of the scale, such as A, C#, G#, F#, ect. Or does it even matter? Thank you for your help.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like the videos! I actually think both, sort of, I don't really think about it to be honest.

[@bertkeely]

so helpful! letting in the occasional 9th gives color and economy. Btw you probably already know, but around 9:45 I think the Ebm7 tab that shows 8869 (ascending) should be 8879 (a 9th wouldn't help there!) cheers

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it 🙂 Yes, my sheet music often has a typo here and there

[@gabriellaskalodimosartandc7100]

Great lesson! I was just wondering about something else. There was a video where you talked about how to use the chord melody from Stairway to heaven in standards where the same composition technique could be used. Do you remember what video it was?

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks! I think it was this one: jenslarsen.nl/the-real-magic-of-jazz-chords-easy-amazing/

[@hansbendixen5430]

det er nemlig rigtigt hæhæ great lesson as always

[@JensLarsen]

Jo da 😎

[@peropen]

This came in in such a handy time! I've been practicing m6 chords and they really open up a lot of comping and chord melody possibilities. From what I've seen so far, they work on all chords in a minor ii-v-i (in gm6: am7b5/d7b9b13-gm6) and as the V of a major V-I (d7/9). Are there other uses?

[@peropen]

And they also work wonders in a minor i-iv-v, like minor swing (in gm: gm6, cm6, d7b9b13)

[@JensLarsen]

That is great! Yes that way of using a few voicings to play a lot of chords is very effective :)

[@johnhannon9349]

Hi Jens. I play a lot in a duo with a sax player. In another video (about 3 levels of chords) you say that voicings with the root on the 6th or 5th strings are good for duo playing, and rootless voicings are good for band work. What do you think Drop 2 voicings are good for? Are they good for duo work? Or is it easier for the other instrument to hear the root note of the chord on the 6th or 5th strings?

[@JensLarsen]

Some drop 2 voicings have the root as the lowest note and work extremely well for duo. It really depends on how important you think it is to have the bass note in there.

[@daviddangerous9365]

Hey Jens, thanks for the great video! I was looking but couldnt find a video of you talking about drop 3 chords. Is it for a reason? Best!

[@JensLarsen]

I don't talk about drop3 chords that much because the ones with the root in the bass are far more useful than the rest, so I have videos where I cover those and then I didn't really feel the need to cover the other inversions

[@daviddangerous9365]

@@JensLarsen Hey Jens, interesting reply, thank you! I started to practice drop 3 inversion for comping in duo situations. Is that a waste of time? :D Why are the drop 3 inversions less "useful" (as I understood you)?

[@JensLarsen]

@@daviddangerous9365 Because the lowest note really wants to be a bass note and in the inversions rarely is. Another very practical observation: where do you see the inversion used a lot in comping?

[@daviddangerous9365]

@@JensLarsen Okay makes sense. Also yes, havent see that actually. So "Rule of thumb" when comping with a singer would be root in bass more often than not? thanks again for your kind replies :)

[@JensLarsen]

@@daviddangerous9365 If you play in duo then you are mostly playing the root in the bass. There are people who use drop3 of course but it is a lot less common :)

[@matt.5249]

For the cm6 would the A not be an Ab because it’s in minor?

[@JensLarsen]

No, that would be Cm(b6) 🙂

[@larrylorenzen2449]

where did the term 'drop 2' come from? dropping the lowest 2 strings from the chord?

[@JensLarsen]

I explain drop voicings in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/mam3laF4o5yfoLM

[@joaosal8891]

what is that guitar that's hanging on the wall? the first one counting from left to right...

[@JensLarsen]

That is my Yamaha SG1000 :)

[@joaosal8891]

@@JensLarsen just beautiful

[@Cooltorpedo]

Excellent video. On one hand I like the practical approach of adapting the voices to the given chords in a progression from a real tune. On the other I'd like the lesson more general so we can do the same thing on any progression by just looking at the degree every voice has into the scale. To me the hard part isn't as much understanding how different intervals make different chords, but finding those notes in the fret and being able to push them in real time. Any hints?

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks! That sounds like you want to construct the chords while playing, that is probably too much thinking while trying to make music?

[@Cooltorpedo]

@@JensLarsen Yup, probably much thinking to be practical in a real life making music situation, but being able to know where you are and where are you going to by simply changing one note is what I'd like to be able to.

[@JensLarsen]

@@Cooltorpedo Changing one note is not the same as constructing an entirely new voicing. You need to factor in that we only play certain progressions and that you are starting with a voicing that you probably already know. Then it just boils down to practicing options and starting with chords you really know.

[@Cooltorpedo]

@@JensLarsenSure, what I mean is that you need to know how every note in the new voicing relates to the original chord, so if you decide to move into a parallel modulation or shifting into a minor melodic sound, you can still apply those voicings by changing just the proper note.

[@JensLarsen]

@@Cooltorpedo Yes, but that is about knowing a few voicings really well and not about knowing where all the notes are on the fretboard. And it is something you practice until you hear it, so it is about learning to hear things and be able to execute them. To me, it sounds like you only consider the capacity to imagine it from a theoretical point of view, not as an internalized musical skill. If you want to use melodic minor on a chord you need to just know your melodic minor voicings and play those, not think about which note is the 7th and change that to a 6th. That is too much thinking, that belongs in the practice room.

[@daviddahl8562]

hey Jens measure 12You hav C7 chord with add D note shouldn't that be C79 or C9

[@JensLarsen]

In jazz, the one playing the chords is free to interpret the chord symbol and add the extensions and alterations that fit how he or she is playing. For that reason, I usually try to stick with the chord type and not specify the extensions like 9 or b9.

[@allengoyne]

did I miss it or did you say why they are called drop 2? I never really understood that terminology.

[@JensLarsen]

I don't know if I explained it in this video, but otherwise you can demystify them here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mam3laF4o5yfoLM

[@daviddahl8562]

Also FM7 13th measure you have a G note in the chord I think there 's something I don't understand

[@JensLarsen]

See my other reply!

[@shiv2033]

I am confused between drop 2 voicings and inversions now.Are they the same thing?In drop 2 voicings you drop the second highest note of the chord but you have used inversions instead of dropping the second highest note of the chord.I am really confused,plz make one more video on this🙏🙏

[@churlesjenkins4338]

I know its been a year since you posted this but I'll try to explain it 😂 So we have 4 notes in a chord. In drop voicings, you're taking the chord as it is in that position, and dropping 1 or 2 notes. This means 2 of the notes stay the same and they stay in that position. Only now, you have some of the notes that used to be in the higher register more in the bass, but some of the positioning stays the same. For inversions, you're taking what can be either a closed voicing, open, or drop voicing, and arranging all of the notes within the chord at the same time to create different interval orders for every note. Simply put, drop voicings is taking just 1 or 2 notes of a chord position and dropping them down to the bass. Sort of an inversion, but not a full inversion. Inversions on the other hand is rotating every single note around to achieve different note orders and intervals.

[@tedpowers2045]

Jen’s Can I contribute with a one time dollar amount?

[@JensLarsen]

Yes, certainly. There is a PayPal donation button in the sidebar on my website 🙂

[@stefanovon]

... Gm7... campfire chord actually :-)

[@Junglesmells]

My parents don’t eat meat