Jazz Chord Essentials - Drop 2 voicings part 1

[@iSeeOceans]

I am forever grateful, Jens!

[@JensLarsen]

No worries Vincent! If you have check tonights lesson then you'll see how to work them into some really hip solo lines ;)

[@SimonNackborn]

I'm just three years beind you buddy

[@maciejarturfronc5388]

Ive never found such essentional and systematic teachings on jazz guitar. Amazing thank you mr. Jens.

[@JensLarsen]

Really glad you like the videos 🙂

[@ChristianVirial]

Coming from the metal scene, I'm in the constant search to expand my knowledge in all musical directions. This video is super helpful for me to extend the basic jazz chord library in my head. Thank you so much!

[@thegranberries6323]

Drop 2 demystified - thank you! I've tried two other people's explanations but found them puzzling. Your video nailed it in two minutes.

[@QuistJam]

This will be the "featured player video" on today's new 30-minute 2-5-1 jazz backing track on QuistJam :)

[@JensLarsen]

+QuistJam Thank you Quist!

[@goldsmithstrings6842]

I love it KZbin guitar celebrities blend! hehe

[@JensLarsen]

*Jazz Chord Essentials - Drop2 Voicings part 1* You might have heard the term Drop2 voicings before, and it is more or less considered basic voicing knowledge for mainstream jazz guitar. Lot's of Wes Montgomery solos use drop2 voicings and it is also a huge part of bebop piano and bigband arranging. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3S0hGV4l6idhdU As always you can download the examples as a PDF here: jenslarsen.nl/jazz-chord-essentials-drop-2-voicings-part-1/ Hope you can use it! #guitar #jazzguitar #chord #drop2

[@derekmiles9290]

Thanks so much for a great lesson. You manage to pack a lot into a short amount of time but it's all very digestable.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much Derek! 🙂

[@tuckerlandis1334]

Thank you so much for taking the time to post such an informative video that is practical and useful for an intermediate to advanced player looking to further their knowledge of the guitar, for playing purposes and especially formal performance situations. GREATLY APPRECIATED

[@JensLarsen]

+Tucker Landis You're very welcome Tucker!! It's great to hear that you find it useful! If you want to help me then share the video on Facebook or twitter or similar and spread the word!

[@neilclappguitar]

Thank you Jen’s for making your fine videos! The info is always clearly articulated and well thought through your manner is calm and logical. But I like the way you quickly relate theory to actual music. You don’t just let the concepts sit in a vacuum. Hope you continue to create valuable content for this community. I’ll check you out on patreon .

[@JensLarsen]

You are very welcome!

[@emilygardner5591]

Fantastic! I've been playing rock and pop guitar for years and have always wanted to learn Jazz but until now I've found it much too complicated. This is geared at just the right level for me. It is clear to follow and packed with useful tips and ideas for practicing and loads of handy links too! Thank you so much Jens - you have re-ignighted my inspiration! :-)

[@rbarrell]

An excellent overview. Thank you Jens!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad it was helpful!

[@chipperhippo]

I've had to spend a lot of time away from the instrument the past few years and am trying to dive back in. I feel this is an extremely efficient set of exercises thank you so much for the quick explanation!

[@JensLarsen]

You are very welcome Jared! I am glad you could use it! 😃

[@fifthape2119]

Subscribed! When I hear a song, what I listen to the most is the harmony. I'm always looking for the exotic chords! And ones that don't hurt my hand. Excellent video!

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks! The drop2 voicings should get you får then 👍🙂

[@c4tubo]

Okay, now I understand. The drop of the second highest note occurs AFTER the inversion, not before. I was confused seeing certain inverted (non close) voicings being called Drop 2 or Drop 3 thinking that it was wrong because, for example, the second inversion (5,7,1,3) after Drop 2 (5,1,3,7) would be (3,7,5,1) but the Drop2 AFTER second inversion would be (1,5,7,3/10). Thanks for clearing it up.

[@ianborukho]

What a legend. Super useful!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! Glad you think so!

[@frankhowell8139]

Thanks Jens! I just started taking jazz guitar lessons again and the first homework assignment is to learn middle drop 2 voicings. The middle set of Maj 7 first inversion chord is a very difficult stretch. I hope my hands will adapt. Your video for top set drop 2 voicings was very helpful and I printed out the tabs from the link below. Good stuff! Now to practice, practice, practice!

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks Frank! Go for it! :)

[@ParsevalMusic]

after this video you deserved the adding to the "channel I like" on my very humble channel. I even didn't know drop2 voicing..super smooth!!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! I am really flattered with the recommendation!

[@ParsevalMusic]

my pleasure@@JensLarsen greetings from Italy!

[@YanRacicot]

Awesome. Very usefull. Thanks for introducing me to jazz chord. Especially the rootless chords. I am a bass player. When I composed written progression and I often used weird chords and diads for (droping notes). This lessons is really helpful to give a different flavor and find what the chord really his more easily. Thanks

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome! I am glad you like it!

[@aristotle358]

Nice. It is very pleasurable to play harmonized minor scales with the drop 2 voicings. I particularly liked the exercise based on Autumn Leaves. Thanks for your work. I'm going to check out more of your videos and improve my growing knowledge of jazz theory and get ideas for music making from the exercises.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! Glad you like it!

[@snake120696]

Amazing lesson Mr. Larsen

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks man! ☺

[@koenie17]

Just Discovered your channel last week, thank you so much for these great lessons! This was just what I´ve been looking for.

[@JensLarsen]

+koen klinkhamer Thanks! Glad to hear you can use it!

[@urbachd]

Jens, you may have already mentioned this somewhere, but I thought I'd point something out that has helped me to figure out drop 2 voicings, and other good chords. If you take any diminished chord and drop one note down a half step (single fret), that note becomes the root of a dominant 7th chord. It's easy then to figure out how to change it further, to a major or minor 7th, or b5, or whatever. Thanks again for all your fantastic lessons!

[@JensLarsen]

+Dan Urbach I never really used that truck because you have to learn all of them anyway and then I found it easier just to think of the notes of the chord, but if it works for you then that's of course great. You should notice that it has nothing to do with them being drop2 voicings. It's true for all voicing types that contain the 4 notes of the chord ☺️

[@urbachd]

Yes, it's just that I was trying to figure out some of the drop 2 voicings, and that made it easier. Hard to teach us old dogs, you know!

[@nickfanzo]

Dan Urbach pat martino does this

[@JoelLaviolette]

I'm getting back in to Jazz guitar after a long time away from it. Was needing the refresher on drop 2 and drop 3. Thanks!

[@JensLarsen]

Go for it :)

[@tresdeseptiembremusic]

For me the best way of learning this was: First i learn drop 3 voicings in the 6 string, from these voicings, i dchange the note in the 2nd string for the same note in the 5th string, that gives me drop 2 voicinds on the lower set. From the first drop 3 voicings i change de note on the 6th string for the note on the same fret in the first string, shich is the same note. That gives me drop 2 voicings on the highest string set. Then i learn the voicings of drop 2 in the 5432 string set. When i got it i change the note on the 4th string on each voicing for the same note on the first string and this give me drop 3 voicinds from 5th string. Hope it helps!Thank you @Jens Larsen!

[@JensLarsen]

That's great! We all have different journeys 🙂

[@ramoncrisostomo4477]

Hi Jens, you make things easy. Thank you for your lessons, they are awesome.

[@JensLarsen]

Ramon Crisostomo You're welcom Ramon! Thanks for checking them out. I'll upload the 2nd lesson in this series this week.

[@joerimland]

Another very useful lesson Jens!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! Joe!

[@aristotle358]

Hi Jens. I've been going through this lesson again meticulously, pausing and going through the exercises. I discover things indirectly too, which helps my understanding. For instance, at about 4:27 having paused the video to go through the exercise of drop 2 inversions I noticed the the first voicing for the F-sharp half-dim shares some notes as A-minor-add-6. I noticed also in the exercise how the lowest notes in the various voicings for, lets say for example, the Am-7 in the exercise, ascend in a kind of arpeggio. Each individual note in the four ascending chords I played separately and they all seemed to make an kind of arpeggio, if you see what I mean. Anyway, I'm getting a lot out of it and thank you again for your work on these excellent videos.

[@JensLarsen]

That's great! You are of course completely right that F#m7(b5): F# A C E and Am6 A C E F# are the same notes! 👍 Keep at it!

[@TimScottGuitar]

Fantasic lesson, got love the chords, thanks man!!!

[@JensLarsen]

Guitar Mashing Thank you Tim! Really glad you like it!

[@TimScottGuitar]

Jens Larsen I found you on Twitter via Vine or Instgram, Nice work.

[@JensLarsen]

Thx!

[@pablodebiddlybo3771]

Great content I was struggling with this concept and you really cleared this up and blew the cobwebs away Jens 👍🏻

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you 🙂

[@drehaze4952]

Thank you for your assistance Jens.

[@JensLarsen]

My pleasure!

[@BflatBlue]

Thank you Jens. Great lesson.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it 🙂

[@roanmccormick7923]

Great lesson, great content mr. Larsen!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you liked it!

[@KhalDrogo76]

Extremely helpful video

[@JensLarsen]

Glad to hear that

[@thunderrosa2258]

hey jens this is what I was talking about yesterday... you mention the melodic comping at around 10:35 :D I love that sound

[@JensLarsen]

Funny, I thought I'd already covered that, but it doesn't look like it :) I guess I will think about making a lesson on that!

[@thunderrosa2258]

awesome, can't wait for that one :)

[@TomOConnorBassGuitar]

Great video! As a bonus if you learn these voicings you can now play jazz ukulele!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! I did not know this! I'll go and get one :)

[@TomOConnorBassGuitar]

the tuning is the top 4 strings of a guitar, all shifted up a fourth (and the bottom string is then shifted up an octave for some reason)

[@Ronno4691]

So....."drop 2" chords are 'Root 4' chords? This video is what I'm talking about, proverbially, that is! Fantastic, Jens ;) Thank you.

[@JensLarsen]

Root 4 chords? I don't know. They drop2 chords to most of us :) Glad you like it!

[@Ronno4691]

@@JensLarsen I went away and did my research and Drop 2 chords aren't Root 4 chords. Please forgive my Newbie ignorance!!

[@JensLarsen]

No worries! :)

[@joelsonmontes641]

Olá Jens Larsen, gostei muito desse video, estou ingressando agora nesse estilo de jazz, e seus videos são os melhores parabens !

[@JensLarsen]

+joelson montes Thanks man! I am glad you like them!

[@oceanspray6969]

Great Video!! Very helpful.

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome! I am glad you like it! 🙂

[@arthurgraham3356]

Great lesson ... Just the thing I've been getting into recently . Thanks.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you can use it Arthur!

[@drbassclinic]

Great Tutorials !

[@gerardletang6909]

Merci Jens.

[@Nick-je8bq]

We need part two!!))

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks man! I will make it in the next few weeks!!! ☺

[@tonycalabro5125]

well explained.... easy to understand and follow

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Tony!

[@marcruel1398]

Great thank you!

[@johnerictorres7239]

Great lesson Jens! Thanx!!!!!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much, John!

[@Samykling2010]

Thanks a lot for all your job

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome! I am glad you like it! 🙂

[@sebastianmoyano1100]

Thanks a lot, I've learned a lot from your videos here in youtube :D

[@JensLarsen]

That is great to hear! Keep at it 👍🙂

[@chiemenaukazim3829]

Thank you.

[@caishaoting]

Thank you!

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome!

[@anthonyescobar8060]

This is a great lesson. The inversions have really helped me not have to jump around the fretboard. I've heard that these as well as drop 3 chords are essential for a guitarists to know. One thing I was wondering is I heard in a group situation, a guitarist typically wants to avoid the bottom string when comping otherwise it will sound too muddy and could get in the way of the bass player. Is this true? Should most of my comping be done with the the other string sets and avoid the bottom one? Thanks again for the lesson.

[@JensLarsen]

+Anthony Escobar Thank you! Yes, you should probably start by focusing on the middle strings and take it from there. You can use the low strings, but it depends on what the rest is playing. ☺️

[@shihaobenson4590]

very nice video

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! I am glad you like it!

[@dariomartinez6358]

Thanks for this lesson, I was doing these kind of exercises with inversions but jumping all over the neck lol

[@JensLarsen]

GO for it :)

[@tecnolover2642]

Wow...this will keep me busy for awhile!

[@JensLarsen]

That's good, right? 🙂

[@discountmusician8951]

Great lesson! I know drop 2s well but not have used them in...umm,voice leading? for lack of a better term.Autumn Leaves in Em in Real Book is a great start but I have 2 questions.1 what should I play when its a triad,like the e-? 2. I tend do go down to another set of chords I already practiced,ala Em7,Eb7,Dm7,Db7 brings me down to an already practiced set of chords? Thanks in Advance for any help

[@JensLarsen]

Use Em6 that is what is originally in the song 🙂. I don't understand your 2nd question

[@discountmusician8951]

@@JensLarsen Thanks for the quick reply! Em6?🤔 Im terrible at asking questions! but what I tried to ask and did it poorly was.....if a song is showing a triad,like just Cmaj or Fmin,... in a drop 2 chord voicing do I double the root where the 7 is? or add a note to the triad? This way every time I have a triad I wont have to ask you what to add. Im trying to start from scratch and not develop any MORE bad habits.The 2nd question is kind of irrelevant and I dont want to waste your time.☺

[@JensLarsen]

@@discountmusician8951 there is no answer that always works for this it depends on the progression, sorry 🙂

[@discountmusician8951]

@@JensLarsen Ah ok.More complicated than I thought.Oh well,back to practicing.Thanks Mr Larsen!

[@tiboflo5297]

Hi Jens, I understand that a drop 2 comes from dropping the 2nd highest note in a 7th chord down one octave. So the 5th becomes the bass note and that's what we get with the 'first position'. Then how are the following 'inversions' derived from the basic position? How can we tell by looking at one of these inversions that it actually comes from a drop 2 chord as they don't always have a 5th as the bass note ? Thanks a lot for your amazing channel it's been very helpful! Cheers

[@JensLarsen]

That is really simple: You drop the 2nd highest note of the inversions of the 7th chord :) Does that help?

[@tiboflo5297]

@@JensLarsen Yes! Same logic the other way around! Thanks :)

[@rodolfoamaralguitar]

Great lesson! I would like to ask a little question. At 0:09 I see that you are using a round pick. Now I´m using a round one, and I realised that the sound is not sharp, with less attack and ´´pick´´ noise (I like these characteristics). What is your opinion about?

[@JensLarsen]

***** Thanks Rodolfo! I am using a Dunlop jazz 207 pick, which is indeed quite round. This one is also very worn down :) I use them for exactly the reason that you mention: less treble pick attack and just a nice warm tone. These are very handy and cheap, but I am always looking for other options, though mostly I don't have time to really check anything new. What kind do you use?

[@rodolfoamaralguitar]

Jens Larsen Thank you for answering! I use the Dunlop jazz 207 and the Dunlop Primetone 3mm, these are my favorites (the primetone 3mm round tip is thicker than the 207, but it has less treble and noise than the 207).

[@JensLarsen]

***** Ok I'll have a look at those, never heard of them..Thanks!

[@Kallefatides]

Hi Jens! I´m a little confused when you talk about the drop 2 voicing over Am7 1 min 44 sec. Isn´t that a Am9-inversion (the third one on the left side)? How is the other side an inversion of that since the 9 isn´t included? Great video btw!

[@JensLarsen]

That's just a typo, the B should be an E :)

[@colekirkland2743]

Hi Jens, I have a question. I noticed for your voicings in Autumn Leaves, that you used more than one voicing for a particular chord, usually 2 or 3. Is that necessary for playing jazz standards? I’m still very new to playing jazz, and my teacher said something about how I need to learn more than one way to play a chord/voicing.

[@DanteKimura]

Hi Jens, First of all I want to congratulate you for your channel. Excellent lessons and playing!! I have a question about the drop 2 for major7 chords. The one with the 7th on the bass (3rd inversion) produces a b9 interval between the 7th and the root. This is ok to use in a tonal context? Thanks

[@JensLarsen]

+Dante Kimura Castanha Yes but it is not my first choice, that's for sure.

[@wolandsmachine]

GREAT AND USEFUL LESSON AS ALWAYS Wondering if you could help me a little more :) Somewhere close to the end of "Autumn Leaves" the changes go like this (E-7 Eb7 D-7 Db7) That Eb7 and Db7 are my problem, Is it Eb7 (Eb G Bb Db as An Eb dominant 7) or Eb7 (E G B Db like the minor 7th is flattened 'which doesn't make any sense') Im seriously having quite a tense brain fart on this. :D

[@JensLarsen]

+Volandark Side Thank you! No worries! It is Eb(7) so Eb G Bb Db. That's btw Autumn leaves in another key than what I am doing in this lesson if I remember correctly.

[@wolandsmachine]

you're awesome dude, thanks for your quick reply i can go back to playing now :)) Im learning from The Real Book 5th Edition. its in G.

[@JensLarsen]

Volandark Side That's Cool! Glad to be of help!

[@wolfejams]

Hey Jens, I was just wondering, regarding the minor 7th chord inversion shape which has the 3rd starting on the A string (1st inversion), I find this position very hard on my hand. I'm wondering, with shapes like this, do your hands stretch and they become easy, or do you generally avoid these very stretched shapes? Thank you for all of your amazing videos and help!

[@JensLarsen]

+Daniel Wolfe That one does take some getting used to. Though it isn't really that stretchy. With that one my hand had to get used to it and that made it really easy. Do make sure you practice it high enough on the neck so you don't get into trouble with your hands.

[@wolfejams]

thanks so much :)

[@Shuzies]

Yes I can Use this.......Thanks Much.................rc

[@JensLarsen]

That's Great! 😀👍

[@creativesoul96_33]

Are drop voicings only for 7th chords?

[@JensLarsen]

Yes, we usually refer to the triad version as spread triads or open voiced triads

[@Meandmydad12316]

Jens, where do you find your backing tracks? Specifically, the backing tracks used in the beginning/intro of your video lessons? Or do you make them yourself?

[@JensLarsen]

It's a mix some are Aebersold, a lot I made myself: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqabkH5vntCkerM

[@slowmotion421]

what amp set up are you using? Sounds like butter!!!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Steve! This video is using my old AxeFX ultra setup. I have since upgraded to a Fractal Audio AX8 I talk about the Ultra setup in detail here: kzbin.info?o=U&video_id=orJ87uqk3uU

[@BrighamCrafts]

great lesson! i believe there is a slight error in one of the images though - the first image around 0:30 that third voicing seems wrong, that bottom note should be an E not a B, right?

[@JensLarsen]

+ThrowawayGamingChannel Thank you! Yes indeed that should be an E. I fixed it in my article and the pdf download but I can't edit the video once it is on KZbin :)

[@JensLarsen]

@Jon Norman That voicing is also called drop2, remember that you can also apply the "drop2" to the inversions.

[@Jdudeo]

Hi Jens, My question is unrelated to this video but what do you think of perfect 4ths tuning (EADGCF)?

[@JensLarsen]

I never played in that tuning. I am sure it might work for others, but I don’t really see the advantage as I use the 3rd interval between the B and G strings very often.

[@poprostumati585]

0:33 why is there B in the 3rd voicing?

[@JensLarsen]

There isn't I am playing E G A C

[@federicoaguilar7610]

Why is there a 9th in the score of the chord at 0:37?

[@JensLarsen]

Probably just a typo :)

[@UtkarshTiwari-es2th]

Guru!

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks :)

[@TheBoondoggler]

What if I have smaller than average sized hands should i take up fiddle

[@JensLarsen]

Most of these should not be a huge problem for you though, right?

[@TheBoondoggler]

@@JensLarsen srry, upon further viewing I see the closer cluster of voicings starting at 1:18. Brilliant, thx (even for little hands like me)

[@JensLarsen]

No worries!

[@JS-ll5gk]

does this mean, since the root is elsewhere for inversions, the 9 goes back to a 2?

[@AlDunbar]

Take a hint fron Jimi: "Now if 6 turned out to be 9 I don't mind, I don't mind:. Clearly, in his mind, it doesn't matter what number you call it. ;-)

[@MegaDusso]

QUESTION JEN.......since when I’m playing a 7 chord (1-3-5-7), then the drop 2 is the 5 note, does that mean that drop 4s can only be played on extended chords, since in a 1-3-5-7 chord the drop 4 would be the tonic, which would be redundant ?

[@JensLarsen]

Yes

[@jimwynton6698]

i've got a question: when you're playing a drop 2 voicing--say for example a Cmaj7 second inversion and you want to move to, say, an F major 7, how do you know which Fmaj7 to to move to next?....it seems like there are two possible, next chords with this Cmaj7's region......the Fmajor7 played with the root on the 4th string (above the cmajor7)...and the fmajor7 played with the root on the second string aka (root position, located directly below the cmajor 7)... Does this question make sense?

[@theralhaljordan7337]

you can do either one, if you are following a melody and want to go to a Fmaj7 with C, A, etc. as the highest note, or you want a certain inversion, if it's easier to transition to one or the other, etc. All up to your creative license

[@jimwynton6698]

@@theralhaljordan7337 , ahhh okay, so i can basically choose either one...it really just depends on how i want the top note to move. right?

[@theralhaljordan7337]

@@jimwynton6698 yeah that or just what is easier to play are usually the main factors, especially in comping. With most harmony the order of notes isn't as important as just playing the notes, though you generally don't want to play notes a half step apart, like the B and C on Cmaj7. Some people purposely choose certain inversions to make a pattern of weak and strong chords, but that's generally done on piano or composed for a group not solo guitar

[@jimwynton6698]

@@theralhaljordan7337 word....thanks man....very helpful

[@ramoncrisostomo4477]

yeahhh

[@JensLarsen]

Ramon Crisostomo :)

[@joeyselder5693]

Head blown!

[@MrMarcoAlvarado]

3rd chord should be: x x 14 -12 -10- 8

[@royercrafter]

mann it must be a breeze to play with you

[@JensLarsen]

That I don't know, but I do get side-man gigs so it at least isn't completely terrible :)

[@MrFree-vj8qj]

there is only letters and numbers in this lesson, but people only remember music

[@JensLarsen]

You can't please everybody, I am sure you can find other lessons that fit you better.

[@juanpgomez1299]

Soo, ya like sunburst?

[@JensLarsen]

Soo, you can't stay focused on the voicings? :)

[@juanpgomez1299]

@@JensLarsen No, they're hard to understand :(

[@JensLarsen]

@@juanpgomez1299 check out the Jazz chords study guide on my website 🙂