How To Connect Jazz Guitar Chords (Drop 2)

Drop 2 Chord Construction

Drop 2 chords are built by moving the second highest note of a chord to the bass of this chord, which gives the root position interval pattern R (root) - 5 (fifth) - 7 (seventh) - 3 (third) and 3 other inversions :

• 3 - 7 - R - 5
• 5 - R - 3 - 7
• 7 - 3 - 5 - R

As it is shown in the example below, when you drop the second highest note of a Cmaj7 close voicing (bar 1), you get a drop 2 Cmaj7 voicing (bar 2) spelled 5 - 1 - 3 - 7.

It has the fifth in the bass, this is a slash chord named Cmaj7/G (C major seventh G in the bass), making it the second inversion of the root voicing ( R - 5 - 7 - 3).

You can see in the third bar, the same voicing, but on the first , second, third and fourth string, it is much easier to play on guitar.

How To Play Drop 2 Chords On Guitar?

It is possible to play drop 2 voicings on 3 groups of strings. The first group includes strings 1, 2, 3 and 4. The second, strings 2, 3, 4 and 5 and the third, strings 3, 4, 5 and 6.

To simplify learning, the following drop 2 guitar shapes are played on strings 1, 2, 3 and 4. It is up to you to transpose these drop 2 positions to the group of string of your choice.

The following guitar diagrams are divided into 5 categories, related to the 5 main chord types used in jazz, namely : Major seventh (Maj7), minor seventh (m7), dominant seventh (dom7), minor seventh flat five (m7b5), and diminished seventh (dim7).

Each shape starts with the root position (R-5-7-3), which is followed by the three inversions, 3-7-R-5, 5-R-3-7 and 7-3-5-R.

How To Practice Drop 2 Chords?

Now take time to familiarize yourself with these drop 2 chord shapes below. In a first step you have to play theses shapes, one by one, knowing the name and the quality of the chord. 

You have to know where is the root, the third, the fifth or the seventh of each drop 2 chord you are playing. You can even try to play them following the circle of fifths. We Will see later in the lesson how to build a chord melody with these drop 2 voicings.

Major 7 Drop 2 Guitar Shapes

Major seventh chords are built with root (1), major third (3), perfect fifth (5) and major seventh (7)

Dominant 7 Drop 2 Guitar Shapes

Dominant seventh chords are built with root (1), major third (3), perfect fifth (5) and minor seventh (b7).

Minor 7 Drop 2 Guitar Shapes

Minor seventh chords are built with root (1), minor third (b3), perfect fifth (5) and minor seventh (b7).

Minor 7b5 Drop 2 Guitar Shapes

Minor seventh flat five chords are built with root (1), minor third (b3), diminished fifth (5) and minor seventh (b7).

Diminished 7 Drop 2 Guitar Shapes

Diminished seventh chords are built with root (1), minor third (b3), diminished fifth (b5) and diminished seventh (bb7).

Chord Melody Exercices WithDrop 2 Chords

Now we will talk about the subject of this topic, which is how to connect drop 2 chords to create a chord melody. For this we need to take the four maj7 voicings previously seen and try to put notes from the major scale between each drop 2 chord.

First, let's remember the major scale formula which is 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 giving the F major scale F-G-A-Bb-C-D-E.

Exercise 1 - Connecting Drop 2 Maj7 Chords - Melody On The 4th String

The root of the F major scale will be the root of the first Drop 2 voicing. The third of F major, which is A, will be the root of the first drop 2 inversion (3-7-R-5).

The fifth of F (C) will be the root of the second drop 2 inversion (5-R-3-7) and then, the seventh of F (E) will be the root of the third and last inverted drop 2 chord (7-3-5-R).

The other notes, the second (G), the fourth (Bb) and the sixth (D) will serve as passing tones to connect the chords.  Please note the name of the chords, the first inverted drop 2 chord is named Fmaj7/A, the second is Fmaj7/C and the third is Fmaj7/E.

Exercise 2 - Connecting Drop 2 Maj7 Chords - Melody On The 3rd String

This second exercise takes the same chords and same notes but with the melody on the third string.

Exercise 3 - Connecting Drop 2 Maj7 Chords - Melody On The 2nd String

Same chords and same notes with the melody on the B string.

Exercise 4 - Connecting Drop 2 Maj7 Chords - Melody On The 1st String

Once again but the melody is played on the high E string.

Exercise 5 - Connecting Drop 2 min7 Chords - Melody On The 1st String

Since the degree II of the major scale is a minor chord, we can build a chord melody with drop 2 minor seventh chords. Example with the F major scale. The ii chord of F major is G minor, so we will try to connect G minor seventh drop 2 chords following the F major scale.

Respecting the drop 2 minor 7 root formula which is R-1-b3-b7 we will get three other inverted voicings : b3-b7-R-5, 5-R-b3-b7 and b7-b3-5-R thus giving four minor seventh chords named Gm7, Gm7/Bb, Gm7/D and Gm7/F.

The passing notes will be A, C, E and G. We will start connecting these drop 2 minor voicings from the root chord, Gm7 (G-D-F-Bb). Given that there are two other minor degrees in the major scale (iii and iv), it is recommended to do the same exercises starting from these two degrees.

Try now to play the melody on the first, second and third string three keeping the same drop 2 minor seventh chords as previously discussed. 

Exercise 6 - Connecting Drop 2 min7 Chords - Melody On The 1st String

The last example is to connect four drop 2 Dominant chords by using notes from the C major scale (can be seen as G Mixolydian). Since G7 is the V chord of the C major scale we will play G7, G7/B, G7/D and G7/F respectively the drop 2 root voicing, the 1st, the 2nd and the third inversion.

• 

  Guitar Scale Dictionary

  This E-book is a printable PDF method including over 700 scale diagrams and formula charts for guitarists.
• 

  30 Groovy Jazz Guitar Licks

  This downloadable package contains a PDF WITH audio files giving access to 30 groovy guitar phrases mixing jazz, blues and funky licks for beginners.
• 

  Guitar Chord Dictionary

  This PDF eBook provides over 550 guitar chord shapes. This is the perfect reference guide to understand how chords are built and how to play them on the guitar neck.
• 

  172 Arpeggio Shapes For Guitar

  This printable PDF is a method dedicated to guitarists of all styles who want to learn the most important types of arpeggios.
• 

  126 Triad Chord Shapes

  This handbook for guitar players is intended both for teachers and students. It includes 126 guitar shapes for mastering triads.
• 

  30 Minor Arpeggio Licks

  This package includes a printable PDF method containing 30 exercises with tabs, staves and audio files for practicing minor arpeggios on guitar.
• 

  II V I Bundle - 170 Exercises

  This bundle contains 4 PDF methods for a total of 170 exercises with tabs, staves, analysis & audio files for practicing scales, arpeggios licks & chords over the 2-5-1 progression.
• 

  Diatonic Licks Bundle

  This package contains 120 jazz guitar lines based on diatonic modes as Mixolydian, Dorian and Ionian. PDF format with tabs, audio files and analysis.
• 

  30 Smooth Jazz Guitar Licks

  In this package you'll get a printable PDF Method with tabs, notation, analysis, scale shapes and audio files for practicing 30 smooth jazz guitar licks.
• 

  40 II V I Jazz Guitar Licks

  This pdf method for guitar contains fourteen 2 5 1 jazz guitar lines with tab, standard notation, analysis, scale charts and audio files.
• 

  50 II-V-I voicings

  This printable PDF guitar method provides 50 exercises with audio files, analysis, tab and staves for learning major 2-5-1 chord voicings.
• 

  40 Minor 2 5 1 Chord Voicings

  This PDF method contains 40 exercices with tabs, scores and audio files for practicing jazz guitar chords over the minor 2 5 1 progression.
• 

  40 Minor II V I Licks

  This guitar method is a printable PDF with tabs, diagrams, theory and audio files providing 40 minor 2 5 1 jazz patterns.
• 

  40 Mixolydian Jazz Guitar Lick

  PDF guitar method with tabs, audio files and theory providing 40 dominant jazz guitar lines for teachers and students.
• 

  40 Minor Jazz Guitar Licks

  This printable guitar method in PDF format contains 40 easy minor jazz guitar lines based on the Dorian mode.
• 

  40 Major Jazz Guitar Licks

  Printable PDF eBook method containing 40 major jazz guitar licks with tab, standard notation and audio files for beginners and intermediates.
• 

  Guitar Walking Bass Lines

  This jazz guitar method about walking bass lines and chords is available as a PDF files containing 35 exercises with tabs, analysis and audio files
• 

  101 Dominant Arpeggio Patterns

  This printable PDF method provides 101 dominant arpeggio exercises with tab, theory and standard notation for the jazz, blues and rock guitarist.
• 

  49 Essential Jazz Lines

  This printable eBook method in PDF format provides 49 jazz solo transcriptions of the greatest jazz musicians. Tab, standard notation, audio files & analysis.
• 

  11 Jazz Blues Studies

  11 jazz blues chord studies with tabs, standard notation, analysis, and audio recordings and PDF.
• 

  10 Easy Fingerstyle Blues

  This PDF with Tabs and audio files provides 10 easy acoustic fingerstyle blues guitar studies for kids and beginners.
• 

  25 Altered Jazz Guitar Lines

  This PDF eBook method contains 25 altered jazz guitar licks with tabs, patterns, scale charts and audio files to master, apply and develop the altered scale.
• 

  40 Blues Dominant Patterns

  This printable method is available as a PDF file containing 40 easy dominant jazz-blues guitar lines with tabs, standard notation, analysis, audio files and scale charts.
• 

  Mastering Pentatonic Scales

  This jazz guitar method is an eBook available as a PDF with standard notation, guitar tabs, diagrams, analysis, audio files and backing tracks. You will find in this booklet 25 easy jazz guitar lines with theory using common and rare pentatonic scales.
• 

  25 Soul Jazz Guitar Licks

  You will find here an eBook available in PDF containing 25 soul jazz and hard bop guitar licks in the style of Grant Green, Melvin Sparks, George Benson. These jazz lines come with tabs, standard notation, guitar neck diagrams, backing track for practice and 25 audio files for each riff.
• 

  25 Diminished Patterns

  This eBook PDF with audio files contains 25 dominant diminished jazz guitar patterns using the half-whole diminished scale and diminished 7th arpeggios.
• 

  6 Tritone substitution licks

  This Printable PDF eBook available for free download contains 6 easy jazz guitar licks with tabs/notation, youtube video link and analysis about the tritone substitution.
• 

  10 Minor 7 Arpeggio Patterns

  This printable PDF eBook offers 10 easy minor 7 arpeggio patterns with its related YouTube video for beginner guitarists.
• 

  10 Easy Major 7 Arpeggio Licks

  This is a printable PDF for beginner jazz guitar players providing 10 easy licks to practice major 7 arpeggios.
• 

  10 Chord Melody Lines

  Within this package, you'll discover a set of ten chord melody exercises for beginners. Printable PDFaudio files, a backing track, and a link to the associated YouTube video.
• 

  10 Minor Blues Scale Licks

  You'll find here a PDF with 10 easy jazz guitar licks to practice the minor blues scale on guitar.

• 

  Guitar Arpeggios Poster

  This giant guitar poster for any guitar player, student or instructor contains colorful arpeggio diagrams. Giant size 24 x 36 inches (60 x 90 cm).
• 

  Guitar Scales Poster 24*36

  Guitar posters and wall art with eighteen neck diagrams representing the most used scales in music.
• 

  Jazz Guitar Chords Poster

  This printed color posters contains 63 guitar chord diagrams for jazz players, students, teachers and schools.
• 

  Guitar Modes Poster

  Guitar reference posters and wall art about modes of the major scale for guitar teachers, students and music schools.
• 

  Melodic Minor Modes Poster

  Educative and decorative giant guitar poster with neck diagrams, interval names about the seven modes of the melodic minor scale.
• 

  Pentatonic Scale Guitar Poster

  This guitar reference poster shows the positions and intervals of the major pentatonic scale.
• 

  Guitar Notes Poster

  This is a giant poster showing the notes on the guitar fret board and their positions on a musical staff.
• 

  Triads Guitar Poster

  This reference poster show the positions and intervals of the main triads used on guitar. This is a useful tool for guitarists, teacher and students.
• 

  Four Archtop Guitars Poster

  This is a decorative poster with four archtop jazz guitars. Several size and colors in landscape format available on Teespring and redbubble.
• 

  Intervals On Guitar - Poster

  This giant poster for guitar provides neck diagrams with interval positions.

• 

  Major Scale Modes Handwritten

  This is a printable PDF for guitar teachers and students containing seven cheat sheets about the modes of the major scale.
• 

  Modes of The Major Scale

  This printable PDF provides 7 diagrams to play medieval church modes on guitar.
• 

  Harmonic Minor Scale Modes

  You'll find here a printable PDF file containg guitar charts and diagrams of the seven modes of the harmonic minor scale.
• 

  Melodic Minor Scale Modes

  You'll find a printable PDF in high resolution including guitar charts of the seven modes from the melodic minor scale.
• 

  Maj7 Arpeggios - Cheat Sheets

  Free major 7 arpeggio cheat sheets for guitar students and teachers. Three files are available for download, PDF, JPEG and PNG.
• 

  Min7 Arpeggio Cheat Sheets

  This page contains three music cheat sheets for guitar teachers and students about minor seventh arpeggios
• 

  Dom7 Arpeggio Cheat Sheets

  This page contains a link to three cheat sheets about dominant 7 arpeggios. Guitar neck diagrams, theory and chart.
• 

  m7b5 Arpeggio - Cheat Sheets

  Three printable cheat sheets for guitar about m7b5 arpeggios for teachers and students.
• 

  Dim7 arpeggio - Cheat Sheets

  Three music cheat sheets in PDF , JPEG and PNG formats for guitar teachers and students.
• 

  MinMajor 7 Arpeggio Sheets

  Three files (PDF, JPEG, PNG) including minor major 7 arpeggios shapes and theory for guitar teachers and students.
• 

  Augmented Major 7 Arpeggio

  You'll find guitar cheat sheets with shapes, theory and formula chart about augmented major 7 arpeggios.
• 

  Augmented 7 Arpeggio - Guitar

  This page provides three augmented 7 arpeggio cheat sheets for guitar players.