Mattwarnockguitar Com Drop 3

Home About Start Here New Lessons Jazz Arpeggios Jazz Chords Jazz Licks Jazz Scales Estore Login

Search

MATT WARNOCK GUITAR

Your Online Guide to Playing Better Jazz Guitar

How to Play Drop 3 Chords for Jazz Guitar Drop 3 Chords are some of the first voicings that guitarists learn when they begin to explore jazz guitar. These voicings are great for duo and solo situations, but they get a little muddy when you use them with a bass player, so be careful when and where you use Drop 3 Chord Inversions, you don’t want to step on your bass player’s toes!

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

For this reason, most players will use Drop 3 Chord Inversions when playing solo or Duo with no bass player, and then use Drop 2 Chords or other similar voicings when there’s a bass player in the ensemble. So make sure to learn both Drop 2 and Drop 3 Chords, so you never find yourself in a situation where your chords sound too muddy or too thin, and with both sets of voicings under your fingers you’ll be ready for any jazz situation. In this lesson, you will learn how build, play and apply Drop 3 chords to common jazz harmonic situations as you bring these classic chords off the page and onto your fretboard.

To see and hear these chords in action, check out my “Drop 3 Chords Video Lessons” series on YouTube.

Don’t forget to download your FREE Jazz Guitar eBook!

What Are Drop 3 Chords One of the most common questions I get from students and readers about jazz chords, is “How do you build a Drop 3 chord?” open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

The name Drop 3 comes from the fact that in order to build these chord shapes, you take a closed position chord, 1-3-5-7, and “drop” the 3rd note from the top down and octave, forming the interval pattern 3-1-5-7. Here is how that looks like on the fretboard to help with visualizing this chord construction, notice that each Drop 3 chord has a string skip between the lowest two notes as this is a characteristic of these shapes.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

When you lower the 3rd note of any closed-position chord by an octave, you will then produce the following four interval patterns for each inversion.

Root Position – R-7-3-5 1st Inversion – 3-R-5-7 2nd Inversion – 5-3-7-R 3rd Inversion – 7-5-R-3

These formulae works for any chord type you can think of, you just have to alter the interval qualities to fit that chord type. For example, a root position Drop 3 7th chord is built R-b7-3-5, a m7 chord would be R-b7-b3-5, etc. The intervals change to match the chord you are playing, but the order of the intervals always remains the same. To help you take these shapes from the page and onto the fretboard, let’s take a look at 8 different, 4 per string set, Drop 3 chords for all of the common chord qualities used in jazz. Each of these groups of Drop 3 chords is written with a C root, so make sure to move them to other keys around the fretboard as you explore these shapes further in your open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

jazz guitar practice routine.

To explore these ideas further, check out my “Intro to Drop 3 Chords” and “Intro to Jazz Guitar Chords” lessons.

Drop 3 Maj7 Chords To begin, here are 8 different Cmaj7 Drop 3 chords, which have the interval structure:

Root Position – R-7-3-5 1st Inversion – 3-R-5-7 2nd Inversion – 5-3-7-R 3rd Inversion – 7-5-R-3

Here are four inversions of Cmaj7 with the lowest note on the 6th string.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

You can also play these Drop 3 chords with the lowest note on the 5th string.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Drop 3 7th Chords Here are 8 different C7 Drop 3 chords, which have the interval structure:

Root Position – R-b7-3-5 1st Inversion – 3-R-5-b7 2nd Inversion – 5-3-b7-R 3rd Inversion – b7-5-R-3

Here are four inversions of C7 with the lowest note on the 6th string.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

You can also play these Drop 3 chords with the lowest note on the 5th string.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Drop 3 m7 Chords Here are 8 different Cm7 Drop 3 chords, which have the interval structure:

Root Position – R-b7-b3-5 1st Inversion – b3-R-5-b7 2nd Inversion – 5-b3-b7-R 3rd Inversion – b7-5-R-b3

Here are four inversions of Cm7 with the lowest note on the 6th string.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

You can also play these Drop 3 chords with the lowest note on the 5th string.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Drop 3 m7b5 Chords open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Here are 8 different Cm7b5 Drop 3 chords, which have the interval structure:

Root Position – R-b7-b3-b5 1st Inversion – b3-R-b5-b7 2nd Inversion – 5-b3-b7-R 3rd Inversion – b7-b5-R-b3

Here are four inversions of Cm7b5 with the lowest note on the 6th string.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

You can also play these Drop 3 chords with the lowest note on the 5th string.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Drop 3 dim7 Chords Here are 8 different Cdim7 Drop 3 chords, which have the interval structure: open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Root Position – R-bb7-b3-b5 1st Inversion – b3-R-b5-bb7 2nd Inversion – b5-b3-bb7-R 3rd Inversion – bb7-b5-R-b3

Here are four inversions of Cdim7 with the lowest note on the 6th string.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

You can also play these Drop 3 chords with the lowest note on the 5th string.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Drop 3 mMaj7 Chords Here are 8 different CmMaj7 Drop 3 chords, which have the interval structure:

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Root Position – R-7-b3-5 1st Inversion – b3-R-5-7 2nd Inversion – 5-b3-7-R 3rd Inversion – 7-5-R-b3

Here are four inversions of CmMaj7 with the lowest note on the 6th string.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

You can also play these Drop 3 chords with the lowest note on the 5th string. open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Drop 3 7#11 Chords Here are 8 different C7#11 Drop 3 chords, which have the interval structure:

Root Position – R-b7-3-#11 1st Inversion – 3-R-#11-b7 open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

2nd Inversion – #11-3-b7-R 3rd Inversion – b7-#11-R-3

Here are four inversions of C7#11 with the lowest note on the 6th string.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

You can also play these Drop 3 chords with the lowest note on the 5th string.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Drop 3 Maj7#11 Chords Here are 8 different Cmaj7#11 Drop 3 chords, which have the interval structure:

Root Position – R-7-3-#11 1st Inversion – 3-R-#11-7 2nd Inversion – #11-3-7-R 3rd Inversion – 7-#11-R-3 open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Here are four inversions of Cmaj7#11 with the lowest note on the 6th string.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

You can also play these Drop 3 chords with the lowest note on the 5th string.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Drop 3 Chord Exercise 1 – Qualities The first exercise you can use to internalize Drop 3 chords is based on finding chords that are only one note different from other shapes, and then moving between these chords on the fretboard. Here is a favorite example of this exercise that covers 5 different chord types in one exercise. Try playing these chords using Drop 3 shapes in C, before moving them to other keys on the fretboard. As well, you can use any string set, and any inversion, to outline these shapes, just stick to the same one for each time through the exercise. open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

So, if you play the first Cmaj7 chord as a 1st inversion with the root on the 6th string, keep that same outline as you then move to the other chords in the exercise, meaning you play every chord as a 1st inversion with the lowest note on the 6th string.

Here is another progression that I like to use where the second chord is built by altering one note from the first chord shape.

Lastly, here is another chord progression you can use to learn and memorize various types of Drop 3 chords in the practice room.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Once you have worked through these three progressions in various keys and in all inversions on different string sets, try coming up with your own progressions to work Drop 3 chords in the woodshed.

Read more about this exercise with my “Drop 3 Turnarounds for Jazz Guitar” lesson.

Drop 3 Chord Exercise 2 – Major ii V I VI Chords This exercise brings a practical application of Drop 3 chords to your practice routine, as you outline major key ii V I VI changes using Drop 3 voice leading. When doing so, you begin on any iim7 Drop 3 chord, such as the root position in the example below, and then move to the closest V7 chord, Imaj7 and VI7b9 chord in that area of the fretboard. Here is how that looks on the neck of the guitar.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

When doing so, you will always use the following inversions for each chord.

R-2nd-R-1st 1st-3rd-1st-2nd 2nd-R-2nd-3rd 3rd-1st-3rd-R

This order of inversions is the same for major and minor ii V I vi progressions, and so it’s worth memorizing as you take this exercise further in the woodshed. Once you have worked out the example above, try moving to the other inversions of Dm7 on the top-4 strings and voice leading the chords from there through the progression. open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Then, move on to different keys on that string set, and onto other string sets before applying these shapes to a full tune in your studies.

Drop 3 Chord Exercise 3 – Minor ii V I VI Chords You can then repeat the previous exercise with minor key ii V I vi chords, as you can see in the following example. Again, once you have these shapes down in various keys and on a few string sets, try taking them to a tune such as Autumn Leaves, which has both major and minor ii V I changes in order to hear and see how these chords apply to a musical situation.

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Do you have a question or comment about Drop 3 chords? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Login to rate and bookmark posts

Share 364 Like

5 1

"Matt's site is an amazing resource when studying Jazz guitar. It's clear, effective, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week" - Joel Join Joel and 25,000 others who benefit from free email guitar lessons Name

Email

Send Me Free Lessons open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

100% privacy. Your email will never be shared

33 Comments 1. Danny, August 17, 2011: I like the clear definition you have given here for drop 3s (and for the one on the drop 2s page). It makes a lot more sense to me now the difference between the two. Thanks! 2. Matt Warnock, August 17, 2011: Thanks Danny, glad you dug it!! 3. David, August 18, 2011: Matt, I use many of these voicings, but still don’t understand why you refer to them as “drop 2″ or “drop 3.” Why this terminology? What are you dropping? 4. Matt Warnock, August 18, 2011: Hey David, Drop 2 refers to the second note being dropped an octave, so if you had CEGB and you took the E up an octave you would get a Drop 2 voicing, CGBE. Drop 3 chords are a bit different, I just think of that name referring to that specific voicing, R735 and it’s inversions. If you want to think about Drop 3’s it might be easier to think of the 2nd and 3rd note dropped an octave. open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

If you have CEGB and you take EG up an octave, you get CBEG, Drop 3 voicing. Hope that helps! 5. Roy Michael Smarr, January 24, 2012: Matt: Your reply to David was a home run explaining drop 2 and drop 3 voicings. I’ve been using them but not understanding the terminology. Dropping in my head meant lowering an octave. And I couldn’t get away from numbers as scale tones. Thanks for clearing that up for me. And good luck with the new job. 6. Matthew Warnock, January 24, 2012: Thanks, glad it was helpful! 7. larry, April 13, 2012: hey Matt, so dropped 2 and 3 are considered an octave lower 2nd and 3rd respectively. O K Thank you. 8. larry, April 13, 2012: It seems to me that an Fm7 lst inversion is played the same as an Ab6,(G#6) Is this right? 9. Matthew Warnock, April 13, 2012: Yeah first inversuon Fm7 is an Ab6 chord, got that right on the mark! 10. Gerald Blakeman, April 23, 2012: Hi Matt, Enjoy your emailings. Regarding drop 2 and 3 voicings, I use them all the time. open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

However, I think of “drop” as lowering. So, if you “dropped” 2 you would have a first inversion Cmaj7, that being ECGB. Why not “raise” 2, which would be CGBE? Please clarify. Thanks, Gerald 11. Matthew Warnock, April 23, 2012: Hi Gerald, There are two ways to think about drop 2 chords, one from a notational standpoint and one from a guitar standpoint if you take a closed position chord, like C E G B, and you drop the second note from the top, you get G C E B, which is a drop 2 voicing. But, for me that is a bit confusing on the guitar, since the 5 is in the bass and it’s compared to a root position closed voicing. I just think of Drop 2 and Drop 3 chords on the guitar as a set of intervals. So for me, Drop 2 is R 5 3 7 and it’s inversions and Drop 3 is R 7 3 5 and its inversions. That way I’m thinking from the root up for the first inversion and the other inversions are built from there. Hope that helps. 12. Ed Over, June 24, 2012: Nice clear explanations and examples. Helpful for organizing one’s thinking. Thanks, Ed open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

13. Matthew Warnock, June 24, 2012: Thanks Ed glad you dig the lesson! 14. anthomy, December 6, 2012: Love these lessons. 15. Matthew Warnock, December 6, 2012: Thanks! 16. Pedro Caeiro, January 17, 2013: Hi Matt and thank you for all of this wonderfull lessons! My question is: Some of the inversions with the lower note on the fifth string are really dificult, and some really impossible for me to play, like 2nd inversion of FMaj7. From your experience, what can you tell me about this? Dont use, replace for another chord, of something else? Thank you! 17. Matthew Warnock, January 17, 2013: Hey, yeah that inversion, with the 5th in the bass, can be tough. What I would do is take the 7th out and replace it with a 6th. So you get a maj6 chord instead of a maj7, same basic sound and function, just easier fingering. So for Fmaj7 you could try C6. 8x776x or x3231x open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Try those out and see how they fit. 18. Pedro Caeiro, January 18, 2013: Thank you very much!! 19. koollucian, July 6, 2013: Hi Matt, Love your lessons. I am just beginning to learn jazz (I personally rate myself as an intermediate player actually). It has intrigued me for a long time but I’ve been overwhelmed by the difficult chords. I know I have to keep practicing. Just looking at your videos, I can see your guitar is different. I have a very old classical guitar (bought perhaps before you were born) that I can manage to play only up to the 12th fret. Anything higher than that, I can’t fiddle with. Now, here’s my question after a long diatribe – what is the best type of guitar for jazz? Should I buy a different one or should I stick with my old reliable classical? Sorry if this is off the topic a bit. I am just baffled now. Thanks for any info. 20. Matt Warnock, July 6, 2013: Hey, you can use a classical guitar, just move the chords down to the open position if it gets too high for you. If you do want to switch to an electric, I like telecasters as you can see, but I also like Ibanex Artists and that line of guitars for a beginner jazz guitar. Epiphone also makes some nice beginner guitars for jazzers that are just starting out in the genre. 21. Ferdinand, August 16, 2013: Hi Matt, Thanks for explaining. I’ve been working my way through all kinds of voicings especially to find comping progressions that are more similar to what jazz pianists open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

play. I do not agree, however, with your hints of using drop 3 voicings. It is more in the specific notes you play in an ensemble than the exact voicings. Pianist also use drop 3 often. I’d like to share my the ideas I’ve been developing lately. Like to hear your comments on it. I like to think that the best way to accompany in a jazz band is 1) stay away the frequency range of the bass. (no chords with bass notes between E and B e.g, 2) leave the root out or put in as a higher note in the voicing or play colouring instead 3)listen to the internal intervals between the notes of the chord inversion. 4)listen to the melody line that is created with a certain chord progression. Movement of chords attracks more attention that the short moment of one intermediate chord. Hope this makes sense. Kind regards 22. Matt Warnock, August 16, 2013: Hi Ferdinand, thanks for checking out the lesson. Drop 3 chords are great for playing in solo and duo situations, as well as in certain big band contexts and even combos in the right setting. As I mentioned in this article, they can be muddy sometimes when playing on the lower strings, so you need to be careful when applying them to any performance situation, especially when a bass player is present. Everyone has their own tastes when it comes to comping jazz guitar chords, and so that’s why it’s good to check out many different approaches, such as the ones you mentioned. open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

If you look around my site, in the chords section, you’ll see my articles that discuss other comping approaches that you might enjoy such as 3rds and 7ths, inner and upper structure triads, 3 to 9 chords and rootless voicings. Check these out to get an idea of all the various ways that you can explore jazz guitar comping beyond Drop 3 shapes. http://mattwarnockguitar.com/category/jazz-guitar-chords 23. Harrison Picot, September 15, 2013: Really good lesson. Almost makes it look easy. I am still making the mistake of thinking that understanding is the same as practice, but getting a tiny bit better. By the time I am 85, I think I can learn those two shapes and the parts that make up the chords. Do you use 10’s on your tele? I tried to imagine Howard Roberts with Fender 9s and my head almost exploded. HR’s first two strings were 16 and 18 for jazz (later 15 and 17,finally 14 and 16) and lighter strings for pop and rock, but it is hard to imagine his using strings that “flap” against the neck (as one studio player described the joy of a Tele). I can actually remember the first time I put 9’s on a guitar, and I was how you could play light enough not to bend a string? Now I don’t think about it and people with good ears notice that in my playing (haa,haa; that is their punishment for their other comments about my playing). 24. Matt Warnock, September 15, 2013: Thanks, glad you are digging the lesson. I use .11s on my Tele, used to use .10s but found them a bit too light, and the .12s are too heavy for my fignernails, they shred them a bit. 25. Eloy, October 17, 2014: open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Gracias Matt por compartir todas estas estupendas lecciones, estamos en deuda contigo. Un abrazo. 26. Matt Staples, November 21, 2014: Hi Matt I am working through the beginner course, just doing some reading ahead on chords. Really enjoying the material and the 251 app is really useful in support with fingerings. Noticed what I think is an error in the above and thought it was worth calling as it is in one of the boldest statements and may lead to confusion. In exercise one, your paragraph on staying with the same inversion and string sets starts out with one string set and then changes to the other. Hope this is useful Cheers Matt 27. Matt Warnock, November 21, 2014: Cheers, glad you like the lessons and the app. Good eye on the typo, got it fixed up. 28. Sébastien, January 23, 2015: Exactly what i had to learn.Thank you so much for your help! (a french guitarist) 29. Ryan, February 19, 2015: Hey Matt, This is truly great stuff—thank you. There is, however, one thing about the last open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

example for the minor ii-V-I-vi: Should that vi chord not be in first inversion, i.e: The lowest note should be the C on the eighth fret? I am cross-referencing this with the order of inversions—those being R, 2nd, R, 1st. Would just like to clarify. Thanks again. 30. Matt Warnock, February 19, 2015: Yeah Ryan, just a typo on the inversion, I fixed it up now. Cheers. 31. Jeanco Volfe, March 5, 2015: Hello . I ‘m from Brazil . I studied classical guitar and I was wondering more about voicings on the instrument. I was looking for this information for a long time. Sorry my English , but I needed to talk only to thank and say I was very happy with your explanations . thanks a lot 32. Rich, July 21, 2015: Matt, great presentation of Drop 3. I noticed that in the section entitled: “Drop 3 Chord Exercise 2 – Major ii V I VI Chords” R 2nd R (1st) as the order of inversions however, you pictured R 2nd R (R). The VI chord or A7b9 is the one. I’m sure this was an oversight. Also, in the description of same section, the word “being” should be “begin” (“When doing so, you being on any”…). Hope that helps. 33. Matt Warnock, July 21, 2015: Thanks Rich, got that fixed up, cheers!

Share Your Comments or Questions open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Name (required)

E-mail (will not be published) (required)

Submit Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting.

JAZZ GUITAR - BEGINNERS JAZZ GUITAR - IMPROVERS open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

JAZZ GUITAR - RESOURCES

Related Articles How To Play Drop 2 Chords For Jazz Guitar How To Play Jazz Guitar Chords How To Play Diminished Triads For Guitar

FORUM LOGIN

RECENT FORUM TOPICS CONNECT WITH ME

Not a member yet? Click here to sign up

Opinion on Micky Baker's "Complete Course…" books Stuff the Real Books leave

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com

Username

Password

out Hi Matt and everyone else hello from virginia Chord Changes Quarter Note Triplets Fingerpicking scales

GO

open in browser PRO version

Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.com