Drop Voicings

Drop Voicings

Drop Voicings are a type of open chord; a chord which spans more than an octave. Creating drop voicings begins with a 4-way close voicing, one in which all four chord tones are within one octave. These are also sometimes refered to as close voicings, closed voicings, or voicings in close position. In a 4-way close voicing, the highest-pitched note is numbered as voice 1. This is considered the melody, and is sometimes called the lead. Each note is numbered from the highest down no matter what the inversion is.

4-Way Close Voicing

First Inversion C^maj7 chord; Root in the Lead (Melody)

Once the melody is established, one or more of the lower voices is dropped down one octave. The title of the drop voicing describes which voice is dropped. The most common drop voicings are drop 2 voicings, in which the second voice is dropped, and drop 3 voicings, in which the third voice is dropped.

Drop Voicing Examples

C^maj7 chord as example

root in melody
root in the lead examples

CLOSE -- DROP 2 -- DROP 3

third in melody
third in the lead examples

CLOSE -- DROP 2 -- DROP 3

fifth in melody
fifth in the lead examples

CLOSE -- DROP 2 -- DROP 3

seventh in melody
seventh in the lead examples

CLOSE -- DROP 2 -- DROP 3

Inversion Sets - Drop 2 and Drop 3 Voicings
Drop 2; R - 3 - 5 - 7 Melody notes	Drop 3; R - 3 - 5 - 7 Melody notes

In addition to Drop 2 and Drop 3 voicings, there are Drop 4, Drop 2 and 3, Drop 2 and 4, Drop 3 and 4, and Drop 2,3 and 4 voicings. These are not as commonly used, as the spacing is less regular, and can give a slightly less blended sound.

Various Drop Voicings

Drop 4, Drop 2 and 3, Drop 2 and 4, Drop 3 and 4, Drop 2,3 and 4

C^maj7 chord; Root in the Lead (Melody)