Hi Tomo,
I’ve been studying triads, chords, and harmony on Guitar Wisdom, and I wanted to ask you about a couple of areas where I currently feel a bit unclear.
I’m learning Drop 2 chords, but I’m not always sure how to apply them musically. Right now, I’m approaching Drop 2 almost the same way I approach triads — practicing the voicings consistently and using them over 12-bar blues progressions. I’m wondering whether this is a valid way to internalize Drop 2 chords, or if there’s an important conceptual step I’m missing in how you intend them to be used.
Another area I feel confused about is rhythm, especially shuffle and swing. I don’t feel confident judging whether my feel is actually correct. Sometimes it feels right, sometimes it doesn’t, and I’m not sure how to go deeper rhythmically or how you would recommend practicing shuffle and swing in a more focused way.
So my main questions for you are:
How do you personally think about and use Drop 2 chords in real musical contexts?
Is treating Drop 2 chords similarly to triads a good way to learn them?
And what’s the best way to develop a solid and reliable shuffle/swing feel?
I’d really appreciate hearing your perspective on this.
Thank you Tobi for this question.
Can you play them cleanly? Try Dom7 chords. A lot of ways to apply those. Hendrix uses those only top 3 strings for Red House / Slow blues live performance. Hendrix really knew those drops 2s.
You can apply those funk rhythm guitar playing too. Chromatic chords!
If you change Root to b9 on those Dom7 chords.... then Diminshed 7 shapes (Dom7b9!)
b7 M3 5 b9
b9 5 b7 M3
M3 b7 b7 5
5 b9 M3 b7
Now you can play like Wes Montgomery jazz voicings.
Great foundation indeed!
Tomo
I was learning E finger style blues lesson , and found that it has a A drop2 chord. even the simple phrases are so tasty . I can't play Drop 2 chords cleanly right now ,but I want to try my best . A lot things to learn and practice , Blues is so good ! Thank you Tomo sensei
Good job Tobi... I think I can make some demos on these chords.
Blues is so good! You're very welcome!
Tomo
Thanks for mapping that out, Tomo. Took me a bit to get my head around what I was looking at, I see now it's four inversions of 7th chords.