For instance, a jazz pianist in a jazz band or jazz combo could keep these two handouts with the rest of their music for when they need to figure out how to voice a chord. In reality, you should know more than 1-2 voicings for each chord, but this handout is a solid reference for jazz pianists in need of some good voicings. Those left-hand voicings are useful when the pianist is 1) soloing with their right hand, 2) playing the melody, or when they are 3) playing bass lines in their left hand (like a jazz organist). The first handout is the Encyclopedia of Two-Hand Voicing. This handout is the second in a two-part series of reference voicings for the jazz pianist. This is an short “encyclopedia” with 1-2 voicings for most of the chords jazz pianists are likely to encounter. Let’s look at another example of drop 2 voicings on the classic jazz standard “ The Days of Wine and Roses.” In this example we’ll look at measures 25-26.Two-Hand piano voicings are essential for jazz pianists when comping behind melodists and soloists. ĭrop 2 Chords on “The Days of Wine and Roses” This results in an open-position chord which has wider spacing between the notes of the chord and therefore sounds a bit larger.

In order to create drop 2 chords, we simply take the second highest note in each chord and drop it down one octave (i.e., “drop 2” = move the 2nd note from the top down an octave). The next step is to harmonize this passage in closed-position voicings using Dm7 and D7 harmonies, such as this: Here is the lead sheet version of the measure: On this arrangement of Duke Ellington’s “ In a Sentimental Mood” drop 2 voicings are used in measure 5 as the melody ascends. One particularly effective use is to harmonize melodies on jazz standards. As pianists we are especially fortunate because drop 2 chords sound great at the piano and can be used at slow and fast tempos.

Many composers and arrangers have used this device when writing big band music and scoring for saxes and brass instruments.

Play these two chords at the piano to hear the difference between the two.ĭrop 2 chords are very useful in all kinds of jazz arranging. On the right we have the same D minor 7 as a drop 2 chord, now in open-position (larger than a one octave range): On the left we have a D minor 7 chord in root position (closed-position because the entire chord is within an octave range). Drop 2 chords (or drop 2 voicings) refer to taking a closed-position chord and dropping the second-highest note down an octave in order to create an open-position chord. “Closed-position” refers to a chord within an octave range or less, while “open-position” refers to a range larger than an octave.

Jazz chords piano chart