Horizontal Drop 3 Chord Inversions | Maj7 String Set 6432

Benefits

• Drop 3 chords are one of the most common voicings on the guitar

• Add new colors to chords you already know (ie: rather than playing a major triad, try a major 6 or major 7 chord)

• Promotes hand strength (some of these inversions are tough!)

• Develop better visualization of the fretboard

How to practice

• For each chord play the shape so you can hear each note clearly, then move to the next inversion by following the horizontal arrows

• When you have played all 4 inversions (one row), change keys by following the vertical arrows

• Say (out loud) each new chord name as you play the first chord therein

• Alternatively you can practice playing the chords arpeggiating them

• BONUS: Say the lowest then highest scale degrees of each inversion (this way you will learn where the intervals are within a given chord inversion)

Notes about the exercise

• Pay close attention to fret numbering to ensure you are playing the correct chord

• Pay close attention to where the roots of each chord are, this can aid in finding the chords more quickly

• Pay close attention to where the intervals are in each chord ie: 5th on top, 3rd on bottom, etc (see BONUS)

• Notice the patterns that arise, but be careful, some shapes look/feel the same while sounding different depending on the string set

• When ascending, notice that the chords always follow the cyclic pattern … > root > 1st > 2nd > 3rd > root > 1st > …

• When descending, notice that the triads always follow the cyclic pattern … < root < 1st < 2nd < 3rd < root < 1st < …

• Get off page ASAP, these pages outline an exercise and can be read as such, however, the concept is repetitive and should be internalized and can then be applied to other content

Suggested prerequisite knowledge

• Left hand fingerings

• How to find the names of the natural pitches and the direction of sharps (#) and flats (b) on the fingerboard

• Familiarity with reading chord and scale charts

• Strong triad knowledge

• Familiarity with 7th and 6th chords and theory