DROP-2 CHORD PRACTICE ROUTINE
One of the new lessons on acousticguitar.com this month involves drop-2 chord shapes—a way of making seventh-chords with just four closely spaced, essential notes that lie on any consecutive set of four strings. These shapes might seem a little foreign to you unless you’re a student of jazz guitar, but they’re worth learning no matter what style of music you play. One of the best ways to learn these shapes is to work them into a simple, scale-based practice routine. Hear audio example.



These exercises are shown in the key of A, but you can move them around the neck. The first group pairs an A-dominant scale with four drop-2 A7 shapes, and the second and third groups show this same idea at work for A minor and major. By creating a link between unfamiliar chord shapes and familiar scale patterns, it becomes easier to lock those shapes into your musical memory so that you can pull them out in an actual playing situation. If you move up and down the fretboard in half-step increments, these shapes can move with you. You won’t have to strain your brain much to identify the G# and Bb shapes, but you may have to locate other roots on the fretboard for keys that fall further away from A. For each drop-2 shape we’ve used here, we’ve circled the root note (A) in the tab staff.

Be sure to check out “Drop-2 Chords Lesson,” new this month on acousticguitar.com. For some other great warm-up ideas, also be sure to check out “Build a Guitar Warm-Up Routine.” Both articles are online now, as well as in the March 2009 issue of Acoustic Guitar.

PRIVATE LESSON
AL PETTEWAY
The fingerstylist discusses the relationship between Celtic and Appalachian music and shows us some funk grooves for good measure. With audio examples and Lick of the Month. [More]

THE BASICS
BUILD A GUITAR WARM-UP ROUTINE
Learn how to stay loose and avoid injury by developing an acoustic guitar warm-up routine for your fingers. With video. [More]

WOODSHED
DROP-2 CHORDS LESSON
Learn to use jazzy drop-2 chord shapes to create secondary guitar parts in any style. With audio. [More]

DIX BRUCE RELEASES GYPSY SWING & HOT CLUB RHYTHM II
Longtime Acoustic Guitar contributor Dix Bruce has published a follow-up to his 2007 instructional text Gypsy Swing & Hot Club Rhythm. The first volume featured interpretations of classic tunes including “Avalon” and “St. Louis Blues,” complete with melody tablature and a play-along CD. The sequel, Gypsy Swing & Hot Club Rhythm II, features 12 additional songs in a similar format to the original. Both books are available from musixnow.com, where they can be purchased individually or together for a special discount. musixnow.com

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