Some drop 2 voicings more useful than others?

[princeplanet]

Does anyone think it's less important to know/practice/use drop 2 chords on the thickest string set 6 5 4 3 ? It gets muddy down there and gets blurry against the bass, no? Or maybe for the chord melodists only?

[randalljazz]

your ears will guide you...

[bako]

I think it is useful to study all voicings encompassing the full range of the guitar.
To make them somewhat brighter, play closer to the bridge and or adjust your tone settings. I think Brett Willmott described Drop 2's with the middle 4 strings for accompaniment, the upper ones for solos and the bottom for ballads. The thicker strings definitely lack cutting power but sound quite beautiful arpeggiated. If nothing else it will give you a more complete understanding of the fretboard when you play single note lines.

[princeplanet]

Originally Posted by bako

I think it is useful to study all voicings encompassing the full range of the guitar.
To make them somewhat brighter, play closer to the bridge and or adjust your tone settings. I think Brett Willmott described Drop 2's with the middle 4 strings for accompaniment, the upper ones for solos and the bottom for ballads. The thicker strings definitely lack cutting power but sound quite beautiful arpeggiated. If nothing else it will give you a more complete understanding of the fretboard when you play single note lines.

I really like this answer, thanks!

[JohnW400]

Knowing them on the three string sets helps you see the chords possibilites and even arpeggios across the neck. If all you knew where the drop 2's on 1234 or 2345 but nut 3456 then you would have to change postion and drop down the fingerboard. Economy of movement

Of course for comping in a group situation they get a bit thick on the lower frets. But as Randall says, your ears will tell you

[jazzninja]

Originally Posted by bako

I think it is useful to study all voicings encompassing the full range of the guitar.
To make them somewhat brighter, play closer to the bridge and or adjust your tone settings. I think Brett Willmott described Drop 2's with the middle 4 strings for accompaniment, the upper ones for solos and the bottom for ballads. The thicker strings definitely lack cutting power but sound quite beautiful arpeggiated. If nothing else it will give you a more complete understanding of the fretboard when you play single note lines.

Bretts excellent and very thorough book "Mel Bays complete book of harmony, theory and voicing" lists the lower interval limits for different chord tones and tensions but none go below c on the 5th string. It's definitely worth getting if you really want to understand drop 2 chords.