Chord Voicings
Same chord, same notes — but how you space them across your hands completely changes how it sounds and feels to play.
Voicing: arrangement, not identity
A voicing is simply how a chord's notes are arranged in space — which one is lowest, which is highest, whether any are doubled, and how far apart they're spread. The chord's letter name doesn't change, but its sound absolutely does depending on the voicing you choose.
Close, open, and drop-2
A close voicing packs all the chord tones within a single octave — dense and compact. An open voicing spreads them across more than an octave, usually by moving an inner note up or down, for a more spacious sound. A drop-2 voicing starts from a close voicing and drops the second-highest note down an octave into the bass — a jazz-piano staple that keeps a smooth top line while opening up the sound underneath.
Left hand
Right hand
Common questions
What is a chord voicing?
The specific arrangement and spacing of a chord's notes, even though the underlying chord stays the same.
What is a close voicing?
Chord tones packed tightly within a single octave, giving a dense, compact sound.
What is an open voicing?
Notes spread across more than an octave, usually by moving an inner voice, for a more spacious sound.
What is a drop-2 voicing?
A close voicing with the second-highest note dropped an octave into the bass — common in jazz piano for a fuller sound.
Hear every voicing option instantly
Melody Monkey lets you compare voicings for any chord across piano, guitar, and more.
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