Jazz Guitar Comping

For most of the recorded history of jazz, piano players have been the main, and usually the only, comping instrument. This text will help guitar players get a handle on the most important job they have when playing in a small group: comping. This can be used as a progressive study of comping or simply a source of ideas. Although rhythms and voice leading are found throughout the book, they are isolated for study in particular sections. Companion CD is included covering voice leading, multi-use voicings, voicing variations, passing chords, harmonized scales, intervallic comping, rhythm and studies (blues, standard, modern and modal).

INTRODUCTION 6
How to Use this Book 7
Suggestions for Practice 8
Chord Symbols 9
Basic Voicings 10
VOICE LEADING 12
Moving Notes 13
Two-Note Voicings 15
Three-Note Voicings 16
The Upper Voice 17
Non-Functional Chord Progressions 22
MULTI-USE VOICINGS 24
13th Chord 25
Major Triad 30
Major 7th 36
Fourths 40
Diminished Scale Voicing 44
VOICING VARIATIONS 50
PASSING CHORDS 62
Blues Etude 65
HARMONIZED SCALES 66
Ballad Etude 71
INTERVALLIC COMPING 72
RHYTHM 76
Anticipation/Delay 78
Long/Short 84
Connecting Chords 88
Arpeggiation 90
Space 92
Rhythm Etudes 94
STUDIES AND ANALYSIS 100
Solos and comping transcribed and analyzed 100
CD CONTENTS 136