astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
In a blues or jazz scenario?
any favorites?
any favorites?
What chords do you usually use for Comping?
- Thread starter astrozombie
- Start date
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: What chords do you usually use for Comping?
all of them are there to be used. I just choose the ones that support the melody best - but that can change a lot depending on the mood you are trying to create with the performance, so harmonizing is an endless and ever changing mode of expression.
all of them are there to be used. I just choose the ones that support the melody best - but that can change a lot depending on the mood you are trying to create with the performance, so harmonizing is an endless and ever changing mode of expression.
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astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: What chords do you usually use for Comping?
i find it hard to comp when a keyboard player is present so i usually step out of the tune for a bit, any help with that?
i find it hard to comp when a keyboard player is present so i usually step out of the tune for a bit, any help with that?
Quencho092
New member
Re: What chords do you usually use for Comping?
Depends on what chords I'm resolving to. In ii V7's, let's say we're doing a f> Bb13> (key change) em7>A7+5>Dmaj7 That's what I generally do because the 13th in the Bb is the 3rd of the upcoming em7, and the +5 in the A7 LEADS into the 3rd of Dmaj7. I'm a bit of a jazz noob (1 year of moderately serious study), but lately these leading tones are what influence my chord choices.
Also started messing around with quartal voicings recently. Listen to this!
Depends on what chords I'm resolving to. In ii V7's, let's say we're doing a f> Bb13> (key change) em7>A7+5>Dmaj7 That's what I generally do because the 13th in the Bb is the 3rd of the upcoming em7, and the +5 in the A7 LEADS into the 3rd of Dmaj7. I'm a bit of a jazz noob (1 year of moderately serious study), but lately these leading tones are what influence my chord choices.
Also started messing around with quartal voicings recently. Listen to this!
ItsaBass
New member
Re: What chords do you usually use for Comping?
Mostly fifth chords (which are technically not chords) and dominant 7th chords (sometimes minus the fifth or minus the third). I don't really play jazz per se, so I take a blues approach to it when jamming with people that play it. K.I.S.S. I try to play well what I know (blues and country), as opposed to playing poorly what I don't know (jazz). I also play bass/root notes, which is kind of country.
Mostly fifth chords (which are technically not chords) and dominant 7th chords (sometimes minus the fifth or minus the third). I don't really play jazz per se, so I take a blues approach to it when jamming with people that play it. K.I.S.S. I try to play well what I know (blues and country), as opposed to playing poorly what I don't know (jazz). I also play bass/root notes, which is kind of country.
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Quencho092
New member
Re: What chords do you usually use for Comping?
With respect to playing with keys, first off go rootless. Try not to play E and A string bass notes.
For a 7th chord in E voicing, start your chords on the b7 on the D string, from bass to treble the chord would be b7, maj3rd, 13th, 9th . That sequence sounds good as long as keys are not going altered on that particular chord. Apply that to your CAGED voices for the rest of the positions.
Another option is to just play 3rds and 7ths. This is good especially when keys are stretching out, it's hard to go wrong because keys can use b9's b5's #5's without getting his toes stepped on. I don't like to cut out for extended periods with piano players, rather, I leave some space and focus on making brief responses to the soloist.
With respect to playing with keys, first off go rootless. Try not to play E and A string bass notes.
For a 7th chord in E voicing, start your chords on the b7 on the D string, from bass to treble the chord would be b7, maj3rd, 13th, 9th . That sequence sounds good as long as keys are not going altered on that particular chord. Apply that to your CAGED voices for the rest of the positions.
Another option is to just play 3rds and 7ths. This is good especially when keys are stretching out, it's hard to go wrong because keys can use b9's b5's #5's without getting his toes stepped on. I don't like to cut out for extended periods with piano players, rather, I leave some space and focus on making brief responses to the soloist.
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: What chords do you usually use for Comping?
yeh thats always difficult, and i reckon laying out is actually a good thing. Thats one of the cool things about jazz is that you dont have to play all the time, just sit back and listen to the changes. Itll make the other players happier to have more space and when you do play it will mean more.
BUt if you want to hear some great guitar and piano together, check out a record called "undercurrent" by Bill Evans and Jim Hall. Its an all time classic.
ANother more contemporary example would be the record by Russel Malone and Benny Green.
GUitars and piano are both harmonic instruments, so they often fill similar roles in a jazz combo. My advice is to keep doing what you already do and lay out, then think more like a horn player when you are blowing the changes.
Still, if you really want to add some flavour to the band when you are comping, try playing chords using only the 2,3 and 4 strings and avoid playing root notes entirely. Listen carefull to the keyboardist and try finding unusual places in the rhythm where there is some space for you to add an accent. Roll back your tone and volume knobs a bit and try to think about being part of a band texture and try to blend into the piano part.
3 and 2 note chords also work great behind a singer when you are sitting next to a bassist also - good bassists will fill the low end lines in, so playing big bar chords kinda stomps all over that.
Here is todays cliche for ya!....Less is more.
Just think of having a piano player there as an opportunity for you to relax and enjoy (kinda like what the horn players do when they finish their solos).
Hope these ideas help.
yeh thats always difficult, and i reckon laying out is actually a good thing. Thats one of the cool things about jazz is that you dont have to play all the time, just sit back and listen to the changes. Itll make the other players happier to have more space and when you do play it will mean more.
BUt if you want to hear some great guitar and piano together, check out a record called "undercurrent" by Bill Evans and Jim Hall. Its an all time classic.
ANother more contemporary example would be the record by Russel Malone and Benny Green.
GUitars and piano are both harmonic instruments, so they often fill similar roles in a jazz combo. My advice is to keep doing what you already do and lay out, then think more like a horn player when you are blowing the changes.
Still, if you really want to add some flavour to the band when you are comping, try playing chords using only the 2,3 and 4 strings and avoid playing root notes entirely. Listen carefull to the keyboardist and try finding unusual places in the rhythm where there is some space for you to add an accent. Roll back your tone and volume knobs a bit and try to think about being part of a band texture and try to blend into the piano part.
3 and 2 note chords also work great behind a singer when you are sitting next to a bassist also - good bassists will fill the low end lines in, so playing big bar chords kinda stomps all over that.
Here is todays cliche for ya!....Less is more.
Just think of having a piano player there as an opportunity for you to relax and enjoy (kinda like what the horn players do when they finish their solos).
Hope these ideas help.
Quencho092
New member
Re: What chords do you usually use for Comping?
http://soundcloud.com/ze-quencho/insensatez
I botched it hard, but you can hear what chords I like messing with. Messed the form while trying to cover the changes via soloing towards the end, then tangented to an original tune.
I like treating some alt chords as if they were diminished and moving them around in minor 3rds as a melodic device. ie-A7b9=Bbdim=C#dim.
http://soundcloud.com/ze-quencho/insensatez
I botched it hard, but you can hear what chords I like messing with. Messed the form while trying to cover the changes via soloing towards the end, then tangented to an original tune.
I like treating some alt chords as if they were diminished and moving them around in minor 3rds as a melodic device. ie-A7b9=Bbdim=C#dim.
crusty philtrum
Vintageologist
Re: What chords do you usually use for Comping?
I think that regardless of genre, if there's a keyboard player, the trick is to use only chord fragments, just two or three notes, and not attempt to be using regular 5 and 6 string guitar chords. Listen to some old Deep Purple and you'll hear Blackmore doing pretty-much that. Obviously in the context of jazz and blues, the chord fragments will be more harmonically complex, 3rds and b7s and maybe 9ths for blues, and for jazz, those notes and probably more extensions like 11ths and 13ths, # and b9s etc. depending on the knowledge, skill and ear of the guitarist.
But yeah, just two and three note voicings over keyboards is usually more effective than regular guitar chords. Even single-note rhythmic riffs can work well if they're done tastefully.
I think that regardless of genre, if there's a keyboard player, the trick is to use only chord fragments, just two or three notes, and not attempt to be using regular 5 and 6 string guitar chords. Listen to some old Deep Purple and you'll hear Blackmore doing pretty-much that. Obviously in the context of jazz and blues, the chord fragments will be more harmonically complex, 3rds and b7s and maybe 9ths for blues, and for jazz, those notes and probably more extensions like 11ths and 13ths, # and b9s etc. depending on the knowledge, skill and ear of the guitarist.
But yeah, just two and three note voicings over keyboards is usually more effective than regular guitar chords. Even single-note rhythmic riffs can work well if they're done tastefully.
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: What chords do you usually use for Comping?
Chick Corea - "Only play what you hear. If you don't hear anything, don't play anything."
Chick Corea - "Only play what you hear. If you don't hear anything, don't play anything."
Quencho092
New member
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: What chords do you usually use for Comping?
Note clusters. Think - Andy Summers, Bill Frissell.
Note clusters. Think - Andy Summers, Bill Frissell.
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