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Any advice on good books for comping? I just ordered Boss Guitar which covers the tunes on the Wes Album with the same name and apparently covers his comping as well ( which I love ). But in general, it seems books don't cover comping in detail. Still awaiting the book, but thought I'd check in the meantime on other recommendations.
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01-14-2017 10:38 PM
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Here are a few:
Originally Posted by seaguitar
jazzbooks.com: Product Display
jazzbooks.com: Product Display
Amazon.com: Beyond Basics: Jazz Guitar Rhythm Chops: Alfred Music: Movies & TV
The Comping Expo for Jazz Guitar | RobertConti.com
Also, Rich Severson's "Mastering Standards" sets at Guitar College usually include a comping lesson for each tune he teaches. Study and play jazz standards woodshedding the tune inside and out.
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Originally Posted by snailspace
Thanks! That's very helpful
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The Barry Galbraith book is very good.
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I'm really sorry to rain on your parade, but the comping transcriptions in the boss guitar book are really bad, not even close, I would ignore them as they will only make things confusing. Originally Posted by seaguitar
I struggle with comping too (in fact I struggle with playing anything well!), but I'm eventually getting somewhere. I think you can't do better than to really really listen to recordings. Quite often the changes on a recording will be different to in a fake book, and it is a challenge to use a combination of theory, fake book and your ear to decipher what is going on. I hope that as time goes on I will rely more on my ear and less on theory and fake books. If you can find a player who is very accomplished and who plays in a style you like, just an hour or two with them picking their brain and getting them to show you a few things can open a whole world of possibilities up. Did with me. Now I have to put the work in!!
I'm trying to get to grips with using smaller chords that rhythm players use in big bands, as there are fewer extensions, they are usually played on the lower strings and the emphasis is on accomapyment and motion rather than fancy voicings. I think that is a good thing to look at.
I've also bought a book called "An approach to comping" by Jeb Patton which is really for piano players. I haven't studied it much, but looks like it could be very imformative.
That's my 2 cents worth, but I am just at a basic level so take it or leave it, you have to make your own way!
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Thanks it's one of the ones I've ordered. Can't have too many books right? ( actually I already have too many to get though in a lifetime ) Originally Posted by grahambop
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That's too bad on the boss book - I'd read a positive review somewhere and assumed it was worthwhile. Originally Posted by plasticpigeon
Thanks for the input - that's very helpful, it doesn't matter what level you're at.
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+1. I've heard people complain about this book for its lack of text. However, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Just play through all the examples and your comping skills will improve. Then take the voicings and rhythmic concepts and apply them to other tunes. Originally Posted by grahambop
Some book suggestions: Swing & Big Band Guitar (Charlton Johnson) The Barry Harris Harmonic Method for Guitar (Alan Kingstone) and Modern Chords: Advanced Harmony for Guitar (Vic Juris) will help with extending your harmonic awareness. I'd work through them in that order if you want to get a handle on how comping concepts have developed historically. Similarly, Comping Standards for Jazz Guitar (Jim Ferguson) offers a nice basic overview of comping techniques that could be further explored by checking out Creative Comping Concepts for Jazz Guitar (Mark Bolling). Three-Note Voicings and Beyond (Randy Vincent) is an excellent and pretty exhaustive book on that topic.
plasticpigeon's advice is important. Books are an entree to the real work. Go and play in jams and on gigs as much as possible. Hang out with and learn from piano players (incidentally, I also own Jeb Patton's comping books and they have loads of great examples and rhythmic ideas). Listen to and transcribe great piano compers such as Teddy Wilson, George Shearing, Thelonious Monk, Barry Harris, Ahmad Jamal, Red Garland, Wynton Kelly, Horace Silver, Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea and Brad Mehldau. Sometimes it's a challenge to reduce or convert what they're doing onto the fretboard but that creative process will in itself reap huge rewards (and some frustration!).
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A great comping model on the Blue Note records is Sonny Clark. He was on a lot of records because people liked his comping, and he said he enjoyed comping as much as soloing. He also had a really clear, clean tone on the piano which always seemed to cut through, so makes it easier to hear what he's doing.
I tried listening to other examples like Wynton Kelly but none sound as clear as Sonny Clark.
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Barry Galbraith Originally Posted by seaguitar
Guitar Comping with Bass Lines in treble Clef plus CD.
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Sonny Clark is definitely worth a mention (I would have added his name but thought my list was long enough as it was). What Wynton Kelly did you listen to, Graham? Miles Davis In Person at the Blackhawk and the Wes Montgomery albums, Full House and Smokin' at the Half Note contain so much great comping. Originally Posted by grahambop
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I was just listening to comping examples at the weekend as it happens, I listened to the Blackhawk CDs and Hank Mobley's Workout (for Wynton Kelly), then I listened to the Grant Green quartets with Sonny Clark, it just seemed Sonny C. was louder and clearer in the mix than Wynton was in the other records. Sonny is also very clear on those Dexter Gordon Blue Notes. Originally Posted by PMB
Wynton is nice and clear on those Wes Montgomery LPs though.
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Check out Hampton Hawes' piano comping, e.g. on "For Real" or "All Night Sessions". Other than those albums, most of his albums were piano trio so not a ton of comping going on.
Edit: of course there's also Jim Hall's guitar comping on "All Night Sessions"!!Last edited by coolvinny; 01-16-2017 at 08:16 PM.
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Cool some books I've never come across before even when searching for comping. Thanks for the advice, I have thought about transcribing some piano players, including Fred Hersch ( even for arrangements not just improv or accompaniment ) and need to do it one of these days. Good idea to try and transcribe comping from them. Originally Posted by PMB
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Haven't seen anyone mention this one I believe:
Jazz Guitar Comping: Andrew Green: 9780970057648: Amazon.com: Books
Anyone seen it?
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Yes, meant to add that one. I'm not sure if you're a reader - Green's book is mostly written in standard notation (no tab and only a few chord grids) - but it's definitely worth a look. The section on multi-use voicings is excellent. Originally Posted by seaguitar
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Thanks -- Studied classical for many years seriously so standard notation is bread and butter pretty much. I have his Jazz Technique book I got many years ago and it was useful too. Originally Posted by PMB
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This book is really good:
Vol. 54 Maiden Voyage Guitar Voicings (Play- a-Long): Mike Diliddo: 9781562240882: Amazon.com: Books
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I found Ferguson's book really useful. It's introductory but lays out essentials. I bought Vincent's 3-note book last year, and again, it's really helpful. My problem with books is lack of attention span. I dig in for a while and then let go. I think with a more consistent application of effort, rewards would be more forthcoming.
I was listening to Kenny Burrell comping with Wynton Kelly on Whisper Not and he seems to be absolutely minimal in most instances. Just 2 notes. The statement of effect is in rhythmic punctuation. I understand that Freddy Green basically stated 2 notes. On the the D and G strings.
Those 2 strings allow the basic implication of tonality without usurping the role of either the bass or the piano. And the addition of another note can speak to either tonic or colour. I think the principal role of comping is to establish movement, direction and compliment.
This from a naif.
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Originally Posted by fep
As an addendum, here is a link that has sound clips so you can hear examples of the chord comping: jazzbooks.com: Product Display
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Frank. Are you retired from study groups? We may need some fep secret sauce on a maiden voyage thread..... Originally Posted by fep
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Originally Posted by matt.guitarteacher
I'mo
I'm on Sabbatical. I do have a couple threads I'd like to finish. Maiden Voyage would be a good thread though.
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Cool. Are you talking about the Joe Elliott thread? Originally Posted by fep
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Just received the Galbraith book today and it looks really like a great book to learn and fun since it has self contained pieces. I'm surprised though that he didn't include any standards at all in it, although he does reference standards and say some of the tunes are similar. Looking forward to trying it out.
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All the examples included are based on standards (and other common progressions). It's common in books of this sort, to avoid copyright issues, to avoid explicitly naming the tunes. In the Galbraith book, 'Nowhere' is the standard 'Out of Nowhere' etc. Originally Posted by seaguitar
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