Gospel Jazzy Comping

**Basshead** · 01-15-2026, 10:16 AM

Im trying to learn more about gospel comping, I think is similar to jazz but does not use seven chords as much, and tensions, its kinda cool blend of rnb, soul, jazz and some organ fills, right? anyone know where to start and how to develop that vocabulary like Spanky?

This is how I do it right now, pretty simple.

**ccroft** · 01-15-2026, 10:08 PM

Don't have much to offer in practical terms, but Gospel, Jazz, Soul, R&B and organ made me think of this. The spirit moves in Joey, and his guitar player ain't half bad either:

**starjasmine** · 01-15-2026, 10:30 PM

About a month ago, another thread here included this interesting vid:

It starts with bare-bones I IV V harmony and subs chords in increasing order of soulfulness and jazziness… no flashy chops just sinfully slick harmonies.

It's keyboard-based, but you can definitely apply the harmonies to guitar.

**Basshead** · 01-16-2026, 05:28 AM

Nice ones, maybe we should talk about what is Gospel and what is something call quarter groove? I think I saw that somewhere, cant remember now, people like Kevin Wilson might be a good reference here.

**alltunes** · 01-16-2026, 10:35 AM

Search for “neo-soul” guitar lessons

**Basshead** · 01-16-2026, 10:49 AM

Neo soul is not gospel, just basic riffs for instagramers who wanted to be famous in 2012.

**alltunes** · 01-16-2026, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by Basshead

Neo soul is not gospel, just basic riffs for instagramers who wanted to be famous in 2012.

maybe so but if you search for "neo-soul" you stumble into stuff like this

there are many fine guitar players who don't mind be labeled as "neo-soul" it is just a phrase or a buzz word

**Basshead** · 01-18-2026, 05:11 PM

Yeah Isaiah is the man, great jazz player too!

**2bornot2bop** · 01-20-2026, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by ccroft

Don't have much to offer in practical terms, but Gospel, Jazz, Soul, R&B and organ made me think of this. The spirit moves in Joey, and his guitar player ain't half bad either:

I used to have that video on repeat when it came out. It grooves. Rest in peace JD!

Here you go, note for note. Guitar solo too

One Hundred Ways.pdf

**AKA** · 01-20-2026, 11:12 PM

Man - You trying to hurt these people!

Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop

I used to have that video on repeat when it came out. It grooves. Rest in peace JD!

Here you go, note for note. Guitar solo too

One Hundred Ways.pdf

**Strat-itis** · 01-21-2026, 02:42 AM

Originally Posted by ccroft

Don't have much to offer in practical terms, but Gospel, Jazz, Soul, R&B and organ made me think of this. The spirit moves in Joey, and his guitar player ain't half bad either:

Joey was obviously preeminent as an organist. Some of his material could get just blow-y. But then sometimes he'd get in these zones on tunes that were just next level.

**2bornot2bop** · 01-21-2026, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by AKA

Man - You trying to hurt these people!

1 note at a time, played at 40 bpm, it’s very doable. Try it!

**Stevebol** · 01-22-2026, 07:47 PM

Here's another one by James Ingram. It's a ballad;

I didn't know he passed away in 2019. RIP James.

**AndyV** · 01-25-2026, 12:28 PM

Tim Lerch has some gospel-influenced lessons in his Truefire courses.

Solo Jazz Pathways: Chordal Improv - Tim Lerch - Guitar Lessons - TrueFire

**Reg** · 01-26-2026, 12:45 PM

yea man... you need to get your I IV's down... Blues and Harmonic organization of Blue Notes. Your playing sound great...
But you sound like country rock... Work on your rhythmic feels and harmonic patterns. Get dirty LOL.

Here are some old vids that I've posted years ago. I'm almost done rebuilding my music studio, but will try and post a few new examples of Gospel feels and nuts and bolts. The vids are rough... sorry

**Basshead** · 01-26-2026, 04:10 PM

Are you Reg532 on youtube?

**Alter** · 01-26-2026, 04:26 PM

275 videos on the subject!

Gospel R&B Guitar - YouTube

**Reg** · 01-27-2026, 01:01 PM

hey Alter... checked out the site and many of the vids. Cool, really nice. But.... generally more from a Rock or even Yacht Rock thing.

Not bad etc. been there. But Harmonically kind of vanilla. Grooves aren't just being in a rhythmic pocket. For us as Jazz players... the Harmonic pocket becomes just as important as the rhythmic pocket.

Kind of like when subbing at gigs when vocalist or someone says.... man tonight was magical etc... and we in the rhythm section just nod etc...

Please don't take my comments wrong. Nothing wrong, bad etc... It works. Maybe check out some Gene Harris and even Melvin Rhyne... Both gone now...

**Stevebol** · 01-28-2026, 04:19 PM

We did Rude Mood in my last band. People liked it. It's kind of the same thing;

I saw Jimmy Thackery. Good show.

**Alter** · 01-31-2026, 04:53 PM

Maybe check out some Gene Harris and even Melvin Rhyne

Yeah, i love the music of both these guys. Gospel AND jazzy, it is a difficult combination. Like soul jazz, it would seem like simplified jazz, but in reality it does combine two different styles of music, and to play it one needs to study both. I really love gospel music, almost more than jazz, and used to play in a small baptist church when i was living in the US. But on the playlist above, i also have some R&B guitarists, so not strictly gospel.