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I got this book a while ago for a rhythm section I work with:
https://www.shermusic.com/9780991077335.php
I've always kind of wanted to go through it with guitar, so maybe I'll do that.
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05-29-2026 11:50 AM
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Ja-da
Originally Posted by brent.h
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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I'm not quite sure what this is all about. I think the idea is to produce comping with some movement in it, at least according to Jeff's first post.
Well, this has lots of bass line movement and probably some middle as well. I've arranged the chords to provide an ongoing bass line using mostly shells but fuller chords where more harmony is required.
It's Georgia, obviously, and it's the same video twice, one with the comping only and then with the tune on top just to test it works! I think it probably does.
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I think I'll do one more of these. I don't know what's happened to Mr. B, he seems to have disappeared. Consequently, it seems, no one's very interested in it, perhaps because he's somewhat of a catalyst in these things.
Anyway, this is Rhythm Changes. Same format, comping + tune on top. Sorry, lousy quality.
I'm doing it twice because comping means accompaniment, it's not a solo. So presumably that means it's got to work with the notes on top from a soloist. Seems to me there's not much point if it doesn't do the job even if it's only the melody, which is not to denigrate peoples' efforts.
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Nice, Rag.
As for me, I'm still here, its just not officially summer for me yet! Been busy with (school) year end stuff, including this guy's graduation!
But I will definitely be adding more to this thread.
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Rhythm guitar isn't the same thing as comping. For rhythm guitar you assume there is a piano comping, a bass playing the root, and 8-12 horns playing chord tones. Originally Posted by ragman1
Now that I've got the pedantry out of my system. I liked what you played.
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Well, the comp is short for accompany. But are you saying what I was doing there was only rhythm guitar? I mean it's solo, in the sense I'm alone, and it has a bass line and chord sounds. Originally Posted by AllanAllen
I know with a rhythm section what the guitar does. He plays occasional chord sounds, preferably tunefully !) and it generally has some movement and can be quite complex.
But I'm not with a band here and I have to create my own rhythm, bass line and chords. I can't imagine a rhythm and just play vague chord sounds now and then. It goes a little way beyond mere rhythm guitar, doesn't it?
If I was just strumming then I'd agree with you. Apart from chord melody I'm not sure what else I can do.
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The definition was beaten to death in the 2024 Rhythm Guitar thread. I'm not doing this again. I'm tired of living in an Abbott and Costello routine.
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2024? I think you're in a bad mood :-)
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It's okay, I just needed an excuse to hog the place :-) Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
So that happy young man was one of yours, I take it. And - I have to ask this - how tall is he?
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I don't feel like I'm grumpy, but I could be. Here's the context for 2024. Same thread, different summer. Originally Posted by ragman1
The Summer of Rhythm Guitar 2024
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Indeed he is. About 5' 10", but already in a 13 shoe so I don't think he's done... Originally Posted by ragman1
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I've had a look. 16 pages... It seems you were all doing Freddie Green style thump, thump with 3 or 2 note shells and, at the end, only 1 note. Originally Posted by AllanAllen
Anyway, it was always called rhythm guitar on that thread. Maybe I should just do thumping and save some energy :-)
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Not all rhythm guitar is rhythm guitar
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Ah so, grasshopper.
What's a good tune to thump on?
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Hmmm, I'm looking for an excuse to play my Eastman AR610 some more. This (sort of) challenge may be just the thing for it! Originally Posted by AllanAllen
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You wanted it, you got it. This was pretty instant, getting it on the damn channel wasn't
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Definitely get in on it. Its such a ridiculously fun way to play. Originally Posted by EllenGtrGrl
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The preferred word is "thuck" Originally Posted by ragman1
As for tunes, anything that swings!
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Try playing a new chord every 2 beats Originally Posted by ragman1
You wanted it, you got it. This was pretty instant, getting it on the damn channel wasn't
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I was doing that with Rhythm Changes only I was using my fingers instead of thucking so that was banned. Originally Posted by joe2758
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On that topic, I'm working with a student on Take The A Train and we've been looking at changing chords on every beat, a process sometimes described as 'walking' chords. It's a particularly challenging tune as the changes move quite slowly. For example, the IV chord that opens the bridge lasts 4 bars. The trick is to think 'top down' with strong melodic movement in the upper voices and to create different pathways between each chord inversion using related dominants and passing chords.
Here's an example from the ii-V-I (D-7-G7-C6) that starts in bar 5. Two inversions of D-7 are connected via a diminished chord acting as a rootless A7b9 (D-7/F-C#o7-D-7). The move into G7 employs another diminished but this time it's a common-tone diminished (Go7-G7/B) rather than a dominant type. The following G7 is connected by a different variety of dominant, a bV sub (Ab7-G7). Finally, the C6 chord is approached by a dominant situated a chromatic half-step below (B7-C6):
Last edited by PMB; 06-02-2026 at 07:43 AM.
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Well, I've got to tell you I am bored with this. It's foolish and contradictory. It does not make for freedom of expression and it does not make for good music.
So I'm rebelling. I've just looked up Freddie Green and every single site uses the word comping, also occasionally called a rhythm guitar style. So that's that. Of course it's comping.
Another song they like for comping is Blue Bossa and I shan't be thunking it, or whatever it's called, I'll be doing a bossa rhythm with my fingers.
The point is to produce attractive, listenable music and that's what I'm going to do. And my advice to that new poster Ellen girl, or whatever her handle is, is tread carefully because you can get your head in a real mess trying to conform to stupid things.
I don't play with a band, I sit at home. I will probably never play with a band now, let alone a big jazz band, so that's that. There's no point in living in fantasy land playing music that went out in the 40's or 50's and all that stuff.
So here's Blue Bossa played the way I want to play it because I like it that way. If you don't like it, ignore it. And don't tell me I'm not comping because as far as I'm concerned I absolutely definitely am.
Thank you very much.
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Bored with it? You didn't even really get into it yet.
And yes, you're absolutely comping if that makes you feel better. Nobody ever said you weren't.
I definitely don't see it as limiting either...
PMB, I like that move a lot. The trickiest thing is a long stretch of one chord.
Top down is really it. If you listen to Freddie's one string stuff which is in the middle voice, they're really a counter line...you might not even recognize the tune. The top creates a whole different thing. I get why Freddie would leave it out or not accentuate it, but playing this stuff in your living room or a small group is different than in a big band.
Submitted for interest, listen through your phone. Bucky's often playing bigger chords...but what strings do you actually hear?
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Well, just for fun, here's a clip from some weeks ago where I've been living in fantasy Land and playing music that went out in the 40's or 50's for around 200 dancers
Paul
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