The Summer of Rhythm Guitar 2026: Take a Walk on the mild side

[mr. beaumont]

This is the distinction (comping versus rhythm guitar) I've been going on about for years that I get a lot of pushback on! Good to hear an established gent such as Herb say it too.

As for the upstroke, Freddie probably didn't do it because he was so focused on that 4th string.

To my ears, it sounds better on a low volume electric archtop than on an acoustic archtop. Even minimal use of amplification seems to even everything out more, making the upstroke not sound too jarringly different.

There's also that possible upstroke on the and of 4 you hear Jim Hall do in the famous "My Funny Valentine" bit.

[AllanAllen]

There's also that possible upstroke on the and of 4 you hear Jim Hall do in the famous "My Funny Valentine" bit.

This one?

[mr. beaumont]

That's the one.

[brent.h]

Here's a guy who transcribed Jim Hall

(Slower)

(Faster)

[charlieparker]

Herb's distinction between what he calls "Rhythm Guitar" and "Guitar Comping" is interesting.

After 40mins on the video, the "Rhythm Guitar" and "Guitar Comping" section of his tutorial.

What minute? I couldn't find it.

[brent.h]

What minute? I couldn't find it.

44:21 Background
44:52 Rhythm
47:55 Comping

[Mick-7]

I used only 3 note bass chords for my comping on this... well, there is a 4 note 7#9 chord in there but it's a blues so that's to be expected.

Blues for Spartacus - Box.com

[pamosmusic]

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.

Alright … so this is a blues in A … progressively more chromatic approach notes for side slipping.

I am aware that this is not yet music. Moving on to phase two here shortly.

[joe2758]

That's cool, Pammo. I never really did more than the 1 fret one. I think the other ones sound better with the more rhythmic style at the end. Gunna try this. Stop teaching me I have too much to work on.

[brent.h]

post something joe! join the club!

[joe2758]

post something joe! join the club!

yeah maybe, i guess it has been a while. So is it just basically play through a tune in a FG style? Anything else? Seems people are including other things

[mr. beaumont]

Just play some rhythm guitar!

The only thing its not is pianistic "comping."

[brent.h]

yeah maybe, i guess it has been a while. So is it just basically play through a tune in a FG style? Anything else? Seems people are including other things

ya straight fours like what pete did

i was being extra most of the time cos i was experimenting

[GuyBoden]

Alright … so this is a blues in A … progressively more chromatic approach notes for side slipping.

I am aware that this is not yet music. Moving on to phase two here shortly.

Very similar to how I comp all the time in guitar duos, but I use Bass notes on some of the 'and' beats as 'Skips'. I played Double Bass for many years.

Edit: But, Trefor Owen is a master at this type of Rhythm Guitar.

[pamosmusic]

The next little chunk is:

Diatonic approach from above
Diatonic above chromatic below
Double chromatic above, chromatic below.

Im going to use diatonic chords for the diatonic approaches.

[brent.h]

The next little chunk is:

Diatonic approach from above
Diatonic above chromatic below
Double chromatic above, chromatic below.

Im going to use diatonic chords for the diatonic approaches.

Interesting exercise.

When I walk FG voicings, I'm using the Barry Harris thing a lot of the time.

[joe2758]

meh

[brent.h]

meh

Ok I'm stealing some moves.

[GuyBoden]

Here's how I play 'Rhythm Guitar' on a Jazz blues, it's very bass note heavy, because I played Double Bass for many years.

It's played on my Green D'Aquisto archtop copy with my trusty Rode NT3 mic in the room.

Edit: The basic notation is shown below:

[Christian Miller]

Very similar to how I comp all the time in guitar duos, but I use Bass notes on some of the 'and' beats as 'Skips'. I played Double Bass for many years.

Edit: But, Trefor Owen is a master at this type of Rhythm Guitar.

I’m not sure who is who. The player accompanying first up is swinging really nicely there.

This isn’t really rhythm guitar as I understand it. More of a Joe Pass thing.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Christian Miller]

Here's how I play 'Rhythm Guitar' on a Jazz blues, it's very bass note heavy, because I played Double Bass for many years.

It's played on my Green D'Aquisto archtop copy with my trusty Rode NT3 mic in the room.

Edit: The basic notation is shown below:

Sounding good!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GuyBoden]

I’m not sure who is who. The player accompanying first up is swinging really nicely there.

This isn’t really rhythm guitar as I understand it. More of a Joe Pass thing.

Trefor Owen is playing 'Rhythm Guitar' first. Yes, he really swings to my ears too. I really enjoy playing guitar with Trefor.

Sounding good!

Many thanks, I've been practising. You'd never guess, but practising seems to work.

[Christian Miller]

This is how I'm playing these days. Quite old school. Notice that I'm using only grips from the Jonathan Stout hand out lol.


I was enjoying this gig honest. playing with Sousa is fun.

[GuyBoden]

This is how I'm playing these days. Quite old school. Notice that I'm using only grips from the Jonathan Stout hand out lol.


I was enjoying this gig honest. playing with Sousa is fun.

Excellent, very enjoyable. Yes, fun.

Great Tune.

You make it look so easy, then just throw in a chord solo.

I've got to say the Tuba is fantastic.

[Christian Miller]

Excellent, very enjoyable. Yes, fun.

Great Tune.

You make it look so easy, then just throw in a chord solo.

I've got to say the Tuba is fantastic.

Yeah Graham Hughes is one of the best. Great time, which isn't easy on Tuba (or Sousa).