Barry Harris comping

[xtimx1964]

Hi All,
I am trying add movement to my comping using Barry Harris sixth/ diminished chords. I’m applying this to Bye Bye Blackbird and trying to keep it simple by only playing three note chords on the B,G and D strings and one chord per beat. This is what I have come up with so far. I am trying to understand what the Barry Harris choices are.


Measure 1 3 and 5 over FM7

• F6/diminished scale - F6 Gdim F6 Gdim.
  
  
  • I think this is correct.

Measure 2 and 4 over G-7 C7 - I am trying to figure this out. I see three options.

• Option 1 Gm6/diminished scale - Gm6 Adim Gm6 Adim
  
  
  • This seems to fit well but requires changing scales each measure.
  
  
• Option 2 Two beats of Gm6/dim and two beats of C7/dim - Gm6 Adim C7 Ddim
  
  
  • This works better but requires even more changes.
  
  
• Option 3 Start on the second degree of the F6 diminished scale. Gdim F6 Gdim F6
  
  
  • This has a Db over the G minor but it seems to work and is easier to play. It also seems to be what the Barry Harris choice is.

Measure 6 over Amb5 D7b9 - I see two options here also.

• Option 1 Dom7 diminished scale. D7 Edim D7 Edim
  
  
  • This seems to work and I suspect that it is the Barry Harris choice.
  
  
• Option 2 start on the second degree of the Gm6/diminished scale Adim Gm6 Adim Gm6.
  
  
  • This seems to work also
  
  
• I imagine that there is an option to play something like this also. Adim Gm6 D7 Edim.

Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Tim

[Mick-7]

I think you'll find some practical examples of Harris'es approach in this thread: The Summer of Rhythm Guitar 2026

[joe2758]

Measure 1 3 and 5 over FM7: F6 (taught first) or C6


Measure 2 and 4 over G-7 C7 - Bb6 to G-6 (taught first) or Db-6


Measure 6 over Amb5 D7b9 - C-6 to Eb-6


Those are the 6th dim scales to use first, but I left out the dims. That's because you need to be able to play it with just those first, and then if you can fit the diminished chords all the better (but you can't always)

You also had the 6 chords and their relative dims backward. Usually the relative dim is going to it's relative 6 chord.

ex. you said: Gm6 Adim C7 Ddim

Better would be Adim Gm6 Ddim C7...in this case Adim CAN go to C7 and Ddim CAN go to F6, but here it would not be the basic standard way

[joe2758]

oh, and of course in that example the most ideal situation would b Gm6 Adim Gm6 the C7...but that is not always possible

[Strat-itis]

^ Rescinded. My post was wrong, you're right suggesting Bb6/dim for G-7.

In true Barry, you only use the device for the 5 chord in the 2-5. However, in this tune there are long stretches of minor 7 chords where you'd want to use the device for that. Dunno what chart you're using. Imo the charts for this tune suck bad, so I doctor mine. Although I do hear them playing those sucky changes in recordings.