Punctuating lines: chordal stabs or silence

[brent.h]

What's your preference and why?

[James W]

Don't chordal stabs sort of imply the existence of silence between them?

My answer is that either can be effective, anyway...

[AllanAllen]

Chordal stabs because there is no piano. Just me doodling over bass and sometimes drums.

Also, it’s what Kenny Burrell did in his trio.

[brent.h]

Don't chordal stabs sort of imply the existence of silence between them?

Perhaps, I dunno. I don't use chordal stabs at all, and I think it's quite important to start incorporating them (to stop myself from noodling).

[FourOnSix]

Chordal stabs, when done tastefully (as in ala Kenny Burrell), sound awesome. Mimi Fox has devoted an entire instructional book - Jazz Chord Punches - to chordal stabs.

[Cunamara]

Mimi is an awesome player.

I don't use chordal stabs enough, I think they offer the listener, other musicians and ourselves a signpost and emotional resonance.

[AllanAllen]

He’s even good at using them in the head

https://youtu.be/ezw88stnjBY?si=IoY0_zaAaQdQe3O1

[BreckerFan]

I don't think it needs to be an either or. There are contexts where both are cool. If you're burning a bunch of double time lines, a chord stab might be too much. If you're playing more melodically and with more space in general, the chord may be better to take up some space. Or any other number of possible scenarios.

[Mark Kleinhaut]

I don't think it needs to be an either or. There are contexts where both are cool. If you're burning a bunch of double time lines, a chord stab might be too much. If you're playing more melodically and with more space in general, the chord may be better to take up some space. Or any other number of possible scenarios.

This is really the only right answer… it completely depends on musical context. Don’t forget theres other options too like dual lines, counterpoint, double stops etc. Space should almost always leveraged for framing the busier bits too

[pamosmusic]

I don't think it needs to be an either or. There are contexts where both are cool. If you're burning a bunch of double time lines, a chord stab might be too much. If you're playing more melodically and with more space in general, the chord may be better to take up some space. Or any other number of possible scenarios.

Two other considerations:

Taste: I tend to leave a lot more space. Even when I'm playing solo, I like a lot of space and single notes. Maybe my classical junk coming through.

The other musicians: If you're filling all the space, you're taking away someone else's opportunity to fill in the space for you.