There is a misconception that jazz guitarists play chords with lots of notes in them, or as they are described, “Jazz chords”.
But, the opposite is actually true in most cases. Thick “jazzy” chords are muddy, un rhythmical and clutter the sound whilst getting in the way of everybody else in the ensemble.
So, let’s look at the way good comping is done.
The employment of simple 2 note voicing’s create clarity and allow for sequences of, 4th’s, 3rds, etc to be rhythmically shifted about on the guitar fingerboard easily.
Basic 2note voicing’s-Guitar Comping 2 5 1’s
ii V7 I to Maj 7th
ii V7 I to Dom 7th
V7 I7 Cycle of Fourths: Example 1
V7 I Cycle of Fourths: Example 2:
The Tonic chord only implies by Tonic and Mediant, so, it can employed for the Maj7 or Dom7, especially if the soloist is playing the 7th, around it or the upper notes.
Clifford Martin is a trained classical musician and composer. His 1st study being piano and composition and a deep study into the meticulous world of modern music theory. He also studied jazz piano and jazz drums privately.
Clifford later came back to the guitar and studied in the jazz fusion style of John McLaughlin and Al di Meola. It was at this point that he put all of his years of learning together into one musical form
This website is a sort of cataloging of ideas and musical concepts for exploitation and development in the arts of musical composition and improvisation. What started out as a jazz improvisation site has grown into a full blown, harmony, timbre, pitch and rhythm library. Peace, Enjoy!
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