GUITAR STYLES 5th String Root 5th String Root (Omitted) with 5th in Bass 5th String Root 5th String Root (Omitted) with 5th in Bass Jazz Guitar: Rhythm Comping In a jazz setting the guitarist is often in an accompanying or “comping” role. Many nights I have been on a bandstand with an amazing big band looking out over a sea of dancers on the dance floor as I play this style of comping. It can be a very fun and creative way to approach the guitar. One of the most popular jazz big bands was the Count Basie band and their guitarist, Freddie Green, developed this method of jazz guitar rhythm guitar playing. It’s often called the “Freddie Green” approach to jazz rhythm guitar. The Freddie Green Approach The Freddie Green approach to jazz comping involves several key elements. • Quarter note rhythm giving it a “chunk, chunk, chunk” sound. • Emphasis on beats 2 and 4. • Chords played short using a rhythmic clenching movement in the fretting hand. • Primarily 3-note chords played on the lower 4 strings: 6th, 5th, 4th, and 3rd strings. Chord Forms and Voicings The chord tones in the forms are broken down to their most important elements—the third, the seventh, and the root or fifth. Here are four types of chord forms that are common in jazz rhythm guitar playing. Major 7th Jazz Chords Minor 7th Jazz Chords Gibson’s Learn & Master Guitar with Steve Krenz intermediate 6th String Root 6th String Root 1 www.LearnandMaster.com Guitar Styles: Jazz Guitar - Rhythm Comping