Jazz Rhythm Guitar Comping

Description

In this lesson we'll learn shell voicings of the chords in our progression that we'll play rooted on the E string with the other voices on the D & G strings. Notice that we're not playing all the notes in each chord. This is a very important element in some styles of jazz rhythm guitar comping. It allows the guitar to occupy a smaller sonic space and allows other instruments to have room to be heard. There are frequently other instruments in a jazz ensemble already playing other notes of the chords. So doubling those notes can just clutter up the overall band sound. Playing shell voicings is a way for the guitar to have a unique role in the overall band sound by complimenting the other players instead of clashing with them.