Comping Rhythms - 10 Examples You Need To Know

Rhythm is everything in Jazz and especially comping. Building a solid vocabulary of great Jazz Comping Rhythms is difficult. In this video, I am going to go over 10 examples of comping rhythms to check out.
I play each example 3 times, so you can either use it as inspiration for your own practice or even use the video as a play along and comp together with me.
Drop2 Magic On Satin - Doll This Is How To Use Jazz Chords
• Drop 2 Magic On Satin ...
5 Comping Exercises for Jazz Rhythm on the Blues
• 5 Comping Exercises fo...
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Content:
0:00 Intro
0:39 Rhythm #1 - Charleston
1:15 Rhythm #2 - Shifted Charleston
1:58 Rhythm #3 - Forward motion with Syncopation
2:42 Rhythm #4 - Red Garland
3:19 Rhythm #5 - Basic Syncopation
3:55 Rhythm #6 - Quarter Note Rhythms
4:40 Rhythm #7 - Dotted Quarter notes
5:23 Rhythm #8 - Shifting motif
6:04 Rhythm #9 - Call-Response phrases
6:35 Rhythm #10 - Anticipated Beat 4
7:19 Like the video? Check out my Patreon Page!
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My name is Jens Larsen, Danish Jazz Guitarist, and Educator. The videos on this channel will help you explore and enjoy Jazz. Some of it is how to play jazz guitar, but other videos are more on Music Theory like Jazz Chords or advice on how to practice and learn Jazz, on guitar or any other instrument.
The videos are mostly jazz guitar lessons, but also music theory, analysis of songs and videos on jazz guitars.
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[@richardsamples5863]

God yes: can we get more rhythm lessons of this sort as I feel this is often not touched upon as often as we speak on melody/ harmony.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you!!! That is great to hear! These videos on rhythm always do badly on KZbin (this is until now no exception), but I find it important so I keep making them every now and again :)

[@Marunius]

@@JensLarsen a lot of Jazz Universities don't expect students to be able to comp on exams (especially on guitar, surprisingly) not to mention how we have to struggle against pianists too. Might be a stupid guess but I do believe a lot of youngsters seeking to apply to uni watch your videos and so do their teachers - and if the exam requires you to just solo over a backing track then improv videos will have the most views. This was a great video, especially that you can mix some of these rhythms and then make a loop yourself if you're not yet a jazz-man who can comp on the fly.

[@JensLarsen]

@@Marunius I can't imagine that any semi-serious university has people improvise over backing tracks in exams? At least not for Jazz. In the end, you learn comping when you play in a band.

[@Marunius]

Welcome to Poland^^ That's how the Gdańsk Music Academy Jazz exam looks like. They ask you to hook up irealpro and play a solo. This is just one example that I can atest to because I have been a student there but I am highly certain many other universities in Europe have a similar entry exam for Bachelor level especially when you consider there are no Jazz oriented middle schools, only classical at best.

[@JensLarsen]

@@Marunius Really?! They have some ok rhythm sections there though, I played with one when I went there last year :)

[@sickform9582]

Maybe some lesson about comping in 3/4, 5/4, 7/8? Thank you for your work Jens!

[@AmandaKaymusic]

I was thinking about that too, especially over 5/4

[@miguelcastano3210]

I play for many years, I can play pieces of bebop, melodies, but I dont know how to read sheet music. I must say with this video, I start to learn the first two rythms, stop the video, sing it, and then the next two, and start again from the 1. In this process I have begun to feel different spaces in my brain. How a rythm fill in the diferent spaces. After this I wrote every rythm and I put when the note falls in the 3 or 4 or anticipe 1. At the end of this work, I know how to read rythm (basics). Thank you, Larsen!

[@marceloagustinmombelli3767]

The rhythm written before the actual chords makes this an awesomess of lesson. Since you can generalize it and used them in other situations. Having a rhythm vocabulary like that is as important as having a lick or substitution vocabulary. A second part on this lesson woul be so nice. Like aplying all these 10 rhythms to a standard. Thanks for another superb lesson.

[@lhommedudoubs4152]

The best lesson on comping i ve ever heard.Thanks Jen.

[@NSinghJ]

Yeah, this is one of my favorite lessons of yours because it deals with the most important part of this music in a fundamental and systematic way. With gratitude thanks

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Navdeep! Always great to hear that from you, and I completely agree!

[@rudyvasquez9343]

Yes, we would love more videos on comping rhythms. Also, thanks for putting the notation up there. I'm a piano player and that helped a lot

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks Rudy! Really glad to hear that!

[@MrDotneck]

Hi Jens - this is excellent. Rhythm is king in both comping and melody/soloing. I'd appreciate more of that. Thank You!

[@capitannemo62]

One of the best lessons you can have. This is pure gold. THANKS A LOT, JENS!!!!

[@johnhannon9349]

Very helpful and timely video. I am really getting into comping at the moment and it's great to have these examples to work on.

[@lhommedudoubs4152]

One of the best lesson I have learned.Thanks a lot .

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it!

[@freddee3402]

Learning with a minimum of supervision I'm so weak with understanding syncopation of rythm, and how valuable this is. Lots of focus on chords, structure and rythm but this focus on syncated beat is a real kicker. Gggrrreeeat!!!

[@TinselKoala]

Thanks again Jens! This lesson hits the spot for me for this week's new practice.

[@chadbarnard9984]

Yes, more on this topic! One of my favorites of your videos.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it Chat!

[@StreIok737]

Comes at the perfect time for me, I'm gonna practice all of these right away.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it! :)

[@theresevanwyk2000]

Thank you Jens! Will be practising these on a mini keyboard to comp for a guitarist on melody. Thanks for keeping it simple!

[@cfibanez]

Excellent lesson Jens. Pure gold! Gladly see more of this, perhaps pointing to examples of these in standards. Thanks!

[@JensLarsen]

That's great! You might also enjoy the video I just published on comping :)

[@jacksherman7445]

Great examples for jazz comping rhythms.

[@philippeb.8677]

Thank you very much, Jens😉👍 I have learned more with your tutorials in a few weeks than with other tutorials for several years would not change a thing

[@blainelilly2971]

Thanks for this, it's very helpful to have a basic set of comping rhythms to work with. Yes, more please!

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks Blaine! Glad you like it!

[@bobblues1158]

Jens this is really good. Because the quarter note anchors the tempo so clearly that it locks the rhythm section into the tempo so it does not rush or slow down. If the situation is a gig with guys who have not worked together before and no rehearsal, strange acoustics etc. The 2 bar rhythmic figure makes it easy to swing. After that is established, then everybody can start the adventure!

[@davidmarsh3104]

Terrific video as always. Whenever a new video is posted, I know there is a good chance my practice schedule will be changed because I will want to try out the things you're showing! In answer to your question at the end: Yes! Rhythm videos are always welcome. I am an advanced classical guitar player, but a very novice jazz player and what I am discovering about myself is that the more solid my rhythm playing is on a song, the better I'm able to take a solo when my turn comes. Keep up the great work!

[@KamilKisiel]

Perfect! I started playing in a big band a couple of months ago (my first time in a jazz band) and this video is exactly what I need.

[@JensLarsen]

Great that you are playing and putting it all to use! :)

[@elpastor7155]

hi, jens. thank you very much for this! lead guitarists including myself always tend to overlook on practicing rhythm. this comping patterns you’ve taught will really improve my sense of rhythm and tempo.

[@Cooltorpedo]

Great lesson, Jens. Once you learn scales, arpeggios, chords, and the way harmony combines them, you need to use them to convey a groove, an emotion or just getting people to dance. The rhythm, the use of the right hand is IMHO one of the hardest things to learn.

[@jaimelamusik214]

Great lessons ! Always a pleasure to hear you every week. Thanks a lot Master.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much, Jaime

[@TJDuffy999]

Yes please. More comping videos. I think they're great!

[@diegozarza9312]

Hello master, I found all these resources perfect to conduct the standards to a best place to practice. Thank you!

[@MorningCarnival]

I played with a quartet yesterday and found i need to improve my comping so this is perfect. Thanks

[@Fran_delatorre]

Who has clicked in down thumb??!!! Its a really good video!! Thanks for this video!!!

[@JensLarsen]

No worries! Glad you like it! :)

[@iancameron2113]

Excellent tutorial. Thank you.

[@Jack-fs2im]

I ilked it v much.I play piano and when it is written I can follow.Loved it thanx

[@JensLarsen]

Great to hear Jack 🙂

[@jefferysimpkins366]

Yes!! More please. Love your videos

[@a1m1erola]

Yes, rhythm IS everything! Great comping lesson, thank you

[@violentlysick1995]

This really tied many concepts together for me. Please, by all means, share more of your rhythmic knowledge! Thank you so much! :)

[@modernmusicstudio303]

Great Lesson! Thank you for sharing all these rythms to practice that can be applied to many jazz songs (and other genres)

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TheTom5150]

I have book marked this video and watched it like 20 times. What a great tutorial man!!!

[@veronique2243]

Wonderful! Can’t thank you enough

[@argentstrat5471]

Great lesson! I often use your lessons in the practice room by working through the rhythms and using it on songs! My teacher agrees with me that my timing and rhythmic precision needs the most work currently and he notices a big difference now that Ive been using your lessons (among other stuff of course). Just wanted to say THANK YOU for that!

[@JensLarsen]

Wow! That is really amazing, so glad to hear that!

[@idnemgk]

Great video lesson, Jens! There is tremendous potential once this material is embodied for creating a steady groove and/or for generating a swinging conversational style of comping.

[@castanho6159]

Thank yoou! That's goin to be so much helpful to my first steps on jazz guitar!

[@JensLarsen]

Go for it!

[@Tieri-JK]

This has been the most helpful and influencial video to my comping, thank you. Whenever i get distracted and all over the place i try to focus on these rythms

[@JensLarsen]

Great to hear!

[@ReverendRicktaScale]

Brilliant lesson, great for daily warm up ! You can do 4 bars comp, 4 bars improv, 4 bars comp, 4 bars bass line, through any progression or song (then you will really have it internalized). Keep it up Lars !

[@davidtardio9804]

Fantastic - combining this with your Webstore lesson on 30 ii V I's and I've got a great amount of material to work on. Thanks!

[@JensLarsen]

Great! Go for it David!

[@warrenwilson7836]

Once again I find myself enjoying how your guitar lessons teach me to play jazz keyboard. But I promise I will stay away from the rhythm guitar -- give him lots of fresh air! Thanks, Jens -- your videos always hit the spot.

[@JensLarsen]

Really glad you can use it on keyboard as well! :)

[@freddecker2407]

These are helpful ideas. When I try to comp, I tend to run out of ideas. Then my playing just sounds like nothing.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad it is useful!

[@MrUrech]

This is exactly what I need right now. You da man jens! 🙏❤🌻

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! Glad it's useful 🙂

[@gretchenbowder6801]

Hi Jens, I just wanted to share with you that I've been a bluegrass and western swing banjo player for 25 years, but now I'm taking my jazz banjo playing and my study of theory more seriously. I LOVE your videos. You set everything out so clearly, and I'm really enjoying adapting it to the banjo. Cheers, Gretchen

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much Gretchen! Ironically, I hope to one day have a bit more time to check out some real bluegrass playing. But I am very flattered that you find the lessons useful.

[@RC32Smiths01]

Rhythm is everything! Always ensure it to keep the music flowing! Appreciate the work as always

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks RC!

[@RC32Smiths01]

@@JensLarsen Ahh you're welcome indeed my man!

Amazing!!! Simple and efective!!!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it!

[@thirsima]

This was a really nice lesson! Thank you Jens! :)

[@JohnHorneGuitar]

Jens, this is beautifully organized, explained, and demonstrated. I will be sharing with all of my students!

[@Wieger09]

Happy to report that this lesson is right up my alley. Thank you Jens. When comping I tend to add extra rhythmic accents. Fellow musicians sometimes aks me to keep it simple and steady, to help them to keep track of the chord changes. Another thing: instead of keeping notes shorter than notated, I sometimes play them long on purpose, especially when there's no piano. This helps everybody to keep track of the harmony. More advanced musicians may not need this, I guess.

[@JensLarsen]

That's great! You might also enjoy the video I just published on comping :)

[@bobhopper2851]

A simply great lesson to learn and master a handful of essential rhythms. I printed the pdf for the lesson, put it in my practice binder, and plan to play along with the video until I mater the rhythms. Jens, it was your comment about playing along with the video that made it easy.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad it was helpful, Bob 🙂

[@kofblz]

This lesson makes me think about motif and motif development.

[@JensLarsen]

Which are probably strong concepts in any aspect of music 🙂

[@henkkman]

Excellent video, thank you!

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome! I am glad you like it! 🙂

[@EclecticEssentric]

I enjoyed this very much. Thanks.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it! :)

[@TheMegansdad]

Great stuff. Love the analysis.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you enjoyed it, Larry!

[@kofblz]

These examples are great! I will definitely work through them and would LOVE to see more on the subject. Reading rhythms on sheet music is by far my weakest skill. And coming to Jazz from another genre I always tend to be too repetitive and "on the beat" in my rhythm playing. I think a nice video idea might be to string 2 or 3 of this rhythms together and take them through a full progression.

[@Kbctl9190]

Great lesson!

[@AmandaKaymusic]

I'd appreciate more clips on jazz comping rhythms. Thanks for this handy clip. I am grateful for the knowledge you share. Wishing you all the best for the festive season.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you, Amanda! I will probably return to the topic 🙂 I hope you have a great holiday too

[@underwoodvoice9077]

This targets the least developed part of my (admittedly sophomoric) jazz playing. Perfect.

[@bosco5469]

Love this ...thank u so much

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome!

[@MatheusRobis]

That was amazing, thank you

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome!

[@cagedoctaves]

Finally some GROOVE. Smooth.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it!

[@faisletoismeme]

Absolutely awesome, thanks. Of course it makes a lot of sense to comp like this if you are backed with a bass. If you play just two guitars some patterns might sound less appropriate... I'll have to test them but in group settings, I'll definitely need those to become second nature.

[@JensLarsen]

In a duo I would go with one of these strategies: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKSZmZ6Kn96rq80

[@JensLarsen]

✅How to deveop the rhythms you already know and be creative: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e53PimWaZ9yYgbs 🎸🎸

[@faisletoismeme]

Maybe some bossa comping coud complement this since there are many bossa jazz songs.

[@JensLarsen]

@@faisletoismeme kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3K9d2lqibuLbqM here is one🙂

[@AmericanDiplomat]

@@JensLarsen 6/8 rythms, good lesson as always Jens

[@damonshanabarger2604]

This is a very good lesson. I've been looking for a way to improve my skills at Jazz Rhythms and also improve my finger picking style guitar. This will also prove to be useful when I start Country chicken picking. Time to make more ice. Those little paper cups work well. All you have to do is keep pealing the paper back. Just don't rub it across your thumb tendon for more than five minutes or else your liable to get frostbite. My thumb on my left fretboard hand is the one that is the biggest bitch. I never seem to have problems with my right pick hand. I haven't practiced my two hand tap in a while. They probably don't do that in Jazz? I know they sometimes do pick hand harmonics. Do you have any ideas for improving finger picking?

[@Christiansferguson]

Maybe talking about how to respond to a specific thing that a soloist plays. Reacting to a soloist in a way that supports the themes that they’re trying to develop rather than having to rely on a set of stock rhythms. Even though these are very helpful, a video on how to listen would be nice.

[@rahulwadhwani6563]

You are so specific Jens. Have been looking for some structured method to learn comping and here I found it. Danke :)

[@JensLarsen]

Glad it was helpful! :)

[@jopajazzjopajazz2188]

Thanks for Great video lesson,

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you liked it!

[@TheJamieAbraham]

Brilliant Lesson Jens as always. I'm having lessons with David Beebee and we are going to Jam through some standards at the end of this month so this was just what I needed to brush up on my comping :) many thanks

[@JensLarsen]

Super! Say hi to David :)

[@michaelandersson1904]

Great lesson! I live to see more lessons about comping.

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks Michael!

[@ralphwalton6736]

thank you

[@ZANNKImusic]

so nice video! thank you so much

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you liked it!

[@vishyoutubevideos]

Great lesson! I've got accustomed to playing single note lines and stand alone chords, but don't really know any jazz rhythms. Heading to Seattle for a couple days, but I can't till the weekend to practice this.

[@JensLarsen]

Have a nice trip Vishal! Glad you like the video!

[@zagortriplex100]

Very interesting. Thanks!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it!

[@Smittstheman983]

Please do more like this, great comping lesson!

[@JensLarsen]

Tomorrow 🙂

[@chipispowdercoatingcharles8444]

Excellent

[@brad724p]

Great one, Jens.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Brad!

[@rivaldoluizcamargo7820]

Great, thank's

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome! I am glad you like it! 🙂

[@matsuhart]

Thanks again Jens. More rhythmic videos would be great! Long ago I learned a very simple but effective quarter note stacatto rhythm. I forget the name (but it had one!), but it was simply four quarter notes in 4/4 all stacatto but accenting the 2 and 4.

[@live2groove]

Great topic - great video! You should show them how to comp with a pick and point out that we should not using a bazillion ghost notes (or any ghost notes) when comping. Comping on bosa novas would be a great video too

[@JensLarsen]

I have videos on Bossa nova and Samba already, and I mostly comp with my fingers, as you can see in this video 🙂

[@freddecker2407]

I think modern musicians tend to think in terms of playing patterns. Comping seems like an older style to me, although I realize jazz musicians have always comped. But comping sounds so much more interesting and beautiful to me, than hearing some guy chomp away at a pattern.

[@DiegoScript_]

Flawless, as usual. 👊🏼

[@JensLarsen]

Haha! Thank you Diego!

[@DiegoScript_]

@@JensLarsen 🤜🏼🤛🏼

[@jimconnelly2851]

These basic rhythms sound very professional.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you 🙂

[@tomasbaccile6710]

Thank u!!! Gracias

[@JensLarsen]

You are very welcome 🙂

[@meredith3147]

thank you, Jens. this really helped (:

[@JensLarsen]

Glad to hear that 🙂

[@ralphwalton6736]

just what i was looking for

[@JensLarsen]

Great 🙂

[@thewordnerds]

This is a great compilation, Jens. It will help me not only on guitar, but also on piano. I usually think of #4 as the “Red Garland” rhythm. Red very often did that steady off-beat anticipation in his left hand while soloing or playing melody in his right.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! Yes, it is indeed sometimes called the Red Garland rhythm :)

[@thewordnerds]

Jens Larsen In fact, I noticed that you labeled it “Red Garland” rhythm right after I had posted that reply! (I just practiced RG rhythm over Anthropology on piano 10 minutes ago!)

[@JensLarsen]

@@thewordnerds to be honest, I think he over uses it and could be more interactive and varied 🙂

[@thewordnerds]

Jens Larsen I agree. It became a bit of a cliche with him. But it is useful, not difficult, and it sort of moves the song along with energy.

[@emmanuelsmith826]

thanks so much,

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it!

[@jevessonsouza7947]

Unfortunantly I can just to give you my thank you. But, you have been helped me a lot! I would like to see more rythm options as you suggested. It would be awesome! Also, I hope you are doing great. Learn Jazz, make music my dear friend! Warmest regards from Brasil! Be fine!

[@JensLarsen]

You are very welcome 🙂

[@moydamer]

I love this video. I don't know if you'll ever read this comment, but I would like more comping lessons I can play along with. It's not always easy to hear how I'm locking in with a metronome, but playing along with you I can easily tell if my timing is right.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! Videos like this one don't do that well on KZbin so I won't make them very often, and to be honest I think you are better off practicing with a metronome and learn to feel the time and groove instead of playing along with me.

[@moydamer]

@@JensLarsen Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I will take your advice. I appreciate your help.

[@4gcole]

I love this topic Jens! Do it on Satin Doll and Blues or Rhythm Changes...Thx

[@JensLarsen]

I don't really consider this to be song specific. The rhythms you play are more depending on what the soloist is playing.

[@allegrobarbaro63]

This is so very useful !!! Thank You ! :) Glad that I found it! As a (kind of) bass player I would like to "adjust" (to "fix") my guitarist for certain compings rhythms in jazz (medium swing) but that's not easy ... Here you've presented something really useful , which perhaps was missing for us.If that's possibile I would like to "request" some 1) comping guitar rhythms for (slow) JAZZ BALLADS (like 'Round Midnight) and 2) comping guitar rhythms for BOSSA NOVA/SAMBA as well if you would be kind.Not many, just some basic rhythm ideeas especially for jazz ballads. Thank You & have a Happy New Year!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! Maybe check out these Bossa nova patterns 🙂 kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2mrfmeImtyBf6s

[@allegrobarbaro63]

@@JensLarsen Thank You for your bossa rhythms video as well.I (we) have watched it.And that's great either! :)

[@ParsevalMusic]

only here I can find these things. Definitely yesss and my compliments !

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you 🙂

[@miguelcastano3210]

Jeje great!

[@DaydreamVacations]

Awesome Incredible Useful

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you liked it

[@HarryBarry97]

Hi Jens! Please give us a lesson on adding harmonic motion to chord progessions. Thanks for all the lessons

[@JensLarsen]

Something like this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4rMen1_ap1rrbc

[@HarryBarry97]

Jens Larsen Perfect! God bless you in Jesus might name from fallen sweden

[@abiugonzalez2087]

Amazing Teacher Jens ;)

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! :)

[@DaveKaplowitz]

This is a really great lesson, Jens. I love the variety of rhythms and it's also really helping me work on what you have been teaching us about three note rootless voicings, voice leading, and creating melodies while comping. I'm already working on this and playing along with you and the metronome is really helping my time.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Dave. Glad you find it useful 🙂

[@majoriveira]

Thank you. I was actually looking for right hand piano comping rhythms and I found your video that is very helpful even though it is a guitar video. If I have a rhythm that has two eighth notes on the fourth beat would both notes anticipate the harmony of the next bar, o just the one on the up beat would?