Jazz Drum Comping Made Easy

Learn what Jazz drum comping is and how I "comp" on the drums with piano and bass. This is Jazz comping for drummers at a deeper level than just coordination exercises. Learn the real reason we do drum comping when we play Jazz music.
👉🥁Learn to comp with the finesse of pro in Jazz Drum Comping mini course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jaz...
👉🥁Here is the link to my Brushes Mastery Course I mentioned in the video: jazzdrumschool.com/course/bru...
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Introduction
02:20 Listening to Piano solo and analysis
05:50 Drum comping demonstration #1 and explanation
10:40 Drum comping demonstration #2 and explanation
12:49 Drum comping demonstration #3 and explanation
14:00 Overplaying demonstration and explanation
15:12 Learn to sing solos
15:25 Sing along with solo and explanation
18:41 Other resources for your drumming
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Here are the links to the other videos on Jazz Comping on the Drums:
Part 1: • Video
Part 2: • Video
Part 3: • Video
Here is the link to the drumless track version of Bellmont Ave (the song used in this Jazz drum lesson): vonbaronstore.com/products/al...
Here is the link to my video about the most important accent in Jazz drumming: • The Most Important Jaz...
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SEE BELOW FOR MANY OTHER WAYS TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY DRUMS
JAZZ DRUM SCHOOL ONLINE DRUM LESSONS: Enroll in online Jazz drumming courses at my Jazz Drum School. Learn drumming with brushes, Latin rhythms, drumming independence, drumming patterns, drum fills, trading fours and eights, Jazz drum soloing, drumming time and feel, Jazz comping and a lot more. A great way to learn how to play Jazz drums at your own pace. jazzdrumschool.com/
DRUMMING BLOG. Lot's of articles with tips, tricks and drum gear for your success in drumming and music: vonbaronmusic.com/von-baron-d...
DRUMLESS TRACKS. Many backing tracks for drums practice. Work on trading fours and eights, drum soloing, drum fills, Jazz comping and grooves. A great way to learn how to play drums: store.vonbaronmusic.com/
PRIVATE ONLINE DRUM LESSONS FOR JAZZ DRUMMING: Take your Jazz drumming to new levels with guided private instruction. Sign up at: store.vonbaronmusic.com/produ...
JAZZ DRUM SCHOOL EMAIL: Join my monthly email and get a free drum lesson each month to improve your drumming. Sign up here: eepurl.com/hMm9zn
#jazzdrums #jazzdrummer #jazzdrumming

[@scottculver5728]

Very cool video. I’m a rock drummer and always struggled trying to have that jazz feel. You explained the idea very well. I was thinking, sure I could do that - then you said don’t overplay. In my head I was totally overplaying. Thanks for the advice. Great job. 🥁🙏🎶🥁

[@jazzdrumschool]

Scott thanks so much for watching and for your comment! I'm glad the video was helpful. If you're interested in going a little deeper into Jazz drumming, you might take a look at my Jazz Drumming Basics Course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/beginner-drumming I've also got a good video here on my KZbin channel about how to get strong swing from your ride cymbal playing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b32UZ6tonr2XobM Keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@Funkyjazzomatic]

Some real comping wisdom! You sound so great! 😊

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks so much for the kind words and for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed and if you ever need any help with your Jazz drum comping, I hope you’ll also check out my Jazz Drum Comping course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping Keep swinging my friend🤙

[@k.ollektiv]

Excellent explanation and beautiful playing - thanks a lot again!!

[@jazzdrumschool]

Hey thanks for watching and for your kind words. I’m glad my videos continue to help you!

[@JMcNultyDrums]

Very insightful and wonderfully tasteful playing all around. Thanks!

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks Jonathan for watching and sharing your positive comment! I'm glad my video was helpful. 🤙

[@howardk4016]

Great video - thanks for posting!

[@jazzdrumschool]

Howard thanks for the kind comment and for watching! If you need any help with comping on the drums, I hope you'll also check out my Jazz Drum Comping course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping Keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@trevormcmanis]

Fantastic lesson 🥁👏🏻

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks Trevor for watching and for your comment! I'm glad you found it helpful! You might also enjoy my Secrets of Jazz Drumming course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drumming-lessons where I dive even deeper into Jazz comping and many other essential Jazz drumming skills. Keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@jcushon]

Great explanations about the opportunities of filling spaces, how to listen and the distinction between coordination and communication or conversation.

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks John for the nice comment and for watching. It always means a lot coming from you.

[@chaiyapornduangsong9914]

great thanks!

[@jazzdrumschool]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching and commenting🤙

[@joniarenasdrums]

Thanks a lot!!

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks Joni for watching this one too! Keep groovin' man!

[@mikecrank]

I know you did this a year ago...but I just watched it now and I have to say this was sooo helpful! My favorite part is when you say, "there's no need to overplay." That's so true...in every type of music. I'll be singing along to piano parts from now on!

[@jazzdrumschool]

Great Mike! I'm so glad the video was helpful. Keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@evetsodnoc99]

Thank you

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thank you too! Keep on hoofin'🤙

[@user-br3pd3cp7t]

Just seeing this video and really appreciate it. As a still somewhat novice to jazz playing, this is going to be very helpful moving forward. Thank you.

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for the kind comment and I'm so glad it was helpful! I hope you'll also check out my Jazz Drum Comping course to take your drumming even further: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping Keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@bcancun123]

Nice Video!

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for the kind comment and for watching! I hope you’ll also check out my Jazz Drum Comping course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping Keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@Rogersdrumvideos]

Wonderful video. I talk to my students all the time about discreetly filling the gaps ... I call them "quotes" and "suggestions" because we are usually either quoting a bit from what we just heard or lightly suggesting rhythmic ideas to take the conversation in a certain direction. Big Ears! is what Joe Porcaro would say in class ... I carry that on today with my students. We usually end a lesson with me yelling Big Ears! to which they respond Big Ears! ... thank you for doing what you do.

[@jazzdrumschool]

Wow! Thanks so much Anthony for your comment and for watching. I love what you’re saying. Your students are lucky to have you as their teacher!

[@redpebbles]

Something to mention is your ride cymbal phrasing while you're thinking about the comping. There are a lot of quarter notes there, with the skip notes interweaving with the comping figures. It's not just a conversation with the soloist, but also between your comping and the ride pattern.

[@jazzdrumschool]

BINGO! Thanks for the comment and for watching! Yes indeed, I often think of my ride cymbal as the leading voice and my other limbs support that lead. I also teach this approach in my Jazz Drum Comping course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping Keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@evetsodnoc99]

Thank you so much for checklist out my Dad. He would have loved you. I look forward to studying your methodology and theories of practice and performance. Diane 🎶

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks Diane. It was fun to watch your dad tap. He really was dancing on such a high level. He and Buddy were both at the top of their game. Please enjoy the videos and if you’re wanting to deepen your Jazz drumming please also check out my online drum school: jazzdrumschool.com Keep swinging those sticks and tap shoes🤙

[@leroygoodwinjr.1884]

Thanks

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks Leroy for watching and for commenting!

[@HouseJawn]

Great channel 👍😄

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks so much! I try my best to share content that is useful in the real world of Jazz drumming. No theory here! Have a swinging great day my friend 🤙

[@Ibradrums]

When you played on beat 1 and 3 it reminded me of Paul Motian (RIP), that nice and heavy stuff he had. I guess it depends on the vibe a drummer wants to bring. Thanks for sharing the knowledge!

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for watching and for your comment! Lately, I’ve been listening to Paul Motion. How apropos your comment is🤙

[@evetsodnoc99]

I love your presentation. My Dad was Steve Condos. He's the only dancer Buddy Rich ever let dance with his band.

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for watching and for commenting! Wow, I just checked out your dad. AMAZING! I can definitely see why Buddy Rich liked teaming up with him.

[@evetsodnoc99]

Steve also played drums and taught rudiments, which is what I teach. It's many rudiments ... his own style.

[@cyberceil]

Swish. Enjoyed it. Going to the shed. Thnx

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for watching and for your comment. Have fun in the shed!

[@garydonnelly100]

I really love those K Con Flats! I don't know how I ever played without one. What I love about mine is that smoky undertone and the stick definition is so different than those other more brittle sounding flats. I also have a K Custom Lite Flat that has some of those same qualities. Nice explanation on comping. This is the first one I've seen that basically talks about playing in the space. There are a lot of ways to approach what to play and it's nice to give yourself a challenge by creating certain "limitations" at the beginning of a solo so that there's something to build upon. It might be something like keeping to ride and hat with very sparse snare activity, listening to how the soloist is developing and following the flow, adding more density as the conversation moves along. I might also start with just a quarter note ride and slowly increase the density as the soloist builds steam. But it's always about two things, I've found...mutual support, and mutual trust among the players. Without those, it just becomes a bunch of guys doing their own thing with no purpose.

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for this awesome comment too! Yeah, I'm a big fan of the flat ride sound. I'm not sure why but I just like the Zildjian sound. Thanks for the complement on the teaching and your thoughts. Yes, I think if we just stay focused on everyone else, we'll know what we need to play, when we need to play it. Sounds like you have some BIG ears! I bet cats enjoy playing with you a lot! Keep swinging!🤙

[@NikitaBobrov-sw2tn]

This video is gold. Answered a lot of my questions I stumbled upon by now. Thank you thank you! Ps Interesting is that in jazz there's no ready recipe. From my experience the lessons are not about what to do, but how to think. You just gotta go out and try.

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for the kind comment and I'm glad you enjoyed the video! You are absolutely correct, this lesson is conceptual instead of teaching precise drumming patterns to play for comping. To get your drumming independence together for comping, I hope you'll also check out my Jazz Drum Comping course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/jazz-drum-comping In there you'll also learn great patterns to play and other technical skills for comping on the drums. Keep swinging 🤙

[@millie179]

Hey Von.... Even your overplaying example sounds good.. Haha. Really honest tutorial this gives us students the feeling of.. Hey I can do that... Brilliant 👍👍👍

[@jazzdrumschool]

Hey thanks man! I’m so happy that it’s helpful. I wanted to share real world examples of Jazz drumming concepts. I hope mixing these in with other regular lessons will be beneficial for you and other drummers out there. Many thanks again for watching and commenting! 🤙

[@evetsodnoc99]

I was just talking to a fellow hoofer about feelin the bars and knowing where you are in the music.

[@jazzdrumschool]

Yes, so important to really contribute to what's going on.

[@markielinhart]

Over playing - it’s a trap I fall into, no longer. Thankyou ✌️🌻

[@jazzdrumschool]

Yay! I'm glad my video helped you. If you ever get a video posted of you in your new and improved comping, I'd love to check it out 🤙

[@MrHowiefrommaui]

I love your cymbals. What are they?

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for the kind words, question and for watching! I’m using a 20” Zildjian Kerope on the left and a 20” Zildjian K Constantinople Flat Ride on the right. I’m also using mixed 14” hi-hats, Top: K Constantinople, Bottom: K Custom Dry Hope that helps and keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@NapatChan]

when I play jazz my minds creates a sound for what to do but when I actually do it it ended up sound weird. Do you have any tips ?

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks Isaac for watching and for your comment. Without seeing you play, I’m not exactly sure what might be causing the disconnect between your ideas and your actual drumming. We often have this kind of problem when our coordination won’t allow us to play the things we think of. Have you worked on Jazz drumming coordination?

[@jackmorash7992]

I’m surprised that the bass plays during your fours - generally my bass player stops while I take four

[@jazzdrumschool]

Jack thanks for the comment and for watching! This is one of my practice tracks to help drummers with timing. I also have versions without the bass during the fours: store.vonbaronmusic.com/product/trading-fours-and-eights-swing-and-bossa-nova-samba-drumless-tracks-mp3s/ Keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@crusingcuyp9171]

Are you really engaging the hihat...? I see your left foot moving and I think I hear the steady hihat beat, but the Ride cymbal obscures the hihat-cymbals....

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for watching and for the question! I am indeed playing the hats with my left foot. It's a little on the softer side but I am playing them. Sometimes, I like to keep my hi-hat volume low so that the ride can really shine through. Keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@farshimelt]

Who's the bassist? That's the guy to lock in with. Once you've done that, you can dance all over the cymbal. On another note. I played with a pianist who left no space, anywhere, ever, and liked aggressive drummers who would push their way in. One night was enough of that.

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for the great comment and for watching! The bassist is Tetsuro Aratama. He's a first call cat hre in the Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto area and plays in Tokyo too. One of my favs. Now on to your piano player, I am with you 1000000000% That kind of playing makes me like a deer in headlights. I just end up grooving with minimal anything else. Glad to hear from another drummer with the same perspective. I need a conversation, not a monologue from the other players. Keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@JAc08-games]

Is it bad I thought the overplaying sounded good

[@jazzdrumschool]

LOL 😂