Editing Comping (jazz) (section)

==Types==
In a standard jazz combo, the [[pianist]] or [[guitarist]] typically comps during the [[horn section|horn]] and [[double bass]] solos by improvising [[chord (music)|chord]]s and [[counter-melody|countermelodies]].

The chordal accompaniment used in jazz is different from the chordal accompaniment style used in many types of [[popular music]], such as rock and folk.
*In a '''rock or folk band''', a guitarist or piano player will accompany by playing primarily [[root-position]] [[triad (music)|triads]] consisting of the [[root (chord)|root]], [[third (chord)|3rd]], and [[fifth (chord)|5th]]. In the key of C, the G chord would include the notes G, B, and D (the root, 3rd, and 5th of the chord). In a [[hard rock]] or [[heavy metal music]] band, a guitarist often comps by playing [[power chord]]s (root, fifth and octave, or for fast chord changes, just root and fifth).
* In a '''jazz band''' a guitarist or pianist will comp by playing a variety of chords that include the 3rd, [[seventh (chord)|7th]], [[ninth (chord)|9th]], and [[thirteenth (chord)|13th]] (jazz chord players often omit the root, because the [[bass (chord)|bassist]] usually plays the root. The fifth of the chord is also omitted, except when the fifth is flattened or sharpened). In the key of C, the G7 chord in a jazz context might be performed by playing the notes B, E, F, and A (the 3rd, 13th, flat 7th, and 9th notes of the chord). As well, jazz compers may use [[altered chord]]s that contain flattened or sharpened 5ths, sharp 11ths, flat or sharpened 9ths, and flat 13ths for some songs or soloists. For example, an [[altered dominant|altered]] G7 chord might be played with a basic [[voicing (music)|voicing]], often the 3rd (B) and 7th (F), along with some of the following notes A{{music|b}}, A{{music|#}}, C{{music|#}}, and E{{music|b}} ({{music|b}}9, {{music|#}}9, {{music|#}}11, {{music|b}}13), subject to the taste and style of the performer and/or the bandleader.

In combos with a guitar player, the guitar player usually comps for soloists.  If there are both a pianist and a guitarist, as sometimes occurs in [[organ trio]]s or [[big band]]s, they may either alternate comping or comp at the same time.  Having two chordal instruments comp at the same time is difficult to do well. The two compers may make different, clashing interpretations of the same chord (e.g., the pianist may add a flat 13th, while the guitarist plays a natural 13th), or the texture may become overly cluttered. One solution is for the two comping instrumentalists to play sparsely.

===Chords===
Comping is almost always improvised by the comping musicians based on a [[chord chart]], [[lead sheet]] (which contains the chords written above the melody), [[sheet music]], or, in [[country music]], the [[Nashville Number System]]. The exception is well-known progressions (e.g., [[12 bar blues]]) and [[jazz standard]]s such as "[[I Got Rhythm]]", known colloquially as "[[rhythm changes]]". For well-known progressions, the bandleader may simply say "solos on blues changes" or "solos on rhythm changes", and the comping musicians are expected to be familiar with these chord progressions. Top soloists playing with the most advanced comping musicians may simply call out the name of jazz standards, and the sidemen will be expected to know the chord progression. For example, the soloist may request "[[Autumn Leaves (1945 song)|Autumn Leaves]]" without providing the compers with a chord chart or sheet music. The compers at the highest professional level would be expected to know this tune.

Since there are many variant versions of these chord progressions, the comping musicians will have to come to an unspoken consensus on which chords to use. For example, there are many different [[Turnaround (music)|turnaround]]s used for the last two bars of a 12 bar blues; however, if the bandleader, playing Hammond organ, plays I/VI7/ii7/V7 for the turnaround, most skilled compers will hear these chords by ear and then replicate them in subsequent choruses (each full playing of the 12-bar progression is colloquially called a "chorus").

===Drums===
During [[Swing (jazz performance style)|swing]]-feel songs, [[drummer]]s will usually comp with one hand on the [[snare drum]] while playing time on the [[cymbal]]s, typically on the [[ride cymbal]] (see [[drum kit]]). More skilled drummers often comp with even all three limbs excluding their right-hand ride pattern (snare drum, [[bass drum]], [[Hi-hat (instrument)|hi-hats]]). They will most likely develop the simple jazz drum pattern and add a few "bomb" bass drum notes for extra effect.

===Horns===
In small jazz ensembles ("combos") with more unusual instrumentation, horn players (e.g., saxophone, trumpet, etc.) can comp by playing the melody line in the background, or by playing a sequence of notes called "[[guide tone]]s" which outline the harmonic framework. Guide tones are usually the 3rd, 7th, or 9th notes of a given chord. Guide tone lines are constructed by descending (or ascending) through the guide tones of the chart, normally by semitone or tone. For instance, in a duo for [[saxophone]] and bass, the saxophonist might comp during the bass solo by playing guide tones.

For example, during the standard jazz chord progression ii7/V7/I/VI7 (in the key of C Major, this would be Dm7/G7/C/A7), a horn player might play the guide tones, in whole notes, C (minor 7th of d minor), B (third of G7), A (sixth of C; sixths are added to major chords in jazz even when not specified) and G (minor 7th of A7). This is only one possible guide tone sequence. A second guide tone sequence (in whole notes) might be F (minor third of d minor), E (sixth of G7), D (ninth of C Major; as with sixths, ninths are often added to chord voicings even when not indicated), C# (major third of A7).

===Drum solo===
During a [[drum]] solo, the entire band may [[tacet]] (be silent, called "laying out" in jazz slang). Alternatively, the pianist (and possibly the bassist and/or guitarist or organist) sometimes comps, often using a predictable pattern of rhythmically played chords called "hits". A well-known example is the second half of "[[Take Five]]", with [[Dave Brubeck]]'s piano [[vamp (music)|vamp]] comping for [[Joe Morello]]'s drum solo. During piano solos, pianists often comp for themselves, playing melodic lines and solos with the right hand while comping with the left hand.