Subscribers

Some tips on simple soloing over rhythm changes.

Some ideas on what to think about when comping underneath the melody.

Here's pt. 1 of comping. Keep it simple and tasty!

Further ideas about playing over a minor IV to I resolution in jazz.
-Tyler

Pick the right melody, it doesn't have to be hard!

Check out this etude. Study the chords and write in the names with the alterations. Then play the etude. It will get you moving around and weaving through the changes. Work up the speed a little bit, and transposing in one other key will go along way.

The etude PDF is attached.

So I am in Texas visiting my folks, which means I don't have a vibe with me. I used to get really bummed about this. Having to spend a week or so away from my instrument. I have since come to look at it as a forced "put yourself in a box" situation. I still have a keyboard here, so I can practice music, and it forces me to practice specific things. This week I decided to focus on comping/ voicings/ and learning tunes in other keys through the "vehicle" of chords/ voicings. I found this article (for a guitar magazine as you can tell by the tab) by my old professor.

Here's my last lesson before I start a bunch of lessons on rhythm changes. Sorry, my loop skipped once or twice during this, but I was only like a second, so I kept it.

When I think Rhythm Changes, I instantly think Parker. Here are some videos of Bird over the form. Note his contrasts. He does an amazing job of switching from harmonic generalization (Bb triad or blues material) to harmonic specificity (hitting chord tones of the changes). Also, as always, his phrasing is fresh and unpredictable. With Rhythm Changes everyone is chasing the bird.

Here's a solo etude on rhythm changes based upon the use of four note groupings.