‘Comping’ Is Use of Irregular Beats

Comping never uses a consistent, regular rhythm, but is made up of syncopated, varied beats.

I was recently asked to define the term “comping.” If you listen to or play jazz, you are likely familiar with this term; it is short for accompaniment. So, a guitar or piano player can “comp” any song in any style by providing accompaniment.

In the commonly accepted use of the word “comping,” it is generally understood to mean a jazz accompaniment style on piano or guitar. Its characteristics are a syncopated, irregular rhythm pattern while executing chords. It is not a steady strum and is usually characterized by short choppy strikes contrasted by sustains. Down beat and up beat attacks are constantly varied.

The swing style of jazz most often uses a comping style. Typical rhythms used in comping patterns can be heard in the snare hand of a jazz drummer and in the stabbing syncopations of a horn section in a jazz band.

Virtually all jazz guitarists and jazz pianists are skilled at comping. If you want to familiarize yourself with comping on the guitar, my new CD “Freefall” has examples of comping during during bass solos.