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Left Hand Comping
Part 3: Stylistic Considerations
NEW Course! Just added
The third and final part of the left hand comping series, students will take their comping knowledge and apply it to three common rhythmic feels in jazz: latin/bossa, 3/4 waltz time and ballad.
Using the chord changes to three representative tunes, "Blue Bossa," "Alice in Wonderland," and "Peace," students will learn the characteristics of each style and how to adapt their comping to suit the requirements of each rhythmic feel.
This is part three of a three part series of courses on left hand comping. It is intended that you will work through the courses in sequence from part 1 through 3.
Using the chord changes to three representative tunes, "Blue Bossa," "Alice in Wonderland," and "Peace," students will learn the characteristics of each style and how to adapt their comping to suit the requirements of each rhythmic feel.
This is part three of a three part series of courses on left hand comping. It is intended that you will work through the courses in sequence from part 1 through 3.
From Lead Sheet to Arrangement
My Country, 'Tis of Thee
NEW Course! Just added
The American patriotic song "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" (AKA God Save the King in the UK) is reharmonized using four basic reharmonization devices: seventh chords, cycle extension, functional substitution and, for lack of a better term, "messing with dominant chords." Print and play the full arrangement and learn how these techniques are applied to the simple I, IV, V harmonization to create a subtly rich arrangement of this enduring melody.
From Lead Sheet to Arrangement
Star Spangled Banner
Updated!
Here is a jazz arrangement of our national anthem. Incorporating a wide range of reharmonization and arranging devices- substitutions, upper structures, deceptive cadences and non-functional harmony among them- you will no doubt enjoy hearing this familiar melody juxtaposed with the chromatic sounds of the reharmonized chords.
From Lead Sheet to Arrangement
America the Beautiful
Updated!
The folk tune "America the Beautiful" is an elegant 16 measure melody harmonized with basic primary chords, I, IV and V7. In this course, this simple tune is transformed into a richly harmonized jazz piece using four basic reharmonization devices: seventh chords, cycle extension, functional substitution and, for lack of a better term, "messing with dominant chords." Print and play the full arrangement and learn to apply these techniques using the exercises in the downloadable pdf practice sessions included with the course.
Left Hand Comping
Part 2: Improvised Comping
Just added
In this second part of the left hand comping series, students will build on their knowledge from part 1 by learning how to improvise their comping through the use of the graduated improvised comping technique.
Improv Drill - Chord Tones
Updated!
Through an analysis of a transcription of Hank Mobley's solo over the changes to the tune "Remember" from his 1960 recording "Soul Station," watch how this master of bebop improvisation uses chord tones on strong beats as a foundation for his strong and logical improvised line over the changes to this Irving Berlin classic. Then learn an extensive series of drills to gain control of these notes over this or any chord progression to help you develop fluency with these primary components of good melodic construction.
Left Hand Comping
Part 1: Rhythmic Placement, Duration and Activity
NEW Course!
This course will introduce and explain the concepts of rhythmic placement, duration and activity and show students how to use them to comp chords to the changes of "Summertime."
Minor ii-V-i Progression
Updated!
The major and minor ii-V-I progressions are the most common chord progressions in jazz. This course will show you how to derive minor ii-V-i progressions from their parent scales, how to identify them and how to recognize them in tunes.