AZT
JAZZ GURU
Comping “Giant Steps’
When fm comping and 'm decng which chords to py.
lot of tes Vl pay the lease amoure of notes posible. You
may oxice tat Some guitarists see bukinga tenor sax payer
fr anaer sols an opportunity practic tlt voicing,
‘bt realy, no one wants co eral that ot Ifyou listen 12
at gular ceompenits auch as Wes Montgomery and ir,
Nall or pianists ike Wynton Kely and Reda Garand youl
Sind they'e extremely tinier they lene lee of spec.
‘When Tan comping, ovr an st oF changes ob callarg
s6"Giant Stee" [belo], Im fen playing ne more than >
netes from each chord. One beau thing about the gukar
ie rhat it ealy ends te this sound, especially when you
stick othe third and fourth sings, where find these 0
roe chords sound best.
There are no bass notes inthe chords bel, but even
\wishou he roots you can sll ner the shin harmoaies,
particularly if you play the 3 and che 7 of each chord as
shown. For eaampl, in bar 11 play A and the 7 and
the 3 of Bima? followed by Cand F4 the 7 and she 3 of D7)
This provides ore chan enough harm for rnc slot,
I youre playing in «duo situation, though you should pay
tigger volcings, pethape adding the roor ofeach chord on
‘he fithor seth strings The challenge with "Giant Stape”
ie thar unlike "Autumn Leaves” or ther etandarde, the pr
MIKE STERN BAND AT THE IRIDIUM JAZZ =
cLuBIN 2012
64 | November 2012 | GUITAR PLAYER VAULT
tression doesn’t lew yu to hang out in any one key for
‘ore than a fee beats. This is one tune that requires you
realy make every change
Rhythm Is the other irapertant element of comping ane
thas hard ce tech on paper. Wha’ show bere just a
terse to get you going wbich means ic far too er
ig phrasing There at a infinite amber of ways to phrase
where listening comes
in listoningisow you eam mse, Theory is
on ie ow. I you don't coenine theory ith tue ltening
then, wll fagetsbout, As ol tude Cold
there lide chord stabs, end th
6p <—
fa ee
i ate ete
jeep