Advanced Comping Ideas

Here are four comping patterns based on a useful figure that is positioned in four places in the bar; you'll see that one of the downbeats is bracketed and can be played as a rest.

Each exercises is a development of the short/long concept where the snare plays short beats and the kick plays long notes.

Exercise D is one of Alan Dawson's suggestions and exercise E provides a way into some Elvin Jones like ideas from Ralph Peterson.

Play jazz time throughout, except for exercise D where the cymbal part is playing the accent with the bass drum.

You know the drill: start slow, work up the tempo and practice along with some tunes.

For an extension switch the short notes to the kick and the long notes to the snare, and then work out the remaining interpretations.

The PDF contains the three further rhythmic placements and interpretations.

This was originally posted on "Jazz Drumming Blog". This post has been revised from the original.