Two-Beat Figure Comping in 3/4

This simple idea helps to open up some comping ideas in 3/4. Playing in 3/4 can often feel limiting and dull, especially as the one seems to have a much greater pull than 4/4. It is often hard to sound creative and exciting.

The idea is to take a two-beat figure and play it as a comping figure under 3/4 time. This provides a nice independence challenge as the right-hand cymbal pattern can easily drop into 4/4 or sync up with the left-hand figure.

When you practice, make sure you start from both positions: A and A1.

Once it is comfortable, drop in and out of the figure by playing two bars of time and then the pattern.

Try playing the first figure on the snare drum, the second on the rack tom and the third on the floor tom. Experiment with other voicings.

Figures B and B1 give you another simple two-beat figure to work with. Follow the same procedure as above.

Both these figures come from my e-book Jazz Drumming in 3/4 Volume 1. It is currently free and you can get a copy here.

Have fun. Make music.