Chapter: Chordal Instruments

A Jazz Improvisation Almanac
Unit: Accompanying

Sections:

This is a preview of the educational program A Jazz Improvisation Almanac which is under development for the Outside Shore Music Online School. Feel free to browse this preview and learn what you can from it. For a more completed product, though, check out the original freely browsable jazz textbook, A Jazz Improvisation Primer.

Chordal instruments are any instruments capable of playing chords. This includes piano, organ, and other keyboard instruments, as well as guitar and other similar instruments, plus vibraphone, marimba, xylophone, and other mallet instruments. This chapter is also relevant for arrangers scoring background parts for several horns.

Chordal instruments can take on several responsibilities in accompanying, or "comping" as it is often called. They may be responsible for providing texture, harmony, and rhythm. This chapter discusses some techniques for dealing with these responsibilities.

It is assumed that you are familiar with some of the voicing techniques discussed in the unit on Music Theory.