eldar741
Verified buyer
12/07/25
Great. very helpful
Great content! Very helpful and accurate. Thank you so much, Ted!" ✅
Jazz Comping Handbook
10 Powerful Comping Approaches for Jazz Guitarists
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Ted Ludwig
Educator
Genres
About this course
Jazz guitarists spend most of their time on stage comping with the rhythm section to support the vocalist or another player’s solo. Learning the variety of comping approaches that you’ll need on the gig, or at the jam, is not only essential — it’s mandatory for jazz guitarists.
In Ted Ludwig’s Jazz Comping Handbook you’ll learn 10 of the most important rhythmic, harmonic, stylistic, and even situational comping approaches. These 10 approaches will cover virtually any stage setting, from solo and duos to trios and large ensembles.
”We’ll explore jazz comping essentials like Voice Leading, 3-Note comping, Big Band Stabs, Modern Modal comping, Walking Bass lines, Bossa Nova, Situational comping, adding melody to your voicings, and many other versatile approaches to help take your jazz comping to the next level.
For each of the 10 approaches, I’ll first explain the how, why and when to use it. I’ll then play an example, over a backing track, for musical context followed by a detailed breakdown. You can practice by playing along with me and then playing over the backing track by yourself.
The backing tracks are based on popular jazz standard progressions from songs like I’ve Got Rhythm, Take the A Train, Little Sun Flower, Just Friends, Meditation and other timeless standards.“
You’ll get standard notation and tabs for all of the playing examples and performance studies. Plus, you’ll be able to use TrueFire’s learning tools to sync the tab and notation to the video lesson.
You can also loop or slow down any of the videos to work with the lessons at your own pace. All of the backing tracks are also included as well.
Grab your guitar, and let's comp with Ted Ludwig!
In Ted Ludwig’s Jazz Comping Handbook you’ll learn 10 of the most important rhythmic, harmonic, stylistic, and even situational comping approaches. These 10 approaches will cover virtually any stage setting, from solo and duos to trios and large ensembles.
”We’ll explore jazz comping essentials like Voice Leading, 3-Note comping, Big Band Stabs, Modern Modal comping, Walking Bass lines, Bossa Nova, Situational comping, adding melody to your voicings, and many other versatile approaches to help take your jazz comping to the next level.
For each of the 10 approaches, I’ll first explain the how, why and when to use it. I’ll then play an example, over a backing track, for musical context followed by a detailed breakdown. You can practice by playing along with me and then playing over the backing track by yourself.
The backing tracks are based on popular jazz standard progressions from songs like I’ve Got Rhythm, Take the A Train, Little Sun Flower, Just Friends, Meditation and other timeless standards.“
You’ll get standard notation and tabs for all of the playing examples and performance studies. Plus, you’ll be able to use TrueFire’s learning tools to sync the tab and notation to the video lesson.
You can also loop or slow down any of the videos to work with the lessons at your own pace. All of the backing tracks are also included as well.
Grab your guitar, and let's comp with Ted Ludwig!
What you'll learn
- Integrate bass lines and chord voicings simultaneously
- Create smooth voice leading between chord changes
- Apply chromatic approach tones and enclosures in bass lines
- Use guide tones effectively while comping
- Learn to comp for yourself while soloing
Release date: 05/03/2022 • 3h 25m runtime
Sample lessons
Big Band Stabs
Demonstration
Big A-Train
Overview
Big A-Train
Performance
Big A-Train
Breakdown
What's included
42 lessons • 19 charts • 9 Jam Tracks
Jazz Comping Handbook
Hey, I'm Ted Ludwig. Welcome to the Jazz Comping Handbook.
Jazz guitarists spend most of their time on stage comping with the rhythm section to support the vocalist or another player’s solo.
Learning the variety of comping approaches that you’ll need on the gig, or at a jam session, is not only essential — it’s mandatory for jazz guitarists.
In this course, we'll focus on 10 of the most important rhythmic, harmonic, stylistic, and even situational comping approaches that you’ll need command of to cover virtually any playing situation.
We'll explore jazz comping essentials like voice leading, old-school 3-note swing comping, big band stabs, modern modal comping, walking basslines, bossa nova, and many other approaches to help take your jazz rhythm playing to the next level.
For each of the 10 approaches, I'll first explain the how, why and when to use it. I’ll then play an example, over a backing track, for musical context followed by a detailed breakdown.
You can work with the lessons at your own pace using TrueFire’s tools for slo-mo, looping and video-sync tab.
Grab your guitar and let’s get started!
Jazz guitarists spend most of their time on stage comping with the rhythm section to support the vocalist or another player’s solo.
Learning the variety of comping approaches that you’ll need on the gig, or at a jam session, is not only essential — it’s mandatory for jazz guitarists.
In this course, we'll focus on 10 of the most important rhythmic, harmonic, stylistic, and even situational comping approaches that you’ll need command of to cover virtually any playing situation.
We'll explore jazz comping essentials like voice leading, old-school 3-note swing comping, big band stabs, modern modal comping, walking basslines, bossa nova, and many other approaches to help take your jazz rhythm playing to the next level.
For each of the 10 approaches, I'll first explain the how, why and when to use it. I’ll then play an example, over a backing track, for musical context followed by a detailed breakdown.
You can work with the lessons at your own pace using TrueFire’s tools for slo-mo, looping and video-sync tab.
Grab your guitar and let’s get started!
Voice Leading & Cycle Studies
A great place to start with comping is the development of proper voice leading. In this series of lessons I will cover how to approach this technique. First we'll start things off with a performance, then I'll break everything down for your in detail.
Turnarounds in C & G
A great place to start with comping is the development of proper voice leading. In this series of lessons I will cover how to approach this technique. First we'll start things off with a performance, then I'll break everything down for your in detail.
Turnarounds in C & G
A great place to start with comping is the development of proper voice leading. In this series of lessons I will cover how to approach this technique. First we'll start things off with a performance, then I'll break everything down for your in detail.
Turnarounds in C & G
A great place to start with comping is the development of proper voice leading. In this series of lessons I will cover how to approach this technique. First we'll start things off with a performance, then I'll break everything down for your in detail.
Old School 3 Note Comping
An important tool for any Jazz guitar player is the ability to comp old swing style. Freddie Green, old Big Band style and Gypsy jazz all utilize this in their sound. In this next series of lessons we're going to take a dive into three note comping. First I'll start things off with and overview, then we'll move into a performance, then I'll break everything down for you in detail.
I've Got Old School Rhythm
An important tool for any Jazz guitar player is the ability to comp old swing style. Freddie Green, old Big Band style and Gypsy jazz all utilize this in their sound. In this next series of lessons we're going to take a dive into three note comping. First I'll start things off with and overview, then we'll move into a performance, then I'll break everything down for you in detail.
+ 35 more lessons
Reviews
13 results
boatbopper
Verified buyer
10/21/25
Great
Just what I needed to make my comping less boring. Packed with ideas I can use and develop. An excellent guide for the advanced guitarist.
JohnMcCook
Verified buyer
06/05/25
Ludwig Lessons
Great player, great teacher.
Adam134
Verified buyer
12/06/24
Wonderful teaching style and beautifully delivered content. Thank you.
raytcampbell
Verified buyer
02/07/23
Jazz Comping Handbook goes way beyond shell voicings. Ted Ludwig is a wonderful teacher. His pace is easy and his explainations and examples clear. He teaches a lesson on voice leading and internal voicings that is excellent. Of course, Ted Lugwig's playing is magical. I have watched several times just to enjoy his music. He also covers context. The approach one must use when playing with just a bass player will be quite different when playing with a trio of big band. This is a comprehensive program. I am mostly a solo player and his material on moving voices will change my solo playing. I really enjoyed this course and gained from it and, expect to continue to gain from it.
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