View Articles by Dr. Lias Survival Kit for Beginning Jazz Pianists	by Dr. Stephen Lias SFA Associate Professor of Music Theory and Composition SFA School of Music [email protected]
	Give it a Try!

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Practice comping the chords on the chord chart  (PDF) provided along with the audio files.  There are three tracks, each using the same chords, but in a different style. 

1. The first track is in a pop style:

The right hand should fairly simple chords near middle C and the left hand should either not play, or emphasize roots and fifths.  Experiment with different inversions and rhythms to find things that sound good.

 2. The second track is in swing style:

Your LEFT hand should play 4-note chords near middle C and your right hand should either not play (a good idea) or play octaves on the root or 5^th of the chord.  Use the “Charleston” rhythm and other short, syncopated rhythms.  If you use both hands, play the same rhythm in both hands.  All rhythms in this exercise are to be swung. 

3. The third track is in Latin style:

You can voice the chords exactly as you did in the swing style, but the rhythm will be “straight” now, rather than swung.  You can also experiment with other voicings and rhythms to see what sounds good.