Question

Which of the following is the best description of comping?

a) Inserting kicks and prods on the bass drum.
b) Accompanying soloists with syncopated chords.
c) Playing one string on each beat of the measure.
d) Inserting a mute into the bell of a trumpet.

Answer 1

The best description of comping is accompanying soloists with syncopated chords, a common technique in jazz music for providing rhythmic and harmonic support to soloists.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term comping refers to the technique used by musicians, particularly in jazz, where accompanists (such as piano or guitar players) play syncopated chords to support soloists during their solos.

The correct answer to the question 'Which is the best description of comping?' is b) Accompanying soloists with syncopated chords. When musicians are comping, they provide a rhythmic and harmonic backing that complements the soloist, creating a rich and interactive musical environment.

Making Career Connections: Piano tuners often use the concept of beats in their work. They compare the note produced by a piano string with that of a tuning fork, and by listening to the beats produced by the slight frequency difference, they can fine-tune the piano string to match the desired frequency.

This method ensures the strings of a piano, or instruments such as a twelve-string guitar, are perfectly in tune, providing the rich sound aficionados appreciate.