In this sample lesson from his online guitar school, Andreas Oberg breaks down jazz guitar comping. An abbreviated term for accompanying, comping refers to playing the rhythm part while someone plays the lead melody or solo. Although it's not the main focus of the music, it's not something to be taken lightly. Comping is an integral part of any group performance.

It is very important to find the right balance when it comes to jazz comping. This means taking some space for yourself, but not too much - the idea is to back up the soloist while playing just enough… without it being too much. Good comping will enhance the lead guitarist and help to build up intensity in the music. Bad comping however, will distract from the melody and derail the soloist.

Understanding syncopation and where to land your strumming is a crucial aspect of jazz guitar comping. Syncopation is an art unto itself, so it is very important to learn how to use it in your jazz comping. If you just land your notes on the same standard beats every time, like quarter notes for example, it will sound extremely boring to the listener.