We are continuing our series on “Blues For Alice” with the 4-note groupings. What we call 4-note groupings are simple patterns that are used to outline a chord progression.

Comping means “to accompany”.

We are continuing our study of “Blues For Alice” with 2 simple comping studies.

“Blues For Alice” is a great Charlie Parker tune. It is a 12-bar Blues, but it moves through a lot of ii-V sequences. That modified version of the Blues is usually referred to as “Bird Blues” changes.
Blues for Alice (Part 1/6)

The lead sheet shows the fingerings I use. Keep in mind that those are only suggestions.

This exercise will have us play through all of the arpeggios of a same tonality.

Here's the second part on the Playing In and Out of Position theme (part 1 is here).

Here's the first video of a two part series on the Playing In and Out of Position theme. When we first learn our Major scales, we are generally told to practice them in position. We visualize certain shapes all over the fingerboard and that helps us play more efficiently, more smoothly.

Comping means “to accompany”. In our case, it implies that those chords can be used when accompanying a soloist who is improvising over a Jazz Blues chord progression.
Comping Study for Jazz Blues in F

Each diagram represents a full measure, except when slashes are written above the chord—in which case those slashes represent the number of beats for that particular chord. The circled dots are optional replacement bass notes.

All of the chords have the root in the bass, except for the diminished 7th chord used as a substitution for the D7 chord.