Instruments & Performance

Comping

Japanese name
コンピング(伴奏)

Comping means playing chords and rhythm on piano or guitar to support a solo or a vocal.

How to use it

Placing your chords with rests and accents, as if in conversation, creates movement while supporting the lead.

How it differs from related terms

The existing entry on comping covers the editing work of choosing recorded takes. This page is about accompaniment playing.

The same word means different things in different contexts, so keep production and performance separate.

Sources & review

Last reviewed July 16, 2026

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