Complete! The laid-back Dm9 comping groove (Week 7 complete)

The final day of Week 7. You complete the 16th cutting, laid-back, and swing 16 you built all week into one groove. It's the laid-back Dm9 comping — a sticky comping groove that sits behind the beat.

The finished piece rolls on one chord, Dm9. Fill the 16th grid with muted cutting ("chick") between stabs, and lay the whole thing just behind the beat. When the cutting fills the gaps and the laid-back lays the groove back, the neosoul comping is complete. This week's three pieces all live in this one bar.

Today's goal is to complete this groove sticky at BPM 72, swing 16. Not speed — when your hand sits back, the cutting lives, and the groove flows loose, you've finished Week 7. First, learn the Dm9 hand shape by eye again.

▶ The Dm9 comping grip: 5th string fret 5 (R) with b3·b7·9 stacked on top.

Here's this week's finished piece, the laid-back Dm9 comping. Dm9 stabs and muted cutting ("chick") interlock densely, and your hand lays the whole thing behind the beat. Lay it back unhurried and out comes a sticky neosoul groove.

▶ BPM 72, swing 16 · laid-back. Fill the groove with muted cutting ("chick") between the Dm9 stabs. Place the chord just behind the beat for stickiness. Never rush.

0–10 min · Warm-up At BPM 60, play the Dm9 stabs cleanly on the beat. You have to carve the on-beat into your body before you can lay it back.

10–20 min · Brain training (cutting slowly) Slot a muted cut between stabs, one at a time. Make the "chick" by loosening the left hand slightly, and lay it back bit by bit.

20–40 min · Real laid-back comping (BPM 72) Loop the finished piece, the laid-back Dm9 comping, above. At the end, use the loop below to lay back and then rest one breath on the root. When the lay-fill-rest flow circles comfortably, the groove is complete.

▶ BPM 72, swing 16. Bar 1 laid-back comping → bar 2 Dm9 laid back, then rest. Feel the lay-fill-rest flow.

40–50 min · Recording / self-feedback (recommended) Record and listen back. Compare the flat chord seven weeks ago with today's laid-back comping — how sticky it has grown.

Done when: You can lay Dm9 stabs and muted cutting behind the beat at BPM 72, swing 16, and complete a loose, sticky laid-back comping groove. (Week 7 complete!)

Just the mistakes that show up most as you complete the laid-back comping.

▶ Split the stab and cut one beat each, big, and feel the lay-back and fill spots again.

• The cutting disappears. Focus only on the stabs and you miss the cuts, leaving the grid empty. Put a "chick" in every gap.
• You collapse while laying back. Laid-back is just behind. The next downbeat returns to place and keeps the groove.
• The stab smears. Cut the four notes short and loosen at once to prepare the next cut.
• You raise speed first. Drop to BPM 60, get the lay-back and cutting comfortable, then raise to 72.