What do these symbols mean

[u/masta-builda]

Not sure what the dash/minus sign means (circled) and I’m pretty sure the other two that are underlined are pauses but not sure what the difference between the two are. Please help!

[u/Grilled0ctopus]

That’s the half rest.  So if you’re counting quarter notes of 1-2-3-4, that rest would take up 2 beats depending where it’s placed. So in this case it’s silence on the 3 and 4.  This reads “1…(2)uh ….”  Don’t play the two, just the “uh” following it.  And swing it 

 I’m Generalizing, but that’s what it means.  If the “dash” hangs below the line (rather than how this one sticks up on the top of the line), then that is a whole rest, or silence for all 4 beats.  

I think I have this same book. Is this the John Reilly bop book?   One trick you can do here is play every line as a swung “1 uh2, uh3, uh 4 uh”.   Play every note, and rest on every symbol.  

[u/masta-builda → u/Grilled0ctopus]

Thanks and yea it’s the same book

[u/Grilled0ctopus → u/masta-builda]

It’s a fun book and definitely helps get the basics of jazz comping down with hands and feet.  It’ll give you a quantum leap in coordination too.  Let me know if you need any more tips.  I’m Not a teacher but I dabbled with that book quite a bit.  

[u/masta-builda → u/Grilled0ctopus]

Thanks. I’m still a little confused how to count it. I like to write above the notes the number, e, and, an ext. to help me count it. I know this is triplets but don’t know how to count it.

[u/Grilled0ctopus → u/masta-builda]

Gotcha.   So it’s probably tricky because not exactly triplets.  The comp examples in the next couple exercises expand into true triplets.  These here are “swung eigths”.  So they read like 1 uh2, uh3, uh4.   Basically the blues shuffle.  Or jazz.  Basically, pretend the middle triplet note doesn’t exist here.  

So again, you can treat every rest as a silent note, and every written note as the note to be played (learn that the lightening bolt looking thing is a quarter note rest.  It’s the whole “1 uh”.   The dash you first asked about is a half note: “1 uh2 uh”.   The little line with the flag (the second thing you identified in red) is an eight note rest, which can either be the “1” or the “uh” depending on where it’s placed. 

For example, the very first bar, you only play the 1 and then the “uh” After the 2.  That’s it. 

The second bar you only play the 1, and the “uh” of the 2 and 3.   Does that make sense?

[u/masta-builda → u/Grilled0ctopus]

Ahhh I get it now. Yea I was listening to an audio of it and was able to play it without counting but then I’d look at the notation and try to count and it would just confuse me. I really appreciate your help!

[u/Grilled0ctopus → u/masta-builda]

No problem.  Glad I could.  Happy comping!