How to Play Gypsy Jazz Solos in the Style of Django Reinhardt
163,123
Published 2017-04-20
In transcribing and playing Django Reinhardt's solos, I noticed that he does repeat the same shapes on the fingerboard and that he does use the same musical ideas again and again. I wondered how he can use the same idea yet always sounds so fresh, vivid and new? I never noticed that he repeats himself in any way, until I actually played his solos.
The answer is that Django used his musical ideas in a slightly different way each time. The inner rhythm of his phrasing is always changing. The place in the bar in which he starts each phrase is different every time. He creates melodies that you can always sing because he follows his musical taste and not his fingers.
In this lesson I'll teach you a few of Django's improvisational ideas. Play the example phrases, try to understand them and practice until you can use each concept in a different way. That way you'll get Django's ideas and spirit into your own improvisation. You’ll learn something far better than a few licks - ideas with which you can create complete interesting, fresh and new solos yourself.
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All Comments (21)
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Click here for the full course 🡆 bit.ly/2Jih1pw
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This guy understands Django more than Django understands himself.
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I've been looking at minor swing for years-I have understood more in 20 minutes than all those years combined.This song has come to life for me now!
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You sir, have singlehandedly unlocked some of the mysteries behind Django’s playing. Thank you for that.
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The best music lesson on the internet I have seen and I've seen a lot
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What I love about your lessons is that they are both practical (you can easily and instantly play them), but also radically theoretical in that you teach how to apply them in endless ways.
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You are correct on the variations in starting beat of a common lick as making a dramatic difference. Slight rhythmic variations from straight quarter , eith, and sixteenth notes makes a whole new sound. No one sounds like Django, absolutely no one. I feel his disability became his greatest asset because having only 2 usable fingers made him think linearly and not in box shapes the alway sound the same. He plays with absolute continuity of motion like Charlie Parker and other horn players. He is also the master of space. He leaves space for the phrase effect to set in, unlike the top gypsy players of today who play way too many notes in a spectacular display of technique but devoid of beauty. I can't even listen to them. I've been studying Django since 1971 finding a mark down record of his in a discount store in Boston. I returned to my roomates house and played the record on his parents old console style stereo. Tears came to my eyes and I've listened ever since.
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When he blats through that chromatic scale! Awesome.
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I’m sold on the whole video just based on your intro talking about Django’s impeccable sound par excellence. I appreciate your perspective!
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This is the best video in the history of videos of the galaxy.
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Very helpful, I like the way you teach how he thought. I wish this kind of teaching was more prevalent on the Internet. You've done a wonderful thing. Thank you.
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Nobody explained it any better than you justt did! You are a true master of your trade! Your work is adorable and the musicality of yours is remarkable, you are exceptionally gifted!!
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Yes, this is what I needed, this is what I needed exactly now, this proves my idea that I need to really understand what he is doing...I find 90% of gypsie jazz players cannot come close to his phrasing...its a really big puzzle and you have to add your own spin to it!
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great lesson, very helpful! thanks for posting!!
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Outstanding lesson as usual
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Many thanks, from one guitar teacher to another. :)
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Congratulations! Your videos are the best, very clear and direct. Thank you!
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Beautiful tips, toda 🌞
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The minor swing solo is so brilliant yet so simplistic, absolutely my favorite
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Tyvm Yaakov!! U are an excellent teacher
