@@@ Le Guitare jazz manouche @@@

Learn to Play the Gypsy Way! 
On this page you'll find links to some great websites for learning to play the music of Django Reinhardt!


The Songs! 

  • Chord Charts for Django Tunes! Song charts for practically every song Django ever recorded and more! This site is all in French, but don't worry! This link will take you to the site's homepage. Click "Grilles". All song titles in English! Just click on the song title to get to the chart. (Located on the Gadro Drom website.) 

  • The Tunes (in Tab, Chord, Midi and PDF Format) See it! Hear it! Play it! Here's a page from The Django Swing Page 

  • Tablatures for Django tunes! This will take you to a page with a list/link to the  lead/melodies to practically every song Django ever recorded!  This requires the TabEdit software. A free version is available for download.here. (From Jazz en Chansons website.)

Gypsy and Swing 3-Note Chords (Here's some more great links to the Django Swing Page!)

  • Learn Gypsy Style Chords Tablature of two famous Django tunes showing the proper Gypsy chord fingering. On "The Django Swing Page" website.)
  • More 3-Note Chord Stuff More info on 3-note chords shapes .(On "Dan's Guitar Stuff" website.)

Django Technique  (Here's some more great links to the Django Swing Page!)

Instructional Materials

  • Gypsy Jazz guitar instructional videos by Paul Mehling! PAUL MEHLING / DJANGO style Gypsy Jazz Guitar Vol. #1 (Rhythm) and #2 Solo. From: Homespun Video. Starting with the basic four-to-the-bar comping and damping, Paul takes you through a variety of accompaniment ideas: arpeggios, "splaying" chords, "the gallop", chord tremolo, right hand speed and other advanced techniques. You'll gain an understanding of the particular harmonic structures of this music through chord voicings, progressions, and accompaniments to classics such as: "Minor Blues", "Oriental Shuffle", and "I'll See You In My Dreams". Paul also provides invaluable advice on learning from recordings, use of the metronome, and a look at his rare Maurice DuPont guitars. Includes some hot jamming with Paul and Tony Mandraccia, rhythm guitar. Booklet included, 60 min each.
  •  
  • The Best collection of books on Django Style Playing on the Net!
  • All Canadian Sales
 

 

 
 

Video 1 Rhythm

The powerful guitar accompaniment that typifies the Gypsy style is the foundation of this terrific lesson. Paul takes you through a variety of accompaniment ideas: four-to-the-bar comping and damping, arpeggios, played chords, the gallop, chord tremolo, right hand speed and other advanced techniques. Gain an understanding of this music through chord voicings, progressions, and accompaniments to classics such as Minor Blues, Oriental Shuffle and I'll See You In My Dreams. Includes hot jamming with Tony Mandraccia, rhythm guitar.

Video 2 Soloing

This fascinating look at the art of improvisation in the Gypsy jazz tradition provides a wealth of playing tips to get you off to a solid start. Before long, you'll be playing exciting solos in the style typified by Django Reinhardt, Birelli Lagrenne and other hot players of this dynamic genre, with the special elements that give this music its distinctive ring: "sweep" picking, ornaments (glissandos, trills, bends, tremolo, vibrato, etc.), arpeggiated picking ("the heart of the Reinhardt style"), diminished and augmented runs, triplets and the other special sounds that "put the Gypsy in Gypsy swing."

Paul Mehling is the founder and lead guitarist of the Hot Club of San Francisco, a group dedicated to performing and recording the music known as Gypsy Jazz. An accomplished multi-instrumentalist (guitar, violin, bass, plectrum and tenor banjo, mandolin), Paul has been a professional musician for over 25 years. As a member of Dan Hicks' Acoustic Warriors, he appeared on Austin City Limits, among other venues throughout the country. Internationally known as an authority on the music of Django Reinhardt and other Gypsy swing players, Paul conducts clinics and private lessons when not performing and recording with the Hot Club.