This month’s lesson is one of the numerous Gypsy chordal devices you’ll find in the Pearl Django Play-along Songbook and Unaccompanied Django.

This chordal sequence (min, min/maj7, min7, min6) is commonly known as a minor “line cliche.” This progression is usually voiced so that there is a descending chromatic line starting from the tonic moving down to the minor 6 (i.e. in D minor the line goes D, C#, C, B). This device was used regularly by Django and has become even more common among contemporary Gypsy jazz guitarists. See my transcriptions of Improvisation #1, J’Attendrai, Just Relax, and Gypsy Etude #3 to see how Django and other Gypsies use major and minor line cliches to create harmonic movement.

This example of a line cliche places the chromatic line in the top voice. Its a great way to make a minor chord more interesting. Especially when you have to sit on one chord for 2 bars or more. In the audio example I play the line cliche twice: First time as written and then the second time I play a common rhythmic variation. This particular line cliche is commonly used by Dutch Gypsies such as Stochelo Rosenberg, Jimmy Rosenberg, Paulus Schafer, and Martin Limberger.

Audio Example

This lesson is the first of a two part series which explains the scales and arpeggio choices Django used while improvising. This lesson demonstrates how Django used the “Major 6/9 Sound” and “Minor 6 Sound” in his solos. 9 notated and MP3 audio examples are included. 6 of these are musical ideas transcribed from Django and other Gypsy guitarists. 5 pages of text .

For more info or to download go to: Lessons Online

This lesson is the second of a two part series which explains the scales and arpeggio choices Django used while improvising. This lesson demonstrates how Django used the “Dominant 13 Sound” and “Dominant b9 Sound” in his solos. 8 notated and MP3 audio examples are included. 5 of these are musical ideas transcribed from Django and other Gypsy guitarists. 5 pages of text.

For more info or to download go to: Lessons Online

An excellent method book by George Van Eps, one of the pioneers of solo jazz guitar.

This method focuses on developing a thorough harmonic knowledge of the guitar. 82 examples develop the students ability to create smooth voice leading, harmonize scales, and develop right hand picking technique. Incidentally, Van Eps recommends using a picking technique very similar to the Gypsy Picking style of Django Reinhardt. 40 pages with fingerings, pick stroke markings, and photos.

For more info or to buy: Click Here

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