Charles McNeil was one of the top tenor banjo players of the swing era. This fascinating book documents many of the techniques used by professional jazz banjo accompanists. It focuses primarily on chords, organized into his system of chord families (chords are written with both standard notation and fret board diagrams). He gives precise instruction on right hand picking technique, which is nearly identical to the style of picking used by Django (see Gypsy Picking). McNeil also discusses how to create banjo parts from scores for piano or 2nd violin. Additionally, he includes 22 lead breaks and a fascinating section on the strumming patterns used by professional banjo players of the time (i.e. Shimmy stroke, New York stroke, Whine stroke, Chicago stroke, patter stroke, etc.) Many of these strokes are reminiscent of some Django’s accent patterns (Django started his career on the guitar banjo.) 100 pages with pictures, diagrams, and over a two hundred examples.

Mandolinists looking to expand their jazz chord vocabularly might also benifit from the chord diagrams and strumming patterns in this book. (The tenor banjo is tuned a 4th down from the mandolin CGDA).

Table of Contents

For more info or to buy: Click Here

The first release by the Gypsy guitar virtuoso Paulus Schafer. Hear this young Gypsy talent burn through a mix of Gypsy and contemporary standards.

Paulus is one of the top young Gypsy talents in The Netherlands. He grew up in the same camp as Stochelo Rosenberg, Jimmy Rosenberg, and the legendary Waso Grunholz. This CD displays his incredible virtuosity. Although Paulus’ style is firmly rooted in the Gypsy tradition, he is definitely one of the most modern Gypsy sounding players in Holland. His harmonic choices often go far beyond that of the traditional Gypsy sound.

Here is a sound clip of Paulus ripping through the Gypsy classic Joseph Joseph.

MP3: Joseph Joseph

To order Click here: Paulus Schafer

We all know how difficult and expensive it is to get Argentine strings in North America. I’m now an Argentine string dealer and am offering a special price for my customers. Its my way of saying thanks for all of you that have supported my little publishing endeavor.

Argentine Strings

Click here to order: Argentines

Eddie Lang (1902-1933) was the world’s first great jazz guitarist. He’s one of the few guitarists who can claim to have had a significant influence on Django Reinhardt. Lang’s brilliant chordal work laid the foundation for jazz guitar. Also, he was arguably the first jazz guitar soloist. His influence is clearly present in many of the guitarists who came after him: Django, Charlie Christian, etc.

Eddie Lang’s Modern Advanced Guitar Method documents Lang’s incredible fret board knowledge. It includes hundreds of examples of his chord shapes, arpeggios, and lead lines. An invaluable resource for any guitarist, especially one trying to emulate Lang’s brilliant chordal work. Additionally, I’ve found many of the chord voicings and arpeggios are similar to that of Django. Also includes a transcription of his chordal accompaniment for Joe Venuti’s classic Doin’ Things. 80 pages. Includes chord and arpeggio diagrams.

Table of Contents

For more info or to buy: Click Here

Gryphon Gazet – Spring 2004 – by Richard Johnston

Unaccompanied Django, by Michael Horowitz, 176 pages, $55. An exhaustive study of Reinhardt’s often neglected solo compositions. Although best known for the blazing solos and intricate voicings he played with The Hot Club, Django was also capable of highly lyrical, and lovely, solo guitar playing. Here are the best examples, and how to play them, transcribed by an ethnomusicologist who plays this kind of guitar music for a living. Some solos by Stochelo Rosenberg are also transcribed and explained.