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.

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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.

Most people know Django’s bother, Joseph, as his loyal accompanist who played with him on hundreds of recordings. Django was apparently rather condescending to his sibling, often forcing him to carry his guitar case for him.

However, few people know that Joseph was also a very capable soloist. Of course, his talent was always overshadowed by Django, who never let him solo. But when Django didn’t show up for a gig, which he often did, it was Joseph’s job to fill in. After Django passed away in 1953 Joseph made a number of recordings as a soloist. The following version of Djangology is from a very rare recording from the 1950s. On many of Joseph’s recordings he would compose an entirely different melody for the “out head.” This is the case with this recording of Djangology. Also listen to the coordination between the guitar/violin unisons on the in and out heads. These tight arrangements were also characteristic of Joseph’s music. Enjoy! -Michael

MP3: Djangology

These 33 studies were written by the mandolin virtuoso G. L. Lansing. They are intended as a supplement to his edition of the Christofaro Method for the Mandolin

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The Christofaro Method (sic) is one of the most revered classical mandolin methods ever published. The Christofaro,or correctly spelled “Cristofaro,” Method is essential for the classical mandolinist. This excellent edition was edited by the 19th Century mandolin virtuoso G. L. Lansing. Over a hundred Etudes with fingerings, picking suggestions, and diagrams. 72 pages.

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