Gypsy Jazz 101 — DjangoBooks Forum

A few thoughts on improvisation..

Dario Napoli — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 05:52:10 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6aCFXglaPA&t=327s

So, this topic came up at my last "Under the Tuscan Sun" camp and we ended up talking about it almost every day for the whole week. I figured I would sit down and ramble about it a bit on YouTube because I think it is something a lot of players can relate to.

I hope it might help someone

The Two Minute Practice Method

DjangoBooks — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 21:07:13 +0000

The Two Minute Practice Method

By Davorin Cavar-Buco

Read the full story here

Anki spaced repetition flashcards for Gypsy Jazz

Azazzell — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 17:42:49 +0000

I've been playing around with Anki filtered decks ( https://apps.ankiweb.net/#downloads) for studying licks in different keys. Anybody else using spaced repetition flashcards ?

GJ_Licks_in_12_keys_Anki_test_collection.zip

https://youtu.be/1NGqJjwwTfY

Voicings tool I built for myself – try it out and tell me what you think

Alon979 — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 16:14:20 +0000

I’ve been

exploring tools to help with chord voicings lately, and got frustrated with how much time it takes to find playable positions and inversions that work well for comping – especially when experimenting with different shapes for the same chord or smooth transitions.

So I built a simple web app called VoicyLab that shows every possible fingering for any four notes on the fretboard, with a “Next” button to cycle through options and flexible search for easier, more practical shapes.

Still early beta – works well for most chords, some parts manual but diagrams are accurate.

If anyone wants to try it and let me know what could be useful for Gypsy jazz comping or repertoire – lifetime access is $39 (all future updates free forever).

Demo here: https://youtu.be/601zdE9CJ_g

App here: https://voicylab.app

Thanks for any feedback – really want to make this useful for the community.

Alon

Soundslice will be closing public channels on 11 Jul 2025

Azazzell — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 22:04:30 +0000

Sad news:

...

https://www.soundslice.com/blog/289/closing-the-soundslice-community-section/

Django Jazz Calgary Jam Calendar - https://djangojazzcalgary.wordpress.com/calendar/

Azazzell — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 21:43:17 +0000

We have a new Django Jazz Calgary Jam Calendar: https://djangojazzcalgary.wordpress.com/calendar/

Most blind friendly online gypsy jazz guitar resources

VicBulbon — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 15:38:54 +0000

Hey all! So I really wanting to start to dig into GJ now, and I know that getting a real teacher is best. Having said that, I think it doesn't hurt to get some basics down with widely available material online first. There are a few online subscription programs out there as well as Youtube channels. No a lot of those online academies has tons of written material, tabs etc. I know most every place will have this, but for those of you who've tried a few places, does any of those platform jump out to you as the presenter being more thorough and descriptive than others?

Thanks

Looking for silent practice instrument at low budget.

Willie — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 21:52:34 +0000

I am looking for a guitar that can be played with a strong attack without loudness; like the Yamaha silent guitars or the Aria sinsonidos, but at a lower price. Are the Anygig guitars https://www.anygigguitar.com/de/collections/nylon a reasonable alternative? (The steel string versions are not available at the moment, so I would buy a nylon model and use those special Thomastik steel strings). Or is there any other solution?

I asked a luthier if remodeling an old archtop would make sense: removing top and bottom, installing an extension of neck/fingerboard and so on. But in his opinion it would be rather laborious to prevent everything from collapsing.

Rino van Hooijdonk course: Django-style fills

adrian — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 13:24:40 +0000

Hi all,

I'm excited to announce a brand-new instructional course by the great Rino van Hooijdonk!

Rino is a master of Django-style fills — rhythmic accents and other interesting things to play when you're accompanying another soloist. The voicings, the phrasing, the ideas...the "Djangoness."

Fellow Rino fan Nick Sansone here in Amsterdam has been itching to make an instructional course about this "lost art," and I worked with him to produce this course. It's solely about fills, and it launched today.

The material is not quite lead playing, and it's not quite rhythm playing. It's something in between. And to my knowledge there's never been an instructional course devoted to this oft-overlooked aspect of Django's playing.

Our approach was to put Rino in as many musical situations as possible, to provide as many fill ideas as possible.

Have a look at the promo page for lots more information, including the list of tunes:

https://www.soundslice.com/store/django-style-fills/

It's a Soundslice course, which means everything is synced with a transcription in tab and standard notation, plus practice tools like looping/slowdown. It also means a majority of the proceeds go directly to Rino.

Hope you enjoy. I'm obviously biased (having helped put the course together), but I think it's an absolute gold mine.

Adrian

Castelluccia

Pauline — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 10:14:19 +0000

Hello,

I've a Castelluccia Jazz Guitar, new, model Gypsy from 2016. What do you think, what would be a valid price nowadays?

Thanks in advance!

Distracted practicing vs. focused practicing

anthon_74 — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 20:30:03 +0000

In Gonzalo's how I learned books, he mentions that you should not practice with the TV blaring, or anything otherwise distracting you, and I now realize this may have been his best piece of advice in the whole book.

I've been guilty of all too often practicing distracted, and then wondering why I don't get any better.

Since I turned off the TV, In the past 3 days, I've improved more than the last 3 months....

So turn off the idiot box and turn on your playalong tracks.

Cheers !

Anthony

Performance: Billets Doux (Selmer #607)

wdickerson — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 19:52:42 +0000

Hi everyone, I'm working on Adrien Moignard's solo on Billets Doux (M. Yvain) from the 2008 Selmer #607 album. Comments and criticism are welcome!

I turned 50 recently, here are a few thoughts...

Dario Napoli — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 14:17:28 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi5XiOCNerQ&t=62s

Forgive the "youtuby title", but the things I cover in the video seem to be resonating with a few people, my wish is it might be of help to anyone who is a musician or a musician at heart.

Best,

Dario

Contact pickup placement on F-hole guitar

Chiefbigeasy — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:56:27 +0000

Just picked up a beautiful JWC Catania Swing DI Mauro-style F-hole guitar. I am wondering about the placement of a contact pick up like a Carlos Sensor or the like. Anyone have experience doing that? I can try to find a sweet spot around the treble side of the bridge as often recommended on other guitars. The usual advice is to find it there because of bracing that works for the pick up.

I have two other electric pick ups I’d like to try. I have a Peche a la Mouche that I would need to remove the bottom clamps and figure out a way for it to adhere to the surface of the guitar under the strings where the sound hole would be for a petite or grand Bouche. I’ve got plenty of goop from my other Pick Up, the Krivo gold thin humbucker, which I can also attach with a big glop of their blue sticky stuff. I would need to elevate either one of those pick ups a bit to be close enough to the strings.

Additionally, I’m a little hesitant about adding either an arch top style or clear plastic surface pick guard to this guitar. I think it would take away from its look. Anyone ever do that?

10 REASONS why Gypsy Jazz jam sessions can be the best, or totally suck!🎸

Dario Napoli — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 12:19:15 +0000

Jam sessions in gypsy jazz, as well as in jazz, or any other form of music, are a fundamental part of every musician's experience and growth.

You want to make sure you're best prepared for every jam session you encounter, so make note of these 10 guidelines to make the best out of each and every experience, and also offer everyone around you the same!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt-t5fGjwQs

My thoughts on playing on FAST tunes..

Dario Napoli — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 10:59:34 +0000

If you find yourself at jam sessions dreading the call for a fast tune, or going into panic mode when someone starts "Joseph Joseph" or "Sweet Georgia Brown" at unreasonable tempos, my hope is the youtube video can offer some help😜

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nfpDY6YQLo

The MOST IMPORTANT THING In Anyone's Musical Journey..

Dario Napoli — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 08:45:02 +0000

If you're struggling in your musical journey at the moment, or tend to have ups and downs in your levels of joy or motivation in your journey, watch my latest video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWzFx0GzJQM

A few thoughts I put together with the intention of helping you put things in perspective and organizing your thoughts, emotions and consequently, your ACTIONS!

If anyone cares to get deeper into this topic, or any other musical topic, I've been hosting a Zoom session every Tuesday night, 7pm Italian time:

https://bit.ly/ZoomWithDario1

We can discuss further or cover other musical topics you might want to explore.

Peace,

Dario

Why you won't be good until you do these 3 things - "Gypsy Jazz Full Immersion Weekend" Recap

Dario Napoli — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 08:09:00 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d25Vwc_3iM

So, I thought about what were some recurring thoughts and impressions that came to mind during and after the 2 and 1/2 days of the "Gypsy Jazz Full Immersion Weekend" with myself and Benji Winterstein and figured I would share with you in my new YOUTUBE VIDEO.

There's always a unique energy and a special "wavelength" that occurs at these type of camps, which I find to be very positive and conducive to the most effective and efficient way of learning, therefore, I hope to be able to announce some new dates soon:)

Enjoy your week,

Dario

Should you learn to play with 2 fingers like Django..?

Dario Napoli — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 07:09:16 +0000

If you're trying to learn to play guitar in the style of Django Reinhardt, you may have wondered if it's necessary to learn to play with 2 fingers like the Master did on single note soloing. In this video I tackle the subject and hopefully you will gain some clarity and some practical answers that will help guide you through the process

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbHxPbz-lWM

The only thing (almost) nobody practices...and they should!

Dario Napoli — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 08:45:05 +0000

f you play a stringed instrument, this in my opinion is very important!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI-fWXmiEbU

As usual, I'll be on ZOOM tonight https://bit.ly/ZoomWithDario1- At 7 pm Italian time if anyone has any questions about this video, the transcriptions, the upcoming camp, or anything else.

Do you ever ask this question?

Dario Napoli — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 17:31:58 +0000

In this video I explore the importance of being aware of dis-empowering questions and self-talk, and the importance (in my opinion) of focusing on input goals rather than output goals... I hope you enjoy,

Dario

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ho76O2-2dw

Gypsy Jazz Play Alongs - 112 new tracks added!

jpcafe — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 18:52:10 +0000

Hi all,

Kind of a tradition at this point. Once in a while I update my website with some new gypsy jazz backing tracks from YouTube. Almost reaching 2k backing tracks!

https://gypsyjazzplayalongs.jpcafe.xyz/channels/all?q=&sort=date%3Adesc

I started this project a few years ago. It’s an aggregator of all gypsy jazz backing tracks from YouTube. There’s quite a few interesting ones in this batch, Guitare Improvisation being the absolute GOAT at this space 😄

what kind of chord substitution he is talking about at the beginning of this video ?

rafapak — Thu, 23 May 2024 22:20:05 +0000

hi guys

I have trouble to figure out what kind of chord substitution he is talking at the beginning of this video ? Can you help me ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0VEx8f1n5g&t=19s

The Gypsy Jazz Jam Guide

DjangoBooks — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 23:56:48 +0000

The Gypsy Jazz Jam Guide

By Michel Mercier “Ready for 23 minutes of ‘All of Me’? Who takes first solo?” After years of jamming in various situations, with all kinds of players, a recent discussion on Denis Chang’s facebook page had me figuring it could be useful to write about Gypsy Jazz jams and etiquette. We...

Read the full story here

Gypsy Jazz virtual jam simulator with Band-in-a-Box

Azazzell — Wed, 15 May 2024 15:48:05 +0000

A way to practice for jams with Gypsy jazz jam simulator - Band-in-a-Box:
See complete list of songs at: https://djangojazzcalgary.wordpress.com/jam-simulator/

https://youtu.be/sqekEr8zWOI

https://youtu.be/ajjKBxYoRRc

Hope it helps :)

Youtube 'virtual jams'

Azazzell — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 01:57:12 +0000

This Gypsy Jazz Jam with Florent Devos series is a pretty cool idea. I know Anthony Parker had some similar jam videos back in the day. Any other gypsy jazz 'virtual jam' videos on youtube ?

Swing gitan Anthony https://www.soundslice.com/slices/m3Vkc/?recording_idx=2
Swing gitan Florent https://www.soundslice.com/slices/m3Vkc/?recording_idx=1
Nuages https://www.soundslice.com/slices/Pj8kc/?recording_idx=1
Minor swing https://www.soundslice.com/slices/Y9Nkc/?recording_idx=1
ICGYABL https://www.soundslice.com/slices/StNkc/?recording_idx=1
Djangology https://www.soundslice.com/slices/KfVkc/?recording_idx=1
Coquette Florent https://www.soundslice.com/slices/MnNkc/?recording_idx=2
Coquette Anthony https://www.soundslice.com/slices/MnNkc/?recording_idx=1

----

Jam simulator with Band-in-a-Box https://djangojazzcalgary.wordpress.com/jam-simulator/

Gypsy Jazz Expectation vs Reality

Gojdan — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 15:25:33 +0000

40 new songs added to Gypsy Jazz Play Alongs

jpcafe — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 13:51:20 +0000

Hey all,

just added close to 40 songs to https://gypsyjazzplayalongs.jpcafe.xyz/channels/all

Mostly from Guitare improvisation, my fav!

Hope you enjoy and let me know if you have any issues/ideas I can get on the site.

Swing Savant - (probably) the first Gypsy Jazz AI

jpcafe — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 10:24:18 +0000

Hi all,

OpenAI has just released GPTs, a new feature where you can create custom Chat GPTs for more specific use cases. It's currently available to ChatGPT Plus subscribers only but they'll soon be made available for general use.

Overall it has pretty good understanding of Gypsy Jazz history, techniques and musical concepts.

It can even spit out some decent musical theory, show guitar tabs or create AI images!

Will post a few screenshots.

Give it a try if you can. My plan is to train it with some extra-knowledge from experts.

https://chat.openai.com/g/g-MVg4Abmpp-swing-savant

Quick reality check for total beginner, please

Lipman — Sun, 06 Aug 2023 17:02:17 +0000

I don't play the guitar. As so many, I learned some three chords in summer camp a hundred years ago, and that's it. So now, I grabbed a friend's (standard, nylon-string) guitar for fun and a (thin) pick, actually remembered the G chord and tried that thing you guys do with the lifting of the left hand between chord sounds. When I lifted them, they went plong, plong whenever a finger left a string. Normal dry, clean hands, for what it's worth.

Is that normal for nylon strings, or simply for beginners, though I'd be curious how that would be a matter of technique then?