Unaccompanied Django — DjangoBooks Forum

Blue drag : harmony question

miko — Sat, 31 Aug 2013 06:21:18 +0000

Hi everyone!
I'm new to this forum so I hope I post this in the right section (those are confusing) and it hasn't been already discussed. If I got it all wrong, please forgive me

Here's the thing :
The chords for Blue drag usually read E-7b5 (half-diminished) for measure 6.
But when I listen to the second voice (Django's guitar), he clearly plays a B natural there!
Also, in the second A-part (not sure about the first), you can hear a C# in the rythm guitar.
Therefore, isn't it rather a A9 than this E-7b5? I find it much nicer to the ear and more interesting.

I hope that is understandable
Tell me what you think!

Django makes the list!

billyshakes — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 18:11:00 +0000

Saw this video recently where Django makes the list of top 10 hardest acoustic songs with "Minor Swing." While I'm certain they chose this song for its familiarity, it was neat to see them recognize Django when most of the rest were rock/pop musicians.

So, what are your opinions on the hardest Django acoustic song? One of his improvisations?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_1RAtnNaDo

Nuages unaccompanied

Daleweston — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 14:44:35 +0000

Nuages (1).mp3

Hi everyone please tell me how great my recording is.. it's lonely practicing for years 😂 my first unaccompanied attempt at anything, wow it is essential for all techniques!!! Thanks all.

Does anyone know the name of this piece?

JTDUK — Sun, 28 Aug 2022 20:54:09 +0000

Hello all,

Michael often plays the piece in this video when demoing guitars for sale. Could anyone tell me what it's called?

Cheers

Improvisation #2 on Classical Guitar

Rob MacKillop — Sun, 07 Oct 2018 16:35:45 +0000

I've always thought Django's Improvisation #2 was a tribute to the classical guitar repertoire - perhaps I'm completely wrong it that, but it does sound a contender for being played on one. So here's my take. I play classical guitar without using nails on my right hand - for more info on that, and on other players who play this way, see http://rmClassicalGuitar.com

Echoes Of Spain - video

Rob MacKillop — Sat, 29 Sep 2018 19:05:53 +0000

I’ve long been impressed with Django’s compositional talents, especially given that he is claimed to have been musically illiterate. That’s not a surprise, given his upbringing - he did not study in a Paris Conservatoire, for instance - but the quality of his writing is at times very refined.

Here’s an improvisation in the Spanish style, “Echoes of Spain”. It does start with a few “tourist-style” chords, but very soon takes off into very interesting areas, melodically and harmonically. There are touches of the Brazilian composer, Heitor Villa-Lobos, which make me think Django had heard Segovia play, but there are also some very French modern harmonies in there too (although HVL also studied in France) as well as some jazz harmonies. Altogether, it is a very interesting piece, more than a mere improvisation.

I don't at all attempt to play like Django, or a gypsy player, so please don't say, "That's not how Django played it" :-)

List of tracks

galvanometr — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 09:46:01 +0000

I've noticed the names of some tracks on my CD as the media player shows them don't fit.
E.g.: J'attendrai is named Nauges, Etude #1 is named Stephanesque and so on...

The list printed on top of the CD seems to be OK.

Plus the artist is "Michael Borowitz", is it like that on purpose? (B instead of H.)

Just a feedback. Received it yesterday, didn't take detailed look, but it seems really good. And the CD alone is very well listenable.

Welcome to the Unaccompanied Django Forum!

MichaelHorowitz — Tue, 11 Jan 2005 07:14:58 +0000

This is the place to discuss Django's brilliant solo guitar pieces. I'd be glad to answer any questions you have about my Unaccompanied Django book. I still play Django's solo guitar pieces everyday and continue to find them one of the most enlightening aspects of Django's musical output.

-Michael

More Gypsy Etudes?

Rob MacKillop — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 09:32:15 +0000

Michael,

I'm enjoying your Unacompanied Django book. I have the easier version of Nuages down pretty much how I want it, and have started on your three Gypsy Etudes, which I'm enjoying. I've just been watching a video of Angelo DeBarre playing solo to open a concert, and some of the lines and chords were very similar to your Étude #1, which is great - it means your studies are based on real-gypsy-world situations, and I am beginning to really get into DeBarre's playing.

So, do you have more Etudes? Some things along the same lines? If not, are there books by others you would recommend for getting deeper into this style?

Nuages - Film Soundtrack

Teddy Dupont — Mon, 26 May 2014 16:19:23 +0000

This may have come up before but I was looking through the transcription notes in "Unaccompanied Django" and reading the section on "Nuages"; the extended solo version. You say, Michael, that the film was never made but it was and it is called "Rivages de Paris". However, other than having Django play on the soundtrack, it is a pretty boring film of Paris river trips.

Also, I doubt it was recorded in the dark as you say because when you watch the film, you could be convinced the music often matches what is happening on screen.

Sadly, Django is not seen at any point. ~X( Here are a couple of stills from the film.

Unaccompanied Django and others on CD

MichaelHorowitz — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 21:13:29 +0000

Someone asked me via private email about solo guitar performances by Gypsies. I made the following list of CD reccomendations...all available in the CD section of my store: CDs

Bireli does a solo peice on Move. Boulou Ferre does one on Intersection. Angelo Debarre does one on Impromtu (I'll have that for sale later this week.) Raphael does some amazing Flamenco influenced solo stuff on In Concert. Tchavolo Schmitt does one one Alors, Voila!

You might also want to check out Martin Taylor. Solo guitar playing is his specialty. He does a lot of Django tunes....see: Artistry, Spirit of Django, and Tone Poems.

Am Ketenes does Django's Improv. #3 with the whole band! See: Am Ketenes Swing La Poupa.

Also, Oscar Aleman does some amazing solo guitar work on Swing Guitar Masterpeices.

Dudley Hill of Pearl Django did some astounding solo guitar stuff on New Metropolitan Swing and Mystery Pacific.

Enjoy!

-Michael

Unaccompanied Django now includes a CD!

MichaelHorowitz — Fri, 26 May 2006 11:53:05 +0000

We now have an accompanying CD for the Unaccompanied Django book. The CD includes all of Django's solo pieces! For more info see:

Unaccompanied Django

Improv 2, measure 61, minor error

spinality — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 10:42:19 +0000

This is a trivial error, but since I spotted it I thought I'd record it for posterity. In my new copy of U.D., in Improv #2, measure 61: Notation, chords, and tab don't agree on the first chord. Notation indicates C# but should have C-natural. Also, chord diagram should indicate 3rd fret, to match tab.

Electronic form?

spinality — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 11:48:59 +0000

Michael, thanks for this great book. (I am somewhat amused to find that your name appears as "Borowitz" on the CD. A mistake? No matter. [EDIT: appears to be an artifact of Microsoft Media Player's attempt to identify the content of the disc, probably not your issue.])

Question: Are you able to provide the content in electronic form? I would love to cut and paste the notation part only, without the tabs, to trim many of these pieces down to a single page or two. Although the massive book is very nicely produced and most impressive, I do like to have a single sheet or two upon which I can make notes etc., which I hate to do in the bound copy.

I can obviously do this by scanning in specific pages, and then cutting & pasting; but it would save time if a PDF were available, or even better a notation-only version. I realize that you don't want machine-readable copies floating around the 'net; but perhaps this is something you could consider by special request? I also know you can't lavish extra time preparing custom versions of your books, so I'm expecting to hear "sorry, not practical" -- but it doesn't hurt to ask. -- Trevor

Stochelo Rosenberg's Just Relax

HennoxLane — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:32:22 +0000

I just recorded my own interpretation of the first part of this lovely tune. It'd be nice to get some feedback on where I can improve, so I thought I'd post it here!

Difficult one, this

Tears chord question

El Goodo — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 07:50:28 +0000

Hi everybody, I've been a longtime lurker, first time poster.
This place has been an incredible resource, so thanks to all.

I have a question/confirmation about Tears:
A friend and I have been having a debate about the descending chord sequence in the last part of the B section of Tears (the part that starts with the E and D diminished triads), I was hoping you all could help settle this.

My friend insists that he hears a Dm7 2nd inversion chord in the 6th position instead of the F5 that's in Michael's transcription (where it goes from the Gm up to the FM then to the F5). I disagree, I don't hear that at all, and I think the transcription is correct. He insists he hears a d note in that chord. I don't hear it.

Anyone else hear what he's talking about?

My Copy arrived today!!!

Ian Rossiter — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:39:39 +0000

I'm soooo stoked!!! Tackling "Improvisation #1" to start, with my luck...it'll come out sounding like Crazy Train!!!
Thanks Michael, for writing such great stuff!!!

gypsy solo guitar demo

harrye — Mon, 03 May 2010 00:36:15 +0000

Hi all,

Recently recorded this demo of snippets of solo gyspy pieces/arrangements, with the intention of trying to get some cafe/restaurant work with it....

Its got a few mistake but hey, ce la vie...let me know what you think....

Cheers

Harry

For Michael - Cracked CD

harrye — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:36:25 +0000

Hi Michael,

I purchased a copy of Unaccompanied Django late last year,and have been having a great time learning the tunes.

When I bought the book, the cd that came with it was cracked on th inner rim. This didn't affect the playback of the cd so I didn't worry about it. The crack has recently grown, however, and the cd will no longer play.

I was wondering if it would be possible to have a copy of the cd posted out to me, as it is an invaluable resource in conjunction with your book.

Regards,

Harry

etude 3 from reverie fapy lafertin

emmet ray — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 04:51:34 +0000

hello,

i am new on this forum and i write to you from France! where i found you on serendipity .com,
i excuse for my basic english before all!

i m playing django style seriously untill several mouths and i was very impressed by this video from michael :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVYJ56-_axU

this the title of my topic and,in france,it s impossible to find the unaccompagned django!!!
even the publicity dated of several mouths doesn t talk about the new version(2006!!!)of the book with the CD...
i d like to work on this title and i dont knew if someone could send to me the tablature..it would be very sympathic!!!!
for the end of the video,i undestood(i hope!!)it was the same chords for manoir de mes reves but on a speciffically rythm of bossa..(on the four timme:
downstroke/downstroke/upstroke/downstroke muted isn t it???

thank you for all, for your passion to our django and his memory+++

Etudes

noahfuture — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:43:40 +0000

Hi! I'm working through the Unaccompanied Django book, which rules. Michael is that you playing on the Gypsy Etudes? I'm sure it says somewhere here, but I can't find it!

THey are beautifully played and I was wondering what kind of guitar you were using.
COme to think of it, anyone know which guitar Django was using on Nuages?
thanks!
n

videos on youtube

harrye — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:54:44 +0000

I have just started to upload some video's of solo gypsy pieces on youtube, any feedback would be muchly appreciated.
cheers
http://www.youtube.com/user/harrymanouche

Parlez moi d'amour

harrye — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:00:12 +0000

Just came across a nice little gem of a site i thought i would share. This guy has made some excellent transcriptions of both django, and contemporary manouche players, inlcuding the lovely solo piece Parlez moi d'amour which Howard Alden recorded for the movie Sweet and Lowdown.

http://sites.google.com/site/posglov/tablatures

cheers

Harry

suggestions of tunes for solo arrangement?

harrye — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:39:45 +0000

Hi all,

I am wondering if anyone has some suggestions of gypsy tunes, normally played with accompaniment, that would sound nice arranged for solo guitar.

I am currently working through Michaels Unaccompanied Django, but would like to work on some of my own arrangements simultaneously.

So far I have put together solo arrangements of: Dark Eyes, Nuages, and Tears.

Any advice/wisdom/experience would be muchly appreciated,

cheers, and merry christmas,

Harry

Nostalgie Transcription

harrye — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:01:21 +0000

Hi everyone,

I am just about to start transcribing this solo piece:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIBUgmQW-8A

Thought i would post it up here in case anyone else would like to transcribe it was well, and perhaps we can compare transcriptions?

Regards

Harry

improvisation 1

HennoxLane — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:07:31 +0000

I just uploaded a vid of me playing the first few parts of improvisation 1, if anyone if interested

feedback comments are very much appreciated!

Tea for Two transcription

harrye — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:13:36 +0000

Hi all,

I just came across a solo transcription of Tea for Two, transcribed by a gentlemen named Gilles Rea.
I have been looking for this for some time, and im sure others have to, so i thought i should share. The transcription is within a quicktime video file, which guides the viewer through the piece:

http://web.me.com/gilles.rea/music/tran ... hardt.html

Enjoy, and thanks to Gilles for transcribing this,

Regards
Harry

Just bought the book

harrye — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:26:52 +0000

Hi Michael,
I have just bought the book, and I am already thoroughly impressed; thankyou for putting so much time any effort into creating such a useful resource.

I am currently building a solo repoitore (both gypsy, and electric chord solo's), and thus your book is an invaluable tool for me.

Whilst I had already learnt echoes of spain, tears, and nuages, your work has showed me better ways in which to phrase these pieces.

I have learnt etude no 1 (a very nice piece, and enjoyable to embellish with one's own improvisations), and I am currently 4 pages into Parfum. I am finding this a challenging, but rewarding piece.

In regards to the chromatic run at measure 37 in Parfum, would you consider it appropriate to use just fingers 1 and 2 for this? I am accustomed to playing these runs that way.

Cheers Michael, looking forward to conversing during my endeavour through your book

Harry,
Tasmania
Australia

What an accomplishment!

d-nation — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 11:43:17 +0000

Greetings!

I just wanted to say what a wonderful text unaccompanied django is... After buying virtually all the books on g-jazz it seems funny that the last thing I would find turns out to be the gem!
What an accomplishment! Anyone who opens the book can tell how much time and effort must have went into making this wonderful learning text. What a better way to learning the music of django other than from django himself?
All of Michael`s extreme attention to the fingerings/picking stokes/phrasing of django`s brings his music to the reading musician! Married with the g-picking book, I think unaccompanied django can show the sleuthing reader the way to excute the proper arpeggios, diminished scale runs, V-I cadences, and glimpses of django`s relentless sense of phrasing. The book is the jazz or classical musician`s aide to exploring the music of django reinhardt, I hope more people of all styles and levels of experience will give time to this wonderful text!

Sincerely,
Alex Anaya
San Francisco, Ca

www.goldengatehotclub.com
www.angelfire.com/jazz/zrs

gypsy etude #1 (me playing)

HennoxLane — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:31:37 +0000

hi!

I've recently bought unaccompanied django, and started to practice on the etudes before I decided to tackle something more complex..

So I've recorded myself playing the first of three etudes, and would love to get some feedback on my playing.

I don't have anyone to tell me exactly how the techniques work exactly (but definitely got some useful tips out of "gypsy picking". So that's why I'd be thrilled if anyone here would watch this movie and maybe be able to give me some pointers! (as far as technique goes, though.. I know I should be playing on a gypsy style guitar )