Hey, anybody remember that thread...

Jehu

Hey, does anyone happen to remember the thread from a little while back where Denis ended up posting a whole bunch of old clips of other (non-GJ) players using gypsy style rest stroke picking?

Thanks!

Buco

You may be thinking of one of the blog posts Denis wrote?
Here's some I found might be related to what you're looking for (didn't have time going through them though)
http://www.djangobooks.com/blog/the-secrets-of-authentic-gypsy-jazz-rhythm/
http://www.djangobooks.com/blog/practicing-sincerity-awareness-and-passion/
http://www.djangobooks.com/blog/the-great-gypsy-jazz-debate-in-the-wake-of-the-1970s/
http://www.djangobooks.com/blog/django-legacy-the-music-of-django-reinhardt-the-birth-of-gypsy-jazz-2/

Jehu

Thanks, Buco! Some good stuff in there, but not the one I have in mind I don't think.

I seem to recall it being a few pages into an ongoing thread, when Denis chimes in with a few epic posts (possibly prep for an article) including video clips demonstrating that so-called 'gypsy picking' was the mainstream acoustic technique in Django's day.

(That 4th link you listed has a couple of such clips, but I think Denis posted a bunch of other examples as well.)

Buco

Ah I think it could be:
http://www.djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/13268/gypsy-picking-impossible/p7
I remember there was talk about rest strokes on mandolin and oud and similarities to gypsy picking, so I used those key words.

Jehu

I believe that's the one! Nice sleuthing, Buco.

dennis

i have all my articles here:

www.denischang.com

and i talk about it in one of them, citing lonnie johnson, nick lucas, eddie lang, etc as examples

pickitjohn

Great Article...

Very nice to visit again.

Thanks @dennis

Django Legacy – The birth of Gypsy Jazz

http://denischang.com/index.php/2015/08/09/django-legacy-the-birth-of-gypsy-jazz/

or here...

http://www.djangobooks.com/blog/django-legacy-the-music-of-django-reinhardt-the-birth-of-gypsy-jazz-2/

>-

NylonDave

Flamenco players use their thumb in exactly the same way as gypsy picking uses the pick and have done so for a very long time. When used exclusively it is called pulgar and there is a variation called alzapua which incorporates chord playing.

There is no difference at all between this and gypsy picking other than in one you happen to be holding a pick. There are fewer upstrokes as the convexity of the nail on the upstroke offers a pretty weak tone. The index is also used a lot to fill out the rhythm of the syncopated thumb.

Here is Tomatito with the best thumb I know of.



Clarence white uses a variation with flat wrist and pick, here m takes the place of i. It is not what has come to be known as hybrid picking. He mixes his technique up a lot usually switching to alternate picking when playing on the top three strings.



Like most things if you actually use your eyes it is pretty clear what people are doing.

D.

Jehu

Thanks again, all (and especially Denis!). Some fascinating stuff here!

By the way, Denis, how is your Charlie Christian transcription project going?