DjangoBooks.com
Welcome to our Community!
Categories
- 18.1K All Categories
- 431 General
- 277 Welcome
- 11 Archtop Eddy's Corner
- 79 CD, DVD, and Concert Reviews
- 37 FAQ
- 9 Gypsy Jazz Italia
- 18 Photos
- 25 Gypsy Picking
- 4 Unaccompanied Django
- 4 Pearl Django Play-Along Vol.1
- 1 Gypsy Fire
- 25 Gypsy Rhythm
- 600 Gypsy Jazz University - Get Educated
- 117 Gypsy Jazz 101
- 187 Repertoire
- 143 History
- 96 Technique
- 40 Licks and Patterns
- Daniel Givone Manouche Guitare Method Users Group
- 17 Eddie Lang Club
- 1.1K Gypsy Jazz Gear
- 684 Guitars, Strings, Picks, Amps, Pickups and Other Accessories
- 343 Classifieds
- 39 Recording
- 39 Other Instruments
- 17 Violin
- 3 Mandolin
- 6 Accordion
- 3 Bass
- 10 Woodwinds
- 220 Gypsy Jazz Events
- 87 North America
- 86 Europe
- 47 International
In this Discussion
Who's Online 0
Today's Birthday
Comments
I was thinking Dickey Betts on "Jessica" since there is the lore behind his wanting to compose a melody that Django could play with two fingers. That said, video evidence shows him using all his fingers even while playing the melody.
In the UK Jessica is best known as the theme tune to the TV car magazine show Top Gear - ironic given Django’s taste for expensive fast cars.
When I was in India I saw a lot of sitar players playing with just two fingers. Apparently this is quite common - the technique looks similar to Django’s and has similar advantages in making it easier to play fast runs up the fretboard.
Reminds me that I heard the story before. And always thought it was a little silly, even if it was coming from a good place. It kinda sounds like "aww let's give poor Django something he could play" when the guy can play circles around most guitarists, dead or living. Even Django's compositions have an incredible range. But maybe I'm not looking at it the right way...
I've seen blues players solo with two fingers only before.
The story is that Dickie Betts was inspired by Django's playing, even more so because of his finger limitations. As a songwriter, he set out for himself the task to compose a song as a sort of tribute to Django that only needed 2 fingers on the left hand to play. Essentially a challenge for himself to try to create something beautiful within that limitation. He composed the song in 1973. It appears on Brothers and Sisters, which is the same album as "Ramblin' Man."
I love guitar lore. I'll have to put on Jessica now!
That's so true about sitar players! They also seem to love the "hammer-on to pull-off thing and then slide down to the next fret! Woah, major similarities!
Top gear, lol
According to Wikipedia.
Poor Django 😂
I find that when I create "limitations" on what I play, that I don't have to think as much and can therefore focus more on the feel and rhythm. I'm sure this was true for Django, to a degree.
www.scoredog.tv
Ha, it's all coming full circle! Nice one!