Gypsy jazz beginner

lazybones

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Apr 18, 2007, 11:09:03 AM4/18/07

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I've recently become interested in Django and the Gypsy style.
Currently I'm just using a couple of tabs I've downloaded along with a
Django "Greatest Hits" collection on CD. For visual cues I've been
watching the players in the Djangomania! documentary.

Can anyone point me to a good description of the chord voicings/
fingerings online? Most of the transcriptions I'm finding online just
transcribe the lead part and give charts for the rhythm section.

Max Leggett

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Apr 18, 2007, 11:23:36 AM4/18/07

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http://www.djangobooks.com/

There are newsgroups and Yahoo groups dedicated to Django, so you'll
get better info there, but djangobooks has lots of good stuff.

Des Higgins

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Apr 18, 2007, 12:06:21 PM4/18/07

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"Max Leggett" <kidk...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:462637db.3349306@shawnews...

Max is right (trawl the net for the newsgroups etc.) and that web site has a
mountain of stuff (mainly to buy admitedly).
One author that makes nice clear books (with tab or hybrid tab/normal
notation and diagrams for voicings) is Robin Nolan.
He has a whole series of books with comping voicings suggested for a long
series of classic tunes. He had one book with about 70 tunes all in one
handy book called the gig book. This is a very handy book but is now out of
print although you seem to be able to order it from djangobooks as it is
supposed to be back in print soon. Other books there give clearer guidance
regarding how to hold the pick (with a set of vice grips), size of pick
(slightly smaller than a car tyre), attack (all out, no prisoners, Geneva
convention not in use), recommended moustache style etc.

I am an outsider with this stuff but from what I have seen, the chords tend
to use mainly strings 6, 4 and 3 with simple fast to move and versatile
(i.e. multipurpose; same shape works for multiple chord types) grips.
Rhythm is everything. A good Manouche comper can get more people looking at
them than the soloist if they do it well. I also get people staring at me
if I try it but for different reasons.

Des

Maj6th

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Apr 18, 2007, 1:50:21 PM4/18/07

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I have some Django "chord shape" material you might like. Email me off this
group if you are interested. Do you have a Django song in mind?

Maj6th

"lazybones" <trem...@gmail.com> wrote in message
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Bill Ribas

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Apr 18, 2007, 2:59:31 PM4/18/07

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Just head on over to Djangobooks.com. Lately the gypsy forums have been
pretty quiet, and you tend to get a bunch of spam through them. you can also
check http://www.hotclub.co.uk/ for a bunch of links as well.

"lazybones" <trem...@gmail.com> wrote in message
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>

Derek

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Apr 18, 2007, 4:41:12 PM4/18/07

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John Jorgensen (of The Hellecasters fame) has a book/vid out that
really does a good job of explaining it. Volumes I & II

lazybones

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Apr 19, 2007, 8:41:17 AM4/19/07

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Thanks for the good info everyone. That Robin Nolan material looks
great - I'll definitely be picking up one of those books.

cminor7b5

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Apr 20, 2007, 9:43:36 AM4/20/07

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You can find Denis Chang's excellent gypysy jazz instructional video,
" Jazz Manouche the Art of Accompaniment" at

http://www.hyperhipmedia.com

Denis' dvd has over 2 hours of instruction and breaks down many of the
chord patterns and shapes.

cheers.

Wayne Nakamura