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Django/Gypsy Rhythm Guitar


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I've always appreciated Django, but I'd really like to dive into the rhythmic aspects of the gypsy style. Anyone know of any books that analyze/breakdown his rhythm player's voicings and chord work?

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I played that kind of music for a couple of years solid, over 30 years ago. The only book I had was some notation of some of his tunes, which had chord symbols (no voicings and no solos or anything). Otherwise we got it all from the records.
There's nothing really too complicated, in jazz terms. Rather more minor key tunes than in normal jazz, but otherwise the usual fare for 30s swing or hot jazz.
Major 6ths and minor 6ths are very common, as are m7b5s and dim7s, and of course various kind of dom7 (9ths and 13ths anyway, I can't say I remember seeing any altered dominants other than the odd #5 or b9).
IOW, for major chords, I suggest playing them as 6ths (rather than the common option of jazz maj7s). Dom7s in major keys work well as 9ths, and you can often add a raised 5th in passing. Get used to half-dim chords as ii in all mnor keys. Dom7s in minor can have dim7s superimposed (ie dim7s on the raised vii degree of the key)- dim7 arps are a common feature of Django's soloing.

Sorry I don't know a book, but I honestly think you don't need one - unless you need a basic guide to jazz harmony itself. Of course, a book of the tunes and chord charts would be highly useful!

Here's some more links to books that might be useful:
http://www.djangobooks.com/
http://www.djangoism.co.uk/?cat=12
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Learn-Play-Django-style-Gypsy-Guitar/dp/1932537872
and hey, here's one with a focus on chords :):
http://www.guitarcds.net/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=146

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