Learn To Play Django-Style Gypsy Jazz Guitar #1

Starring:Django Reinhardt
Studio: Homespun Tapes
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
They don't call it "hot guitar" for nothing! The driving style pioneered by Django Reinhardt and other Gypsy players became one of the dominant sounds in jazz during the thirties and forties, and its influence is still strongly felt today. Paul Mehling knows the style as well as anyone, and he takes it apart in detail for the learning player.

A band won't swing without a strong rhythm section, and the powerful guitar accompaniment that typifies the Gypsy style is the foundation of this terrific lesson. Starting with basic four-to-the-bar comping and damping, Paul takes you through a variety of accompanyment ideas: arpeggios, "splayed" chords, "the gallop," chord tremolo, right hand speed and other advanced techniques.

Description

They don't call it "hot guitar" for nothing! The driving style pioneered by Django Reinhardt and other Gypsy players became one of the dominant sounds in jazz during the thirties and forties, and its influence is still strongly felt today. Paul Mehling knows the style as well as anyone, and he takes it apart in detail for the learning player.

Customer Reviews:

good solid teaching resource.......2006-02-11

Well executed and conceived, though a bit toward the beginning intermediate player... not heavy on theory or scales...
a real good place to start.

Met and exceeded expectations.......2005-03-29

There is a plethora of Jazz teachers, methods and approaches out there - all catering to different skill-levels. This makes it difficult to guess what instruction material will be perfect for what you want to learn. This lesson from leading Gypsy Jazz guitarist Paul Mehling was the happy exception to the rule. The DVD delivers precisely what it promises: a no-nonsense, comprehensive primer to the art of Gypsy-style swing comping.

Actually, I was amazed at the amount of information that Mehling is able to present in a mere hour, including strumming patterns (giving both right-hand and left-hand techniques), chord voicings, connections between accompaniment and lead, bass-like patterns, a brief overview of Gypsy guitar types and some really catchy 2-guitar demos. All this is done in style, with Mehling often referring back to "the" source, the legendary Django Reinhardt. I heard no out-of style voicings, anachronistic "cool-jazz" type dissonances or any other obvious departures from Django's style.

Also, Mehling provides a vast number of practical exercises, practice tips and (what I found especially valuable), points the musician in the right direction as far as self-development in this style. Mehling does not just give a set of pre-canned techniques, but he presents the musical reasoning behind his choices and encourages the student to use musical sense and theory to find more voicings and chord-patterns (within the confines of the style, of course). All this, he does while providing sensible recommendations and suggesting an appropriate pace of study and progress ("don't overshoot and try to sound like Django in a week...").

The accompanying booklet is extremely informative as it presents all the chords that Mehling uses on the video. I would not consider this video to be for beginners, because it assumes a healthy amount of musical knowledge, structural understanding and technical "chops." But for anyone else, it's gold.

I am extremely pleased with this DVD, which I will continue studying diligently. Bravo, Paul Mehling.

Swing Rhythm 101.......2005-02-22

This dvd is great for getting your feet wet in this complex form. Basic strums are covered, as well as some great tricks like splaying chords, "galloping", etc. You'll work through "I'll See You In My Dreams" and "Oriental Shuffle", offering some very useful voicings. Included is a booklet with charts/diagrams. Paul Mehling is a great teacher, and has a very down-to-earth approach that's easy to follow and understand. Definitely worth the price.

Learn To Play Django-Style Gypsy Jazz Guitar #2

Average customer rating:

A good-level masterclass
A Great Follow-Up

Learn To Play Django-Style Gypsy Jazz Guitar #2
Starring: Paul Mehling
Manufacturer: Homespun Tapes
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Music Video & Concerts | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Special Interests | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

General | Instructional | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Learn To Play Django-Style Gypsy Jazz Guitar #1
The Best of Django Reinhardt: A Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Guitar Styles and Techniques of a Jazz Giant
Bireli Lagrene & Friends- Live Jazz A Vienne
DVD-Swing Guitar- Rhythm's Where It's At!
Mel Bay Introduction to Gypsy Jazz Guitar: John Jorgenson (Book/CD/DVD Set)

ASIN: B0002GU5J8
Release Date: 2004-06-11

Description

This fascinating look at the art of improvisation in the Gypsy jazz tradition shows you how to really swing! Paul Mehling, leader of the Hot Club of San Francisco, has a comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of this powerful and infectious style, and he provides a wealth of information and playing tips to get you off to a solid start.

Before long, you'll be playing exciting solos in the style typified by Django Reinhardt, Birelli Lagrenne and other hot players of this dynamic genre. You'll learn the theory and playing techniques behind the music, including the exercises, scales, modes and arpeggiated picking ("the heart of the Reinhardt style") that will allow you to come up with your own improvisations. He includes advice on fingering, use of the metronome, singing your solos and how to "focus your attention so your hands can play what your ears hear."

Paul teaches the special elements that give this music its distinctive ring: "sweep" picking, ornaments (glissandos, trills, bends, tremolo, vibrato, etc.), diminished and augmented runs, triplets and the other special sounds that "put the Gypsy in Gypsy swing." Includes some hot jamming with Paul and Tony Mandraccia, rhythm guitar.

Customer Reviews:

A good-level masterclass.......2005-04-12

Part 2 of 2 of Paul Mehling's instructional exploration of Gypsy Jazz guitar techniques, this 1-hour DVD plays like a high-level masterclass. Of all the possible ways in which this rather broad topic could be explored, Mehling chose the most musical - and the most disappointing for those who just want to "pick up a few licks."

He gives the tools to acquire and practice the musical and technical ideas for this complex style. This he does by breaking down Django's style into its main musical building blocks: picking patterns, arpeggios, scales, embellishments, left-hand techniques. For each of these elements, Mehling shows the correct way in which to "think them out," study them, practice them and grow them into musical improvisation.

Furthermore, he gives insightful advice on preferred voicings, on whether or not to "think modally," and on good ways to become agile and intimately acquainted with the fretboard. As he does in part 1 on comping, he teaches to fish rather than handing the viewer the catch of the day.

I would have taken off a half-star for editing - some of the demonstrations could have used another take, but again, this has the extemporaneous freshness of an masterclass caught on DVD. Also, I have meditated on whether Mehling should have expanded on the Gypsy "rest stroke" of the right hand - but I think that doing so in the context of a one-hour lesson would have been less than practical.

For the casual guitarist who just wants to strum a few ready-made lines, this is definitely not the right buy. But for anyone seriously willing to understand some of the foundations of Django's style - and willing to dedicate it some serious hours of "active" learning - this is a great resource.

A Great Follow-Up.......2005-02-25

This dvd delves deeply into the art of improvisational soloing in the Manouche (Gypsy) jazz form. You'll learn so many of Django's tricks of the trade. Loads of scales and modes, ornaments (glissandos, vibrato, etc.) I highly recommend this and the 1st installment in the series for ALL guitarists, jazz players or not.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Isn't She Great

Matt Hayes - Record Breaking Fish - Episodes 13 To 15 : DVD

Jack the Ripper [Director's Edition] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: The Thorn Birds 2 - The Missing Years

Glory