Gypsy Jazz

          Gypsy Jazz guitar has influenced bluegrass, rock, blues, country, 

          and jazz guitar greats and is being seen more and more both in 

          new recordings from Nashville and around the acoustic guitar 

          community.   I hope to describe many of the elements of gypsy 

          jazz guitar in future posts but thought I would start by giving some 

          background on the founder of this guitar technique. 

                         

          Django Reinhardt was born in Belgium and was raised within a 

          gypsy tribe and caravan just outside Paris.  Django first began 

          playing violin and banjo but switched to guitar and was playing 

          around Paris by the age of 13.  When Django was 18 his right leg 

          was paralyzed and his third and fourth fingers of his left hand were 

          severely damaged by a fire in his trailer home.   He persevered and 

          now played with only two fingers on his left hand (above). 

                         

           Django became heavily influenced by American jazz musicians like 

           Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Eddie Lang, which led him to 

           move from playing just gypsy guitar to a new gypsy jazz guitar style.  

           After teeming with swing violin player Stephan Grappelli they formed 

           the “Quintette du Hot Club de France”, which quickly became a huge 

           hit.  Django survived World War II despite being in France and the 

           Nazi hatred for both gypsies and jazz.   In 1948 he came to the US to 

           tour with Duke Ellington but returned to France never to return to 

           the US again.  Django died in 1953. 

           Except for that brief tour with Ellington (where he played an electric 

           guitar) Django played an acoustic Selmer guitar.  I will post a great 

           Django song to hear and a tab for the song below.  I hope to expand 

           your knowledge and interest in this style and add a new flavor to your 

           playing no matter the style.

                        

          Song to Hear –  "Nuages" by Django Reinhardt

          Song to Learn – “Nuages” slower jazz song with his gypsy 

                                        influence coming out

Doyle Dykes

           Many may not have heard of this great fingerstyle guitarist.   

           The first time I heard “Jazz in the Box” I knew I had to find out 

           who this guy was.   His music has pushed me to become a better 

           guitarist and despite many of his music being difficult to learn I

           am playing things that when I heard them I never thought I would.  

           I have seen him in person and his playing was so on point, perfect.  

            Doyle is an endorser and clinician for Taylor Guitars and has his 

            own signature model the DDSM.  He plays in a huge variety of styles 

            and I would suggest listening to these songs to hear his range: “Jazz 

            in the box”, “Martha’s Kitchen”, “How Great Thou Art”, and “White 

            Rose for Heidi”.  His daughter, Haley Dykes, often travels with him and 

            is also a great musician and singer, her CD “The Mystery of Her” won’t 

            disappoint.  I own, and love, his book “virtuoso fingerstyle guitar” and 

            have been challenged by learning  just some of the songs in it, the book 

            also comes with a CD of the music (it's in the amazon box to the right).  

            I will put a link at the bottom of the post to both hear and learn “Jazz in 

            the Box”.

           Great DVD to check out with Doyle on it, he plays with some

           greats like Duane Eddy and Tommy Emmanuel -

                                           Live Sessions – people, places, and pick’n

           Some of Doyle’s CD’s to check out – Songs of Faith+Freedom, Chameleon

                     Song to Listen to – "Jazz in the Box" (this is not Doyle playing it)

                     Song to Learn -  Jazz in the Box tab