Course Description
Four hours video course! An in-depth study of this amazing solo as played by Django Reinhardt
Minor Swing is considered to be Django's Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelly's most famous composition and one that thrilled the hearts of millions of guitarists and music lovers around the world. This is also the first song many guitarists in the style of Gypsy Jazz learn and a must-know tune in every jam session.
Django recorded this song five times. In this course, we focus on the 1947 version. This improvisation is arranged in a unique structure that gives us a glimpse into the genius of Django's playing in a way that you can easily implement in your own playing.
Many guitarists have a solid technique, many licks under their fingers, nice sound and decent knowledge of their fingerboard. And yet, their improvisation is boring and lacking in musical feeling. What's missing is the musical structure that is the secret of true melodic and musical improvisation. In this course, you will learn how to add structure to your improvisation just like Django and to make your improvisation shine - with the skills you already have.
You will learn to play the solo note by note and improve your musical ear and memory, technique, flow of playing and improvisation and you will expand your vocabulary of licks.
-
Play Django's solo accurately and implement his sound and feel
-
Get precise explanation on the technique to improve your flow and speed
-
Learn in the Gypsy way and improve your musical ear and learning skills
-
Improve your improvisation by using Django's ideas in your solos
-
Understand everything that you play so you can use it again and again
-
Improvise more melodically by organizing your improvisation in structure
-
Expand your vocabulary of licks and manipulate them to sound new each time
Course curriculum
-
01
Chapter 1 - Introduction (26 minutes)
Show Content- 1.1 Why transcribe solos
- 1.2 How to study this course
- 1.3 Fingerings and playing with two fingers
- 1.4 Learning the song – the intro
- 1.5 Learning the song – the intro, second voice
- 1.6 Learning the song – the chord progression
- 1.7 Learning the song – the outro
- 1.8 Learning the song – ending with two voices
- 1.9 Complete solo performance
-
02
Chapter 2- Chorus 1 (30 minutes)
Show Content- 2.1 Sentence 1
- 2.2 Sentence 2
- 2.3 Sentences 1 & 2
- 2.4 Sentence 3
- 2.5 Sentence 4, part1
- 2.6 Sentence 4, part2
- 2.7 The Dom7add9 and the related II
- 2.8 Sentence 5
- 2.9 The Dom7b9 and the dim7 arpeggio
- 2.10 Sentences 4 & 5
- 2.11 Complete chorus - slow
- 2.12 Complete chorus - fast
-
03
Chapter 3 - Chorus 2 (37 minutes)
Show Content- 3.1Sentence 1
- 3.2 Sentence 2
- 3.3 Sentence 3
- 3.4 Sentences 1, 2 & 3
- 3.5 Sentence 4
- 3.6 Sentence 5
- 3.7 Sentences 4 & 5
- 3.8 Sentence 6
- 3.9 Sentence 7
- 3.10 Sentences 6 & 7
- 3.11 Sentences 4, 5, 6 & 7 (second half)
- 3.12 Complete chorus - slow
- 3.13 Complete chorus - fast
-
04
Chapter 4 - Chorus 3 (37 minutes)
Show Content- 4.1 Sentence 1
- 4.2 Sentence 2
- 4.3 Sentences 1 & 2
- 4.4 Sentence 3
- 4.5 Sentence 4
- 4.6 Sentences 3 & 4
- 4.7 Sentence 5
- 4.8 Sentence 6
- 4.9 Sentences 5 & 6
- 4.10 Sentence 7
- 4.11 Sentence 8
- 4.12 Sentences 7 & 8
- 4.13 Sentences 5, 6, 7 & 8 (second half)
- 4.14 Complete chorus- slow
- 4.15 Complete chorus - fast
-
05
Chapter 5 - Chorus 4 (33 minutes)
Show Content- 5.1 Sentence 1
- 5.2 Sentence 2
- 5.3 Sentence 3, part 1
- 5.4 Sentence 3, part 2
- 5.5 Sentences 1, 2 & 3
- 5.6 Sentence 4, part 1
- 5.7 Sentence 4, part 2
- 5.8 Sentence 5
- 5.9 Sentence 6
- 5.10 Sentences 5 & 6
- 5.11 Sentences 4, 5 & 6 (second half)
- 5.12 Complete chorus - slow
- 5.13 Complete chorus - fast
-
06
Chapter 6 - Chorus 5 (32 minutes)
Show Content- 6.1 Sentence 1
- 6.2 Sentence 2
- 6.3 Sentences 1 & 2
- 6.4 Sentence 3
- 6.5 Sentence 4
- 6.6 Sentences 3 & 4
- 6.7 Sentences 1, 2, 3 & 4 (first half)
- 6.8 Sentence 5, part 1
- 6.9 Sentence 5, part 2
- 6.10 Sentence 6
- 6.11 Sentences 5 & 6
- 6.12 Sentence 7
- 6.13 Sentence 8
- 6.14 Sentences 7 & 8
- 6.15 Sentences 5, 6, 7 & 8 (second half)
- 6.16 Complete chorus- slow
-
07
Chapter 7- Tools for improvisation (28 minutes)
Show Content- 7.1 Introduction - PDF
- 7.2 Before you start
- 7.3 Improvisation tool 1
- 7.4 Improvisation tool 2
- 7.5 Conclusion and demonstration
- 7.6 Improvisation tool 3
- 7.7 Improvisation tool 4
- 7.8 Improvisation tool 5
- 7.9 Improvisation tool 6
- 7.10 Improvisation tool 7
- 7.11 Improvisation tool 8
- 7.12 Tools for improvisation – PDF
-
08
Chapter 8- Licks (21 minutes)
Show Content- 8.1 Introduction – type of licks
- 8.2 Variation 1
- 8.3 Variation 2
- 8.4 Variation 3
- 8.5 Variation 4
- 8.6 Exercise 1
- 8.7 Exercise 2
- 8.8 Exercise 3
- 8.9 Exercise 4
- 8.10 Variation 5 (the lost variation)
- 8.11 Improvisation exercise with one type of phrase
- 8.12 Dom7b9 licks
- 8.13 Improvisation exercise – putting it all together
- 8.14 Summary of chapter 8
FAQ
-
Can I download the course to my computer and save it for life?
Yes! the course is yours and you can use it as long as you wish! You can download it and you can watch it online.
-
I have never played a transcribed solo before. Can I really do it?
Yes! You will learn this solo very slowly, note by note. Some of the phrases are very easy and others are harder. You will learn a lot from the easy phrases and be able to improvise with them already! Then you can go back to the harder parts and improve your technique slowly.
-
I am already an advanced player. What can I gain from this course?
Lots: You'll learn faster by following my subdivisions for the solo AND You'll gain the skill and focus to play it very accurately AND you'll learn my insights about each phrase AND you'll see how to apply Django's ideas and improvisation structure to your solos. This is an advanced part of this course that will follow you for life. I still practice improvisation with Django's improvisation structures myself.
-
I am very busy. How much time should I devote to this course each day?
If you only pick up your guitar once a month, it will take you a very long time to complete this course... Implementing new musical skills fast requires daily practice. However, you decide how long you can practice each day. 30 minutes has proven to be very efficient. Besides, this course is yours! You can get back to it whenever you like and each sentence of Django's is pure gold!
-
I have many of your courses. Will I learn something new?
Yes! This course is packed with things that I am showing here for the first time and: 1- You'll learn to play this solo. 2- You'll learn how to organize your improvisation in structure, according to Django's structure.
-
What if I decide that this course is not for me?
You will get a refund! You have my 30-day money back guarantee. Just send me an email and I will send you a full refund!
-
What kind of feedback can I get from Yaakov?
There is a discussion in the course. I am always here to answer your questions. You can also upload your videos playing the course materials so I can see how you are doing and give you direct feedback.
-
Do the lessons work on tablet and smartphone?
Yes! You can view the course from any device. You just need your email and password to sign in.
-
Playing
Learn the solo note by note, divided into 34 short phrases that are easy to practice and remember. Add a beautiful piece of music to your repertoire!
-
Improvisation
Improve your improvisation with eight amazing tools that Django uses in this solo and create your own "Django licks" by analyzing each phrase.
-
Technique
Get a precise explanation of the technique to make sure you are implementing it properly and that nothing is holding you back from gaining the speed and flow you are yearning for.
-
Fingering
Learn how to play with two fingers to follow the way Django visualized his fingerboard and be inspired by his fingering.
-
Ear training
Train your ears and increase your learning speed by learning the "Gypsy way"- by listening and watching, concentrating on sound, technique and style.
-
Understand
Understand everything that you play so you'll be able to use it again and again in any musical situation.