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

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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.

Reviews

  • Donna Radin

    “Great to experience learning by looking and listening, plus getting insights into Django's fingering and phrasing!”

    “Great to experience learning by looking and listening, plus getting insights into Django's fingering and phrasing!”

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  • David Brown

    “Hi Yaakov Thanks for your work on these courses — I have just signed up for the Arpeggios course, which I think should really help to fill in the gaps in my playing. I found the Magic of Triads course helpful. It gave me an initial insight i...”

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    “Hi Yaakov Thanks for your work on these courses — I have just signed up for the Arpeggios course, which I think should really help to fill in the gaps in my playing. I found the Magic of Triads course helpful. It gave me an initial insight into what was going on in improvisation. Even so, it seemed like a big jump to actually improvising. What I lacked was a real feel for the notes, patterns and rhythms to play. I didn’t seem to be able to produce anything worth listening to just from the triads! I tried learning a few GJ tunes note for note, but this still didn’t get me much further — it was more like learning pieces of classical music. The Minor Swing course seems to be helping me to overcome that problem. This is, I think, largely because of the way you have presented it. By focusing on short sections (‘sentences', as you call them) it allows me to get a much better idea of what’s going on, and how important the sixths and ninths are, and to recognise similar phrases in different contexts. So far I’ve just got through the intro and the first two choruses but at last I feel I am making some progress. I realised I would need at some point to relate the Django solos back to the underlying arpeggios, and was planning to come back to that later. Fortunately your Arpeggios course should make this much easier, as well as, as you say, improving my technique and my ‘flow’. I’m going to try to do 30 minutes or so from that course in parallel with the Minor Swing course. I see you have some suggestions at the end of the (Minor Swing) course for creating solos, so I’m hoping that by the time I get that far, and with a few more arpeggios, I should be able to apply these ideas. Thanks again for your good work and for communicating your expertise. David.”

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  • Adrian Green

    “Amazing,if you are interested in inproviation/soloing this course with Yaakov Hoter is for you. He will give you simple tools that break rules which are only guidelines anyway which will take you to another level. Believe me you try this and you w...”

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    “Amazing,if you are interested in inproviation/soloing this course with Yaakov Hoter is for you. He will give you simple tools that break rules which are only guidelines anyway which will take you to another level. Believe me you try this and you will be awake, above and outside yourself to do what you do best *swing*”

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  • rick spence

    “Done chapter 1 - perfect. Although I knew the song I still picked up a couple of things.”

    “Done chapter 1 - perfect. Although I knew the song I still picked up a couple of things.”

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“My development as a guitarist due to the 32 lessons I took with Yaakov is much more than I had hoped for. Beyond learning just how to swing and how to play jazz songs, I can now improvise to any kind of music. Following all your tips...really works. Your approach hits the mark. Your generosity was always felt. Blessings to you. ”

Jai . C . SALT

“Yaakov is an absolutely brilliant teacher. His unique teaching method and style give a very effective mix of learning by doing and understanding. I can now play and learn, alone, at jam sessions and at workshops. Yaakov's lessons are so much fun; they excite my interest and hold it! I'm learning to play and learning to learn. ”

Donna Radin

“I had loads of classes with really wonderful professional players but nothing compares. The way Yaakov introduces you to Django's style is unique, very helpful and highly entertaining. I'd never have imagined to be able to pick it up in such a short time. Taking Yaakovs Gypsy Jazz course is like having a friend in your practicing room.”

Wolfgang eisenhuth

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  • 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.

“I picked up books/tabs/dvd's and various courses. about 8 years had gone by and my playing was between beginner and intermediate and I practiced 4 hours a day! Then I stumbled upon Yaakov Hoter. WOW!!.. somebody who explained the Gypsy language better than ANYONE! If ONLY I had found this 8 years ago! Get lessons from YAAKOV, you will not regret it ”

Ian Randell

“I always talked about Django Reinhardt with admiration but never understood how he did it...time moves on and and I found Yaakov Hoters Gypsy Jazz courses. It is the best way to learn. Yaakov is a great teacher with great patience to teach you and to tell you the little secrets you need to know.”

Andrew Wells

“I'm a big fan of Django and Yaakov. I've bought a lot of lessons from his website and I've learnt a lot with them...All of them are very well organized and helpful. Easy to understand and come with a pdf explanation. Thank you very much Yaakov!! ”

Django Eddie