How to Play Beautiful Virtuosic Solos in the Style of Django Reinhardt, Express that Unique Gypsy Jazz FIRE and Build Speed in Your Playing.

Course Description

This course focuses on mastering Gypsy Jazz technique (right hand) and the most important stylistic markers that make a listener think: "Ah, yes, this is authentic Gypsy Jazz" (left hand).

You will learn everything you need to get that Gypsy Jazz sound, technique, style  and flavor with tons of exercises and complete etudes with solos over dozens of your favorite tunes, at several levels of difficulty,  so you can get started no matter what your current level of playing is! 

Technique is not only speed. It’s how you touch the strings, how you produce your sound. This course covers both the all-important right hand, GJ picking technique, as well as left hand technique: the best -known melodic ideas of Django Reinhardt and modern Gypsy Jazz guitarists.

Django’s music is rich and deep- there’s no end to what we can learn from it. It is also the foundation of modern Gypsy Jazz. Through this course you’ll be building your own vocabulary of Gypsy Jazz phrases and licks, and learn how each phrase can be the source of a complete improvisation of your own.


You will learn:

  • The story of GJ

  • Hardware - What hardware to use

  • Rest-stroke Picking - the traditional picking technique used in Gypsy Jazz, the systematic rules of how and when to play down stroke, upstroke and sweep. You will gain a deep understanding of it, how to practice, how to master it.

  • Picking pattern - a great way to master the technique. There are a few picking patterns that you can apply to the most stylistic phrases. You will learn how to concentrate on your right hand while changing notes with your left.

  • The chromatic scale - one of Django’s trademarks; Learn how to use it in your improvisation.

  • Phrases with arpeggios - how to get that Gypsy Jazz flavor by playing common arpeggios. How to create those crazy long and fast Gypsy runs.

  • Phrases with open stings - open strings have a unique sound. You’ll learn how Django used it.

  • Tricks - You’ll learn special elements that give fire to your soloing.

Course curriculum

    1. 1.1 Introduction and how to learn this course

    2. 1.2 My Story with GJ

    3. 1.3 Hardware

    4. 1.4 Why learn GJ technique

    5. 1.5 Community Discussion - Ask Questions, Comment and Share Your Thoughts!

    1. 2.1 How to hold the pick

    2. 2.2.1 Right-Hand Movements - Downstroke

    3. 2.2.2 Right-Hand Movements - Sweep

    4. 2.2.3 Right-Hand Movements - Upstroke

    5. 2.3 Downstroke and sweep

    6. 2.4 Downstroke and upstroke

    7. 2.5 The role of new string - the double-down exercise

    8. 2.6 Double down on the same string

    9. 2.7 Mastering the techniqueHow to practice

    10. 2.8 Picking movements and fingerings

    11. 2.9 Working with a metronome

    12. 2.10 Summary of Chapter 2

    13. 2.11 Community Discussion - Ask Questions, Comment and Share Your Thoughts!

    1. 3.1 INTRODUCTION

    2. 3.2 UDSS - The dim7 lick

    3. 3.3.1 DUDUDS - two-string virtuoso over II7-V7

    4. 3.3.2 PerformanceEtude for chord progressions in the style of All Of Me

    5. 3.3.3 Modern variation for chord progressions in the style of Minor Swing

    6. 3.3.4 Modern variation for ending in the style of Hungaria

    7. 3.4.1 DDU - jumping around - Django's version

    8. 3.4.2 DDU - jumping around - Tchavolo Schmidt's version

    9. 3.5 DUDDSS - virtuoso line-cliché over minor and Dom7b9 chords

    10. 3.6 DUD triplets vs eighths

    11. 3.7.1 DUDSDU dim7 triplet run

    12. 3.7.2 DUDSDU half-dim7 triplet run

    13. 3.8 Etude for chord progression in the style of Minor Swing - Slow #1

    14. 3.9 Etude for chord progression in the style of Minor Swing - Slow #2

    15. 3.10 Etude for chord progression in the style of Minor Swing - Intermediate

    16. 3.11 Etude for chord progression in the style of Minor Swing - Fast #1

    17. 3.12 Etude for chord progression in the style of Minor Swing - Fast #2

    18. 3.13 Summary of Chapter 3

    19. 3.14 Summary of Chapter 3 - Etudes

    20. 3.15 Community Discussion - Ask Questions, Comment and Share Your Thoughts!

    1. 4.1 Introduction

    2. 4.2 Ornament type 1

    3. 4.3 Ornament type 2

    4. 4.4 Ornament type 3

    5. 4.5 Ornament type 4

    6. 4.6 Ornament type 5

    7. 4.7 Mixing ornaments -Balkan etude

    8. 4.8 Bends and slides

    9. 4.9 Vibrato

    10. 4.10 Tremolo

    11. 4.11 From YouTube- Rhythmic Subdivisions and Tremolo

    12. 4.12 Example over chord progression in the style of Dinah

    13. 4.13 Summary of Chapter 4

    14. 4.14 Community Discussion - Ask Questions, Comment and Share Your Thoughts!

    1. 5.1 The chromatic scale

    2. 5.2 Fake chromatic scale

    3. 5.2.2 From YouTube- How to play the chromatic scale

    4. 5.3 Variations with the chromatic scale

    5. 5.4 The Ending cliche

    6. 5.5 “Shout" effect - Chromatic scale with tremolo

    7. 5.6 How to use the chromatic scale in your improvisation

    8. 5.7 Example over Minor Blues chord progression

    9. 5.8 Summary of Chapter 5

    10. 5.9 Community Discussion - Ask Questions, Comment and Share Your Thoughts!

    1. 6.1.1 Half dim for II-V-I

    2. 6.1.2 Example over chord progression in the style of Honeysuckle Rose

    3. 6.2.1 7add9

    4. 6.2.2 Example over chord progression in the style of China Boy

    5. 6.3 7add9 with sweep

    6. 6.4.1 Maj7 - variation#1

    7. 6.4.2 Maj7 - variation#2

    8. 6.4.3 Maj7 - variation#3

    9. 6.5 Etude for chord progression in the style of China Boy

    10. 6.6 A7b9

    11. 6.7.1 I-IIm7-V7

    12. 6.7.2 Etude for chord progression in the style of Coquette

    13. 6.8 Arpeggios with trills and enclosures

    14. 6.9.1 Long run over Dm

    15. 6.9.2 Etude for chord progression in the style of Tchavolo Swing

    16. 6.10.1 Long run over Am

    17. 6.10.2 Etude for chord progression in the style of Joseph Joseph

    18. 6.11 Summary of Chapter 6

    19. 6.12 Summary of Chapter 6 - Etudes

    20. 6.13 Community Discussion - Ask Questions, Comment and Share Your Thoughts!

About this course

  • $489.00
  • 112 lessons
  • 8 hours of video content

FAQ

  • Can I download the course to my computer and save it for life? Do the lessons work on tablet and smartphone?

    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. You can view the course from any device. You just need your email and password to sign in.

  • I have never played Rest-Stroke picking before. Can I really do it?

    Yes! You will learn this picking method very slowly, from the very beginning, with the best exercises and guidance to make sure you do it right. This course will help you master the technique and build a large vocabulary of the most important musical sentences that define this style.

  • I am already an advanced player. What can I gain from this course?

    Lots: You'll improve your technique, learn all the important phrases and licks that make Gypsy Jazz what it is, implement what you learned over your favorite songs with the special etudes in this course and improve your improvisation skills dramatically.

  • 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.

  • 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?

    You have six LIVE lessons with me to make sure you are on the right track so you won't be learning alone. After that 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.

  • I don't have a gypsy guitar. Can I learn this on my classic/ acoustic or electric guitar?

    Yes! Don't ever let your guitar hold you back. Do you know that Django played a concert on a toy guitar once? It happened when he was sure that his brother brought the guitar for him but he didn't. Did you know that Charlie Parker played on a plastic sax because he pawned his instrument for money? So, don't let the guitar stop you. Let the love of music be your guide.

  • Am I going to learn songs in this course?

    You will get lots of improvisation exercises and etudes over many of your favorite songs including: All of Me, Minor Swing, Hungaria, Minor Blues, Honeysuckle Rose, Trillogy, China Boy, Coquette, Tchavolo Swing, Swing Gitan, I'll See You in My Dreams, Dark Eyes.

  • 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.

  • Improvisation

    Build a massive vocabulary of the most important Gypsy Jazz phrases and licks. Improve your improvisation skills with 50 written exercises and 17 written etudes over your favorite songs.

  • Playing

    Implement everything you learn right away over 12 songs: All of Me, Minor Swing, Hungaria, Minor Blues, Honeysuckle Rose, Trillogy,  China Boy, Coquette, Tchavolo Swing, Swing Gitane, I'll See You in My Dreams and Dark Eyes.

Reviews

Joe Medeiros

5 star rating

“I'm 30% through the course but my technique has already improved 100%. The exercises are incredibly well presented and easy to absorb. I've been playing GJ for 3 years but now I finally feel that I am getting a solid foundation in my right hand pl...”

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“I'm 30% through the course but my technique has already improved 100%. The exercises are incredibly well presented and easy to absorb. I've been playing GJ for 3 years but now I finally feel that I am getting a solid foundation in my right hand playing and cleaner, more precise coordination between right and left. I am beyond thrilled to have taken this course and I am totally committed to finishing and mastering every exercise. Thanks for making a definite path through the rugged gypsy jazz wilderness.”

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Francesco Bonini

5 star rating

“I've been working through this course for a few months and I've been seeing massive improvements in my playing. I would definitively recommend this to anyone who wants to understand the mysteries of right hand technique and have a more confident p...”

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“I've been working through this course for a few months and I've been seeing massive improvements in my playing. I would definitively recommend this to anyone who wants to understand the mysteries of right hand technique and have a more confident pick playing. Thank you Yaakov!”

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Matthew Materazzi

5 star rating

“Being a big fan of Yaakov’s teaching method, I had purchased several of his other courses within the last year. I have come along in my playing pretty well, however my technique was still a bit sloppy and it was slowing me down. I was getting disa...”

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“Being a big fan of Yaakov’s teaching method, I had purchased several of his other courses within the last year. I have come along in my playing pretty well, however my technique was still a bit sloppy and it was slowing me down. I was getting disappointed and wondered what was wrong. Behold this course! I was on the fence about making the investment, since I had a lot of material that I had purchased already. This course was just what I needed. Yaakov goes into great depth to explain (essentially what I was doing wrong.) After a mere 2 days of studying the first chapter and applying it to my technique, I can already see the huge difference. Now instead of guessing on my technique and hoping I don’t get hung up on strings, I’m slowing down in order to get the correct feel, and what a great feeling that is. This course can be used to complement his other courses once you have the foundation of the proper technique instilled into you. This course, in my opinion, is his finest one yet.”

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Igo Lanthaler

5 star rating

“Yaakov is the best teacher in the universe. He knows to sift out the elements that are essential for Gipsy jazz and to make them accessible in an understandable way. Because of his great didactic talent and the well-thought-out learning path of cl...”

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“Yaakov is the best teacher in the universe. He knows to sift out the elements that are essential for Gipsy jazz and to make them accessible in an understandable way. Because of his great didactic talent and the well-thought-out learning path of clearly structured lessons you quickly get a feel for the characteristics of Gipsy jazz. You do not get fastfood, not thousands of licks, no trivial instructions to do something in this way and not in the other; but soon you are not only able to develop your own licks in this fascinating idiom of Gipsy jazz - you will be filled with happiness by developing such licks and own improvisations. Yaakov encourages you to get creative and to follow your own way. Thank you Yaakov! by Igo L.”

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דנה רדין

5 star rating

“I'm coming along in this course. I love the clear explanations, the bite-sized lessons and the feeling that everything is leading towards a solid technique and foundation that can be implemented immediately and forever to create music that is mor...”

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“I'm coming along in this course. I love the clear explanations, the bite-sized lessons and the feeling that everything is leading towards a solid technique and foundation that can be implemented immediately and forever to create music that is more beautiful from its very roots. This course is really revolutionizing my playing, probably more than with any other, I really get the feeling that I'm making breakthroughs every day! ”

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Dominic Ward-Horner

5 star rating

“Having completed Yaakov Hoter's Ultimate Gypsy Picking Course I can wholeheartedly recommend this course to any guitar player who wants to develop this technical approach to playing. In this course Yaakov has left absolutely no stone unturned in r...”

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“Having completed Yaakov Hoter's Ultimate Gypsy Picking Course I can wholeheartedly recommend this course to any guitar player who wants to develop this technical approach to playing. In this course Yaakov has left absolutely no stone unturned in revealing exactly how the important function of picking and projecting on a Maccaferri style guitar is done. You will discover how and why Django's magical tone sounded the way that it did. Within the course there are essential details as to motor skills and hand movement that (unless you go and live with Manouche players) you are unlikely to find out in such detail from any other source. Added to which, Yaakov is an afable, creative and highly gifted teacher. I have completed a number of similar courses and I would count this course as one of the best and most essential. What you learn and gain more than compensates for the cost (which is very reasonable!). If you are not familiar with the 'rest stroke' approach to picking this is most definitely the place to start.”

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Volker Reichle

5 star rating

“This course takes you to the secrets of gypsy jazz picking. And it is a long journey. Tons of exercises and etudes have to be discovered. Even in the beginning there are some very hard fingerings and I am not able to play all of the content of the...”

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“This course takes you to the secrets of gypsy jazz picking. And it is a long journey. Tons of exercises and etudes have to be discovered. Even in the beginning there are some very hard fingerings and I am not able to play all of the content of the first 3 chapters properly, after some 6 month of working with that course. But I´m learning every day and Yaakov is there to help with regular webinars, additional videos on YouTube and via E-Mail and Facebook. My guitar playing has improved a lot in the last months and people want to play gypsi jazz tunes with me. And this is a great new experience! ”

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Joe Greenwood

5 star rating

“These lessons are by far the clearest, most methodical explanations of technique I've found. I should state that I'm very much a beginner in this style, but have looked at quite a few online lessons to try to find a method that feels right for me,...”

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“These lessons are by far the clearest, most methodical explanations of technique I've found. I should state that I'm very much a beginner in this style, but have looked at quite a few online lessons to try to find a method that feels right for me, and they've all left me with questions unanswered. Although I'm early in the process of retraining my hands for gypsy jazz, I can already hear a marked improvement in tone.”

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Chase Haggard

5 star rating

“How much does implementing the techniques of the Gypsy Jazz style into your playing mean to you? This is how you can measure how much you will gain from this course. I find myself working with maybe 2 at max techniques or "licks" presented in this...”

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“How much does implementing the techniques of the Gypsy Jazz style into your playing mean to you? This is how you can measure how much you will gain from this course. I find myself working with maybe 2 at max techniques or "licks" presented in this course at a time for a week and a half to 2 weeks straight before moving on. Yaakov's course enable you to "authentically play " Gypsy Jazz if that is your goal but more importantly gives you the tools to apply style specific arrangements, and tonalities to add in an organic way to your style of playing. I have tried alot of online guitar courses (all of them I have cancelled in under a month). The amount of material Yaakov provides in this course (not including the bonus extra's) could last at least a Year to get under my fingers if I was focused on practicing every day. He does not bog you down with un-needed theory but gets you playing in real music situations and also explains very SIMPLY (rare in online courses :]) the theory and math behind the presented technique. If you are willing to work hard and study this material it will become an invaluable tool in adding to your musical vocabulary! AMAZING COURSE”

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Karel van Bezooijen

5 star rating

“I’m about a month in this course now, and though It will take some time before completing, I think I can honestly say, that I made the right decision picking this course at the beginning of my explorations in this style. When I took a few private ...”

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“I’m about a month in this course now, and though It will take some time before completing, I think I can honestly say, that I made the right decision picking this course at the beginning of my explorations in this style. When I took a few private lessons in the recent past, from a very good Gypsy player/teacher, it became evident that I lacked a lot of basic technique/speed/licks, though I could play a bit, which he also admitted. Using this course for just that, is a much more relaxed way of learning for me, then a two-weekly halfhour lesson. I finished the first chapter on pickin’ patterns, and already see a great improvement getting the patterns in my muscle memory, and in building speed. I must say, that the daily repetitions of the exercises, as Yaakov stresses you should do, really pay of. The six live lessons (in this case) are a useful extra. So, as said before, this course is an ideal kickstart in the style! Can hardly wait to see, where may playing will be, after completion of the course, but I’ll take it slowly to get there!”

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Christian Rassi

5 star rating

“Yaakov teaches out of his own experience of learnung and shows us how to master difficult techniques with patience and time (I don't think there are any shortcuts). To me he is THE teacher in Gypsy Jazz guitar technique, a masterful player and ski...”

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“Yaakov teaches out of his own experience of learnung and shows us how to master difficult techniques with patience and time (I don't think there are any shortcuts). To me he is THE teacher in Gypsy Jazz guitar technique, a masterful player and skilled mentor in person.”

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Matthew Materazzi

5 star rating

“Once again Yaakov has given the online community a course that will add much depth and richness to anyone wishing to learn how to swing with authentic gypsy flavor. I have studied from a plethora of online teachers in this genre and I always come ...”

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“Once again Yaakov has given the online community a course that will add much depth and richness to anyone wishing to learn how to swing with authentic gypsy flavor. I have studied from a plethora of online teachers in this genre and I always come back to Yaakov because I consider him to be the standard of what an online instructor in Gypsy Jazz should be. His method is easy to comprehend. He always welcomes questions, feedback and encourages uploads so he can carefully examine your technique and offer you guidance to help you become the best player you can be. Yaakov is a phenomenal player and a natural instructor (a rare combination indeed.) Cheers to Yaakov and all of his students.”

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“Thanks Yaakov, I have searched for many years for an online teacher and you have been the best. You have opened a new world of guitar for me and it is so great to have direction in my learning. I think teaching is an art that is often overlooked but your ability and teaching method is seriously good. These courses are practical, well organised and logical. Thanks a lot from New Zealand. Hector ”

“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. ”

“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.”