Why study Django Reinhardt?

Exploring the Legacy of Django Reinhardt

It's impossible to talk about anything related to the jazz guitar without starting with the original master: Django Reinhardt. He is also recognized as the first great European jazz musician in the history of this music.

Understanding Django's Music

Before we dive into specific techniques, it's crucial to have a foundational understanding of what Django's music is all about. Today, we're going to look at a chord sequence he was very famous for playing throughout his career:

Composition: Nuage
English Translation: Clouds

A Remarkable Life Story

Django Reinhardt's life story is nothing short of extraordinary.

• He was a young, virtuoso banjo player.
• At the age of 18, he got stuck in a caravan fire.
• Coming from a Roma gypsy background, this tragic incident left his left hand, his fingering hand, with only two functional fingers: his ring finger and pinky were glued together and almost completely unusable.

When listening to his music, consider the challenges he overcame. His ability to improvise melodies despite these obstacles is astonishing and adds a powerful dimension to his contribution to jazz.

The Quintet of the Hot Club of France

Django was famous for playing with a group called the Quintet of the Hot Club of France.

• His brother, Joseph, played rhythm guitar.
• The ensemble included the incredible virtuoso violin player Stefan Grappelli.

Together, they made many legendary recordings, including Django's fantastic Nuage. In this piece, Django often used the clarinet. When accompanied by clarinetists, he preferred playing in flat key signatures, which are more suitable for the instrument.

Key of F Major

Today, we will look at this chord sequence in the key of F major, which has one flat: B flat. I've prepared a backing track for you with the chords so you can practice:

• Playing the melody
• Soloing over the chordal backing track

Django's Musical Influence

There is so much to discuss about Django Reinhardt.

• He composed the chord sequence himself.
• Despite being unable to play the larger voicings that his brother Joseph used for accompaniment, he had an exceptional ear for harmony.
• A self-taught musician, he drew inspiration from European classical harmonies reminiscent of composers such as Debussy, Ravel, and other prominent French composers of his time.

Growing up in Belgium and traveling through northern France, he was likely exposed to these influences via radio and local music scenes.

Harmonic Characteristics

Django's music beautifully reflects:

• Chromaticism
• The usage of dominant chords moving around
• An overall impressionistic quality

Conclusion

I hope you enjoy this deep dive into the world of Django Reinhardt! His legacy continues to influence musicians around the globe, and there's so much to learn from his innovative approach to jazz guitar.