Improvising in the Style of Django Reinhardt

In this lesson, we're going to explore how to improvise in the style of Django Reinhardt over a chord sequence. Django was famous for a variety of techniques and melodic ideas that he employed throughout his career.

Key Techniques

1. Fast Vibrato

• Django was renowned for his very fast vibrato on the melody notes.
• For example, if he was playing an A on the 10th fret of the B string, he wouldn't just play it plainly.
• He might use this fast vibrato in the left hand, which can be heard throughout his recordings, particularly if you preface it with the F major scale.

Try This:

• Play the F major scale from octave A to A and hear how Django would finish it.
• This fast vibrato adds sustain to long notes, anchoring the sound in Django's style.

2. Arpeggiated Playing Style

• Django often played in a very arpeggiated style.
• For instance, over a D flat seventh or a D flat ninth, he would play beautiful arpeggios starting on the third.

Example:

• Articulate the 3, 5, 7, 9, and then descend using the 6th to the 5th. This works nicely over D flat 7 and can be mirrored on C7 to resolve nicely to F major.

3. Use of Chromaticism

• Another hallmark of Django's playing is light chromaticism between chord tones.
• To get from the third to the fifth of F major, Django might play it using the flat third (the bluesy A flat):

Sample Phrase:

• "F - A - A flat"
• This sound is bluesy and chromatic while still outlining an F major sound.

4. Enclosures of Chord Tones

• Django often used enclosures of chord tones.
• For example, surrounding the notes of the chord F, A, and C with additional melody notes.

Example Phrase:

• This can be very ergonomic on the guitar and allows for fluid phrasing. When played correctly, it easily flows off the fingers.

Applying Techniques to Chord Progressions

Example Chord Sequence:

• Start with D flat seventh.
• Transition to C7, then resolve to F major.

Minor Chord Sequences

Shifting to the relative minor, the chord sequence often moves to D minor, using 2, 5 transitions like E half diminished to A7, then resolving to D minor.

• Musicians like Django used alternating arpeggios between dominant and tonic chords, cycling between seventh and D minor for a cohesive sound.

Breakdown of the Technique:

1. Start with an A7 flat ninth arpeggio (starting on A C sharp).
2. Move to a D minor arpeggio (starting on F).
3. Repeat with octaves, resolving to the D minor's third.

Chord Sequence:
This creates a wonderfully flowing sequence.

Playing Variations

• If you want to play slower, you can simply elongate the phrases.
• For a faster tempo, consider using triplets.

These techniques allow for a rich tapestry of sound, drawing on Django's influences while ensuring your improvisation retains that characteristic swing and flair.

Final Thought

Through these techniques, you can embody the spirit of Django Reinhardt and enrich your improvisational vocabulary. Happy playing!