Biography:
Jean "Django" Reinhardt (23 January 1910 - 16 May 1953) was a Belgian guitarist and composer credited with popularizing Gypsy jazz, as well as conceptualizing the style together with several other Gypsy musicians. Reinhardt's nickname purportedly means "I Awake" in the Romani language, however it may also simply have been a diminutive, or local Walloon version, of "Jean". He severely injured two of the digits on his left hand as a youth, and changed his guitar playing style to adapt to his handicap.
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Because of Django's disfigurement of his left hand he effectively only had the use of
thumb, first and second digits. So he had to play chords using these only. It has been
though that he was able in some instances to bring his disfigured fingers into play. We
will be using all of ours.
Django had to find a method of playing chords with his disfigurement. So he substituted
normal fingering to triads.
The triad is an inherently easy chord to play, and when used imaginatively can be used
great effect. Especially at speed.
I don't know if you are familiar with these chords but they are essential to get that
feel.
They all can be transposed up and down the neck as required.
I've always found when learning chords that putting them into context with a tune makes
task a little easier. So I'll first show you the chord shapes to the tune:
A Maj
E *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
B *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
G !-----!-----!--3--!-----!
D !-(1)-!-----!-----!-----!
A *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
E !-----!-----!--2--!-----!
7th
Cm6
E *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
B *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
G !-----!--3--!-----!-----!
D !--1--!-----!-----!-----!
A *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
E !-----!-(2)-!-----!-----!
7th
GMaj
E *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
B *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
G !-----!-----!--3--!-----!
D !-(1)-!-----!-----!-----!
A *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
E !-----!-----!--2--!-----!
5th
Bbm6
E *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
B *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
G !-----!--3--!-----!-----!
D !--1--!-----!-----!-----!
A *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
E !-----!-(2)-!-----!-----!
5th
Am6
E *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
B *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
G !-----!--3--!-----!-----!
D !--1--!-----!-----!-----!
A *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
E !-----!-(2)-!-----!-----!
4th
D7
E *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
B *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
G !-----!--3--!-----!-----!
D !--1--!-----!-----!-----!
A !-----!-(2)-!-----!-----!
E *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
4th
G6/9
E !-----!--3--!-----!-----!
B !-----!--3--!-----!-----!
G !--1--!-----!-----!-----!
D !-----!-(2)-!-----!-----!
A !-----!--2--!-----!-----!
E *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
4th
The Ab6/9 is the last chord (G6/9) slid up one fret. Then up one more for the A6/9
AMaj Cm6 GMaj Bbm6 Am6 D7
Rpt
// // // // // // ////
Ab6/9 A6/9
//// ////
AMaj Cm6 GMaj Bbm6 Am6 D7 G6/9
// // // // // // ////
thumb, first and second digits. So he had to play chords using these only. It has been
though that he was able in some instances to bring his disfigured fingers into play. We
will be using all of ours.
Django had to find a method of playing chords with his disfigurement. So he substituted
normal fingering to triads.
The triad is an inherently easy chord to play, and when used imaginatively can be used
great effect. Especially at speed.
I don't know if you are familiar with these chords but they are essential to get that
feel.
They all can be transposed up and down the neck as required.
I've always found when learning chords that putting them into context with a tune makes
task a little easier. So I'll first show you the chord shapes to the tune:
A Maj
E *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
B *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
G !-----!-----!--3--!-----!
D !-(1)-!-----!-----!-----!
A *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
E !-----!-----!--2--!-----!
7th
Cm6
E *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
B *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
G !-----!--3--!-----!-----!
D !--1--!-----!-----!-----!
A *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
E !-----!-(2)-!-----!-----!
7th
GMaj
E *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
B *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
G !-----!-----!--3--!-----!
D !-(1)-!-----!-----!-----!
A *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
E !-----!-----!--2--!-----!
5th
Bbm6
E *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
B *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
G !-----!--3--!-----!-----!
D !--1--!-----!-----!-----!
A *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
E !-----!-(2)-!-----!-----!
5th
Am6
E *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
B *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
G !-----!--3--!-----!-----!
D !--1--!-----!-----!-----!
A *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
E !-----!-(2)-!-----!-----!
4th
D7
E *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
B *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
G !-----!--3--!-----!-----!
D !--1--!-----!-----!-----!
A !-----!-(2)-!-----!-----!
E *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
4th
G6/9
E !-----!--3--!-----!-----!
B !-----!--3--!-----!-----!
G !--1--!-----!-----!-----!
D !-----!-(2)-!-----!-----!
A !-----!--2--!-----!-----!
E *!-----!-----!-----!-----!
4th
The Ab6/9 is the last chord (G6/9) slid up one fret. Then up one more for the A6/9
AMaj Cm6 GMaj Bbm6 Am6 D7
Rpt
// // // // // // ////
Ab6/9 A6/9
//// ////
AMaj Cm6 GMaj Bbm6 Am6 D7 G6/9
// // // // // // ////
Dnce
Do
Do As Infinity
Dobie Gray
Doc Gyneco