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In this video, Aaron walks you through the simple solo he’s created for “Minor Swing.”
Check out these songs featured in the Gypsy Jazz Mandolin Essentials course.
Learn to play swing and jazz mandolin from scratch, with a step-by-step method for learning swing chord voicings, as well as simple, swingin’, melody-based solos for some of the most popular songs in the jazz and swing repertoire. Designed for newcomers to playing jazz and swing.
In Gypsy Jazz Mandolin Essentials, you'll learn to play swing and jazz mandolin from scratch, with a step-by-step method for learning swing chord voicings, as well as simple, swingin’, melody-based solos for some of the most popular songs in the jazz and swing repertoire. This course is designed for newcomers to playing jazz and swing, and in this video, Aaron talks about what he's going to be doing in his course.
In this first lesson, you’ll learn three basic movable swing voicings for the mandolin: C7, F7, and G7, which are the three chords you’ll need to know to play a blues in the key of C. You’ll also learn to play the basic swing rhythm 4/4 pulse, which involves playing a down stroke on each quarter note and then lifting your fingers so that you damp the second half of the quarter note. Aaron also shows you a simple solo on Duke Ellington’s classic “C Jam Blues,” which, as you might have guessed, is a blues in C.
Django Reinhardt’s classic “Minor Swing” is one of the most popular Gypsy jazz tunes. In this lesson, you’ll learn two new chord voicings (Am and Dm) as well as a simple solo to “Minor Swing.”
Fats Waller’s swing “Honeysuckle Rose” has been recorded by nearly everybody, and the version by Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli and the Hot Club of France is a classic. In this lesson, you’ll learn a new voicing that can function as a minor seven or major chord (in this case, a Gm7 or a Bb) and a solo on “Honeysuckle Rose” composed by Aaron.
To play the swing standard “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” you’ll learn two new chord voicings: G6 and Bb diminished. You’ll also learn a solo composed by Aaron.
“All of Me” is one of the most popular swing and jazz standards. In this lesson, you’ll learn two new voicings (Dm7 and F6) as well as a great single-note solo.
“Sweet Sue” (originally called “Sweet Sue, Just You”) was a popular song in 1928, and soon became a jazz standard. Great early recordings include those by Django Reinhardt and Benny Goodman. You don’t need to learn any new voicings to play “Sweet Sue”; you can use those you’ve already learned.
“Dark Eyes” is a Russian folk song that was written in the mid-1800s. Tommy Dorsey recorded it in 1937 and it became a favorite with Gypsy jazz musicians after Django Reinhardt’s 1940 recording. It’s in the key of D minor and uses chord voicings you’ve already learned.
The Gershwin Brothers’ song “Lady Be Good” is one of the most popular swing and jazz standards, and there are innumerable great versions, including those by Count Basie and Lester Young, Django Reinhardt, and Ella Fitzgerald. It’s usually played in the key of G and uses chord voicings you’ve already learned.
“Daphne” is a classic Gypsy jazz song from Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grapelli, and the Hot Club of France that was recorded in 1938. It’s in the key of D, with a bridge in Eb that repeats the same chord progression as the first two bars of the A part, but in the key of Eb. In this lesson, you’ll learn the rhythm part, which also includes a riff that everyone plays together, as well as a solo composed by Aaron.
“Coquette” is a swing jazz standard that was popular in the 1930s and ’40s. There are notable recordings by Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli, and the Hot Club of France as well as Louis Armstrong and others. Aaron shows you “Coquette” in the key of D and gives you a voicing of a D6 chord that you can use.
“Sweet Georgia Brown” was written in 1925 and went on to become one of the most popular of all jazz standards, played by musicians in nearly all styles of jazz. Aaron shows you the chords, which follow a circle-of-fifths progression, and then gives you a melody-based solo to play.
The swing classic “Undecided” was written in 1938 by Sid Robin and trumpeter Charlie Shavers. There are great versions by Ella Fitzgerald and Django Reinhardt among others. You’ll learn it in the key of Bb, and in addition to giving you a great solo to learn, Aaron shows you a couple of new chord voicings: Ebmaj7 and a version of Bb.
“Pennies from Heaven” is one of the most popular jazz standards. It was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1936 film of the same name, and recorded by Billie Holiday and Django Reinhardt soon after. You’ll learn it in the key of C in this lesson.
The jazz standard “Perdido,” which was written by Duke Ellington’s trombonist Juan Tizol, is played frequently at jam sessions in all kinds of jazz. You’ll learn it in the key of Bb. The chord progression includes what is called a “rhythm changes” bridge, which means that it has the same chord changes as the bridge of the song “I Got Rhythm.” This bridge, which has been used in numerous jazz tunes, is a cycle-of-fourths progression (in Bb, it’s D7–G7–C7–F7). See the attached cycle-of-fourths diagram if you’re unfamiliar with it.
“Satin Doll” is one of Duke Ellington’s most popular songs, and one of the most popular jazz standards. The form of “Satin Doll” is AABA and it includes an unusual signature chord change, with a Db7 resolving to C.
“Deed I Do” is a 1920s jazz standard and was one of Benny Goodman’s first recordings. You’ll learn the chord progression and a melodic solo for “Deed I Do” in the key of F.
“Exactly Like You” was written by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields in 1930 and has since become one of the most played jazz and swing standards, especially by Hot Club–style groups and singers. There are memorable recorded versions by Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Django Reinhardt, Ella Fitzgerald, and many others.
“If I Had You” was written in 1928 by two English songwriters and quickly became a jazz standard, with recordings by Benny Goodman, Nat King Cole, Django Reinhardt, and hundreds of others.
