Gypsy Swing

What’s it about?

Understand the inner workings of swing in a gypsy jazz setting, with its fast-paced bounce and ferocious lead lines.

Based on the standard “After You’ve Gone”, Olli Soikelli shows you how Django made the most of his limitations, and how they influenced his way of playing, but the genre as a whole.

The traditional backing has been replaced by an even more traditional rhythm track, performed by Olli himself, giving you a more authentic feel for the style. Along with an improvised solo, lessons, licks, a PDF study guide and tab/notation, there is everything you need to gain a complete understanding of this exciting and colourful gypsy jazz world.

What will I learn?

Olli uncovers the shroud of mystery that surrounds Django and his approach to swing.

But before you jump into the lead, you have to nail the rhythm. Cement your internal clock, build up the pace and understand the tricks of the trade for playing with other musicians.

When the time to shred comes, you’ll gain insights into chord voicings, diminished runs and how chromatics can help you connect arpeggios. With double stops, “slurred phrases” and vibrato aplenty, there is a lot to absorb for players of all backgrounds.

What theory is covered?

• Diminished
• Chromatics
• Chord tones
• Moving from dominant to minor

What techniques are covered?

• Thumb fretting
• Up strokes
• Tremolo Picking
• Alternate Picking
• Vibrato

Who is this for?

Understand the work of the grandfather of gypsy jazz, by learning from a modern master of the style. This is for players looking to channel some tried and tested nuance into their playing.