Gypsy jazz guitar
Gypsy jazz sounds as if the guitar replaces a whole orchestra: one keeps a springy rhythm, another flies through the chords in fast arpeggios. Below are the chords, scale, techniques and examples you can hear and slow down.
1930s140–240 BPMDm–Gm–A7la pompe
What is gypsy jazz
Gypsy jazz (jazz manouche) appeared in France in the 1930s. Django Reinhardt, a guitarist from a Manouche Romani family, combined American swing with Romani melody. His band played without drums: two rhythm guitars, double bass, violin and lead guitar.
With no drums, the guitar keeps time. Its la pompe stroke sounds like brushes on a snare: a short chord on every beat, accented on two and four. The soloist plays fast arpeggios through the chord tones and chromatic runs.
Signature chords
Dm, Gm, A7 (i, iv, V7 in D minor) is the minor cycle behind much of gypsy jazz. A7 pulls back to Dm. In the rhythm part the chords are played as short shapes on the four thin strings so the stroke stays dry and precise.
Scale for soloing
D harmonic minor suits the solos: like natural minor but with C#. That leading note gives the Romani colour and leads straight to the root. The solo on this page is built almost entirely on chord tones.
Techniques
La pompe
A short chord on every beat, muted at once. Beats two and four are hit harder, with a light upstroke just before them. The result is a springy "boom-CHA, boom-CHA". Listen to the rhythm below.
Arpeggios
Gypsy jazz solos are built on chord tones rather than scales: up one chord, down the next. Over A7 players add B flat for a tense, Romani sound. Tap A7 to hear the chord.
Rest stroke
After each stroke the pick comes to rest on the next string: the sound is louder and fuller, and moving to the lower string costs almost nothing. This gives Django’s fast arpeggios their power.
Gypsy jazz rhythm
Four bars of rhythm: short chords on every beat, accents on two and four, a light upstroke before them. The double bass plays root and fifth. No drums, just like the records.
Gypsy jazz solo
Swung eighths: up the Dm chord to a high F, down Gm, a quick run over A7 with B flat and a long D with vibrato. Start at 60% so your fingers learn the shape of each chord.
Bass part
Gypsy jazz has no drums, so the double bass and the rhythm guitar carry all the swing. Four notes a bar through the chord tones, and the last one approaches the next root by a half step: that is how Dm moves firmly to Gm and A7 returns to Dm.
The guitar plays the genre’s chords quietly underneath: switch it off with the "Guitar" button to hear the bass alone. Bass guitar exercises in the trainer →
The riff opens as a draft: change notes, tempo and tracks however you like.
Open in RiffonicWhat to listen to
Listen to these pieces and pay attention to what is described next to each one.
- Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli - “Minor Swing”. A minor swing where you hear everything at once: la pompe rhythm, violin and guitar arpeggios.
- Django Reinhardt - “Nuages”. A slow piece: long notes, wide vibrato and a gentle melody.
- Django Reinhardt - “Swing 42”. A fast swing with a springy rhythm and light, rapid solo phrases.
Every riff and solo on this page is an original exercise in the style of the genre, not the notes of someone else’s song.
FAQ
How is gypsy jazz different from regular jazz?
Gypsy jazz has no drums; the guitar keeps time with the la pompe stroke. Solos are faster and built on arpeggios and Romani turns, and the sound is acoustic and bright.
What guitar do I need for gypsy jazz?
Traditionally a Selmer-style acoustic with steel strings and a small sound hole. But you can learn on any acoustic guitar.
How do I learn the la pompe rhythm?
First play only beats two and four, short and accented. Then add quiet strokes on one and three, and finally the light upstroke before each accent.