Gypsy Fire — DjangoBooks Forum

A free interactive tool for gypsy jazz — arpeggios, chords, play-along standards

axel — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 11:07:56 +0000

Hello everyone, long-time lurker here. I'm a software engineer learning gypsy jazz, and I built a free tool to help me practice. Sharing it in case it's useful to others.

Haute Gitanerie https://www.haute-gitanerie.com. It's free, no signup, no ads, works offline, bilingual EN/FR:

- Arpeggios in any key across the whole neck — compact position boxes or the long diagonal manouche forms.

- Compare two arpeggios: overlay them to see the shared tones between chords (useful for lines over changes).

- Real gypsy chord voicings (m6, 6/9, dim, m7b5, and so on).

- The standards with a metronome and play-along: a chord ribbon that scrolls with the tune, transpose to any key, adjust the tempo.

- On the neck view you see the current and next chord, and can overlay their arpeggios.

- New: you can build your own tune charts and submit them to add to the library.

It is a living project. A few diagonal fingerings are still marked work-in-progress while I confirm the idiomatic shapes (i'm quite a beginner in the style), and the repertoire is small but growing. I would genuinely value corrections from players who know more than I do.

I am not selling anything; Except my socials (insta / youtube) where i share mostly other musicians playing. I am a player/builder doing this for the love of it. Feedback, wrong shapes, tunes you would like added : all very welcome. Thanks, and thanks for this forum, it has been a huge resource.

---

Update:

Quick fix went out 🙌 If you sent a musician profile or feedback recently and didn't hear back, it wasn't you — a submission bug ate it. Just resend, it works now. Merci! 🙏

jimmy and frank

rarely_plays — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:54:20 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds_VXmOuokM

cool

Gypsy Jazz in the new Mandalorian and Grogu movie!

MichaelHorowitz — Mon, 18 May 2026 00:37:12 +0000

Andreas’ long awaited return to Gypsy guitar in the new Mandalorian and Grogu film!

https://open.spotify.com/track/5r3r4nB3FvD9h7riFbZEO4?si=Dx_N_VlPQ_KcFGxtMdrYkA

Django Shred!!!

opus20000 — Sun, 25 May 2025 03:29:54 +0000

https://youtu.be/-VXMqI_k8Z8?si=-hLQce46ItcWfy-0

Andreas Oberg ,Gypsy Fire - picking

opus20000 — Sun, 20 Aug 2023 18:05:08 +0000

I know this book was a discussion here years ago, but l just came across it.

I know Oberg is an alternative picker. The videos l see of him playing gypsy jazz, he does just that, and sounds good doing it.

I point this out, because there's no way to play some of those descending licks on "Shine" that fast and clean, as it is in the book recording, with gypsy picking pattens shown in that book transcription.

Andreas Online Guitar School!

AndreasOberg — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 11:54:14 +0000

Hey, I'm about to launch a new guitar site/community (January 2009) where people can study guitar with me online. You can download my videos (all levels, many styles) and also upload your own videos and get feedback from me. Check it out! All the best Andreas ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Andreas Guitar Universe [url]http://www.andreasguitaruniverse.com[/url] Type: Entertainment & Arts - Online Media Description: Andreas Oberg Guitar Universe is a new guitar site/community based on new patented technology that enables video exchange lessons with Andreas online. Andreas and ArtistWorks, (a Napa based company) are business partners and the site will be launched in Jan 09. ArtistWorks was founded by David and Patricia Butler. David Butler was one of the primary people at AOL, America Online while the company grew from 100 to over 25 000 employes. Andreas Oberg is a well known Swedish guitarist who has performed world wide with artists like Les Paul, Eros Ramazzotti and Barbara Hendricks, just to name a few. The concept of Andreas' online guitar school is that students will watch pre-recorded lessons, and work on the material Andreas presents. The lessons cover many styles like blues, jazz, rock etc, and there are lessons for beginners all the way up to very advanced players. At various points in the lessons, Andreas invites students to record short videos of themselves playing assignments (using any webcam camera). Andreas will review these student-submitted videos, and provide feedback to the student to help them improve. These exchanges between Andreas and the students are posted for all the students to see. In that way all students will benefit. By working with real students, his guitar method will be further fleshed-out and enhanced, and more and more material will be added to the online guitar school over time. The guitar method is progressive, and the first block of lessons begins at an extremely basic level (he even explains how to tune a guitar), chords, barre chords, etc. In a second group of lessons he teaches the guitar techniques used in pop, rock, and blues, focusing on pentatonic scales as the foundation of soloing in those types of music. His grasp of the guitar is encyclopedic, to the point where he even gives a couple of lessons on Chet Atkins fingerstyle guitar. A third block of lessons covers basic jazz and jazz guitar technique. Andreas' approach is very focused, and has a personal view on improvisation (combining ear training and theory). Andreas is formally trained at the Swedish Music Academy, and he is comfortable with the academic approach to teaching improvisation. Also, Andreas teaches his students to see the "whole" fret board of the guitar, rather than what he describes as "boxes" (fingerings). You see this when you watch him perform; he plays lines up and down the fretboard in a totally effortless manor. The fourth block continues with advanced jazz guitar concepts, and much more advanced concepts of improvisation and chord extensions. The final block is Gypsy guitar style. Andreas explains how Django Reinhardt's music style developed, and the techniques which underlined his playing. Other features on the site will have information and entertainment, including interviews, performance footage from Andreas concerts, and more. With Andreas' nationality and reach, his online school will be an international hub of guitarists, an online brotherhood and sisterhood of guitarists. Andreas enjoys teaching students at all levels, including beginners, and he travels the world constantly. The Andreas Oberg Guitar Universe will host this international guitar community, providing a gathering place and offering community features such as forums, audio and video chat for guitarists all over the world. Andreas is particularly interested in the fact that guitarists will be able to share ideas and exchange music on his site. The pricing will be very reasonable to make it easy for guitarists all over the world to enroll. Visit [url=http://www.andreasguitaruniverse.com]http://www.andreasguitaruniverse.com[/url] and submit your e-mail for info on launching date and updates!

Recording not the same as tab/notation!

kjguitar87 — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:23:41 +0000

Hi,

Just registered here so I could point out an interesting "mistake" I found while playing along to the Gypsy Fire recordings...

At bar 37 (beginning of 3rd chorus) of Minor Swing, the notation and tab both show minor6 arpeggios (Am6 & Dm6). On the recordings of the solo Andreas plays diminished arpeggios instead.

Based on the info in the licks section of the book I'm assuming the written minor 6 arpeggios were the intended versions, although the diminished runs over the progression sound great anyway!

Would be interesting to hear more about this, and to see if anyone has noticed anything similar elsewhere in the book.

Cheers,
Kyle

A mistake?

sjl — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:36:03 +0000

In the example 17.2 of the book it is said that the lick is about an A9 arpeggio, but for me is a C#m7b5 arpeggio.
Am I wrong?

fingering on shine

kungfumonk007 — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:57:30 +0000

Measure 19 would it be easier to play beat 2 - 4th finger, then 2nd finger, leaving your finger open for beat 3 to use the first finger so you don't have to make that jump on the first finger. Am I missing the reasoning behind the indicated fingering?

Just for fun!

matty42 — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:32:41 +0000

Hi! Just a little something to try if you want... While playing the solo for "China Boy" the other day I made a little mistake, but it sounded real cool. In measure 36, after the triplet, instead of playing the A on the 7th fret 4th string, hit the A-flat 6th 4th string. Sounds real cool. I haven't taken the time to figure out why, but it's probably like a bluesy seventh or something. Try it out! You may dig it too.

What does it feel like to play this lick at speed?

Lango-Django — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 12:09:32 +0000

I'm trying to learn this great classic GJ lick from Andreas Oberg's "Gypsy Fire":

I can only play it accurately at half-speed, but I'm going to keep on this one... it seems to me to be just one of those licks that is the mark of a real GJ expert... I'd like to put it in tab here for everyone to see but I don't want to get into copyright violation territory... I feel guilty enough just posting the sound clip here but since it's just a couple of bars I hope Andreas won't mind... Anyway, I think anyone who can actually play this lick won't really need a tab; and those that can't play it may be inspired to purchase "Gypsy Fire"...

Anyway, I'd just like to ask Andreas--- and anyone else out there with the chops to play this at full (200 bpm) speed--- could you please tell me what you notice about your left hand as you are playing this?

For example, do you consciously keep your fingers close as possible to the fingerboard? Or tilt your left hand backwards? or forwards?

What finger do you use for the higher note on each string, the third or the pinky? Or do you use your middle finger like Django must've had to do? Or once you've mastered it, can you then decide to use just any old finger you want to?

And what kind of maniacal practice routine would you recommend to gain speed and accuracy so even humble bumbler like yours truly can one day master this at full speed?

Andreas meets Gary Potter

Phil — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 10:14:13 +0000

Here's a wonderful clip, that I captured, of Andreas and Gary rehearsing prior to their gig at
IGGF 2008; Andreas, hope you don't mind me posting as it shows the joy that both you and Gary have in playing this great music. If you wish me to remove this, please send me a pm...
all the best and cheers Phil

http://www.youtube.com/user/Gypsyjazzwe ... DRgk3Ot4W4

Andreas meets Gonzalo!

Phil — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 08:33:49 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gf200Py ... _embedded#

Andreas meets Jimmy Bruno

AndreasOberg — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 03:24:34 +0000

Check out these episodes on you tube, this is the first one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkdybxNkjMs

best regards andreas

Django's Tiger with Hot Club de Norwege

bluetrain — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:25:07 +0000

Hi.

I've been listening a lot of Jimmy Rosenberg's record "Django's Tiger (swinging with Hot Club de Norwege)" from Spotify and I understood that you play solo guitar on that record as well. I love the record!!.. very swinging playing with the whole band. What guitar are you using on that record? If I had to do a blindfold test I wouldn't be able to say which is your soloing and which is Jimmy Rosenbergs.. Now that I know that your playing is panned on the right channel I have to say that I thought it was the other way around..

By the way, I heard your gig with two finnish players Raul Mannola and Timo Lehto here in Tampere about one year ago. Any plans coming here again in next year?

Regards,
Tomi Kettunen

new book/featuring andreas on guitar

AndreasOberg — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:11:01 +0000

new instructional book about gettin' started with gypsy guitar by german guitarist/teacher manfred fuchs. i play on the cd that comes along with the book, improvising over manfreds original songs.

https://shoppingcart.djangobooks.com/it ... kshop.html

regards andreas

Selling my Purple AJL guitar

AndreasOberg — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:43:11 +0000

Hey,
Since I'm now using the AJL XO -model, I've decided to sell my one of a kind AJL Andreas Oberg Deep Purple 2007.

The guitar is in great condition! contact me: mail@andreas-oberg.com

Price: 4000 euro or 5000 dollars

http://www.ajl-guitars.com/custom.html (pictures)

"Model Andreas Öberg Deep Purple 2007
This is Andreas Öberg's personal guitar, designed together with him to his personal use. The Guitar is a D-hole variation of Model Andreas Öberg with special "Deep Purple" colour.
It’s based to Favino size & body shape. Andreas wanted to cut some high frequencies & overtones, without losing power from high strings. He also wanted lots of bass response. This D-hole variation is the loudest of all models.
Rosette is made of same brown abalone-imitation as it's AJL-tuner knobs and the tailpiece inlay.
Sides and back are made of laminated birds-eye maple. It has a three piece maple neck with two contrasting rosewood stripes."

Best Regards
Andreas

ANDREASGUITARUNIVERSE.COM OPENS TODAY

AndreasOberg — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:35:37 +0000

http://www.andreasguitaruniverse.com is now officially open!!!!

You're all welcome to visit the site and sign up for guitar studies with me through video exchange lessons. All levels, many styles Introduction price, only 60 dollars for a three month membership.

Regards Andreas

about improvisation

Tonton — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 05:26:38 +0000

hi andreas !! I want to ask you this question: Apart from the melody, do you think in notes names when you improvise?

Because a few days ago I realize that I don't think in notes names... I can quikly find the note but in the moment of playing I only think in the sound.

thanks a lot !!! Adelmo

Achieving Neck Independence

alehrman — Sun, 24 May 2009 19:56:51 +0000

Hi Andreas,

I just discovered this website after sending you that email through youtube...this place is pretty cool! My question is probably one that gets brought up a lot, but I'm curious about what you have to say. I constantly get stuck in "boxes" on the guitar...that is to say my fingers are limiting how I express myself. I talked to Richard Davis about this, but the best he could do was refer me to Barry Harris or Bill Dobbins "The Contemporary Jazz Pianist" books. While they are both great teachers, and I have Dobbins book and it is great for advancing theory, I am curious to know if you know of any books, videos, teachers, etc that could help me get out of the "boxes." Thanks so much for your time.

Sincerely
Alec

video, andreas french trio

AndreasOberg — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 01:21:12 +0000

from grenoble jazz fest, march 12, 2009!
enjoy regards a

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cluKhZpyvA

Andreas w. Bireli & Stochelo in Paris

AndreasOberg — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:13:05 +0000

Django Symphonique - Cirque d´Hiver

Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra • Biréli Lagrène • Stochelo Rosenberg • Florin Niculescu • Andreas Öberg • 12. 13. & 14. février 2009 à 21h • Cirque d´Hiver Bouglione • 110, rue Amelot, Paris 11° • Métro Filles du Calvaire • Tickets au FNAC, Carrefour, Virgin, Auchan

Welcome, regards
Andreas

My first hearing of Gypsy Fire yesterday

Lango-Django — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:25:45 +0000

Hi Andreas,

Gypsy Fire arrived yesterday, so I started listening to the CD before attempting anything else, as suggested on page 1...

First reaction--- there are a lot of great licks in there that I'll plan to learn and use, but in China Boy, there was just a simple little phrase that really knocked me out, and I'd like to ask you about it.

This lovely phrase occurs in the first "B" part of China Boy, bars 5-6-7. (It's written out on page 22 of the book.) It's not hard to play, in fact it's all eighth notes, all downstrokes, and played with a bit of vibrato.

But what an odd and unexpected sound! It sort of reminded me of a phrase from some symphony or other... I've been trying to figure out which... perhaps Tchaikovsky, somewhere from the Nutcracker Suite?

Andreas, would you be so good as to enlighten me on where this phrase came from? Did you make it up, or is it taken from Django, or another gypsy player?

See, I may be a bit of an odd duck, but this is the kind of stuff that impresses me more than all the dazzling arpeggios which you play at such amazing tempos.

After hearing the passage, I had to look it up in the book and see how it was done, and was amazed to find that although it was fairly simple to play, it was not a musical choice that I would ever have made myself?

(And this is what I REALLY want some insight from you about....)

Andreas, why did you choose a pattern of mostly F and C notes to play over an Eb7 chord?

Was it a mathematical decision ("OK, time to use some 9ths and 13ths!"?)

Or was it just an intuitive choice?

Or was it a carefully planned choice, like you heard the pattern somewher else and decided to incorporate it into your solo?

See, for me as an improvisor, what I'd really like to master isn't so much dazzling arpeggios as being able to invent wonderful stuff like this... so any enlightenment you can offer would be gratefully appreciated.

Will Wilson
Niagara-On-The-Lake, ON

PS Oh yeah, forgot to mention: the first three bars of the China Boy solo has another simple pattern which is almost as tasty as the one discussed above, so I'd like to ask you all the same questions about that one, too!

Thirds and sixths...?

Lango-Django — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 06:54:54 +0000

Happy Boxing Day!

Just wondering if gypsyjazz players have an inside track on playing thirds and sixths?

For example, to my way of thinking, sixths seem to demand to be played on the same pair of strings all the way up the neck...

...while thirds can, with equal logic, be played that way or on different pairs of strings?

Or perhaps GJ players just aren't interested in thirds or sixths, a sound which to my ears seems more identified with Latin-style music?

Please enlighten-

Will Wilson
Niagara-On-The-Lake, ON

Andreas w. Bireli and Florin live on thursday

AndreasOberg — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:16:59 +0000

Hi, You're very welcome to the concert in Victoria Hall, Geneve on Thursday night! All the best Andreas ---------------------------------------------- December 2008 Orchestre de Suisse Romande will perform Django Symphonique in great surronding in Victoria Hall, Genéve. Solists Biréli Lagrène and Florin Niculescu will be joined by Christian Escoudé and Andreas Oberg for this special occation. Andreas is also in the rhythm section together with Svein Aarbostad on bass. Conducted by Helge Sundo.

My new album released

AndreasOberg — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 06:42:22 +0000

My new bebop-album "Young Jazz Guitarist" was released today in Scandinavia. I've updated my website with 3 new clips from the CD and also new one clip of me playing gypsy jazz.

The CD can be ordered on the internet soon, I'll update with a link next week. Listen to the samples from the CD and let me know what you think :roll:

Best Regards
Andreas

Videos: Andreas w. Larry Coryell and Hot Plub Pacific

AndreasOberg — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:06:42 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq7mRf3qjRo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRaM0euH ... re=related

From Djangofest NW 2007, enjoy!

Regards Andreas

SELLING TWO OF MY GUITARS!

AndreasOberg — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:53:19 +0000

Hey,
Since I now endorese Benedetto archtops and have a new AJL gypsy guitar, I'm selling two of my old AJL guitars:

1. AJL ANDREAS OBERG ARCHTOP 2006 (Blond)
Price: 4000 Euro
This is one has the most expensive materials and details and probably the loudest sounding archtop you've ever heard! Guitar comes with a Hiscox hardcase.

More info:
http://www.ajl-guitars.com/archtop.htm

2. AJL ANDREAS OBERG GYPSY GUITAR 2003 (The first and original Andreas Oberg model used on the "Andreas invites" CD)
Price: 2800 Euro
This one has a quite unique look, especially the back and sides and one of the best Selmer replicas that AJL has made. Guitar made by Brasilian rosewood, comes with a fiber glass case.

Pictures of an identical guitar earlier sold:
http://www.vintage-guitars.se/2003_AJL_A_Oberg_032.htm

I'm coming to the US in Oct/Nov (both east and west coast) so I can bring any of these I someone wants to buy them).

PM or e-mail me at mail@andreas-oberg.com
Best Regards
Andreas

Andreas @ Django Birdland 2008

AndreasOberg — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 02:43:59 +0000

I have the pleasure of playing at Birdland in November, check out the details below. All the best Andreas ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Django Reinhardt NY Festival Featuring “The Young Lions of Gypsy Jazz” 9th year at Birdland – Nov. 4 – 9 – It’s Hot Hot! The Django Reinhardt NY Festival carries on the legacy of the virtuoso gypsy guitarist DJANGO REINHARDT and his ‘hot swing’ style of playing that started a musical revolution in France and the world in the 30’s and 40’s when he teamed with master Jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli in the Hot Club Quintette! The Festival, produced by Pat Philips and Ettore Stratta, goes into gear with a sizzling cast featuring young players. Many of “The Young Lions of Gypsy Jazz” come from Europe starting with SAMSON SCHMITT from France, son of legendary gypsy guitarist DORADO SCMITT – this year Samson comes on his own. ANDREAS OBERG hails from Sweden and is a virtuoso ‘rock star’ of the gypsy guitar. We are delighted to present him at the Festival for the first time on the heels of his new CD just out on Resonance Records. LUDOVIC BEIER, a regular from Paris, is an accordion and accordina master along with being an accomplished Composer… a bright star on the horizon! Joining the band is TIMBO, French swing violinist and regular of Samson’s band in Europe along with 18-year old BRONSON, rhythm player and younger brother of Samson coming to the US for the first time. KRUNO SPISIC, from Philadelphia, a swinging gypsy guitar player, with movie-star appeal, returns to Birdland to wow the audiences. Add to all this the new American gypsy band, The HOT CLUB of DETROIT made up of 5 young musicians who have deep Jazz Gypsy roots and swing like mad! Their new CD is on Mack Avenue Records. The veteran of the group is bassist BRIAN TORFF. He plays a mean bass and holds everything together as Musical Director. Every year, we have a Jazz great from this side of the ocean as a Special Guest each night including JOEL FRAHM who plays the sax as hot hot as it can be. EDMAR CASTANEDA, virtuoso on the Colombian Jazz Harp, brings an original excitement to the music. HOWARD LEVY is a Harmonica Master (classical and Jazz) whose rip-roaring technique and personality are a great match for the gypsies. It will be a ‘first’ with WYCLIFFE GORDON, trombonist, playing the music of Django, with his special magic, as will DAVID LANGLOIS who plays the ‘washboards,’ an unusual percussion instrument that is great fun! The Django Reinhardt NY Festival is known for ‘hot swinging/romantic ‘ music in the style of Django Reinhardt. There will be smiles on and offstage, sheer joy, original collaborations, …and most importantly, gypsy swing on the highest level. Schedule: Nov. 4,5,6: Samson Schmitt, Andreas Oberg, Ludovic Beier, Kruno Spisic, Bronson, Timbo, Brian Torff + Joel Frahm (4th), Howard Levy (5th), Wycliffe Gordon (6th) Nov. 7,8,9: Samson, Ludovic, Kruno, Bronson, Timbo, Brian and The Hot Club of Detroit + Edmar Castaneda (7th), Joel Frahm (8th) David Langlois (9th). Participating Sponsors: RD WRIGHT Inc., MACK AVENUE Records, JOHN PEARSE STRINGS, MANOUCHE GUITARS, ROLAND US . BIRDLAND: 315 W. 44th Street, (good food - validated parking nearby) Reservations 212 581 3080 or [url=http://www.birdlandjazz.com]www.birdlandjazz.com[/url] shows 8:30 & 11 pm $45 orchestra seating - $35 general admission [url=http://www.djangobirdland.com]www.djangobirdland.com[/url] for more info

Video: Andreas (scat vocals) with Stu Hamm & Danny Gottl

AndreasOberg — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 05:01:10 +0000

http://truefire.com/tftv/index.html?cha ... 9_andreas2

Enjoy!
Regards Andreas