....another newb to grace your presence...

psychebilly

I've been lurking for awhile, and finally got the gumption to join and post.


Several years ago, I was watching a cooking show (of all things), and as the chef was doing her thing, the background music was someone's interpretation of "Minor Swing", although I didn't know it at the time. I was hooked. After some Internet-ing and my mind being subsequently blown, I started my quest to embrace and learn this beautiful music.


About me: I've been playing since age 4 (more than 40 years), so I've lived and learned guitar my entire life. Mostly Rock and Blues (and a few years in the late 80's with a certain style of music from L.A. :> ). I work for a company that makes guitars, so when I'm not playing guitar at home or at gigs, I get to play guitar at work. 8-} So, needless to say, I think I should buy stock in YouTube for all the GJ I've watched, listened, learned, and played along with while "testing" a newly-built guitar.... :eyes:

I appreciate melody & harmony alot, and to me, that's one of the best things about GJ. Being "good" on guitar, no matter what the style, isn't all about technique; at some point, you have to have something to say with melody and feel. Just ask BB King or Dickey Betts. Granted, GJ requires a certain amount of technical prowess, but some of the sweetest phrases are not blazing scales or arpeggios, but simple melodic lines over beautiful chords, and even in the silence between the notes...

There are so many GJ guitarists out there who are amazing, but I think my favorite since I started listening in earnest is Gonzalo. He has all the speed and technique he needs, but I find him more melodic and a slow-hand when it's called for than most. I won't name any names, but one of the things that makes me smile widest is when 'G' is jamming with a more-technical guitarist, and he responds with a simple melodic line...IMHO....I understand the mastery of Bireli and the Rosenbergs, it's certainly impressive, but melody, that's what bends my ear the most. Also the 'D' and 'G' stings twanging' out in the middle of the neck when you hit 'em just right...

Other things I like about GJ is its emotion and fire, even in a ballad. I read another person's post about GJ being very regimented (well, that's what I got out of the post, maybe I didn't read it the way it was intended), but I find GJ the exact opposite...GJ is incredibly free and open. With no rules...maybe just 'guidelines'... :ar!

My biggest stumbling blocks are un-learning 40 years of Blues/Rock right-hand technique and using GJ right-hand rest stroke...I know it's just a muscle-memory thing and time with practice...but, it's difficult for an old dog to break out of the pentatonic box with a right hand like a rusty gate....

So, thanks for letting me ramble...great forum, lots of great information...

But enough of my yappin'....let's boogie...

MichaelHorowitz

@psychebilly welcome to forum! Enjoy your journey through the exciting and beautiful world of Gypsy jazz.

Jazzaferri

Welcome......you will find the members here a great group of people, a huge resource of history, technique and musical knowledge. Glad to have you part of our community.

I spent a few months several years ago playing everything downstroke only to break old alternate hybrid habits. Worked pretty well for me.

Jim Kaznosky

Welcome to the forum (and to the music). Gonzalo is one of my favorites as well, mainly for the reasons you already stated. His books (How I Learned Vols. 1 & 2) are excellent and I recommend them highly, if you can find them.