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I'm intrigued by the CVH 1930s Django book, but I have limited funds. Would I be getting much of the same knowledge /exercises that you get in Book 2? Chief says Book 2 is for newcomers, but I've been playing this music for several years. Or is Book 2 the safest place to start regardless of your level? Thanks!
I've had this same thought. If you like the sound of 1930s Django, I'd say choose that one if you think it would keep you playing more. Considering how difficult some of this work is and the amount of time you will need to dedicate to it, I'd say that extra familiarity might be enticing enough for you to stick with it. Or, do check out the Just a Dude Practicing channel above (learning Book 2...the videos in the 2024 timeframe I believe). Listen to the phrases he's working on. If they inspire you, and you feel they are vocabulary you'd want to add to your playing, do that one. Make sense?
Yes, very helpful. Thanks.
You can do whatever book suits you. It absolutely is a shitload of work (that's part of the point...it's a means to get you to practice more actual hours) so yeah you can do whichever book most appeals to you. He also has a 40s Django book coming out shortly I think. Late Django?
I think @DoubleWhisky did the 30s Django book.
More of us have done book II but partially because it's been around the longest (book I not having the discord). It's great and kind of a smorgasbord. No regrets.
For me book II also gave me a feeling of having enough material that I feel like I can now go and transcribe stuff that really appeals to me and apply it which is fucking awesome.
Thanks, Paul. Will take the plunge. Might as well wait till Black Friday to see if there are deals.
I didn’t do book 2 and went straight to book 3. I bought it a few months back but just started working on it in earnest. Actually I just submitted my first video to Christiaan yesterday and got his feedback today.
A few nights ago I happened to revisit Martin Gioani’s Guitare Improvisation channel on YouTube & thought I'd add it to this thread. Generally I don't think I've learned all that much from online lessons but Martin has several videos that really spoke to me years back & they still clarify a lot for me. He has no "system." But still some really great tips. Even if simple they're tasteful. I also actually like his playing -- and that’s probably not a coincidence.
I’d also recommend checking out Thor Jensen, also on YT, who has been posting videos with some good insights about the experience of performing, playing, and learning -- not necessarily in the Django vein but he was Stephane Wrembel's steady accompanist for years.
Last point: I’ve found that some of the most useful musical tips/lessons/info from online has mostly come from musicians outside our little niche -- even non-guitarist. I think this is interesting, and maybe worth thinking about. There really is a lot out there to explore.
If you transcribe a lot of Stochelo, or other players from that school/region, he IS playing a lot of arpeggios. You start to see how players use various "systems" to play through changes and apply voice leading. Taken in isolation, there are a ton of Django solos where he just rips a basic arpeggio too. The devil is in the details (and rhythm). I think it's important to get those base level navigation methods under your fingers to begin really improvising well in the style and CVH's lessons do a great job of that.
On a slightly different direction, does anyone here any good advice for mastering a difficult phrase? Not anything specific, just a general technique and not necessarily GJ - for a difficult fingerpicking piece.
If you like 30s Django sound, definitely start with that book. The beauty of Christiaan’s system is that it is the same for each book. He teaches you how to work with a metronome to lock in your timing, he explains how to do the exercises in all keys, and you get an introduction to his gamification system with feedback available from him directly. The system is the same for all the books, it’s just the material that is different in each course.
The real gold mine is with the purchase of one course, you get access to the Discord in which all the members discuss all topics, and Christian makes available private stream videos where he talks about and demonstrates all topics.
Also, if you like that early Django sound, Duved Duyanevsky has a fantastic lesson available on Soundslice for $30. I think it’s a bargain for everything that you get in it.
Coincidentally, you can find a lot of the book 2 material free online on YouTube. He was developing his ideas there before he consolidated them into books 1 & 2.