Guitar Techniques magazine

djangology

There is a Django article in the latest Guitar Techniques magazine that has 50+ gypsy jazz licks in it and a accompanying CD. FYI.

Lango-Django

Is it any good? Have you tried it?

Tele295

Hadn't hit the Barnes & Noble here as of a few days ago. They still had last month's issue.

djangology

The issue is August 2010 and, after going through the 25 guitar licks, its pretty good stuff. The magazine would be a great addendum to Denis Changs videos if you liked those , as it presents 25 licks taken from various Django solos, and a few of them are gems. So, if you can find the August issue, do so. The session player (John Wheatcroft ) that demos the licks is a good player also.

periclimenes

I saw this magazine at Barnes and Noble tonight and decided to pick it up. After initially balking at the $16 pricetag, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the licks presented. They are authentic Django licks taken from many of his famous solos (Exactly Like You, Undecided, Sweet Georgia Brown, etc.), although the name of the song each is taken from is not mentioned in the magazine. Also, for the purists out there, the author does mention the basics behind gypsy picking and the rest stroke, as well as the gigantic picks that we all love to use. There's nothing in here that you couldn't get by transcribing a bunch of Django solos, but it is a huge time saver and the licks are the genuine article. Overall, I'd say that it's worth it to pick up a copy of the magazine if you can find it.

periclimenes

I have spent some more time digging into these examples, and they're pretty great. A few things seem odd, though:

The first example doesn't sound/feel quite right. The rhythm of it seems a little off (it starts on the 3rd beat of a measure), and the fingering is awkward. Maybe it's just me. It certainly sounds pretty good. It starts on the 3rd beat of the first measure. The chords are G7/G7/C. It's all 8th notes (except the last note):

-------------3--|--------------------------|---------
---2--3--4-----|--5--------------------5--|--------
----------------|-----4---------------4----|--5-----
----------------|--------5--4--3--5-------|---------
----------------|---------------------------|---------
----------------|---------------------------|---------

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

There is a *great* lick over the circle of 5ths type pattern that occurs all throughout this music. It's too long to notate here, but maybe Djangology knows what song it comes from (it's example 23)? The only weird thing is that it is notated as one measure per chord with 16th and 32nd notes. It seems like it would make more sense to think of it as 8ths and 16ths, since most of the GJ stuff is 2 measures/chord. Regardless, it sounds the same.

Finally, the notes mention that John Wheatcroft is playing a Rob Aylward guitar. Has anyone ever heard of this luthier?

Micky Dunne

John Wheatcroft is Head of Guitar at a Music School in London called Guitar X. He has previously toured with John Jorgenson and I believe he is on a DVD of John's from Italy. John also has a Album in the making (John Wheatcroft's Ensemble Futur) as we speak with some guest artists. Here is a short clip (about haf way through)

http://www.tangentfilms.com/f/guitar.html

djangology

Maca wrote:

John Wheatcroft is Head of Guitar at a Music School in London called Guitar X. He has previously toured with John Jorgenson and I believe he is on a DVD of John's from Italy. John also has a Album in the making (John Wheatcroft's Ensemble Futur) as we speak with some guest artists. Here is a short clip (about haf way through)

http://www.tangentfilms.com/f/guitar.html

ahh... that explains why the quality of his playing (on the licks in the mag) is so good.

delb0y

According to the current issue of Guitar Techniques magazine next month (Feb 2013 issue, released Jan 25th here in the UK) there's going to be a Django Masterclass by John Wheatcroft. I'm looking forward to it. Don't buy the magazine very often these days - but will make an exception for this issue as John's GJ articles / transcriptions are always of superior quality.

However, will be worth checking that it's not a reprint as I've noticed the magazine has prior form in this regard. If that's the case, it'll be a good chance for people who missed the original to get a copy. But it does say "exclusive" so let's hope it's all new!

Kind regards,

Derek

john wheatcroft

Hi Derek,

Thank you so much for your kind comments. They are really appreciated...

In terms of this article, I was approached by the editors at GT to produce a Django article, so I wrote for them a completely original piece full of classic Django lines in homage to his incredible compositional and improvisational style, but a piece that would function as a tune that I can play on gigs/recordings etc that is in the style but not a direct lift, so to speak...

I enlisted the amazing Paul Thomas on clarinet and Mark Rose on bass and recorded this less like a lesson and more like a living piece of music.... It's entirely Django based and inspired but I hope works as a new piece whilst being respectful to what has gone before...

Please watch this space as my new acoustic album is nearly complete, featuring friends we know such as John Jorgenson (although on clarinet), Andy Mackenzie, Micky Dunne and Huw Warren...

Nearly there! I'll keep you posted....

Cheers,

J