Django's chromatic run in 'Minor Swing' made super easy! 

Thanks a bunch Ken!

You're welcome Herman!

Thanks Ken!

+Al Giardinelli Yeah, that seems to be the common way to play it but if you slow down the original you can hear Django doesn't skip notes in the chromatic run. Thanks!

Here's how I hear it, but need to incorporate the pull-offs. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-2yo0xZBc3lE.html

Thanks Naikolaze!

Thanks!

For the descending run (I've been working on this with two fingers for a few years now), the fingering would be 2,1,1,0/2pull-off-to1,1,1,0/2,1,1,0 etc. The ending arpeggio sounds to me like : frets, not fingering (D4)1,2,3,(G/3)1(B/2)3,(E/1)1, slide from 4 to 5

@@MusicWeRemember A bit late here. I'll get back. Tvm.

@@archduncan ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-2yo0xZBc3lE.html (But think I forgot the pull-off/s.)

​@@MusicWeRemember I'm a little torn as to whether it makes more sense to slide finger 1 or 2 for descending chromatics; I've plumped for sliding finger 2 which is exactly opposite to your method: I may think again. In any event it would make sense that Django must have slid one or the other. The reason I've gone for sliding 2 is that he definitely slid finger 2 when ascending. Using your notation in the above post and cross-referring to the tab in the video, I would offer (with total respect) that (D4)0,1,2,(G/3)1,4,(B/2)3,6,(E/1)4, slide to 5 makes most sense; the associated fingering would be: (D)012(G)12(B)12(E)1 This also saves one of the double downs in the last bar. Christiaan, I've truly enjoyed many of your videos and it's wonderful to catch up on this discussion - fascinated to hear that you have been exploring a 2-fingered Django methodology: looking forward to hearing more about that. Stay safe.

@@archduncan I'll check out the fingering mentioned here. Gotta spend some more time with the recording slowed way down which I initially did for hours a few years back when initially trying to crack this. Will get back with more observations soon! Thanks for sharing your insights on this journey. We know Django did ascending chromatic slides based on the surviving footage, but I'm trying to recall why I decided he used 1 for descending slides.

You're Welsome TheElrondo. My suggestion would be to put some round wounds on your archtop. I use .12 but you can try .11 (depends on your setup)

I'm not sure but I think I know what you mean by "13th flat wounds". Conventional strings are intended to do what they do from the bridge to the nut. On "Selmer" guitars the strings stretch all the way to the tailpiece - it's a lot more string. If you don't have a tailpiece, I would put 12s or even 11s in place and hit them with a really really thick pick - e.g. a Wegen 5 if you can get one. When it begins to sound really bad, but loud, you're progressing. Then sharpen up your technique with Christianne and there you are. Or just get the pick - I like the idea of your "13th flat wounds" being hit by a real pick.

Wonderful player with a great vibe, Christiaan - you sound terrific. One question (and, forgive my ignorance - I’m not a guitar player): but on the 1937 recording of Minor Swing, is it not more likely that Django was playing this chromatic run in his trademark one-finger glissando?

Pulling off is fine to, I just like the sound of picking the open string!

I'm pulling off 4-3, since I'm trying to play it with two fingers, and that's where it makes the most sense before sliding the rest down chromatically with 1 Revisiting this after a few years of trying to work it up to speed... still the big hang up for me on this solo, just like Christiaan says.

Nice, that works too!

@@ChristiaanvanHemert What I hear for that last sweep is more along the lines of two triplet groupings, 1 and uh 2 and uh 3: (D4)1,2,3,(G/3)1(B/2)3,(E/1)1, slide from 4 to 5 But like you said, it may not be what he intended to play... it's a cool lick though, sweeps well all the way through the second triplet, and works fine with two fingers. It's almost like a dominant Bb7 barre chord imposed over the E7 . (Been trying to work it out with two just for the sake of figuring what is likely happening there.)