Customer Reviews

Introduction to Gypsy Jazz Guitar: John Jorgenson (Book/CD/DVD Set)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Well, firstly...WOW!!! For the price you get a great method book, a great play along CD and an amazing 2 hr long DVD.

The only warning is that you really do need to know how to play guitar to an intermediate level to really get into this book.

The lessons are well paced and extremely well illustrated in the book and DVD. Explanations are clear and the DVD is set up so that you can navigate around easily. My favorite part is how JJ is teaching a person right in front of you. The other guitarist is good, but makes plenty of REAL mistakes and asks plenty of REALLY GREAT questions: the kinds that traditional flatpickers might ask.

Be warned, however. This book contains no actual gypsy solo tunes. It spends time developing theoretical constructs and fingerboard maps, major and minor arpeggio patterns. In the long run, however, this method develops a much stronger solo player and allows the guitarist's individuality to come through; instead of just becoming another Django clone.

My only gripe is that the 3 volumes are not coming out fast enough for me, but that isn't really a problem. (It's excitement!) Just practice practice practice.

I am a music educator, and wish that all method books were put together as well as this one!

The 4 stars are not 5, because I think a beginning guitarist might have a bit of trouble with it.

I am an experienced guitar player and this book/cd/dvd combo was a real pleasure. The format is very easy to follow and makes learning some new technique fun. I happened to see Jorgenson and his string band live at a tiny venue, (Kirkland Art Center) in upstate New York in Dec 2005. I bought his CD and later this instructional book through Amazon. I found both totally worth the purchase price. I do believe you need to have some experience as a player to get the max out of Gypsy Jazz Guitar. If you are an average player and want to kickstart yourself into some more advanced playing - get this book.

This is excellent. Don't pass it up. In this one, the basic 1-4-5 blues progression is the starting point for a hands on demo walkthrough of how to take this basic progression and fill it in with more robust substitutions and exciting sounding background comping. The 9th, dim, aug and 6th cords are pressented in an easy to digest, follow, and incorporate series of demo's. The instructor describes what is going on so you can create this type of movement in your own arrangements.

The teaching style of having a "live" student asking questions during the dvd instruction, tries to create the feel that you are sitting in on an actual lesson. This works really well here as the instructor and student have good chemistry and the exchange keeps the information from becoming dry. It also helps pace the demo's as the teacher plays, then the student and teacher play together, which actually helps give you a bit more time to play along without having to continually replay demos that often seem a bit too short for new material on some of the other dvd's I've had.

I'm about half way through on this dvd today, and already I am here ordering the next level intermediate dvd cause this one is that good - I want to keep on learning from this guy! The pressentation is really well done, and the notation materials are excellent. The "book", is a full sized book - which is beyond the norm - this is not just a collection of "reminder" highlight notes in a half size booket insert, as comes with some other dvd video instructions. In addition to being full sized, these materials are well organized, easy to read, and include narrative text and explainations.

Bottom line: very nice instructional product of a really great and useful topic. In fact, even if you don't want to play this particular style in depth, the chord substitution theory is well worth the time and price of this product.

I've had this product for only two days and I'm burning through it. I once had a professor that said something like: People that understand a topic best can explain it in the simplest terms. That rings true with Jorgenson's approach. I don't site read music, but I understand basic harmonic theory. Most of the chords weren't too foreign to me. I'd spent a little time with some other Gypsy Jazz learning material, but was very quickly bewildered and exhausted by the effort. With this stuff, on the second day (some 2 hours into the material) I was already playing solos along with the practice CD.

I think there is a skill spectrum where this set can be most effective. The student on the DVD, Brad Davis, picks things up faster than I can. He's a pro and a really good player. I think he's at the top of the spectrum and I'm probably near the bottom. This set is for intermediate players, at least. If you are a guitar beginner, certainly pick something else.

I almost bought a cheaper learning DVD for Gypsy Jazz, but then I caught this on checkout (Thanks Amazon!). It's more expensive, but in this case, it's entirely worth it. I'm finally getting close to my dream of being able to play music by the most important jazz guitar player of all time. That's just plain cool and Jorgenson deserves some kind of educational award. I've purchased a good deal of instructional DVDs for guitar by all kinds of players and I think this is the best one. There's a difference between being a really good player and being a great teacher; Jorgenson is both.

I can't wait to devour this first "beginning" pack so I can get to the second.

Just started working through this great resource. The DVD is very well done . John uses an effective format for the instruction by using an actual student who works through the exercises. The text is well written and the instructive style will get you playing rhythm Gypsy Jazz in just a few hours. Well worth your time and money. Happy strummin'

I grew up listening to Django Reinhardt recordings. Not having touched a guitar in over 25 years, I recently decided to get serious about playing again, mainly for self-satisfaction and to give me something to do as I near retirement. By accident I stumbled across a recording by John Jorgenson and my jaw dropped--his sound and technique made me think I was listening to Django! Was it possible to learn how to play like this? I ordered Intro to Gypsy Jazz Guitar and I've been including it into my training regimen. In just one month, I can play some of the minor 6th rhythms (on my Gitane Selmer-style guitar) with "that" sound and beat. Oh, I have so much work to do and so much practice ahead of me (years), but John has broken down the essence of the Django Gypsy Jazz style in a way that is understandable and learnable. Now, the only thing that stands between me and mastery of this wonderful style of music is hard work and time (and right now I just can't put my guitar down). Perhaps someday I'll meet John and back him up on rhythm using the things he taught me! Always need a goal to shoot for, right? Thanks John for this great "course!" I have already ordered Intermediate Gypsy Jazz Guitar.

Jorgenson isn't just a great guitarist: he is an expert analyst of guitar skills, and a good communicator.
This book is not only for gypsy jazz wannabes, but will be useful for any guitarist seeking to expand their knowledge and musicianship. My 'used' copy was also a reasonable value, and in perfect condition. There's a great section, for example, on using three-string chords for 'comping.

I am very happy with this book. The DVD is especially outstanding and the format John choose for teaching Gipsy Jazz Guitar is especially suited to a style that has its roots not in academic education but campfire wisdom.

My only complaint about the DVD is that it could have used a few diagrams as some of the chord shapes are not always immediately evident. Eventually they become clear and they are, after all standard jazz fare for the most part, but a few more visuals on the DVD could not have hurt and it would not have been such a big job (I master my own videos all the time).

I have not yet started out on the book. It doesn;t seem that the book and the DVD are very connected. For instance, the chords of the blues in the book and on the DVD are different. Not a big deal, but for as much explanation there is in the DVD the book lacks much in terms of text and guidance.

Still, it deserves its 5 stars and it should be required reading(viewing) for anyone interested in learning Gipsy Guitar.

I wish it came with a Maccaferri guitar in the package. My flatop is really not up to the job, but I figure I'll buy a replica as soon as I feel I deserve one. This book, I am sure, will help.

this is a great intro book for the dollars. Seeing the techniques on the DVD is much more benifitial than just listening to them on the CD but having both is good.

Man! This book is really fun. I was put off by the high price at first, but I think it's totally worth it. My only criticism is I wish the DVD had less pointless banter. Regardless, it's great. Being able to see the playing style makes a big difference. I haven't had such a good time with a guitar book in years. I love it!