Django Reinhardt - Jazz Guitar Genius

[sarahjayneisqueen]

yay i love django and play skyrim lollll xx

[jeffmoore9487]

He used "Argentines" a French brand. These are an old design, very effective.

Steel core with Silver coated copper windings. They've been in continuous use and in business in France since or before Django. There is a huge resurgence in making and playing Django's kind and style of playing. They nearly all use this style of string.

Django's playing (not just solos) keeps coming at you with his own inovations. Another melody, another technique but easy enough to listen to. Its conversational but ?

[bailinnumberguy]

Most mortals would consider the inability to use 2 fingers on your left hand as somewhat of a hindrance in being able to play the guitar. Django must not have been mortal. The guy was beyond great.

[Vpmatt]

@bailinnumberguy My theory is the new style he worked out after his accident actually made him better than before. That's another reason he was such a genius - turns adversity to his advantage.

[josephmonana12]

hes so fast with that two retarded fingers

[Frobe1357]

this man influenced steve howe, therefore he must be the best guitarist ever

[DefagoLion]

I used to be as good as him then I took an arrow in the knee.

[Exceh]

i wish i were as good as him. then i drank too much

[MrChrisVV]

@DefagoLion Makes me so happy that at least 5 other people listen to Django and play Skyrim

[shafersongs]

Selmer Macafee I think, he played.

[MrWeedpatch]

Astonishing the way the man played....

[MrB17FlyingFortress]

This guy is so good it makes me laugh to hear him. Not laughing at him just laughing because its so outrageous.

[Garaam12]

@MrB17FlyingFortress thought i was the only one doing that, laughing when people are too talented

[chelseagrin1992]

16 fingers

[chenrazi]

gifted people often endure great suffering in actualizing their genius. django-- not just a simple roma

[Crackers2549]

Les Paul's idol!... after that accident could only use those two fingers AMAZING!

[ManticoreFire]

This man is an inspiration. I used to think I'd never be able to play the guitar well because of my small, shaky hands. Then I heard Django's records, and thought that of a man with two fingers and no formal music education can play like THIS, then I could probably be a good player to. Thank you, Django, for inspiring me to pick up the guitar. You are the man. :)

[jjenson2006]

@ManticoreFire Do you know that Tony Iommi from Black Sabbath was inspired by this guy? Tony Iommi almost gave up playing guitar because he lost the two middle finger tips from his fretting hand in an industrial accident. After a friend of his showed him what this guy could do with two fingers, he continued playing....good thing too.

[SoadOwnsUrFace]

Emil Werstler sent me here.

[davmil51]

I've played guitar for over forty years, my Dad taught me and he was a fabulous musician, and I am dammed good, but there is a pinnacle, Django, Chet, Knopfler, a few others, the fluid grace and style, remarkable.

[DrShred47]

this guy shreds!

[MaxBGuitar]

Was this a nylon guitar?

[Vpmatt]

@MaxBGuitar steel

[NYJets41]

@Vpmatt no i'm pretty sure that django used nylon strings

[Vpmatt]

@NYJets41 You can't get that sound from nylon. He used steel and silk compound strings.

[NYJets41]

@Vpmatt ok my bad

[FamousGangHD]

25 people are Sean Penn

[Cubroncs03]

@FamousGangHD LMAO!!! Why is that so funny? Is there a reason for that?

[joeylodes]

@FamousGangHD Great Comment!!!! :)

[safenders]

@MaxBGuitar If you ever find a guitar made of nylon let me know lol

[MaxBGuitar]

@safenders

:D I find several everyday when I'm giving lessons. Nylon-stringed guitars, steel-stringed-guitars, electric-guitars ... Well, I like steel the most. But kinda hard to play fast on them, you know? Fast as lightning?

[limescout]

@MaxBGuitar Definitely steel.

[kungfumonk007]

@MaxBGuitar He used Argentine which Gypsy J players still use today. They don't have any silk in them, but are made of steel, silver, and copper. They do have a very different feel and sound from traditional steel strings. The unique sound comes from the unique design of the guitar combined with the right hand picking technique.

[TheDrones77]

@MaxBGuitar he really used steel strings. you can get those special strings as "gipsy jazz strings" by d'addario, i think.

[paulostroff99]

Superb.TY Vpmatt for posting.

[andy04134]

GOD only knows how he created such brilliant music. I dont think he could play a bad note. if so, I have never heard it.

[rololoo]

omg..

[ManticoreFire]

How the can any normal human being play like that?

[SexyItaliano20]

@ManticoreFire if you are a gipsy

[WazzooSam]

If he could create an entirely new genre of music based off of his fingers, i wonder if i can do the same with my shaky hand!

[HotSummerization]

I officially have no talent... -____-

[HCCarey]

Lots of show-offy guitar shredders leave me cold. Who cares about all your notes. Django makes me smile, even in his most show-offy stuff

[Ohnoitsjackson]

amazing

[professionaltroller1]

i just wonder how many peaple who play guitar whatch django video. thumb up if you play guitar.

[MrHenrick1]

@professionaltroller1 I do! For 12 years. I hardly ever put it down, I think it's just the best thing you can learn to do. Recently, however, I have dislocated my thumb! It's in a cast just now and I'm scared that when it comes off I won't be able to play or at least to the standard I could before. I read Django's story and it is giving me hope.

[alsklaftsk123]

Very beautyfull jazz song. Please watch my original jazz composition in the style of Pat Metheny on my channel. Thank You.

[CanadianPoets]

Django's fingers were burnt and continued to burn.

[Vpmatt]

@CanadianPoets Amen.

[DarienMusicJunkie]

Name of the first song?

[WindyCityJazz]

@DarienMusicJunkie The Sheik of Araby

[SleepyGypsy86]

Literally the best guitar player to ever live.

[dturco5938]

It sounds like there are two guitars in most of the clips. So he must be the one soloing?

[Vpmatt]

@dturco5938 Correct other rhythm guitarists - one was his brother.

[knopflerado]

Check out the Wikipedia page for him. There is a great picture of his left hand showing the damage from the fire when he was 18. 

[Frobe1357]

you know this man could outplay many rock guitarists yet he gets fuck all recognition for it

[redrumkiller213]

I wonder if he could sweep

[papapazapoux]

I heard his fingers were burnt.

[Vpmatt]

@papapazapoux You heard right!

[kbhampton59]

@papapazapoux

some nerve damage from a fire...atrophy?

[mooping5]

I just Jazzed in my pants.

[BarcelonaLanguages]

Poetry in motion!

[duccasto1]

the only scale iam playing faster than he...is the cromatic scale...(:

he was greater than great...

[2356murphy1]

i grew up weaned on django and have fond memeories of my brother a huge fan cursing when he got it wrong

[Eva413]

I bet I could beat him in guitar hero

[hhold]

am a shit musician

[TheSteadyrollinman]

On the first picture of him in the video you can clearly see him using four fingers

[UltimateNirvana1]

@TheSteadyrollinman His pinky and index finger were paralyzed. He could only use them in chord work, all his solos were played with two fingers.

[godthegourd]

I only have 2 fingers on my right hand and there is no way I could do this. Django ftw!

[cloudbuster66]

he damaged his fingers in a fire

[199252208]

gypsy talent !!!!

[rsalmon63]

All that precision and speed!

[ccatdaddy64]

WOW! Thanks for posting. I'm not very versed in Jazz except for swing. Not much into Jazz apart from swing but this guy is really awe-some. Gonna check emusic to DL some of his work. Thanks

[emanhacker]

his ring and pinky on his fretting hand werecinjured and paralized for the remainder of his career he could actually use them when the chords permitted it but hed basically lay them on the strings

[MrRecordbuyer]

Smokin!!!!!

[IntScout3]

2 in the pink, one in the... nvm

[damon123]

I hate being this person doing this. But i want to share this creation with like minded swing lads!!!

Tweet this link For a free download of my Remix of the all to Decadent "Minor Swing" Django is making his genius back into this modern age.

Swing isn't dead!

Socialunlock,com /damondixon/django-reinhardt-m­­inor-swing-thewayout-remix

take out spaces between the comma on the ",com" with a period for link to work. :D

With complete Sincerity & Respect.

Damon.D aka ~TheWayOut~

[paraviolence]

He still used the paralyzed fingers for chord work but he played all his solo's with 2 fingers.

[iamheadbanger]

Many can copy him, but really, he was The Man. You can really feel what he is playing... Inspiration.

[mrswingfan007]

nice.....you know Les Belles du Swing?

great as well

[2dewilhelm]

Amazing.......this man is a genius on guitar.

[TheHornet79]

It sounds like he's having fun!

[6woody61]

i'm going to pack it in and throw my gear away.

[boyter0roger]

Left hand burned in a caravan fire around 1928. He had already recorded some backing for accordion players at that time. He could use 3 fingers, and occasionally even the 4th if the hand position would allow but mostly it was 3. The 1934 or 35 recording of Swanee (Jolson song) is equally jaw dropping and elevates the song from a joke to art.

[lightnessss]

I'm gonna to cut my useless fingers...

[Hairychimz42]

Django is the very reason I keep playing guitar

[valentuss]

The secret isn`t in the fingers, but in the ears and above all - in his Spirit & Sensuality!

[calumstarkey]

He had all of his fingers, but two were fused together in a fire. So really, he only had 2 fingers, and 1 enormous pain-in-the-arse finger.

[Jackolafrite]

Allez tous voir sur youtube la vidéo : "La vie Django" !!!

With english subtiles for the noobs.

[KcinRosa]

Breast guitarist? so he only played with 2?

Sorry, no disrespect but my sophmopric wit could not resist

[radmagichat]

Breast guitarist... @ his time.. chords didn't really exist... did you notice ??? his hand are on three strangs at all time?

[GpJBRM]

A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE THAT DOESNT GIVE UP IN FRONT OF ADVERSITY

[malmsteengreece]

check this guy

Michalis Paouris "Le reve"

[uneedtherapy42]

Emmet Ray in Sweet and Lowdown... "First time I had sex... 7 years old"

[pedazocerda]

There is a character in the movie "Rebels of Swing" inspired in Django! :)

[BERTRAMCAT]

Django President.-,,,.-,-,-,,-,,-,-,-­.

[zombiman900]

Its manouche <3

[smilefromthestreets7]

FUCK THIS GUY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I say that with total awe and respect dont get me wrong, but this just inst fair!)

[ComplacentBard]

22 people have one working finger

[Vpmatt]

@jnflstar I welcome comments and have no need to disable them but thanks anyway.

[TheMonkeyNyc]

Darius Scheider Improvising on Favino guitar

[paulostroff99]

Awesome! TY Vpmatt for posting.

[JihoonJKim]

To clarify.

Djano was already a legendary guitarist by age of 18, but after his accident, just became a different kind of legend. He was already good, but his disability just made him have a style completely his own. In a way, the accident is a blessing in disguise (for us, as his song-listeners.)

[MixxMasterKid]

jimmy page is better

[OpinionMan101]

@MixxMasterKid Dick. Haha.

[LFlodesloryes]

@MixxMasterKid xD but i can tell you that Page doesn't think he is better than Django listen to what he says in the first seconds of this video watch?v=2blbt-J3eyU. All those "rock" guitarists (which i like) Page, Hendrix, Knopfler, Clapton, Vaughan, Santana and many others have expressed admiration for Django and cited him as a major influence. Jeff Beck mentions Django as “the one that stands out above all else” Blackmore "my whole thing comes from Django, he’s my hero" and the list goes on...

[ThomasBCullen]

22 people have 2 fingers and are jealous

[wispnoak]

TWO FINGERS! HE HAD TWO FINGERS AND DID THIS

[Vpmatt]

@wispnoak Well he actually did have 5 fingers on each hand...it's just that some of them were virtually paralyzed....

[TrumpetRed114]

@Vpmatt He lost two fingers on his Fretting hand.



[Vpmatt]

@TrumpetRed114 No he did not. They were partially paralyzed but they were still there. Look at the photo during solo from Sheik of Araby in my video, you can see the fingers.

[000Fraudulin000]

The index and ring finger on his frett (left) hand were partially paralyzed and Django could barre with them, but had limited dexterity with single notes. Even so Django was a smokin' monster on that thing and changed the guitars role in music to from it's background chord/melody role to something that required you to really be able to play your ass off after the 2nd verse. If you've ever sustained a note with feedback thank Jimi, but if you've ever taken a solo you better thank Django.

[crow66693]

@TrumpetRed114 He all his fingers,but on his left hand he could only use 4 fingers for chords and the 1st and 2nd finer soloing.He played horizontally so it would be more easier for him to play.

[Iluvbuckethead1]

@TrumpetRed114 His two crippled fingers could do basic chord shapes but past that they were pretty useless.

[Fantomex92]

@Vpmatt so....how much fingers did he used? -.-

[GatameOne]

@Vpmatt Seriously? wow anything is possible.

[Th1sWasATriumph]

@Vpmatt It was 1st and 2nd functioning, then 3rd and 4th paralysed down together, wasnt it?

[amusicianinparis]

@wispnoak YEAHHH!!!

[pattietatoo]

@wispnoak Doesn't that just chap you hide? There was some guy on here comparing Jimmy Hendricks with Django...ha! Can you believe that? Compare to a rock an roll guy

[viggofulful]

@wispnoak He actually did have seven ;)



[davidiancu]

@wispnoak man... i can't believe, only 2 good fingers... i need 10 fingers more to play this, or even more...

[piraan2]

@wispnoak He had ten fingers. Why is it so hard to understand, two of hes fingers were injured.

[MeIancholyMan]

@wispnoak yeah.. but he had 6 fingers on his other hand!! ;)

[pearsnockie]

@wispnoak the fact he only could use 2 fingers made him develop that special style. i doubt he would sound as original if he have played in a more conventional style using all fingers

[guitarmusic524]

@wispnoak less fingers means fewer fingering decisions to make on the fly, so maybe I should cut off one or two myself. hahah - wait, that's gross!

[Pazak68]

Those are some unbelievable runs for a guy with an f'd up hand. I can't imagine the level of playing if he hadn't been hurt in a fire. Then again, he may not have pushed himself to the point where he could play like this.

[ragglefraggle09]

@Pazak68

bingo

[Pazak68]

@ragglefraggle09

You know it.

p.s. I like The Who too

[ray625164]

im a 15 year old death metal guitarist and damn this guy is a monster :O

[TheGhettoFineLaxer]

@TheHawkdaddy I'm part of a metal band and a fusion jazz band. Any legit metal guitarist will tell you that their style has at least some jazz inspiration

[daniel7899999]

I have one of his albums. I think it's his greatest hits or something. The music is very old fashioned but I am not judgmental about that. I find it really captured the essence of those days and makes you feel like you're there.

[RexGaga]

Bioshock Soundtrack...

[MrJaypeethompson]

Always been an admirer of Django. A good friend and fellow guitarist once told me that Willie Nelson's playing was influenced by him. I saw Willie in New Orleans last weekend, and he was right...and Willie is still great at 78!

[coffeeandpastries]

Django Reinhardt is the best ever. He played with only two fingers and no others can even come close with all four.

[1974romina]

Two fingers on guitar! Are we sure Jimi Hendrix is the best of all times?

[nbrothergtr]

@dunmer2007

The fourth track of Sleep's Holy Mountain?

[underterraingrunter]

For a good selection of jazz guitar see playbacklapompe.

[papyslapet1]

Eh bien mon gars..... Je crois bien que, comme moi, ça calme plus d'un grateus.....

[simondr70]

To Jazz guitar players god is Jango Reinhardt .

[motreby]

The drive...he had and amazing drive when he played..the rest of the band had to keep up with him...so much energy and drive man...WOW...!!

[babbersabber]

0:21 woah this is really fast. :D I thought only the new guitarist can play that fast. >.<

[lamelamelame8]

@babbersabber and with only 2 fingers.

[babbersabber]

@lamelamelame8 lol?! No... he played only with 2 fingers?

[bajerovaquero]

@babbersabber Yes! He burn his left hand in a accident, so he only can use index and middle. But still uses 4 and 3rd fingers in chords.

[lamelamelame8]

@babbersabber yeah, his hand was burned so he only used his other fingers to play chords.

all that lead was with his index and middle finger.

[guitar19904]

man graveli was awsome at the violin

[Jonathan1162]

What's amazing as well is that django's guitar is in a museum next to chopin's piano ;)

[zzrjj1154]

@Jonathan1162 Hi, which museum is that, please

[Jonathan1162]

@zzrjj1154 Not sure, I only heard about it on a documentary. Sorry ;)

[CCBassline]

@Jonathan1162

that's not amazing! that's just about right!

[KonungKnut]

OMG 

[KonungKnut]

OMG



[rocktenniscat]

Today, it's all about downloading a song here, a song there. But, with downloading, there are no liner notes, no history, no explanation of the era. You miss the extraordinary story of Django....if you buy a CD or record of his, even 2nd hand, you'll have a great story and appreciate him even more.

[4s2work]

Isn't great that Django's legacy is being carried on by so many school kids now into "Gypsey Jazz"?

[dweb223]

Wow this is incredible, just to think this guy played on guitars with crazy thick strings with action like a bow and arrow, stunning.

[stoop15]

cant say im a jazz fan but this guy had skills

[Px9223jg]

man please, i need the name of this songs

[SamDunlopGlennie]

Imagine what he could do with 4 fingers...

[CRAMERR69]

@SamDunlopGlennie That's what the girls said about him...

[guillermartz]

@SamDunlopGlennie That would be too much awesomeness for his guitar to handle, he would make it explode...

[Fantomex92]

@SamDunlopGlennie listen stochelo rosenberg....he is his reincarnation with all fingers usable

[Ozzie9877]

He must have been like the first shredder

[tubad4ya66]

Django Reihardt was more or less the first 'guitar god'. He was an innovator who brought guitar out of the shadows of being mostly a percussive, rhythmical instrument into the forefront with his 'hot jazz' soloing. What he did with 2 fingers on the fretboard comfortably exceeds what most will ever do with 4.

[wandoX]

Bravo Django the Gypsy Bravo!!

[daddyhotrock]

No video responses? How can I not respond to this magnificant guitar play? Django was a natural talent. I'm a reasonable amateur but I could practice till the cows come home and never reach a quarter of the level Django plays at. It's no wonder so many of us guitar players have this man as an example. Great video!

[Vpmatt]

@daddyhotrock Thanks! By video responses I mean no videos, comments are all welcome!

[cast390]

@daddyhotrock Most Django fans already know this but he had only 2 working fingers on his left hand,and he still shredded like he was using all 4

[michaelowen8]

@daddyhotrock "No video responses" = " Like" would say everything

I myself find this one breathtaking. Can't find a word to say how good it is

[DesecrationSmile52]

"No video responses please."

There's 2.

[Vpmatt]

@DesecrationSmile52 Yes, and both are my vids. That's the point!

[DesecrationSmile52]

@Vpmatt Oh my bad haha

[donottawaguitar]

pickster

[nrector1]

You are absolutely right, just a bit of misdirected animosity that i had yet to shake after spending the better part of the morning on hold etc. while dealing with various administrative headaches. My apologies if i came across as snide as i sometimes am capable.

[BlikeNave]

Half my fingers and twice my talent. Shieeeeeeeet. People are def. hatin in these comments though.

[fngrpkn06]

Just amazing playing especially after realizing he had to create his own chord fingering system. Many players use four fingers when doing Django covers.

[corm1000]

Matal is not a joke, it is one of the most enduring forms of music, it is no one thing as it has influnces of lots of other stiles in it. I mean come on half of Iron Madien songs are about history for christ's sake. All I am saying is that I am sick of this pompiss attude people have toward music that is not jazz or classical. Yes I agree, I hate when some metal guys use a guitar like a precussion instriment,but this is not all metal some of it is very meldoic. Eleatism sucks!!!!!!!!!!

[123zwiebel]

unglaublich !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nrector1]

Django was way ahead of his and most other contemporary players time! Get honest...Additionally, Lets not forget that all of his work is from an era of one take and the recording is done, as well as the fact that his ring and pinky fingers suffered nerve damage in a fire and were rarely used during his solos. The man was an improvisational genius! Regardless of style, you must appreciate the virtuosity of this pre overdub, pitch shifting, learned it from youtube technique, chops and musicality!