Gypsy Jazz Rhythm Guitar: Everything You Need to Know (and it's EASY)

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I notice that there's a trend to over complicate gypsy jazz rhythm or 'la pompe'. So in this video I show you how easy it can be and how good that actually sounds!
If you want to check the older videos about rhythm:
- rhythm technique: goo.gl/9ot4hD
- rhythm chord shapes: goo.gl/3Ygvy5

[@JohnBerthoty]

I watch a lot of guitar instructional videos. Yours are the most relaxed, informative, casual, etc. etc. Just great!

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Wow John, that is a great compliment. Thanks!

[@100yearchallenge2]

I'm 72, been playing Django for 50 years, seen lots of lessons. I've learned more from you in two days than those last 50 years. Your method is perfect, for me, and you seem like a guy I'd like to have a beer with. I watch on a large screen TV, not a computer, and blown way up your tabs are very hard to read. Had to puy on my strongest glasses and sit right in front. But well worth it.

[@zzoega]

@SavageArfad no u

[@director2bob]

Sure hope you are still alive, healthy & playing guitar🙏

[@neoshenlong]

"OH and the upstroke is just so easy" - Me: can't do it

[@garygreer5365]

Very good analysis of what needs to be played and what makes chords easy, effective and suitable for any situation. And thanks from all of us with older hands.

[@claudiverhoeven6190]

I try to play gypsy jazz on quitar for several years(Speed exer triplets ect ect ect ect )so much that I put my quitar in a very deep closet This video makes my happy,it gives my the feeling that once in the time I can play GypsyJazz on the streets of Amsterdam(my city of born) thank you very much Cristiaan

[@ryanfitzsimmons5071]

This has changed my whole fundamental approach , thank you so much

[@rivers9135]

I've seen this video when it came out and now im seeing it years later and it still provides nuggets of knowledge.

[@charlessitero]

Thanks for posting this! You rock!

[@MelissamaHoney]

thanks a lot for this video! i just started to practice jazz manouche guitar and I can just agree with the other comments, that your videos are really so relaxed and informative etc., very well explained!

[@JohnDoe-xd6yo]

Hey great tip on checking your bpm throughout track, never thought of that. Awesome lessons!

[@TheVikingBlues]

Dude, I love you so much. Thank you. You take something which seems very intimidating and make it approachable. Bravo!

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Wow, you're welcome Chris!

[@edwardmorton6691]

Christiaan I've been looking for a good teacher for this style for ages and I definitely like your style. You have a no bull crap approach and you're naturally able to pass on your wisdom very cleverly and clearly. I'm going to enjoy your videos and having a go myself. Thanks for your time and effort.

[@ScullRoland]

Thank you! That's really helpul information!

[@barrynelson8752]

Christiaan, I recently discovered Gypsy Jazz. It is so very beautiful melodically and rhythmically. Honestly, I can listen to nothing but the rhythm parts and be enthralled! Then, when they add those lead parts -- guitar or violin or accordion -- oh, man. It really swings. As a guitar player myself, I really enjoy watching them play from a technical perspective. They can "shred" with the best rockers out there. Thanks for this great introductory video. I am subscribing and I am happily making a donation to help support your efforts here. Thanks!

[@sophialove100]

Best instruction on La Pompe I’ve seen. Thank you.

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Thank you Sophia!

[@markosullivan4095]

A most important video. I think that until you understand the basics of rythm guitar you cant solo over the rythm properly! Many thanks for sharing.

[@2t_mxrider]

Thanks Christiaan! The right stuff, simple and relevant.

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

+VDM_IAD Glad you liked it!

[@jefsut]

This is a fantastic video, will watch again.

[@satchrules101]

Great teacher! Very well explained. 🙏

[@bbking9218]

Superrrrrrrrrrrrrr , Christiaan Maestro

[@aberhan]

I keep coming back to this video. So great for establishing proper technique. I love the adjectives to describe rhythm, dry, bouncy, growly.

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Thanks Abe. I like those adjectives too. It's how I perceive good gj rhythm should sound.

[@constancemuller9775]

Thank you Christiaan. I appreciate your teaching. I've watched twice and will be back.

[@criddyla696]

I really like your teaching style, I know so much from just a few minutes here, I hope you go on to get lots more subscribers sir, you certainly got me hooked, great music taught simply, thanks.

[@Powerslider]

Superfijne videos bro! Dank je!

[@maroshanko2328]

Best KZbin channel Thank you for explaining always learned something new 👍

[@martinmilan3169]

Thanks a lot for the nails tip. Real insider stuff ,from the top pros, that is rarely revealed. I think it’s one of the key to their great dry sound. Your lessons are fantastic, the playing right up there … and your English accent is really cool too. Thanks again.

[@MrHeSeYe]

Wow, you're on a roll Christiaan.

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

+HSerkan Thanks!

[@christopherlord3441]

That's great man, thanks for sharing

[@jonoshei7956]

Excellent video and advice!

[@thinkpad20]

Amazing information, great playing and wow that guitar sounds incredible!!

[@LikeMonk]

Always nice to hear from a real musician .cheers and thanks ....

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

You're welcome!

[@Filosofikuningas]

Thank you! Huge respect, wonderful rhythm, intuitive explanations.

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Thanks!

[@stephenashworth2480]

Good video, very clear. Very useful for an intermediate guitarist looking to start playing this kind of music.

[@riffraff778]

Best lesson ever! I now have a way more bouncy dry rolling swing! Really like the straightforward tips format. The real deal in no time!

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Thanks so much Riff!

[@fruitsofrepentance9939]

Fantastic. Been playing guitar for 33 years but just got my first gypsy guitar. I subscribed and am looking for to learning this style!

[@peteg6661]

Thanks for all the vids. They are always helpful.

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

+Pete G That's my goal!

[@jdiuurdfsds]

Wow, very good!!! Thank you.

[@bradmajors9779]

Thank you so much for this video. You have an incredible way of sharing information. Thx!

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Thanks Brad!

[@lynn1464]

Great learning video thanks

[@aberhan]

Absolutely the most helpful video yet. Gypsy jazz chords simplified, YES! Most people want to be able to burn up and down the fretboard soloing but don’t realize that rhythm is the basic building block. Great lesson.

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Thanks Abe!

[@aberhan]

Christiaan van Hemert I really appreciate the things that actually help at the basic level. I am a small guy with small hands and find some chord stretches difficult. However I remind myself that Django had a crippled left hand and produced amazing sound.

[@LibbyG53]

Thank you.. Im not new to guitar but new to Gypsy Jazz and appreciate the simplification of your tutorial..

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

You're welcome Lizzie!

[@decemberswitch]

excellent video on strumming and shapes thank you

[@Jp-ps8fr]

You are the very best guitar tutorial account out there. Keep on mate god bless you

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Thanks JP!

Muchísimas gracias!!! Un gran video

[@charliestunez527]

Very informative! I was having a lot of trouble with my rhythm, you nailed it man!

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Thanks Charles, glad I could help!

[@gregb7595]

Nicely stated!

[@jonathanrexmusic]

I really like your videos. You are also an inspiring player

[@Alleycat2112]

I love this video. I've been playing bass for many decades, including many styles of jazz. I'm trying to expand my knowledge on different instruments and styles, and this video explained many concepts, kept it easy to understand, and didn't get into long explanations on why you didn't always play the 5th, or why a 6th chord instead of a 7th, etc.

[@ShmavinShmenhouse]

This was an incredible lesson. That tip about the fingernails mix creating a crunchy 'dry' pompe was such an eye opener! You've inspired me to pick up my gypsy jazz guitar after two years of not playing. Thank you!

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

You're very welcome ! Really great to hear you felt inspired to play after this video!

[@AlexWilsonPiano]

An excellent video - you are a great musician and a great educator, thank you.

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Thanks man!

[@OrganicFaithFactory]

Many thanks for a great lesson I owe you this

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

You're more than welcome Faith Factory!

[@varonthomas565]

Excellent 👍🏻

[@mattbantle]

Great video & explanation!

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Thanks!

[@harrykotcher7909]

Very cool, thanks for sharing.

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Thanks Harry!

[@byron92870]

This was without a doubt the best basic Gypsy Jazz tutorial I have see and I have seen many. Your right hand tip about using your fingernails is priceless. Thank you!

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

+Byron Lovering So nice to hear that, thanks a lot!

[@riffraff778]

Another great lesson again! Really liked the finger nail trick and that 'hickup' thing (9:33). Will put this vid into practice in no time! Thanks mate!

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

You're welcome Riff!

[@kristofkkjin4029]

Great explanation! I took a class with you at DjangoFest NorthWest.

[@mkmcemd]

Thanks!

[@Flowerstep]

Great! Thank you so much!

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

You're welcome Detlef!

[@begtotheroots]

Thank you, super🙏👌

[@doglivebilly]

Dankje wel voor de lessen

[@bonusfat110]

Love that rhythm take on Sweet Georgia Brown

[@MrRufioooo]

Thanks for the Lesson Chris!!!! you are the closest rythm to Gunther Stephan i found XD

[@86lanzo]

Great video..will check out your stuff on sound slice

[@bjorncardenas7608]

Great video, thanks 👏 When it comes to Gypsy Jazz this style of playing rhythm/la pompe is the one I like the most. Christiaan's sound when comping is among my top three of the best I've heard 😀

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Wow, thanks Bjorn!

[@nabakou]

Thanks a lot lot lot ! 🙂

[@cleberguima1]

Great video. Thanks!! :)

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

+Cleber Guimaraes Thanks Cleber!

[@LucidNovelty]

That G6 with the thumb is really challenging for me but I'll get there!

[@xy9394]

Gypsy Jazz Rhythm Guitar Boot Camp in a video....thanks so much....

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

You're Welcome!

[@ANGELICHUMANANGEL]

Brilliant!!......I SUBSCRIBED ✌😎

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Welcome Caen!

[@matthewpocock4824]

I can hear Django in this. Thanks for sharing.

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

Wonderful, video. The best thing sometimes is to lay back, leave some things open for the melody and soloist too. Giving them more freedom most often makes the entire band sound better.

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Thanks Aylbdr!

[@paulgibby6932]

I like the "growly" concept.

[@tomdee1373]

Tight intro!

[@arnoldwegstern5124]

Marvellous. Christiaan, You should think about a meeting with northern Germany s clarinet-expert Martin Schmidt-Hahn for swing. He s got a warm clarinet-sound, that could fit to the brilliant guitar !!

[@StefanGBucher]

2:46 "I can be very quick about it... you only need eight chord shapes." 😨😂 Kidding aside: Great video! Thank you!

[@jimib3]

That G6 voicing is tough!

[@JavelinGuitars]

I've been playing (electric rock) guitar for over 20 years now, just got into the whole gypsy jazz thing and I'm breaking my fingers just trying to finger those "basic" chords... damn it! 😱

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Keep at it, you'll get it eventually!

[@erimsee]

I‘ve been told to hit all the strings all the time and to have a clear chord with less sustain on 1 and 3. I‘m practicing a lot with the metronom and play that stuff in a band. As I‘m far away from a solid rhythm and do not develop a good sound, I will try your Idea in the next weeks.

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

+Victor Ruoff That's a different style which is taught by many people though in my experience even the people that teach that don't actually hit all the strings once they're in a real life gig situation, it just sounds too heavy handed!

[@rthavi]

I think my favorite thing about learning jazz has been how often I'm told to just ignore the most important, signature, notes of chords. And it works! Part psychology, part accompaniment?

[@ninetailsgaming2919]

Jazz is really just a fun genre where mistakes are basically encouraged. You just shut off the classical ideas and lessons and you just have fun with it!

[@juliusgalik7718]

Hello Christiaan, great videos and the way you teach, thank you very much. When you play up-stroke, do you play down/up down or up/down down? Thank you again. : )

[@thegloobster]

Those double barres where you hold down the A and low E in the bass and then have one note right under them, then ANOTHER bar on the 3 highest strings, man is that not how fingers are supposed to bend. HOW lol

[@jz4901]

Hi Christiian, this is an extremely useful lesson. I really like your pragmatic, stripped-down approach ... it's easy to get lost in tons of detail, and your method is great for getting up and running. It's a great sound. I have a dreadnought guitar, and am working on that nice dry chunky sound. I'm having trouble with the fingernails alone (and of course with nails and pick combo). When your fingers are hitting the string, would you say that the fingers are perpendicular (straight up and down) relative to the strings, or are the somewhat slanted? And are you hitting the strings with the sides of the nails, or with the back? Hard to see/understand from this camera angle. Cheers and regards, Jeff

[@timpannekeet6732]

This is difficult it took me years to play solid , but it makes soloing much easier you understand the music better, rhythm is the engine

[@kantor1003]

Thanks for your excellent videos! I'm self-teaching, and for the past weeks when playing min7 and dom7 chords, I've been practicing, bouncing of the idea that the more strings the better, having the 5th in the bass in addition to the root. So, Dmin7 would be ADFCF and E7 would be B E G# D E. They do sound nice and thick when playing alone, so do you think I can still use them if only I make sure to play them dry? The reason why I use the 5-string E7 voicing in particular is that when playing All of Me the C6/9 voicing (GCEADG) sounds really thick so that going to a 3-string E7 voicing it sounds too thin in contrast. Perhaps my sound isn't dry enough yet? It's hard to resist making the notes sound when playing alone. I also practice on a regular acoustic. So that might also be part of the reason. But my situation is, at least for the foreseeable future, that I can change my technique, not my guitar. Anyway, best regards and again, thank you for your channel!

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

You can use any chord if you make them sound dry. Some chords are easier to play dry than others though. The chords I show in this video are very easy to play very dry!

[@PhilWoodMusic]

Christiaan thankyou so much for all your youtube lessons my friend, they really are invaluable! If I can ask a question - Is there a different way of holding the pick when playing rhythm compared to single note solo's? And if so are you able to swap between the two positions pretty quickly? Really hoping your book comes out as a e-book at some point! Many thanks

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Thanks. I use the exact same grip for both rhythm and solo.

[@PhilWoodMusic]

Christiaan van Hemert thanks Christiaan. So I’m guessing the only difference between the two would be dropping the first two fingers down when playing rhythm so the nails blend in with the pick sound. When I’ve tried to blend the nails it tends to be the knuckle end of the nail that hits the strings but I need to drop by fingers abit.

[@tomharmon7516]

Very helpful Christiaan! Thank you so much! BTW, what application are you using to create the chord diagrams? Tom

[@Likes_Trains]

Anyone got any tips on barring chords please? Holding down two strings with a first or second finger. And adding the thumb? Really difficult to stretch!

[@johnrothfield6126]

I would love to see how you would approach Mozart or Bach with Gypsy picking inflection. Bach Gminor presto for example...

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Haha, I'll leave that to the classical players. In the time it would take me to learn that I could probably learn 20 new great lines to play over a song!

[@Jeff-vg6rm]

Alg push ✌🏽

[@torsteindragland4496]

Very good teacher! Very good indeed!

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Thanks Torstein!

[@nonopresta2451]

Hi christiaan,really good video . Can you tell me in one of yours video when you play dark eyes solo and rythm,does the rythm of dark eyes same strumming as the ones you just show in this video. Thanks,nono.

[@robruitenberg4064]

Holly fuck those are the longest pinkie fingers I've ever seen.

[@leahcimolrac1477]

The arthritis in my pointer finger thanks you

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Tell the finger it's very welcome!

[@ghouser100]

when I play the G6 voicing, the b (3rd) is muted, no matter on angle my fingers.

[@ChristiaanvanHemert]

Yeah that's pretty normal. Was for me too for a long time. It will take some time but if you practice this every day and don't press too hard you will get it. One day it will just work, trust me!

[@cankutbayhan5952]

lotsa thanks...please also give the chords in each you also give in for the melodies...we can sync immediately into application that way, take care...best.

[@dantealighieri9064]

Which guitar are you playing Christiaan?

[@Diana505ster]

I have a lot of trouble with the chords like G6 (T22133) where you have to bar two strings at once with one finger. Do you or does anyone have a suggestion as to how someone builds up to playing advanced chord arrangments like this? Also excellent video, I learned so much! Thank you!

[@jumbo4billion]

Late reply, hope you have found a way around this problem. My hands are not big enough to fret with the thumb and reach two frets ahead so I ignore the low G.

[@ghouser100]

Hi Christiaan when I play the 2 5 1 in G major. what's the best way to change from D7 to G6 without having to remove the fingers from the fretboard?

[@rolfedrengen]

D9 (554555) -> G6/9 (355455) using the thumb as bass (3). You can of slilde the fingers around instead. Taks some time to get the G6/9 to ring clean, but when you got it it has a ton of uses. Like.. if you play the G6/9 withouth the bass you basically have an E minor. Mr. Hemert demonstrates this in his arrangement for coquette.

[@2006axis]

Can you point me to the strumming only video you did?