A vigorous swing tune built from bright tonic passages, chromatic neighbours and a strongly directed dominant chain. Clarity at speed depends on knowing where a phrase is going before it starts.
If you study one thing
Hear the destination of the dominant chain before playing the first note.
Owner content reviewed — 2026-10-04T21:21:55Z by admin. Coverage measures presence, not accuracy. Content review does not certify rights or musical perfection.
See what is here and what is missing
✓ Recording evidence
✓ Key & form
✓ Chart
✓ History
✓ Playing notes
✓ Practice plan
✓ Backing track
✓ Django recording
✓ Django solo study aid
✓ Illustration
✓ Sources
✓ Difficulty
Django's Recordings
Django recordings for this tune. Uploader dates and take labels remain source claims; only an evidenced exact association enables a row’s Listen control.
4 historical recording entries · source text preserved
Entry
Year
Recording / session / release evidence
Listen
01
1939
Hungaria, 21/3/39, 4967-HPP ,"Fremeaux FA 308, JSP 343, Classics 793, Conifer HD 206, Rhapsody RHCD6, Suisa JZCD 376, Music Memoria 87949, Gitanes 159 853-2"," - Paris - QHCF - Stephane Grappelly (g), Django Reinhardt, Joseph Reinhardt,Pierre Ferret (g), Emmanuel Soudieux (b)"
—
02
1939
Hungaria,21/3/39, 4967-1/2HPP ,"Fremeaux FA 308, JSP 343, Gitanes 159 853-2"," - Paris - QHCF - Stephane Grappelly (g), Django Reinhardt, Joseph Reinhardt,Pierre Ferret (g), Emmanuel Soudieux (b)"
—
03
1939
Hungaria, 17/5/39, 5084-HPP ,"Fremeaux FA 309, Classics 813, JSP 343, Music Memoria 87949"," - QHCF - Stephane Grappelly (v), Django Reinhardt, Joseph Reinhardt,Pierre Ferret (g),Emmanuel Soudieux (b)"
—
04
1941
Hungaria,11/9/41, OSW 225-1,"Fremeaux FA 311, Classics 877, OR0062"," - Paris - Andre Ekyan (as), Django Reinhardt, Eugene Vees (g), Emmanuel Soudieux (b), Pierre Fouad (d)"
—
A dash means no video has been associated with this exact historical recording. Tune-level listening resources remain available above.
History & Listening
Djangopedia documents Paris takes dated 21 March 1939, including matrix 4967-HPP. The imported personnel text contains apparent instrument typos, so its verbatim record is retained rather than treated as a fully verified personnel table.
Tune details
Music: Django Reinhardt
Documented in archive: 1939
Original key: Not established
Study level: Advanced at performance tempo
Melody & head
Learn fast figures as short rhythmic groups, preserving the last note of each phrase.
Keep articulation even when moving between strings.
Compare the tempo, key, introduction and final cadence with the first entry. Hear the destination of the dominant chain before playing the first note.
Session evidence
Hungaria,11/9/41, OSW 225-1,"Fremeaux FA 311, Classics 877, OR0062"," - Paris - Andre Ekyan (as), Django Reinhardt, Eugene Vees (g), Emmanuel Soudieux (b), Pierre Fouad (d)"
Count its form and check its key before joining in. The G-major opening is interrupted by a chromatic neighbour, then E7 starts the move toward A7 and D7. The second half closes through Am and C-minor colour before G. The inherited G♯ symbols and absent bar separators require comparison with a reliable chart or the selected track.
Chart & Form
The G-major opening is interrupted by a chromatic neighbour, then E7 starts the move toward A7 and D7. The second half closes through Am and C-minor colour before G. The inherited G♯ symbols and absent bar separators require comparison with a reliable chart or the selected track.
Two rows each have seven cells and a missing separator around G♯ / G. Root and chord-quality spellings also need review. The printed cells are not a reliable bar count.
A small standing Django in angular silhouette walks between sharp rhythmic wedges with a guitar carried at his side. The wedges converge toward a stable bright landing, echoing Hungaria's vigorous tonic and directed dominant chain; no geographic costume.
An original editorial interpretation of the tune. This is an illustration, not an archival photograph or a documented reconstruction of a recording session.
Original Djangopedia illustration · AI-assisted, 2026
G♯ identifies E7 as a dominant pointing away from G.
C♯ on A7 resolves into D7’s C or D according to the line.
E♭ on Cm can fall to D when the music returns to G.
Pitch choices
G-major and sixth arpeggios at home.
Dominant arpeggios through E7–A7–D7; local chord tones on chromatic neighbours.
Practise the dominant chain at half speed using quarter notes. Increase tempo only when the last note of each phrase still lands exactly where intended.
Comping & voicings
Choose small grips and economical right-hand motion. Keep the volume below the lead so the melody remains readable at speed.
Voicing note sets
G6: G–B–E; E7: E–G♯–D; A7: A–C♯–G.
Am7: A–C–G; Cm6: C–E♭–A.
Keep the accompaniment clear
Start with a quiet, even pulse. Leave an entire phrase unfilled and listen to how the melody breathes.
Hiding uncertain harmony behind continuous fast notes.
Adding dense extensions that obscure the melody or duplicate the pianist’s register.
Practice room
Start at 130–150; build toward 200–240 bpm
Your assignment
Practise the dominant chain at half speed using quarter notes. Increase tempo only when the last note of each phrase still lands exactly where intended.
Loop these changes
E7 → A7 → D7
G/B → diminished → Am
Am → Cm → G
Metronome
Start below the suggested tempo. First hear four quarter-note clicks, then halve the click rate and place clicks on beats 2 and 4. Keep the same phrase length.
Transposition
Move E7 → A7 → D7 up one whole step by naming each chord’s function before finding a guitar shape.
Return to G major and play the original melody without the chart.
At the session
Hungaria — G major; 32-bar chorus; source has missing separators. Agree the tempo, pickup, solo order and ending before the count.
Start together
Give a clear full-tempo count and keep any introduction short.
Finish together
Cue the final chorus early; use a simple G6 finish before adding a fast tag.
At this tempo, agree on a minimal ending and solo order before the count.
Hiding uncertain harmony behind continuous fast notes.
Arranging the tune
Solo guitar
Reduce the accompaniment to bass landmarks and occasional chords; preserve the head’s rhythmic identity first.
Trio or larger group
At this tempo, agree on a minimal ending and solo order before the count.
Vocal considerations
This guide studies an instrumental arrangement. Any later lyric adaptation requires its own credit and chosen key.
Further study
Compare the source’s G♯ labels with the sound of A♭ dominant/diminished alternatives. Do not silently decide a chord’s quality from its root alone.
Two rows each have seven cells and a missing separator around G♯ / G. Root and chord-quality spellings also need review. The printed cells are not a reliable bar count.
Compare the session evidence below before attributing one arrangement to every Django performance. Djangopedia documents Paris takes dated 21 March 1939, including matrix 4967-HPP. The imported personnel text contains apparent instrument typos, so its verbatim record is retained rather than treated as a fully verified personnel table.
This player guide combines inherited recording evidence and editorial study notes. Musical study notes are editorial suggestions; compare them with the recording.
Original Djangopedia illustration · AI-assisted, 2026
An original editorial interpretation of the tune. This is an illustration, not an archival photograph or a documented reconstruction of a recording session.
Generated with the native image-generation tool on 2026-10-08; original editorial artwork, not a historical photograph.
Prompt: Use case: illustration-story. One original editorial feature illustration for Djangopedia's guide “Hungaria”. Landscape 1536 × 1024, opaque background.
Scene: A small standing Django in angular silhouette walks between sharp rhythmic wedges with a guitar carried at his side. The wedges converge toward a stable bright landing, echoing Hungaria's vigorous tonic and directed dominant chain; no geographic costume.
Musical basis from the guide: A vigorous swing tune built from bright tonic passages, chromatic neighbours and a strongly directed dominant chain. Clarity at speed depends on knowing where a phrase is going before it starts. The supplied chart is G major; form: 32-bar chorus; source has missing separators; feel: Swing. These describe musical inspiration, not visible writing. Historical context: Djangopedia documents Paris takes dated 21 March 1939, including matrix 4967-HPP. The imported personnel text contains apparent instrument typos, so its verbatim record is retained rather than treated as a fully verified personnel table. Do not illustrate disputed historical claims or suggest this imagined scene is an archival session.
Medium: woodcut. Dominant palette: black white and restrained emerald. Composition: forward lean offset rhythm. Human presence: one Django figure. Strong intentional design, clearly drawn/painted, distinctive material marks; keep essential subject safely within the central 70 percent width and middle 80 percent height for card crops. Maintain enough visual substance at thumbnail size.
Broad inspiration observed in old photo, ONLY scale/rhythm and never a reference image: close instrument-led figure; diagonal guitar; strong contrast. Independently invent every pose, perspective, clothing, setting and lighting.
Avoid: No source formal seated pose, violin, Hungarian costume. No photorealism, archival simulation, generated text, letters, numbers, labels, fake musical notation, logo, signature, watermark, fake dates, yellowed-paper patina, recognizable artwork or copied photograph. No imitation of any named artist. Render the art edge to edge without borders, mockup or typography.
Research & rights notes
Exact original composition date and registered credits where not independently sourced
Legacy date/matrix extraction and personnel spelling
Chart variants and specialist review of editorial music analysis
Photograph rights are documented separately in its credit. They do not establish the rights status of the composition or recording.
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