A C-major song with strong minor pull, ideal for hearing secondary dominants as real destinations.
If you study one thing
Loop E7–Am with G-sharp resolving to A.
William P. Gottlieb / Library of Congress Aquarium, New York, N.Y. · circa November 1946 · Photo credits
Chart keyC
Form32-bar AABA in the inherited chart
FeelSwing
Meter4/4
MusicHarry Barris
Guide coverage11 / 12 sections present
Owner content reviewed — 2026-10-18T23:08:26Z 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
✓ Photograph
✓ 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.
1 historical recording entries · source text preserved
Entry
Year
Recording / session / release evidence
Listen
01
1949
I Surrender Dear, Jan-Feb 1949, CW 48 ,"Fremeaux FA 317, RCA ND 70929-2, RCA ND 90448"," - Rome - Django Reinhardt (g), Stephane Grappelly (v),Gianni Safred (p), Carlo Pecori (b), Aurelio de Carolis (d)"
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A dash means no video has been associated with this exact historical recording. Tune-level listening resources remain available above.
History & Listening
Barris and Clifford’s 1931 standard offers a rich minor-colour route within a C-major framework. The inherited chart and modern trio performances provide distinct study perspectives.
Tune details
Music: Harry Barris
Words: Gordon Clifford
Source-attributed publication / composition: 1931
Original key: Not established
Study level: Intermediate; loop e7–am with g-sharp resolving to a
Melody & head
A C-major song with strong minor pull, ideal for hearing secondary dominants as real destinations.
Do not begin with a stock tonic turnaround: the inherited chorus starts on D minor.
The grid opens on D minor rather than the tonic. E7 repeatedly points toward A minor, while the bridge makes that minor destination especially clear before D7 and G7 bring the music home. Check the video key before playing with the chart.
Chart & Form
The grid opens on D minor rather than the tonic. E7 repeatedly points toward A minor, while the bridge makes that minor destination especially clear before D7 and G7 bring the music home.
Inherited archive chart retained without harmonic or notation edits. The playing notes below discuss this particular version, not a definitive score.
I Surrender Dear (90 bpm) : Gypsy jazz Backing track / Jazz manouche
Guitare Improvisation
Swing · 90 BPM · 6m10s · Video available when checked; creator-described attribution.
Creator-provided play-along; instrumentation and feel vary by selection. Check the key and full arrangement before joining in; the guide chart may use another key. Tempo is the creator’s stated value.
Editorial reuse of a documented public-domain Gottlieb photograph; not a photograph of this tune or recording session. Six photographs are each proposed for two Stage 6D guides.
Part of William P. Gottlieb’s documented Aquarium photographs in New York, circa November 1946. The catalogue supplies the location and approximate date; this is not evidence of a particular tune being played.
The grid opens on D minor rather than the tonic. E7 repeatedly points toward A minor, while the bridge makes that minor destination especially clear before D7 and G7 bring the music home.
Sing the destination note before connecting it to the preceding chord.
Pitch choices
Begin with the named chord tones. Add passing notes only after the melody and cadence are secure.
Loop E7–Am with G-sharp resolving to A. Then connect the bridge’s D7–G7 return using F-sharp–F–E as a guide-tone line where the chart permits.
Comping & voicings
Keep D minor and A minor sonorities open enough for the melody. Let the thirds distinguish E7 from E minor; a generic C-major grip obscures the song.
Voicing note sets
Keep D minor and A minor sonorities open enough for the melody. Let the thirds distinguish E7 from E minor; a generic C-major grip obscures the song.
Keep the accompaniment clear
First establish an even pulse; add rhythmic variation only when the melody leaves space.
Do not begin with a stock tonic turnaround: the inherited chorus starts on D minor.
Sven Jungbeck chord-melody lesson; not a transcription of Django's solo.
Practice room
65–105 bpm
Your assignment
Loop E7–Am with G-sharp resolving to A. Then connect the bridge’s D7–G7 return using F-sharp–F–E as a guide-tone line where the chart permits.
Loop these changes
Loop E7–Am with G-sharp resolving to A. Then connect the bridge’s D7–G7 return using F-sharp–F–E as a guide-tone line where the chart permits.
Metronome
Count quarter notes first. Then place the click on beats 2 and 4 at half the click rate, keeping the phrase length unchanged.
Transposition
Move one short cadence to a nearby key by naming its chord tones, then return to the chosen study key.
At the session
C; 32-bar AABA in the inherited chart. Agree the arrangement, pickup and ending before counting in.
Start together
Count a clear tempo and use the final cadence of the agreed arrangement.
Finish together
Cue the final tonic together; agree any tag before starting.
Do not begin with a stock tonic turnaround: the inherited chorus starts on D minor.
Do not begin with a stock tonic turnaround: the inherited chorus starts on D minor.
Arranging the tune
Solo guitar
Keep the melody uppermost and begin with a single bass note under each harmony. Keep D minor and A minor sonorities open enough for the melody. Let the thirds distinguish E7 from E minor; a generic C-major grip obscures the song.
Trio or larger group
Keep D minor and A minor sonorities open enough for the melody. Let the thirds distinguish E7 from E minor; a generic C-major grip obscures the song.
Vocal considerations
Choose a comfortable singing key and transpose the accompaniment as a whole; lyrics are not reproduced here.
This player guide combines inherited recording evidence and editorial study notes. Musical study notes are editorial suggestions; compare them with the recording.
I Surrender Dear (90 bpm) : Gypsy jazz Backing track / Jazz manoucheGuitare ImprovisationSwing · 90 BPM · 6m10s · Video available when checked; creator-described attribution.Creator-provided play-along; instrumentation and feel vary by selection. Check the key and full arrangement before joining in; the guide chart may use another key. Tempo is the creator’s stated value.✓ Featured
I SURRENDER DEAR (95BPM) THE STEPHANE WREMBEL BAND - PLAY ALONG SERIESStephane WrembelSwing · 95 BPM · 2m48s · Video available when checked; creator-described attribution.Creator-provided play-along; instrumentation and feel vary by selection. Check the key and full arrangement before joining in; the guide chart may use another key. Tempo is the creator’s stated value.Select video
I Surrender Dear - Django gypsy jazz by the Tim Kliphuis TrioTim KliphuisVideo available when checked; creator-described attribution.Performer attribution follows the video title and channel description. Proposed listening selection; no popularity ranking implied.✓ Featured
I Surrender DearAdrien Moignard - TopicVideo available when checked; creator-described attribution.Performer attribution follows the video title and channel description. Proposed listening selection; no popularity ranking implied.Select video
I surrender Dear by the Tcha Limberger Trio with Mozes Rosenberg 2015Dave KelbieVideo available when checked; creator-described attribution.Performer attribution follows the video title and channel description. Proposed listening selection; no popularity ranking implied.Select video