An elegant major-key theme with a distinctive dominant opening and a bridge that shifts through neighbouring major centres. Its identity comes from the melody and the harmonic route, not from speed.
If you study one thing
Hear the opening dominant chain as one phrase arriving in G.
William P. Gottlieb / Library of Congress Aquarium, New York, N.Y. · circa November 1946 · Photo credits
Owner content reviewed — 2026-10-05T18:27:37Z 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.
8 historical recording entries · source text preserved
Entry
Year
Recording / session / release evidence
Listen
01
1935
Djangology,P 77540 ,Sept.1935, "Fremeaux FA 303, Classics 739, JSP 341, Conifer CDHD165, Jazz Archives ZET 752, JZCD 376"," - Stephane Grappelly (v), Django Reinhardt, Joseph Reinhardt, PierreFerret (g), Louis Vola (b)."
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02
1937
Djangology,Fremeaux 306,13/6/37, "CBS Broadcast - Stephane Grappelli (v), Django&Joseph Reinhardt (g), Gusti Mahla (g), Louis Vola (b)."
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03
1938
Djangology,Airshot ,Fremeaux 307,"22/4/38 - Paris - Stephane Grappelly (v), Django Reinhardt, Joseph Reinhardt,Eugene Vees (g), Roger Grasset (b)"
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04
1942
Djangology,8/5/42,16220,"Fremeaux FA 311, Classics 877, Verve 513 947-2, HEP 1041, Verve 516 931-2", - Brussels - Stan Brenders et Son Grand Orchestre featuring Django Reinhardt
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05
1945
Djangology,26/10/45,"Fremeaux FA 312, Jass JCD 628, Vogue 228E 6004", - Paris - Django Reinhardt and the A.T.C. Band - AFN Brodcast
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06
1945
Djangology,6/11/45,OSW 408-1 ,"Fremeaux FA 312, Classics 945, Jazz Time 790560-2", - Paris - Django Reinhardt and his American Swing Band
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07
1945
Djangology,16/12/45,"Fremeaux FA 312, Jass JCD 628, Vogue 228E 6005", - Paris - Django Reinhardt and the A.T.C. Band - Concert - Salle Pleyel
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08
1949
Djangology, Jan-Feb 1949,CW 31,"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
Djangopedia’s earliest listed recording is September 1935; its page documents several returns to the tune through 1949. Do not confuse the composition with the later compilation album bearing the same title. Composer credits are often given jointly to Reinhardt and Grappelli.
Tune details
Music: Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli
Documented in archive: 1935
Original key: Not established
Study level: Intermediate
Melody & head
Learn the opening over A7 rather than anchoring every phrase to G.
Keep the bridge’s melodic contour recognisable while moving keys.
Count its form and check its key before joining in. The A section starts on A7, moves through D7 into G, then uses a diminished connection toward Am. The bridge changes the tonal colour to A♭ and A before the final A. The inherited text abbreviates this passage and must not be assumed to contain a complete 32-bar grid.
Chart & Form
The A section starts on A7, moves through D7 into G, then uses a diminished connection toward Am. The bridge changes the tonal colour to A♭ and A before the final A. The inherited text abbreviates this passage and must not be assumed to contain a complete 32-bar grid.
The inherited bridge has only four printed cells: 28 cells overall. It is not a complete bar-by-bar chorus. Follow a chosen recording for the full bridge duration.
Highest displayed view count among matching backing-track videos returned by relevance and view-count YouTube searches. Not a complete platform-wide ranking.
Performed studies, transcriptions, TAB, notation and lessons for studying Django’s solo. Resources are described by their creator; inclusion does not certify note-for-note accuracy.
DjangoKOR · source-described; accuracy not independently verified
Creator presents a study of Django’s recorded solo. Use it alongside the original recording; exact transcription accuracy has not been independently reviewed.
Checked 2026-10-02
Similar tunes
Follow a shared key, a harmonic idea or a familiar form. Keys refer to this site’s chart editions; other recordings may use a different key.
Related chord movement
No sufficiently supported harmonic comparison has been added yet.
Chosen as a view of Django from circa November 1946, to place the study beside his changing performing life. The closest dated recording entry here is 1945. This is an editorial pairing; the photograph is not claimed to depict a performance or session of this tune.
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.
Hear the diminished chord as moving voices between stable harmonies.
Give the A♭ and A bridge arrivals distinct thirds: C and C♯.
Pitch choices
Major arpeggios at the bridge centres.
Dominant arpeggios and chromatic approaches for A7→D7→G.
Improvise on the first eight bars using only thirds and sevenths. Then play the bridge roots and sing the melody above them without the backing track.
Comping & voicings
Use light four-to-the-bar shapes and a clear bass root at each bridge change. Avoid covering the melodic line with dense dominant extensions.
Voicing note sets
A7: A–C♯–G; D7: D–F♯–C; G6: G–B–E.
Am7: A–C–G, with a small upper-voice move into D7.
Keep the accompaniment clear
Start with a quiet, even pulse. Leave an entire phrase unfilled and listen to how the melody breathes.
Using a compressed legacy chart as if every printed cell were a verified bar.
Adding dense extensions that obscure the melody or duplicate the pianist’s register.
Practice room
Start at 100–120; build toward 150–190 bpm
Your assignment
Improvise on the first eight bars using only thirds and sevenths. Then play the bridge roots and sing the melody above them without the backing track.
Loop these changes
A7 → D7 → G
G → diminished connection → Am
A♭ major → A major
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 A7 → D7 → G 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
Djangology — G major; AABA family; legacy bridge needs bar-count review. Agree the tempo, pickup, solo order and ending before the count.
Start together
A short G turnaround works if the first A7 is clearly cued; count directly in while learning.
Finish together
Agree on a final G6 instead of the turnaround that starts another chorus.
Confirm the bridge’s bar count from the chosen recording or backing track before playing with a new group.
Using a compressed legacy chart as if every printed cell were a verified bar.
Arranging the tune
Solo guitar
Arrange the first A with single-note melody and sparse shells; reserve fuller chords for the bridge contrast.
Trio or larger group
Confirm the bridge’s bar count from the chosen recording or backing track before playing with a new group.
Vocal considerations
This guide studies an instrumental arrangement. Any later lyric adaptation requires its own credit and chosen key.
Further study
Compare the minor/diminished passing harmonies in different charts. Track actual melody notes to decide which extensions support them.
The inherited bridge has only four printed cells: 28 cells overall. It is not a complete bar-by-bar chorus. Follow a chosen recording for the full bridge duration.
Compare the session evidence below before attributing one arrangement to every Django performance. Djangopedia’s earliest listed recording is September 1935; its page documents several returns to the tune through 1949. Do not confuse the composition with the later compilation album bearing the same title. Composer credits are often given jointly to Reinhardt and Grappelli.
This player guide combines inherited recording evidence and editorial study notes. Musical study notes are editorial suggestions; compare them with the recording.
Djangology ⎪Tommy Emmanuel & Joscho StephanTommy Emmanuel and Joscho Stephan · Joscho StephanGypsy swing guitar duo performanceTheme, improvised solos and double-time section; separate instructional links do not turn this performance into a Django transcription.✓ Featured
Djangology - Mozes Rosenberg, Johnny Rosenberg and Jonny Kerry at Django In The Bay 2023Mozes Rosenberg, Johnny Rosenberg and Jonny Kerry · Lewis Kilvington2023 · Django in the Bay 2023Guitar duo and accordion festival performance.Select performance
Gary Potter & Romane - Djangology (Samois'92)Gary Potter and Romane · kapitanswing1992 · Samois-sur-Seine festival jam, 1992Historical independent guitar jam.Select performance
Djangology - Gonzalo Bergara Quartet - Gypsy Jazz at Steve's Live MusicGonzalo Bergara Quartet · Miss Moonshine Dance & MORESteve’s Live MusicLive Gypsy jazz quartet with Leah Zeger on violin.Select performance
Djangology - Gonzalo BERGARA QuartetGonzalo Bergara Quartet · fjip162012 · Le Baiser Salé, 19 December 2012Concert clip; additional personnel unstated.Select performance