A descending inner voice, lyrical melody and contrasting bridge make a compact lesson in expressive voice leading.
If you study one thing
Sustain an upper melody note while playing the descending inner line slowly.
William P. Gottlieb / Library of Congress Aquarium, New York, N.Y. · circa November 1946 · Photo credits
Chart keyD minor / F major (inherited study chart)
Form32-bar AABA refrain with D-flat-major bridge
FeelBallad / gentle swing
Meter4/4
MusicDuke Ellington
Guide coverage12 / 12 sections present
Owner content reviewed — 2026-10-18T10:57:14Z 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
1937
In A Sentimental Mood, 26/4/37, OLA 1718-1 ,"Fremeaux FA 305, Affinity AFS 1003, Classics 748, Conifer HD 206, EMI 780671-2, Mosaic MD6-190(6 CD Set).", Paris - QHCF
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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
The Smithsonian preserves 1935 materials for Duke Ellington’s In a Sentimental Mood. The published song credits include lyrics by Manny Kurtz and Irving Mills. The inherited Django performance is dated 26 April 1937. A Gottlieb photograph of Django beside Ellington is proposed as an editorial connection between musicians; it does not document this tune being played. The existing Tessa Spaaij transcription remains unchanged.
Tune details
Music: Duke Ellington
Words: Manny Kurtz, Irving Mills
Source-attributed publication / composition: 1935
Original key: Not established
Study level: Intermediate to advanced; line clichés and distant bridge
Melody & head
Compare how the descending inner line supports the melody, then listen for the bridge’s change of colour before following the solo notes.
The Stochelo/Joscho selection is a medley with Clair de Lune. Stop or follow the new form when the tune changes.
Compare how the descending inner line supports the melody, then listen for the bridge’s change of colour before following the solo notes.
Session evidence
In A Sentimental Mood, 26/4/37, OLA 1718-1 ,"Fremeaux FA 305, Affinity AFS 1003, Classics 748, Conifer HD 206, EMI 780671-2, Mosaic MD6-190(6 CD Set).", Paris - QHCF
The opening Dm–Dm(maj7)–Dm7–Dm6 makes a descending D–C-sharp–C–B inner line audible against D minor. The G-minor passage has a related movement. The bridge’s D-flat-major area changes the tonal landscape before Gm7–C7 leads back. The inherited symbol DdM7 is a transcription typo or ambiguity: retain the raw evidence but confirm that bar with the chosen arrangement. Check the video key before playing with the chart.
Chart & Form
The opening Dm–Dm(maj7)–Dm7–Dm6 makes a descending D–C-sharp–C–B inner line audible against D minor. The G-minor passage has a related movement. The bridge’s D-flat-major area changes the tonal landscape before Gm7–C7 leads back. The inherited symbol DdM7 is a transcription typo or ambiguity: retain the raw evidence but confirm that bar with the chosen arrangement.
Inherited chart is preserved verbatim as historical study material, not silently corrected or newly authenticated. Check the specific caveats below and match the arrangement and key to the selected video. External teaching material remains on its creator’s site.
In a Sentimental Mood - Gypsy jazz backing track + music sheet
Werner Schmedding
2m57s · Video available when checked; creator-described attribution.
Werner Schmedding credits Andy Bowen for this backing and supplies a sheet-music study reference. Check arrangement and key against the inherited chart.
In A Sentimental Mood - Django Reinhardt Transcription - By Tessa Spaaij
Tessa Spaaij
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.
Editorial reuse of a verified Gottlieb photograph already in the Djangopedia gallery. This image is not claimed to depict this tune or its recording session.
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.
D–C-sharp–C–B is the opening descending line, not four unrelated scale choices.
At the bridge, F and C identify D-flat major colour.
Pitch choices
Begin with the named chord tones. Add passing notes only after the melody and cadence are secure.
Sustain an upper melody note while playing the descending inner line slowly. Then play only the bridge’s melody and bass notes. Join the bridge to the final A at half tempo without a pause or extra beat.
Comping & voicings
Use quiet sustained shells for a ballad reading, or light short strokes for a swung version. Follow the soloist’s arrangement rather than imposing both at once.
Voicing note sets
Hold D and F as stable D-minor tones while moving the upper inner voice; avoid squeezing every possible extension into the grip.
Keep the accompaniment clear
First establish an even pulse; add rhythmic variation only when the melody leaves space.
The Stochelo/Joscho selection is a medley with Clair de Lune. Stop or follow the new form when the tune changes.
Practice room
Begin at 55–75 bpm; preserve the long phrase
Your assignment
Sustain an upper melody note while playing the descending inner line slowly. Then play only the bridge’s melody and bass notes. Join the bridge to the final A at half tempo without a pause or extra beat.
Loop these changes
Sustain an upper melody note while playing the descending inner line slowly.
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
D minor / F major (inherited study chart); 32-bar AABA refrain with D-flat-major bridge. 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.
The Stochelo/Joscho selection is a medley with Clair de Lune. Stop or follow the new form when the tune changes.
The Stochelo/Joscho selection is a medley with Clair de Lune. Stop or follow the new form when the tune changes.
Arranging the tune
Solo guitar
Keep the melody uppermost and begin with a single bass note under each harmony. Hold D and F as stable D-minor tones while moving the upper inner voice; avoid squeezing every possible extension into the grip.
Trio or larger group
Use quiet sustained shells for a ballad reading, or light short strokes for a swung version. Follow the soloist’s arrangement rather than imposing both at once.
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.
In a sentimental mood & Claire de lune (Stochelo Rosenberg & Joscho Stephan)Joscho StephanVideo available when checked; creator-described attribution.Medley: In a Sentimental Mood followed by Clair de Lune, performed by Stochelo Rosenberg and Joscho Stephan. Not a tune-only continuous backing.✓ Featured
𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐞́𝐥𝐢 𝐋𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞̀𝐧𝐞 & 𝐆𝐢𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐳𝐚 - In a Sentimental MoodGiuseppe ContinenzaVideo available when checked; creator-described attribution.Performer attribution follows the video title and channel description. Proposed listening selection; no popularity ranking implied.Select video
