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01/11/26
Learn from the best players
Educational and entertaining. Andreas Oberg and Frank Vignola are among the best players who show the basics and offer great ideas.
Gypsy Jazz Duets
Gypsy technique, harmony, improv and duet approaches for jazz guitar
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About this course
Gypsy Jazz Duets came together under an unusual and somewhat improvised set of circumstances. Yet, in the true spirit of "gypsy jazz," those improvisations gave birth to an extraordinary learning experience for any jazz guitarist, particularly for those with a passion for gypsy jazz guitar.
TrueFire's radar screen started beeping loudly when it picked up that two of our favorite jazz players, Andreas Öberg and Frank Vignola would be within a hundred miles of our studios within just a few weeks. Both also happen to be very accomplished students of gypsy jazz guitar, a subject we've long wanted to present. And while both artists had heard of each other, they had not met nor played together in the past.
Choose from several formats including Data DVD or downloadOver the course of the next few weeks, we worked out the logistics of the session while Frank and Andreas worked out the curriculum and outline for the course. Frank and Andreas met for the first time on the day of the session to review the material. We powdered their noses, someone shouted "action" and what followed is one of the most amazing, masters workshop on gypsy jazz guitar ever recorded.
Over the course of the session, Andreas and Frank perform several improvisations over standard gypsy jazz forms followed by an extensive breakdown during which they cover all of the requisite techniques, discuss gypsy harmony and present a wide variety of improvisational and duet approaches.
In the midst of these breakdowns, Andreas and Frank would often bridge out to related tutorials, many of which are worth the price of admission alone. Topics covered over the 66 video lessons include: gypsy jazz voicings, tritone subs, chromatic reharmonization to V7, cycle of fifths with tritone substitutions, chromatic guide tones, gypsy-style soloing and improvisation, arpeggios with chromatic embellishments, soloing on one string, rhythm la pompe, rhythmic dynamics, sweep picking diminished lines, gypsy picking, stutter picking, duo soloing approaches, chromatic approach to chords, whole tone voicings and patterns, bebop approach, melodic voice leading, gypsy and bebop articulation, trading 4's, playing outside, comping and reharmonization, rhythmic variations, comping and soloing over ballads, motific development, personal style, double time rhythm, extensions and voice leading, off beat 1/8th note patterns, triplet patterns, distinguishing gypsy and gypsy swing feels, scatting and duo communication.
Swedish guitar phenom Andreas Öberg has performed with and earned the accolades of such guitar luminaries as Toots Thielemans, Bireli Lagrene and Larry Coryell. Frank Vignola is one of the most accomplished, multi-dimensional artists in the biz. Monster player, composer and widely respected bandleader, Frank's played with everyone from Les Paul to Madonna to Donald Fagen.
Gypsy Jazz Duets is a valuable resource of wisdom and insight from two young masters of the guitar. Like those great jazz records cut in a day, where all of the stars must have aligned to create that magical moment forever preserved on vinyl, Gypsy Jazz Duets captures such a moment for students of jazz guitar.
TrueFire's radar screen started beeping loudly when it picked up that two of our favorite jazz players, Andreas Öberg and Frank Vignola would be within a hundred miles of our studios within just a few weeks. Both also happen to be very accomplished students of gypsy jazz guitar, a subject we've long wanted to present. And while both artists had heard of each other, they had not met nor played together in the past.
Choose from several formats including Data DVD or downloadOver the course of the next few weeks, we worked out the logistics of the session while Frank and Andreas worked out the curriculum and outline for the course. Frank and Andreas met for the first time on the day of the session to review the material. We powdered their noses, someone shouted "action" and what followed is one of the most amazing, masters workshop on gypsy jazz guitar ever recorded.
Over the course of the session, Andreas and Frank perform several improvisations over standard gypsy jazz forms followed by an extensive breakdown during which they cover all of the requisite techniques, discuss gypsy harmony and present a wide variety of improvisational and duet approaches.
In the midst of these breakdowns, Andreas and Frank would often bridge out to related tutorials, many of which are worth the price of admission alone. Topics covered over the 66 video lessons include: gypsy jazz voicings, tritone subs, chromatic reharmonization to V7, cycle of fifths with tritone substitutions, chromatic guide tones, gypsy-style soloing and improvisation, arpeggios with chromatic embellishments, soloing on one string, rhythm la pompe, rhythmic dynamics, sweep picking diminished lines, gypsy picking, stutter picking, duo soloing approaches, chromatic approach to chords, whole tone voicings and patterns, bebop approach, melodic voice leading, gypsy and bebop articulation, trading 4's, playing outside, comping and reharmonization, rhythmic variations, comping and soloing over ballads, motific development, personal style, double time rhythm, extensions and voice leading, off beat 1/8th note patterns, triplet patterns, distinguishing gypsy and gypsy swing feels, scatting and duo communication.
Swedish guitar phenom Andreas Öberg has performed with and earned the accolades of such guitar luminaries as Toots Thielemans, Bireli Lagrene and Larry Coryell. Frank Vignola is one of the most accomplished, multi-dimensional artists in the biz. Monster player, composer and widely respected bandleader, Frank's played with everyone from Les Paul to Madonna to Donald Fagen.
Gypsy Jazz Duets is a valuable resource of wisdom and insight from two young masters of the guitar. Like those great jazz records cut in a day, where all of the stars must have aligned to create that magical moment forever preserved on vinyl, Gypsy Jazz Duets captures such a moment for students of jazz guitar.
What you'll learn
- Understand gypsy jazz picking technique
- Explore rhythmic accompaniment strategies
- Learn chord substitution techniques
- Learn how to develop personal musical style
- Develop jazz improvisation skills
Release date: 08/20/2009 • 2h 27m runtime
Sample lessons
Minor Swing
Performance
Minor Swing
Tritone Subs
Minor Swing
Chromatic Reharmonization
Minor Swing
Cycle of Fifths Performance
What's included
66 lessons • 49 charts
Gypsy Jazz Duets
Swedish guitar phenom Andreas Oberg has performed with and earned the accolades of such guitar luminaries as Les Paul, Toots Thielemans, Bireli Lagrene, Larry Coryell and Frank Vignola. Along with regular TV and radio appearances, Andreas is often featured in international guitar publications.
His partner in crime, Frank Vignola, is a recognized master of a wide range of styles from jazz to bluegrass. Illustrating this depth, Frank has worked with legends such as Donald Fagen, David Grisman and – like Andreas – Les Paul. A Long Island boy, Frank is far from being a jazz snob and has graced the stages of everyone from Madonna to Ringo Starr.
In Gypsy Duo, Frank and Andreas will teach you the many different techniques used within Gypsy jazz music such as picking, rhythmic patterns and harmonic ideas in a duet format. They also call upon their years of experience in jazz and bebop styles to infuse new ideas into the style, such as sweep picking, working from different tonal centers, new fingering approaches and fresh rhythmic ideas.
Minor Swing
Here we see Frank and Andreas jam “Minor Swing” in the key of A minor. Both Frank and Andreas’ approaches to harmony and rhythm at the start of this tune typify the Gypsy jazz style – plenty of diminished and chromatic phrases bolstered by tight, driving rhythms comprised of sparse yet complex chord voicings.
Later in the performance, we hear Andreas introduce more blues-based note choices with Frank following suit with his chord voicings and rhythms. Frank then explores a few blues phrases before the boys break into a classically-themed section, illustrating just how far the Gypsy jazz style can be taken. The piece wraps things up while exploring a more traditional approach.
Minor Swing
This section covers the chord progression to Minor Swing – a sixteen bar progression with each chord held for two bars. The first section is comprised of A minor, D minor, E7 then back to A minor. The second section begins with D minor, followed by A minor, E7 then back to A minor.
Minor Swing
Frank and Andreas look into specific chord voicings, covering the use of the minor 6 to add a Django approved tone to the minor chords. Frank then demonstrates minor 6 inversions, cycling through the root, 3rd, 5th and 6th in the bass.
Minor Swing
Andreas describes tritone substitution in relation to the E7 voicing. This involves using a Bb as the bass note of the E7 chord, which is the E’s #4/b5 – the Devil’s interval. This demonstrates how intricate harmonic ideas can be voiced simply and effectively, delivering the needed punch and volume.
Minor Swing
Andreas and Frank look into the chord substitutions that helped lend a bluesy, bebop feel to the performance. Instead of staying tied to the A’s minor 6 tonality, he used the chord’s minor 7 and minor 9 voicings to change the feel and venture into less traditional Gypsy jazz sounds.
Minor Swing
Here we see two masters offer up many ideas for accompaniment. One is the use of passing chords when moving from the A minor to the D minor. The boys explore using an A dominant 7 and Eb7 as leading chords when moving from the Amin7 to the D minor. Frank also touches on the importance of listening to the soloist to make sure your accompaniment supports rather than detracts from the improvisation, as well as looking to the soloist for cues for different voicings.
+ 59 more lessons
Reviews
12 results
foggywim
Verified buyer
11/21/25
Beautiful course Amazing Teacher TRUEFIRE IS THE BEST FOR ME
Ericrichard
Verified buyer
07/04/25
Gypsy Jazz Duets
I wasn't expecting very much when I bought this course but boys was I wrong. Just seeing those two amazing players improvise on various tunes is worth every penny. As a bonus It is filled with good honest advice that can take you a long way. As it is suggested learning a new style can help you in other style of music and this is demonstrated beautifully especially by Andreas. Frank Vignola as always makes everything so clear. There is lots and lots of good things you can use in this course
Burkhard B.
07/29/21
Oberg/Vignola
Oldie, but GOLD ie, Truefire shines and of course ANDREAS OBERG and FRANK VIGNOLA !!! Love it !!!
trueharry
Verified buyer
08/18/20
It is easy to understand, soundquality is good and the Messina are well chosen.
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