Gypsy Jazz Guitar – Rhythm & Chord Progressions

This gypsy jazz guitar lesson is an introduction to “La Pompe”, the typical rhythm guitar strumming used in gypsy jazz, aka Manouche. You will learn how to play chords and chord progressions in the gypsy jazz style.

Mastering La Pompe requires daily training. Practice the steps outlined in this lesson slowly until you feel comfortable with the technique.

How the basic chord accompaniment technique works is best seen in the video further below but also read through the tutorial for more tips on how to use this technique properly.

By popular demand, I also provided the guitar tabs and chord diagrams of the video’s intro.

 

This lesson is a short introduction to La Pompe, click here to learn how to play gypsy rhythm guitar step-by-step…

 

Gypsy Jazz Chords Video Chords

 

La Pompe – The Technique

Gypsy Jazz Guitar Chords: How To Play "La Pompe"

 

 

Here’s how the La Pompe rhythm looks in notation:

 

Gypsy jazz guitar rhythm

 

Combine the two steps below and you have the basic La Pompe rhythm movement.

 

Step 1

Play an upstroke, then a downstroke, and quickly move your right hand towards the upper part of your guitar, so that you finish this movement with your right hand up.

Emphasize the sound of the lower strings more than the sound of the upper strings.

 

Gypsy guitar chord accompaniment

 

Step 2

Step 2 is a fast downstroke, also called the “slap”.

Emphasize the sound of the upper strings more than the sound of the lower strings.

 

Gypsy guitar chord accompaniment

 

Make sure that:

  • You use your elbow and not your wrist.
  • Your wrist is slightly bent.
  • You hit all of the strings.
  • You are making a fast jump up at the end of step 1.
  • You freeze after each movement and are not making unnecessary movements.

 

The Intro

Here are the guitar tabs and chord diagrams for the video’s intro.

 

Gypsy Jazz Guitar Chords 1

Gypsy Jazz Guitar Chords 2

Gypsy Jazz Guitar Chords 3

Gypsy Jazz Guitar Chords 4

Chords & Chord Progressions

Here’s the chord that you can see at 4:07 in the video, a G6add9 (or G13).

This chord sounds nice and full, but can be hard to finger for some because the bass note is fingered with the thumb (p in the chord diagram) and there is a barré on the 4th and 5th string with the second finger.

If this chord is too hard for you at the moment, use the G6 from the first bar of the first chord progression below (see 5:00 in the video).

 

Gypsy guitar chord: G13

 

There is also a minor variant of this chord, Gm6add9 (see 14:47 in the video), which sounds very nice:

Gypsy guitar chord : Gm6

 

Chord Progression 1

Here’s the first chord progression from the video (starts at 5:32).

 

Gypsy jazz guitar chord progression

 

Chord Progression 2

The second chord progression is a I-vi-ii-V in D major (starts at 11:20 in the video).

 

Gypsy jazz guitar chord progression 2

 

Chord Progression 3

The third chord progression is a G minor blues (starts at 14:38 in the video):

 

Minor blues chord progression in the gypsy style

 

Here are the guitar tabs for the ending (see video at 19:04):

 

Gypsy jazz guitar ending

 

 

Gypsy Jazz Chords Video Chords

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28 thoughts on “Gypsy Jazz Guitar – Rhythm & Chord Progressions”

  1. michiel

    thanks very much for the inspiring lessons, very clear instructions

  2. Autreding

    Hi.
    Je joue essentiellement du jazz manouche et même je compose mes propres chorus.
    Vous avez fait une synthèse de la base du gipsy swing de façon éclatante.
    Ce qu’il convient de dire aussi c’est le relâchement de la main gauche immédiatement après la frappe.
    Bravo .. c’était super

    1. Manuel Rojas

      Gracias Dirk, super interesantes estás lecciones, cada vez que ingreso a estas, aprendo más. Saludos desde Quito Ecuador.

    1. Anonymous

      Similar to Freddie green voicings

  3. Pedro Noleto

    Great lesson! Thanks a lot. I love Gipsy Jazz, Django and his disciples. And Yaakov is surely one of the best musicians of this rich and soulful style. He is also a generous teacher. Greetings from Brasilia. Pedro Noleto

  4. Arturo

    Muy instructiva, buena lección, gracias, buen día

  5. Anonymous

    This is so great! I’ve been struggling with chords and the breakdown of La Pompe.
    Thank you!

  6. Christian

    great lesson! what is this song’s title and writer?

    1. Mark

      The chord progression is from “Oh Lady, Be Good” by George Gershwin

  7. Chuck1402

    Mamash enjoyed your lesson pal. I am going through trouble with chords. So this lesson was really useful. Really nice of u to make this knowledge public. Are u giving lessons online?

  8. Blake

    wow, this is quite good, thanks!

  9. toda raba! This is such a clear way of explaining things with tabs and diagrams.Thank you.

    1. Yaakov Hoter

      My pleasure. Happy you love it!

  10. Peter

    Exactly what I was looking for! Thank you.

  11. Yuri

    Thank you Dirk for this nice “La Pompe” lesson! I love Django Reinhardt jazz guitar style!

    1. Yaakov Hoter

      Yes, there is so much to learn from Django!

  12. Barry

    Very enjoyable lesson, Yaakov! Love your passion👍.

    1. Yaakov Hoter

      Thanks so much for your comment! Cheers

  13. jabulani

    wow! i never knew that jazz gypsy has a lot of minor 6. thank you very much.

    1. guest

      When you see what was left of the fingers of Django the minor6 was “in line” with his left hand, but still…
      Minor6 and 69 is also a latin favorit

    2. Yaakov Hoter

      That’s right. Django listened to a lot of classical music. He really loved Ravel and Debussy and I think that the 6 sound in major and in minor in Django’s music has a strong connection to the classical music he loved. Cheers!

  14. Elettra

    Hi! Is available also the score of the intro you play at the beginning of the video? Thanks!

    1. Dirk Laukens

      Hi Elettra, I added the guitar tabs and chord diagrams for the intro…

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