MANOUKE

Anatole

A French jazz term commonly used for the I–VI–II–V harmonic progression. It appears in many swing standards and is an important progression to recognise when reading a grille.

Arpeggio

The notes of a chord played one after another rather than simultaneously. Arpeggios are a fundamental building block of Gypsy Jazz improvisation because they clearly outline the harmony.

Accords Manouche / Gypsy Jazz Chords

What are Gypsy Jazz chords? Gypsy Jazz uses many of the same chords as other jazz styles, but certain voicings are especially characteristic of Jazz Manouche accompaniment. Major 6th, minor 6th, dominant 7th, diminished and extended dominant shapes are frequently heard in the style.

The choice of voicing is closely connected with La Pompe, voice leading and the harmonic movement of the song.

Bouche /buʃ/ · BOOSH

French for “mouth”. In Gypsy Jazz guitar terminology it refers to the soundhole: grande bouche for the large D-shaped soundhole and petite bouche for the smaller oval one.

Bœuf / Faire un bœuf /bœf/ · BUHF

What does “faire un bœuf” mean in jazz? In French musical slang, faire un bœuf means to have a jam session: musicians get together and play without a fully predetermined arrangement, taking turns accompanying and improvising.

Jam sessions are an important part of Jazz Manouche culture. Musicians usually share a common repertoire of Django Reinhardt compositions, jazz standards, French songs and waltzes, using the song's grille as the harmonic framework for playing together.

The expression comes from the famous Parisian cabaret Le Bœuf sur le Toit, which became a meeting place for musicians and artists in the 1920s. The phrase faire un bœuf subsequently became a common French expression for jamming with other musicians.

Biguine /bi.ɡin/ · bee-GEEN

What is Biguine? Biguine is a dance and musical style originating in the French Caribbean, particularly Martinique and Guadeloupe. It developed from a mixture of Afro-Caribbean and European musical traditions and became especially popular in Paris during the early 20th century.

Although Biguine is not a form of Jazz Manouche, it became part of the diverse musical environment of Paris in which jazz, musette, Caribbean music and other popular styles met and influenced one another.

Biguine compositions also entered the repertoire of French jazz and popular musicians, which is why the term can occasionally appear when exploring music related to the broader Jazz Manouche repertoire.

Chorus

One complete pass through the harmonic form of a tune. A soloist may improvise for one or several choruses while the rhythm section repeats the same chord progression.

Chord Chart

What is a chord chart? A chord chart shows the harmonic structure of a song using chord symbols, usually without writing out every note played by the musicians.

In French jazz terminology, this harmonic roadmap is commonly called a grille. Chord charts allow musicians to accompany, transpose and improvise over a tune without needing a fully written arrangement.

Chromatic Run

A melodic line moving in semitone steps. Chromatic movement is frequently used to connect chord tones, create tension and produce the flowing lines associated with Django-influenced improvisation.

Cantique Manouche /kɑ̃.tik ma.nuʃ/ · kahn-TEEK mah-NOOSH

What is a Cantique Manouche? Cantique is the French word for a religious hymn or devotional song. The expression Cantique Manouche is commonly used for religious songs performed within Manouche communities, particularly in evangelical and Pentecostal traditions.

These songs may be sung in French or in Manouche varieties of Romani and are often accompanied by guitar and other instruments familiar from Manouche musical culture.

Cantique Manouche is not another name for Jazz Manouche. It belongs to a different musical and religious tradition, although the two can share musicians, instruments and elements of Manouche musical culture.

Django Reinhardt /dʒɑ̃.ɡo ʁɛ.naʁt/ · JAHNG-go reh-NART

Belgian-born Manouche guitarist and composer whose playing with the Quintette du Hot Club de France became the central historical reference point for the style now commonly called Jazz Manouche or Gypsy Jazz.

Diminished Chord

A symmetrical chord built from minor thirds. Diminished chords are often used as passing harmonies, dominant-function substitutes and connecting chords in swing and Jazz Manouche arrangements.

Double Bass

What is the role of double bass in Gypsy Jazz? The double bass provides the low-end foundation of a traditional Jazz Manouche ensemble, supporting the rhythm guitars while outlining the harmonic movement of the song.

Together with La Pompe, the bass can create a complete and powerful rhythm section without the need for a drum kit, a characteristic feature of many traditional Gypsy Jazz ensembles.

Downstroke Picking

Why are downstrokes important in Gypsy Jazz? Traditional Gypsy Jazz picking makes extensive use of strong downstrokes, particularly when changing strings and when accenting important notes.

Combined with rest strokes and characteristic picking patterns, this approach contributes to the powerful attack, projection and articulation associated with Django-style guitar playing.

Django Chord

What is a Django chord? “Django chord” is an informal expression sometimes used by Gypsy Jazz guitarists for chord shapes and voicings strongly associated with Django Reinhardt and traditional Jazz Manouche accompaniment.

There is no single official Django chord. The expression may refer to characteristic major 6th, minor 6th, dominant or diminished voicings commonly heard in the style.

Floating Hand

What is the floating-hand technique? In traditional Gypsy Jazz picking, the picking hand is generally allowed to move freely rather than being firmly anchored to the guitar top or bridge.

This position works together with rest-stroke picking and wrist movement to produce the strong attack and projection characteristic of the style.

Floating Bridge

What is a floating bridge? A floating bridge is a bridge that is held against the guitar top by string tension rather than being permanently glued in place.

Selmer-Maccaferri-style guitars use this type of bridge together with a tailpiece. It is one of the characteristic construction features of the traditional guitare manouche.

Stéphane Grappelli /ste.fan ɡʁa.pɛ.li/ · stay-FAHN grah-PELL-ee

Who was Stéphane Grappelli? Stéphane Grappelli was a French jazz violinist and one of the most important figures in the history of European jazz. Together with Django Reinhardt, he was a leading member of the Quintette du Hot Club de France, formed in Paris in the 1930s.

Grappelli's elegant, swinging violin style became an essential part of the classic Hot Club sound. His musical partnership with Django helped establish the combination of violin, lead guitar, rhythm guitars and double bass that became one of the defining sounds associated with early Jazz Manouche.

Unlike Django Reinhardt, Grappelli was not Manouche, but his influence on the repertoire, sound and development of the music now associated with Gypsy Jazz is fundamental.

Gitan /ʒi.tɑ̃/ · zhee-TAHN

A French term generally associated with Romani groups of Iberian origin, particularly those with historical roots in Spain and southern France. The word is related to the Spanish term Gitano.

Although Gitan and Manouche are sometimes used loosely as if they meant the same thing, they traditionally refer to different Romani groups with distinct histories and cultural traditions.

Gadjo / Gadji /ˈɡadʒo/ · GAH-joh / /ˈɡadʒi/ · GAH-jee

What does Gadjo mean? Gadjo is a Romani term traditionally used for a man who is not Romani. Gadji is the corresponding feminine form in varieties where this distinction is used.

The word can occasionally be encountered around Manouche musicians, communities and literature, which makes it useful terminology for anyone exploring the cultural background surrounding Jazz Manouche.

Guitare Manouche /ɡi.taʁ ma.nuʃ/ · gee-TAR mah-NOOSH

What is a Manouche guitar? Guitare manouche is the French term commonly used for the type of acoustic guitar associated with Jazz Manouche and Django Reinhardt.

Modern instruments are generally inspired by Selmer and Maccaferri designs and commonly feature either a small oval petite bouche or a large D-shaped grande bouche soundhole, a floating bridge and a distinctive bright, projecting sound.

Gypsy Jazz

What is Gypsy Jazz? Gypsy Jazz is the English name commonly used for the jazz tradition associated above all with Django Reinhardt and the Quintette du Hot Club de France. In French, the style is usually called Jazz Manouche.

The style is known for acoustic string instruments, swinging rhythm accompaniment, melodic improvisation and a repertoire combining Django compositions, jazz standards, French songs and waltzes.

Grande Bouche /ɡʁɑ̃d buʃ/ · grahnd BOOSH

A Selmer-Maccaferri-style guitar with a large D-shaped soundhole. The original Maccaferri design is strongly associated with the early history of the instruments used in this style.

Gypsy Picking

A picking approach associated with Gypsy Jazz guitar. It commonly uses forceful rest strokes, characteristic directional picking choices and a floating picking-hand position.

Gypsy Jazz Lick

What is a Gypsy Jazz lick? A lick is a short melodic phrase that can be learned, adapted and used as part of an improvised solo.

Gypsy Jazz vocabulary contains many recognisable phrases built from arpeggios, chromatic approaches, diminished sounds and characteristic rhythmic patterns. Studying these phrases is a common way to learn the improvisational language associated with Django Reinhardt and later players.

Gypsy Jazz Violin

What is Gypsy Jazz violin? The violin has been one of the defining melodic instruments of the style since the recordings of Stéphane Grappelli with Django Reinhardt and the Quintette du Hot Club de France.

Gypsy Jazz violin combines swing phrasing, improvisation and strong rhythmic articulation, often sharing the lead role with guitar.

Hot Club

What does Hot Club mean in Gypsy Jazz? The term is most famously associated with the Quintette du Hot Club de France, the pioneering string jazz ensemble featuring Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli.

Because of the enormous influence of the Quintette, expressions such as Hot Club Jazz and names used by later “Hot Club” ensembles became closely associated with Django-inspired acoustic swing and Jazz Manouche.

Hot Club Jazz

What is Hot Club Jazz? The term is used for music inspired by the sound of Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli and the Quintette du Hot Club de France.

It particularly evokes the classic string-jazz combination of lead guitar, rhythm guitars, violin and double bass that helped define the early sound associated with Jazz Manouche.

Jazz Manouche /dʒaz ma.nuʃ/ · JAZ mah-NOOSH

What is Jazz Manouche? Jazz Manouche is a jazz tradition closely associated with Django Reinhardt, French swing and generations of Manouche and Sinti musicians. In English, the style is commonly known as Gypsy Jazz.

It typically combines swing rhythm, acoustic string instruments, strong melodic improvisation and a repertoire ranging from Django compositions to jazz standards, French songs and waltzes.

Jazz Standard

What is a jazz standard? A jazz standard is a composition that has become widely known and regularly performed by jazz musicians, often in many different arrangements and keys.

Jazz Manouche musicians share a large repertoire of standards alongside Django Reinhardt compositions, French songs, waltzes and more modern pieces. Knowing the standard repertoire makes it much easier to join jam sessions.

Jam Session / Bœuf

What is a bœuf in jazz? In French musical slang, faire un bœuf means to jam – musicians getting together to play and improvise without a fully predetermined arrangement.

Jam sessions are an important part of Jazz Manouche culture. Musicians commonly share a repertoire of standards and Django compositions and use the song's grille as the common harmonic framework.

Joseph Reinhardt /ʒo.zɛf ʁɛ.naʁt/ · zho-ZEF reh-NART

Who was Joseph Reinhardt? Joseph “Nin-Nin” Reinhardt was Django Reinhardt's younger brother and a guitarist closely associated with the early history of the Quintette du Hot Club de France.

Although inevitably overshadowed by Django's fame, Joseph was an important musician in his own right and belongs to the first generation of guitarists connected with the classic Hot Club sound.

Lead Sheet

What is a lead sheet? A lead sheet is a compact musical notation containing the essential information needed to perform a song, typically its melody and chord symbols.

Unlike a complete arrangement, it leaves accompaniment, voicings and improvisation largely to the musicians. A grille can be even more compact, concentrating primarily on the chord progression.

Lead Guitar

What does the lead guitar do in Gypsy Jazz? The lead guitarist plays melodies, fills and improvised solos while the rhythm section maintains the harmonic and rhythmic foundation.

Django Reinhardt established the guitar as a powerful lead instrument capable of taking a role that had often been occupied by horns in jazz. Lead and rhythm guitar therefore developed into two distinct but closely connected roles in Jazz Manouche.

Louis Vola /lwi vɔ.la/ · loo-EE vo-LAH

Who was Louis Vola? Louis Vola was a French double bassist and an important figure in the early history of the Quintette du Hot Club de France.

He played bass with Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli and was part of the musical circle from which the famous all-string Quintette emerged during the 1930s.

Manouche /ma.nuʃ/ · mah-NOOSH

What does Manouche mean? Manouche is a French term traditionally associated with Sinti communities, particularly in France. It describes a cultural identity and should not be understood simply as the name of a musical style.

In music, the word is best known from Jazz Manouche. Django Reinhardt was Manouche, and his enormous influence on European jazz helped connect the term with the musical tradition that developed around his playing and repertoire.

Mario Maccaferri /ˈma.rjo mak.kaˈfɛr.ri/ · MAH-ree-oh mah-kah-FERR-ee

Who was Mario Maccaferri? Mario Maccaferri was an Italian guitarist, luthier and inventor whose guitar designs for Selmer became closely associated with Django Reinhardt and later with the entire visual identity of Gypsy Jazz guitar.

The original Maccaferri design and the later Selmer instruments inspired generations of guitars now commonly described as Selmer-Maccaferri or Manouche-style guitars.

Musette /my.zɛt/ · mew-ZET

A French popular dance-music tradition strongly associated with accordion and Parisian dance halls. Musette and swing interacted extensively, helping shape the repertoire and language of the valse manouche.

Minor 6th Chord

Why are minor 6th chords common in Gypsy Jazz? The minor 6th chord is one of the characteristic harmonic colours heard throughout Jazz Manouche and swing repertoire.

On guitar, minor 6th voicings can provide strong voice leading and are frequently used instead of simpler minor triads or minor seventh chords in traditional-style accompaniment.

Petite Bouche /pə.tit buʃ/ · puh-TEET BOOSH

The small oval soundhole typical of later Selmer-style guitars. This guitar design became one of the most recognisable visual symbols of Gypsy Jazz.

Pompe Inversée /pɔ̃p ɛ̃.vɛʁ.se/ · POMP an-vair-SAY

A variation of Gypsy Jazz rhythm accompaniment in which the attack and accent pattern differs from a more conventional La Pompe feel. The exact meaning can vary somewhat between teachers and players.

Quintette du Hot Club de France /kɛ̃.tɛt dy ɔt klœb də fʁɑ̃s/ · kan-TET dew OT KLUHB duh FRAHNS

What was the Quintette du Hot Club de France? The Quintette du Hot Club de France was the legendary string jazz ensemble led by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli. Formed in Paris in the 1930s, it became one of the most important European jazz groups of its era.

Its classic instrumentation – violin, lead guitar, rhythm guitars and double bass – produced a distinctive acoustic swing sound without the conventional piano and drums commonly found in jazz ensembles of the period.

Recordings by the Quintette form a major part of the historical foundation of the repertoire and playing style now associated with Jazz Manouche and Gypsy Jazz.

Rest Stroke

What is a rest stroke? A rest stroke is a picking stroke in which the pick continues through the played string and comes to rest against the adjacent string.

It is an important part of traditional Gypsy Jazz guitar technique and helps produce the strong attack, volume and projection associated with the style.

Rythme Manouche / Gypsy Jazz Rhythm /ʁitm ma.nuʃ/ · REETM mah-NOOSH

What is Gypsy Jazz rhythm? Rhythm accompaniment is one of the defining elements of Jazz Manouche. Instead of relying on a drum kit, traditional ensembles can create a strong rhythmic pulse largely through rhythm guitars and double bass.

The best-known accompaniment technique is La Pompe, although different players and periods of the music use different articulations and rhythmic approaches.

Romani

Romani is a broad term connected with the Romani people and their language. The Romani peoples include many different groups and communities across Europe and other parts of the world, including Sinti and Manouches.

Romani is also the name of the Indo-Aryan language spoken in many different varieties by Romani communities. These varieties developed differently over centuries as communities lived in different regions of Europe.

Rhythm Guitar

What does a rhythm guitarist do in Gypsy Jazz? Rhythm guitar provides both harmony and percussion-like rhythmic drive and is one of the defining elements of a traditional Jazz Manouche ensemble.

The best-known accompaniment style is La Pompe. A strong rhythm player controls dynamics, chord voicings, accents and interaction with the bass while maintaining a consistent swing pulse for the soloist.

Selmer-Maccaferri

What is a Selmer-Maccaferri guitar? The term refers to the distinctive family of acoustic guitar designs developed through the collaboration between Mario Maccaferri and Selmer.

These instruments became closely associated with Django Reinhardt and their design inspired the guitars now commonly called Manouche guitars or Gypsy Jazz guitars.

Selmer

What is a Selmer guitar? In the context of Jazz Manouche, Selmer usually refers to the distinctive acoustic guitars produced by the French company Selmer and closely associated with Django Reinhardt.

Original Selmer and Selmer-Maccaferri instruments inspired the modern guitare manouche and remain among the most iconic instruments in Gypsy Jazz history.

Swing

Both a rhythmic feel and a broad jazz tradition. In Jazz Manouche, swing is created through the relationship between accompaniment, phrasing, articulation and rhythmic placement rather than by notation alone.

Sinti /ˈzɪnti/ · ZIN-tee

Who are the Sinti? The Sinti are a Romani group with a long history in Central and Western Europe, particularly in countries such as Germany, France, the Netherlands, Austria and Italy.

In France, the term Manouche is closely associated with Sinti communities. The two terms are therefore strongly connected, although their use can depend on country, language and community.

Sinti and Manouche musicians have played an important role in the history of European jazz. Django Reinhardt was Manouche, and later generations of Sinti and Manouche musicians helped preserve, develop and expand the musical tradition now widely known as Jazz Manouche or Gypsy Jazz.

Swing Musette /swiŋ my.zɛt/ · SWING mew-ZET

Music combining elements of French musette with jazz and swing. It forms an important bridge between accordion-led Parisian dance music and parts of the Manouche repertoire.

Savarez Argentine

What are Argentine strings? Argentine is a famous line of guitar strings made by Savarez and closely associated with Selmer-Maccaferri-style guitars and Jazz Manouche.

Their characteristic construction and relatively light gauges contribute to the bright attack and responsive feel sought by many Gypsy Jazz guitarists. The name “Argentine” refers to the string range, not to a style of Argentine music.

Tritone Substitution

A jazz-harmony device in which a dominant seventh chord is replaced by another dominant seventh chord whose root lies a tritone away. It creates chromatic bass movement while preserving important tension notes.

Tzigane / Tsigane /tsi.ɡan/ · tsee-GAHN

A French historical umbrella term used for Romani peoples and traditions. The spellings Tzigane and Tsigane can both be encountered in French texts, music and cultural references.

In music, the word has also been used more broadly to describe music perceived as being inspired by Romani traditions. It therefore appears in older musical titles and descriptions that do not necessarily refer specifically to Jazz Manouche.

Trio Manouche

What is a Manouche trio? A trio manouche is a small ensemble playing Jazz Manouche, commonly built around lead guitar, rhythm guitar and double bass.

Other combinations are also possible. Violin, accordion, clarinet or another melodic instrument may replace or join the lead guitar depending on the repertoire and musicians.

Turnaround

What is a turnaround in jazz? A turnaround is a short harmonic progression, usually found near the end of a section, that leads the harmony back toward the beginning or into the next section.

Progressions such as I–VI–II–V and their substitutions are common turnarounds in swing and Jazz Manouche repertoire.

II–V–I

One of the central progressions in jazz harmony: the supertonic chord moves to the dominant, then resolves to the tonic. Recognising II–V–I movement makes many jazz and Manouche grilles easier to understand.

Valse Musette /vals my.zɛt/ · VALS mew-ZET

What is a Valse Musette? Valse Musette is a French waltz tradition associated especially with Parisian popular dance music and the accordion.

Its repertoire and musical language intersected with Manouche musicians and swing, contributing to the development and repertoire of what is now commonly called Valse Manouche.

Tailpiece

What is the tailpiece on a Gypsy Jazz guitar? The tailpiece anchors the strings at the lower end of a Selmer-Maccaferri-style guitar.

Unlike a typical flat-top acoustic guitar where the strings are anchored directly in a fixed bridge, a Manouche guitar normally combines a tailpiece with a separate floating bridge.