We love catching the monthly regular release of new videos at DjangoBooks.com. One that particularly inpsires is a stunning Bireli Lagrene performance of "Norwegian Dance". Though the screen shot is small, there is plenty of opportunity to observer the premier European jazz guitarist's "side to side" fretboard technique. Typical of his Django roots, we see him travel masterfully 12+ frets as he seamlessly emits a sense of melodic line. Most often, we're wired to think across the string, playing our scales and arpeggios crossing low string to high and reverse, but this approach takes us from 3rd fret to 15th in sixteenth notes.

Of course good fretboard familiarity helps, but the ability to shift positions is an art unto itself. You'll find very few who can demonstrate this so well.

View video: Bireli Lagrene "Norwegian Dance"

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Posted by Ted at June 7, 2008 5:49 AM