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Learning Jazz Violin

124 members • Free

4 contributions to Learning Jazz Violin
Didier Lockwood on Minor Swing
This is a nice solo to transcribe by Didier Lockwood. For the most part it’s not too tough but has some difficult fast double time sections. I think it was the first Didier solo I ever learned. https://youtu.be/DSucry3r6NU?si=PtzhJLgOSD58RUd-
1 like • 8h
Great solos from everyone. Didier plays some Grappelli-isms like the harmonics but also bebop, Ponty and outside stuff - fantastic!
Your Current Jazz Violin Goal
Tell the group in 1-3 words, what your current goal is for your playing. mine: learn more tunes
Your Current Jazz Violin Goal
1 like • 3d
@Matt Holborn tbh ideas tend to come to me at random, though sometimes I come up with something as a result of improvising - more often on piano rather than violin as I like interesting chord progressions. Sometimes I’ll keep going round a sequence (or record it) and improvise over it until I’m happy with the tune.
0 likes • 3d
@Matt Holborn I know the feeling!
The recording that made you want to learn
Hi all, I wanted to see what was the recording that made you decide you wanted to play jazz in the first place? I remember my grandfather (a jazz clarinetist) telling me about Django and Stephane, he told me about Djangos injured hand when I was about 14 and gave me a CD compilation of the hotclub quintette. I remembered the story wrong and thought it was Stephane who only had 2 working fingers. This is the tune that I listened to a lot around this time, it was a while before I started trying to play jazz but I loved this recording of the Bach double Concerto.
1 like • 26d
I love that recording too! I can’t remember which specific recording turned me onto jazz but it was hearing Jazz Record Requests on BBC Radio 3 on Saturday afternoons (my dad it on in the house and the car) that piqued my interest. I also saw a Grappelli concert on TV and was amazed that a violinist could play like that, though I didn’t try playing jazz violin for a while either.
0 likes • 25d
@Matt Holborn indeed! I was lucky enough to meet him, twice. The first time he was tired and didn’t really want to talk much but the second time he was really friendly and let me hold his priceless Guadanini! With a minder watching my every move…
Welcome!
Welcome to Learning Jazz Violin. This is a place of support and community for people who are, well… learning jazz violin. Please introduce yourself to the rest of the group by posting in the community discussion board. I’m Matt Holborn, a jazz violinist based in London UK. A lot of what I do is within the Django and Stéphane style, but I’m also passionate about straight ahead, swinging jazz, and different forms of folk music. I also play in musical comedian Bill Bailey’s live band. In this community you will find: • A free discussion board for posting about anything jazz violin related • 2 free courses in the Classroom section (Bowing, and Learning Honeysuckle Rose) There are also lots of different paid courses (which you can currently access by signing up to a paid tier). Each of them is designed not only to give you information but to help you get into the mindset of a jazz violinist. I teach by ear with videos, technical exercises based on jazz language, and assignments based on opening up your violin playing with harmony and improvisation. I don’t have a one-size-fits-all method because that just isn’t how jazz works for me. My teaching is about showing you how many jazz musicians think, and how you can use that to shape your own musical voice in jazz. I hope you enjoy using this space with us! Matt
1 like • Nov 1
Hi everyone, I live near Liverpool, UK. Although I went to music college I had to teach myself to play jazz violin. As well as performing I do research into jazz violin and I’m happy to share what I’ve learned over the years!
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Tom Sykes
2
14points to level up
@tom-sykes-5580
I have played violin and piano from an early age and studied at Leeds College of Music. I play jazz violin and piano and I do academic jazz research.

Active 8h ago
Joined Nov 1, 2025