Double enclosure - Improvisation method, taken from the first phrase

of Djangos Tiger
The first phrase of Djangos Tiger is so beautiful that I just had to understand it. Here is the
phrase:
Ex 1: The first phrase of Djangos Tiger

Figure 1: A6, the chord shape the phrase sits on

For each note of the chord, he uses an enclosure, which is a half tone below the chord note
(target) and one tone above the chord note (target):
Figure 2: A6 with enclosures

1|P age
Copyright 2011 GypsyJazzSchool.com All rights reserved. Double enclosure free lesson

In lesson 8.1, there is a thorough explanation of enclosures, with examples and variations, using
the notes a half tone below the chord note and one tone above the chord note on a single
string.
In the first phrase of Djangos Tiger, Django extends this idea onto two strings and adds more
tension to the musical sentence.
Ex 2: Double enclosure:

In this phrase, Django uses a half tone approach below the 3rd degree, then one tone above the
6th degree, and then resolves the tension to the 6th and then to the 3rd degrees.
The numbers in the following picture demonstrate the chord degrees and not the fingering.
Figure 3: A6 with double enclosures

2|P age
Copyright 2011 GypsyJazzSchool.com All rights reserved. Double enclosure free lesson

Now here is an exercise that I came up with using this idea. In this exercise, you will learn how
to master this idea in a systematic way over a major chord, in three positions. We will use three
inversions of the A major chord. In lesson 7, you will find a thorough explanation of chord
inversions and about mastering their positions all over the fretboard in all the keys. The first
example is in the following shapes:
Figure 4: C triad inversions

3|P age
Copyright 2011 GypsyJazzSchool.com All rights reserved. Double enclosure free lesson

The exercise uses two notes at a time. For each pair of notes, we play a note that is a half step
below the lower one and a note that is one tone above the upper one.

Ex 3: C major simple double enclosure

Once you understand this principle, you can apply it to any chord shape you like and to any pair
of notes that you like. The notes you choose may be chord tones, but they can be tensions as
well - 9th, 6th and so on.
In lesson 11.2 you will find explanations of how to use this idea with tensions, in various chord
shapes, in Be-Bop sound, how to apply it to your improvisation over the Jattendrai chord
progression and most important- how to create new variations to it and how to make it your
own.

4|P age
Copyright 2011 GypsyJazzSchool.com All rights reserved. Double enclosure free lesson