‘Tears’ | Django Reinhardt

Known for overcoming a severe hand injury, Django pioneered gypsy jazz and composed dozens of timeless tunes such as this one, ‘Tears’.

It’s quite an accessible jazz tune for guitarists, with clear sections: Intro, 1st Theme, and 2nd Theme, which shift from Minor to Major.

Originally written in Cm, this arrangement by Martin Taylor moves it into Am and offers some respite with open position chords that lend themselves to the key.

Martin Taylor, a world-renowned jazz guitarist, began playing in his father’s band at age 12. He later joined Stéphane Grappelli’s band, filling Django Reinhardt’s former role. With his band Spirit Of Django, he has recorded several albums and tours globally as a solo artist and band leader.