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Serge Gainsbourg - La Javanaise - Guitar Tab

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Serge Gainsbourg - La Javanaise - Guitar Tab

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Serge Gainsbourg - La Javanaise guitar tab video
Guillaume Vrac
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N°4 album cover
N°4
1962 2:29
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Serge Gainsbourg Pop 1962 C major
Capo Advisor 0 C major · Original key

La Javanaise

"La Javanaise" is a classic French chanson written by Serge Gainsbourg, originally composed for singer Juliette Gréco and released in 1963 on the B-side of a 45 rpm single. The title plays on a double meaning, referencing both the Parisian java dance style and the French argot known as javanais. For electric guitar players, its elegant chord progressions and intimate, jazz-tinged feel make it a rewarding piece to study, offering insight into the sophisticated harmonic language that defined French popular song in the early 1960s.

  • The song was written for Juliette Gréco — both she and Gainsbourg recorded separate versions, each appearing as a B-side.
  • The title is a pun combining the Parisian java dance rhythm with javanais, a French wordplay argot.
  • The lyrics cleverly use everyday French words that naturally contain the syllable sequence 'av', mimicking the javanais argot style.
Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Gainsbourg used the Telecaster for its clear, articulate tone that cut through orchestral arrangements without requiring heavy amplification or effects. The guitar's direct, uncolored response perfectly suited his minimalist aesthetic, letting session musicians focus on precise playing dynamics rather than sonic manipulation.

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