Strategies for Reharmonizations and Solo Guitar Techniques

John Stowell sits down with guitarist Sean McGowan to explore reharmonization and solo guitar techniques over the standard Alone Together. The two trade choruses, then discuss the harmonic and rhythmic ideas behind each other's playing — including revisiting the tune in a different meter as a Latin 3.

What's covered

• Pedal points — using open-string pedals (A or D in the bass) to buy time and build upper-structure movement and extensions
• Voice leading, double stops, and open string voicings
• Reharmonization ideas on common cadences and turnarounds
• Using the melody to internalize song form and as a reference point for improvising inside or outside the changes
• Implied time versus obviously stated rhythm, plus rhythmic subdivisions for internalizing time and form
• Space as a creative element of improvising, and challenging yourself with different keys and meters

A conversational duo class that shows different approaches to solo guitar on a tune flexible enough to color almost any way — and helps you find new ways to negotiate progressions and internalize reharmonization ideas.