Open String Clusters

Juampy Juarez teaches his ideas on open string clusters — getting the most out of open strings mixed with chords that usually don't carry them. The resulting sound is only possible on guitar, making it a powerful tool for comping, composing, chord melody, and improvising.

What's covered

• Building cluster voicings that combine open strings with fretted chord shapes
• Right-hand control — balancing volumes so every note of the cluster speaks evenly
• Left-hand stretches required by the cluster shapes, making these chords a great two-hand technique workout
• Applying the clusters to standards, blues, bossa novas, intros, endings, and solos
• Using a cluster chord to finish a line or melody — a sound Juampy compares to a modern piano player in a contemporary guitar context

"I'm in love with these sounds," Juampy says, and it shows — this lesson puts you firmly in post-bebop territory. A good fit for intermediate players looking to add modern color to their chord vocabulary.