A familiar part of the musical toolbox for guitarists specializing in jazz, flamenco, bluegrass, blues, rock, and other genres, improvisation has been relatively neglected, if not exactly derided, in modern classical guitar. This extends to classical music in general, of course. Considering the history of classical music and the evolution of the guitar, it’s perhaps surprising that improvisation does not play a larger role. Still, there are a number of classical guitarists today who also improvise, both onstage and off—sometimes using their private improvisations as stepping stones to composition. In this article, three top improvisers share some of their secrets: Andrew York, Dušan Bogdanovic, and the late, great Roland Dyens.
