In this video, I share the story of a gig that almost turned into a disaster—and how it led me to discover the power of 2-Part Chords – John Scofield Style. I was on tour in South America, ready to play some carefully crafted chord melody arrangements, when the venue’s Fender Twin turned out to have worn-out tubes and a busted reverb. My full voicings came out muffled, distorted, and completely unusable. So, I had to think fast.

That’s when it hit me—I remembered how Sco often leans into gritty amp tones using sparse, funky two-note voicings. Instead of fighting the amp, he makes it part of the sound. So I ditched the big chords and pivoted to a new approach: 2-Part Chords – John Scofield Style. In this video, I break down exactly how I used these voicings to save the gig—and how you can use them too, whether you’re dealing with a bad amp or just want a more open harmonic sound.

I walk through several II-V-I examples in both major and minor keys, showing how wide intervals—like 3rds and 7ths or 7ths and 13ths—can breathe life into your comping and soloing. You’ll also hear how adding subtle voice movement creates a cool contrapuntal effect that suggests harmony without spelling out every note. And yes, I include footage from the actual gig so you can hear 2-Part Chords – John Scofield Style in action on  Stella by Starlight.