The Greatest of All Time: a Tommy Emmanuel Interview | Thomann

We had the immense honor to receive Tommy Emmanuel AM at Thomann for a sold out clinic and a lovely chat! Enjoy the video and let us know in the comments how Tommy's playing changed your life!

Interesting bits and pieces:
0:18 - What do you always do before a show to prepare?
0:28 - Do you have any pre-show rituals, like playing backstage?
2:33 - How do you maintain balance in your life as an artist?
6:00 - How did this situation come about?
9:24 - Can you describe your approach to improvisation?
9:30 - Does your improvisation style depend on your mood or the day?
15:22 - How do you ensure the emotion of the song comes across when performing?
20:08 - Isn’t it a beautiful sound?
21:10 - Does this chord progression move up a full step, or is there a trick to it?
22:27 - Do you see what I’m trying to say about this section?
23:30 - How does this technique work in practice, and how did you develop it?
24:25 - Could you demonstrate or film that for a deeper understanding?
25:46 - Do you figure out a piece more by the sound it creates or the feel of it?
33:41 - Is there a special shape you use for the tip of your pick, and why?
34:29 - Do you experiment with different pick sizes and shapes?
35:41 - How do you decide what’s right for a song in terms of arrangement?
38:54 - What’s the height of the action on your guitar, and how does it affect your tone?
39:03 - Is your setup fairly close to the standard, or do you customize it a lot?
40:45 - Is this tone a mix of all elements coming together naturally?
44:01 - Is this part entirely improvised, or do you have a structure in mind?
44:37 - What inspires the choices you make when starting a piece?
46:03 - What’s your personal formula for success, and how has it evolved over time?

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[chilipeet]

I teach English in Hungary and I have a student who works as a lighting technician for one of the biggest venues in this country. When Tommy was here we went to see him in Budapest and of course the show brought smiles to our faces and tears in our eyes. When we next met in class with my student I asked him if he was working on Tommy's show and he said he was backstage and Tommy was playing for him in private before he went on stage. Just Tommy and him for about 20-30 minutes as the previous artist was playing Tommy played everything in sync... just for him. What a special experience it must have been... unbelievable. Thank you for coming here, my son also heard you, only from the womb, but still! God bless you Tommy Emmanuel. : )

[haroldbelfast]

Took my wife to see Tommy in LA. She had never heard of him, but at the end of the night, she said it was the best concert she'd ever been to.

[iansmith]

I’ve never seen a musician enjoy their music so much as Tommy. He seems in rhapsody every time he plays. An absolute joy.

[wendyfay]

It's been my privilege to have heard Tommy and Phil Emanuel play several times in Sydney pubs first 40 yrs ago. His playing is purely organic brilliant 👏 🎉! ❤ I can honestly say that I've never enjoyed guitarists more than the Emanuel brothers, although sadly, Phil has gone to that great stage in the sky, but Tommy remains the greatest guitar playing musician I've ever heard in my 72 years of life.! Their Dueling Banjos was just from another world! Mona Lisa is simply etheric coming from Tommy..!It was impossible to return home from one of their concerts at the local pub without being exhausted, especially one's feet & ankles from dancing in one's stool or chair! Such generous artists with that brilliance! ❤❤😂❤❤🎉🎉❤ This interview is a small example of this generosity in his concerts .... BTW I'm Australian... & I also loved Ella.

[Flying_turnip]

Saw him in Tokyo in 2019…completely blew my mind. The show was unbelievable…I am a musician also….had an epiphany that night… i found what was missing from my music all this time. I knew there was something missing in my 30 years of playing……found the secret of music that night. I also got to meet him and hit his autograph…what an amazing night.

Thank you so much Mr. Emmanuel.

[dejablueguitar]

That FINGER GUN hammer on add-chord is EPIC!! Check it out at 42:00 into vid... first time I saw him do this - ADDED IT to my arsenal - ALWAYS a crowd pleaser!! GOD BLESS YA TOMMY!!

[xponyx]

...and then the harmonic riff at the end, certified genius.

[philreeves]

We guitar players all take something from him. Little transitions, stops, starts, voicings, whatever. The man is a wizard musician and a regular, humble cat. Inspiring.❤

[zerosiii]

He literally is the Greatest of All Time, no other word to describe him

[andreaboaretto]

Tommy Emmanuel, a living legend!!! Greetings from Padua, Italy, and thanks for inviting him!!

[dannymacnevin]

Man I'd love to go on tour with Tommy.... just to get to carry his guitars for him... and watch him every night. What a talent!!! We are so fortunate to be alive right now to witness this man.

[michaelmcdonald]

Mona Lisa is the most beautiful tune I think I have heard him play. Reminds me of Ry Cooder's Havana Social Club. A true master .

[serresbasket]

Great interview Kris! Tommy Emmanuel is a Master of his own craft and at the same time he is such a down to earth person. One of a kind artist!

[mattgibson]

Tommy is a national treasure & truly is an alchemist with a guitar. You'd never know how successful he's been when you meet him in person though, one of the gentlest souls I've ever met, & so down to earth. Playing is his oxygen & he lives to share his talent & entertain ❤️🇦🇺

[niju]

I saw him a couple of years back. He said he was battling with despression, glad do see him in high spirits. such tasteful playing

[Tomom]

I have taken friends to see Tommy who had never heard of him and the reaction at the end of the show was exactly the same. THE EXCLAMATION “WOW!!!” Different friends, different shows, same reaction.

[ianupton]

A wonderful man so kind and modest. World's best ❤

[SlowToe]

A better showman than guitar player and he's the best guitar player alive.

[sabeesunwar]

Oh Somebody give me a word to describe how i am feeling right now watching TE's This man is from another planet for sure... God bless TE ❤️

[Jimmysmithy]

I saw Tommy and Phil play under a tarpaulin on a rainy day in Sydney when I was 15. I am now in my 60s. What a great ambassador for Australia.