Tommy Emmanuel Interview Guitar Lesson
Tommy Emmanuel Interview
JamPlay was lucky enough to catch up with Tommy Emmanuel in Copper Mountain, Colorado for a lengthy interview.
Taught by Jim Deeming in Style of Tommy Emmanuel seriesLength: 59:41Difficulty: 2.5 of 5
Tommy Emmanuel: The guitar is such a fascinating instrument. You pick it up and it's different every time.We preceive things in a different way, every day of our lives. We're always different. I can hear a song and play it and think this is the right temp...and then a month later think "no that's too fast, it should have been slower". I recorded some stuff earlier this year and listened to it a week ago and thought "no, that's too slow". The ideal thing is to find the right tempo and try to remember it I guess!
Tommy Emmanuel: I started out playing the guitar as a rhythm player, from my mother...who played the lap steel. My brother Phil took up the guitar at about the same time I did. We played surfy kind of music, early 60's instrumentals. Then I discovered people like Buck Owens & Merle Haggard...people whose records sounded so great to us...and tried to copy and steal as many licks as we possibly could.
Tommy Emmanuel: I was 7 when I heard the great Chet Atkins on the radio. He was playing a tune called "Windy and Warm" and I've never heard that sound before; the sound of someone doing everything. Of course so many peopel when they heard Chet Atkins said "it's a recording trick, nobody can do that". I was only 7, but I could hear exactly what he was doing.
Tommy Emmanuel: To backtrack a bit, and explain a bit about how my ear works. When I first started playing, my brother played the lead parts. I had to play the rhythm parts. I thought the rhythm player played it all, bass and everything. It turns out the rhythm player was just playing the higher strings and the bass guitarist was taking care of the bass notes.
Tommy Emmanuel: It wasn't until I saw a band that had a bass player...and thought "what's that guitar with 4 strings"? Someone explaind the bass and I thought "wow I've been working too hard...I've been doing that part too!"
...for the rest of the Tommy Emmanuel interview, tune into the video above!
Supplemental Learning Material
Style of Tommy Emmanuel
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsTommy Emmanuel is one of the most prolific, talented and loved solo guitarists of all time. Drawing inspiration from Merle Travis, Chet Atkins and a host of other great musicians Tommy has created a style that is uniquely his own.
Lesson 1
Tommy Emmanuel Interview
JamPlay was lucky enough to catch up with Tommy Emmanuel in Copper Mountain, Colorado for a lengthy interview.
Length: 59:41 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Series Introduction
In this lesson, Jim Deeming introduces the series and talks about his personal experiences with the great Tommy Emmanuel.
Length: 7:15 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
The Basics
Jim covers the basics of Tommy's playing. He talks about the collective influence that Chet Atkins and Merle Travis have had on his playing as well as his guitar, fingernails, and choice of strings.
Length: 11:32 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Sample Intro and Melody
Jim showcases and examines a sample introduction and melody in the style of Tommy Emmanuel.
Length: 16:59 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Key Change and Lick
Jim shows how Tommy uses key changes to add drama to a song and demonstrates a classic Tommy style lick.
Length: 16:07 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
About Jim Deeming
View Full Biography
Jim Deeming got his first guitar when he was only six years old. His Dad was taking fingerpicking lessons, and Jim wanted to be just like him. The Mel Bay books didn't last very long before he strapped on a thumb pick and added the Chet part to Red River Valley so it sounded better.
Most of Jim's early learning was by ear. With unlimited access to his Dad's collection of Chet Atkins albums, he spent countless hours decoding his favorite songs. They were never "right" until they sounded just like Chet. Around the age of 12, Jim heard Jerry Reed for the first time and just knew he had to be able to make that "Alabama Wild Man" sound. The styles of Chet & Jerry always have been a big influence on his playing.
More recently he has pursued arrangements by Tommy Emmanuel and Doyle Dykes, in addition to creating some of his own and writing originals.
Jim has performed in front of a variety of audiences, including concerts, competitions, weddings and the like, but playing at church has always been a mainstay. Whether playing in worship bands or guitar solos, gospel music is deep in his roots and is also the driving theme behind his debut CD release, titled "First Fruits".
Jim has been playing for about 38 years. He also has taught private lessons in the past but believes JamPlay.com is an exciting and better venue with many advantages over the traditional method of weekly 30 minute sessions.
Jim lives in Berthoud, Colorado with his wife, Linda, and their four children. Although he still has a "day job", he is actively performing and is already back in the studio working on the next CD. If you wonder how he finds time, look no further than the back seat of his truck where he keeps a "travel guitar" to take advantage of any practice or song-writing opportunities he can get.
The opening song you hear in Jim's introductory JamPlay video is called, "A Pick In My Pocket". It's an original tune, written in memory of Jim's father who told him early on he should always keep a pick in his pocket in case he ever met Chet Atkins and got the chance to play for him. That song is slated to be the title track for his next CD, which will feature several more originals plus some of his favorite covers of Chet and Jerry arrangements.
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.When he said, "I don't need no stinkin' glory," the tears hit me. That is one grateful man. How cool. Incredible interview. And, yep, Jim, you really did look like a kid in a candy store (Godiva!!)! Thanks for your lessons...I need them!
As a long time fan of Tommy's music I have always aspired to be able to play like him (being an Aussie and all). His personality and quality of character only makes him even more impressive and inspirational. Great Interview! you looked like a kid in a candy shop getting to do that interview.
Wow!!! I dont know if i should get busy practicing or quit and take up knitting. Great stuff!!!
GREAT interview Jim!
As an Aussie, I've followed Tommy (and his brother Phil) for many years. He inspired me to take up guitar and I was lucky to have attended one of his guitar clinics about 25 years ago in my home town of Wollongong. There was only about 20 other people there in a little room in a pub. Awesome experience. He is such a generous outgoing person who makes Australia proud.
God's gift to share his talents with all - the instrument his Spirit and Guitar Thank you and God Bless You!!!
That was a wonderfully inspiring to watch. Thanks.
It looks like he was born with a guitar as one of his body parts! He is playing as easy as im talking
Great job from two great guitar players
This is a real treat. Thanks Jamplay!
I have to admit that I had never heard anything from Tommy Emanuel before this interview. I assure you I will be looking for his music. Obviously an amazing musician. What struck me most is how much this guy loves music, just watching him smile when he would talk about this chord or that song, its just inspiring.
Hey Vinnie: Here is Tommy (quite young) playing on an electric. Check these vids out to see just how truly amazing TE really is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae70lkdAzJs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ImEIqpwfMo&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQavIV4YEfc&feature=related
I could type for an hour about this interview butt...... Thank you Jim and thank you JamPlay.
Great interview Jim.
.....or guthrie
awesome!!......go for benson and/or martino next!!
This is what sets Jamplay apart from the other sites. Thank you! This is wonderful stuff.
Tommy is a great Aussie he's real true blue
thank you for this... incredibly eye opening. What a brilliant dude
absolutely blown away with this, great job jamplay, and jim looking forward to this series. again thanks
What a thrill it must have been, sitting there with Tommy Emmanuel, and having such a comprehensive dialogue! He seems so down to earth! What a great experience!
Wow, thumb independance is the way forward. I can't wait for this. Thankyou Jamplay and Mr Deeming ! Many Thanks, Jayson