Australia's Got Talent 2011 - Tom Ward (Acoustic Shredding)

[@Lieven29]

I can't believe he didn't make the final, this dude is probably the most underrated contestant ever.

[@thomizzskate]

for those of you who are not familiar with guitar: his right hand is extremely well developed when it comes to technique. his left hand isnt doing that much complicated stuff. my point is that his right hand is doing techniques that are like 100 times more difficult to master than what his left hand is doing.

[@ffaria5126]

He played 'Asturias' in a different way, Great

[@joelwilcox5424]

Saw this guy busking around sydney not too long ago, doing this exact piece brilliantly. A lovely guy also

[@gamerdiaries]

be glad ppl are hearing this type of music through this man, and stop being so stuck up.

[@steday6229]

Go listen to Paco De Lucia or John Williams or Julian Bream to hear how this piece is supposed to sound, he started OK, but it just turned into noise with that strumming.

[@griffinhealy5048]

Pepe Romero?

[@batmanhaybale]

it was still excellent though

[@boulmaalimerouane904]

Guys wanna see true talent lightning speed perfection ????? Päco de Lucia Impetu

[@jipebizz123]

poor ALBENIZ (compositor of this for piano) and poor ANDRES SEGOVIA'(who translate this piece for guitar)

[@hunglemanh3081]

Wonderful

[@cameronturner6270]

Just in case anyone was wondering where he went; I saw Tom playing live in Pitt Street Mall Sydney, just busking. Doing the same things he'd done on the show. So yes he's still playing and yes he's still drawing a crowd.

[@skepticonolion5970]

2:49 shit started to go down !

[@wazzobazzo]

"Guitarists will be watching that and melting" "Never seen anything as amazing with that with a guitar" "World class what you do"...three judges that knows fuck all about guitarXD

[@nyashpotatoes]

"Its all my composition"

[@rashanadeclou6385]

That, was referring to the first performance he did this was his second

[@Earthgazer]

thousands of amazing classical guitarists out there, many of which can be found right here on youtube...and somehow this guy is worshiped like he's a genius. i guess when the judges sit around listening to people singing adelle all day, a guy with a classical guitar seems like a musical wizard.

[@TheAnkur00001]

I have watched him yesterday on Edinburgh Festival's as a street performer..... Amazing ability to pull people around .... and quite good to hear.....

[@joshblackburn3759]

He looks like Oswald cobblepot of Gotham

[@Qesaiz]

hahaha..penguin..

[@FeckUpFearzy]

Josh Blackburn he really does XD

[@jacksonbarber813]

People only think its good because they don't know the type of music but for people who actually play that kind of music...

[@lauralauristan7677]

One of those arrogant, elitist tossers, are we?

[@user-gf5vt2nd2q]

Yes asturias is so deffecult

[@ultimatedumbguard1290]

Own arrangement? It's Asturias right? Then that speaker guy said that I've never seen fingers that move like this?? Hahahahaha! Nah, he just never saw how I play in flamenco..

[@TheAlfsterino]

Saw him at the Edinburgh Fringe - amazing player - his arrangement of a classic here. He has to show boat on this show - personally I've heard him play 'better' slower stuff but when you can play that fast on a classical guitar...hell why not!...in person he is lovely and friendly (as he is on this clip) he does do far subtler tunes and after his set stayed to show what his 'original' fret board could do.

[@scumy222]

doesnt matter if you like or hate it. He still does a good job at what he enjoys.

[@thomasbell9383]

Alright, I'll admit that he might not be the most talented arranger, but I'll be damned if his tremolo picking isn't the most consistent and impressive tremolo technique I've ever witnessed.

[@elmohead]

Pipa players do it a billion times better.

[@javier96109]

if he comes to spain he wouldnt pass the first round

[@rubenschmid17]

he woud.. xD for sure :D

[@luffyarif3031]

he won't be able to beat estas tonne that's all I know

[@brandnubian11]

He's actually really good watch some of his busking videos

[@Sora-o]

Spain overpasses this guy by so much.

[@ultimatedumbguard1290]

lol I like Spain

[@HimanshuGargIsHere]

wats the name of that song he played?

[@syedhussart3338]

Asturias

[@parthaghosh4321]

One man!!!!!!!! ...It seems to me three or more man playing simultaneously not only guitar but other string instrument ...but it is amazing only one man Tom Ward playing...

[@orchunyozgyur8895]

I cant stop listening this guy

[@TheBumi12]

This sounded good until I heard the original

[@meturah9930]

thename of the original please

[@reynaldopadilla3954]

hasstik biets The name of the song is Asturias.

[@meturah9930]

Thx

[@dustscatter3619]

He has a good tremolo on his right hand, but other than that he is just sloppy... This guys alterations start of predictable and boring and from 3:20 he's just bashing the shit out of his strings and hitting off notes that sound terrible. He's not a terrible guitarist but he gets far too much credit and he's not a pro. There's much more to being a good musician than just bashing the strings hard and fast.

[@ScuccaPVP]

Dust Scatter Why doesen't your lazy ass go and make a video on how it's supposed to sound instead of sitting here and trying to act a guitar guru ? Fcking haters around every corner trying to spit on someone else's success.

[@xTHExCOPYx]

ZaxOn You mean like how he did exactly that on his channel?

[@mexd3ath197]

ZaxOn check his video. He did it way better

[@UnimatrixOne]

Dust Scatter absolutely righ!

[@dustscatter3619]

Hellsrazor605 Internet warrior, I like it :)

[@fingerhorn4]

The piece (not "song") is Asturias, by Albeniz, a Spanish composer who wrote for the piano but many of his pieces were arranged for guitar. This rendition is very poor and is a travesty of Albeniz's original. There are literally thousands of guitarists who play it more musically and with more skill. But it's a talent show so I suppose you can expect the embarrassingly inept comments from the "jury". Holding the guitar that way does not make the piece better, nor does leaving out the difficult bits, which he did. This guy is an average player who pretends he is better than he is by thrashing away to seduce the unwary and easily led. There are hundreds of guitarists who are more worthy of publicity. A simple youtube search will demonstrate this.

[@Ajthewarrior1]

I was looking in the comments to see if anyone else knew if this was Asturias, I was looking forward to listening to his own piece, I was so disappointed after 0.5 seconds of hearing it

[@MICKEYISLOWD]

+fingerhorn4 You're absolutely right and overall the piece sounded unclear with nothing of difficulty played with the left hand. I recently made a comment similar to yours and was called a spastic for just sayin' it as it is which shows he's just fooling the judges here and the live audience also.

[@hNsGregrz]

+fingerhorn4 I'm glad someone pointed this out. He don't even play the first part correctly, his right hand is moving like he's got arthritis in his hand. His technique is poor and his arrangement is a freaking disaster.

[@stylos951]

do you know the song spanish caravan by The Doors? well if you don't then you should listen but i'm guessing you already do. this piece that he played reminds me a lot of that song.

[@user-gf5vt2nd2q]

Yes a melody not song

[@yman77goodboy]

he is on top his league and cant see any reason why he shouldnt be appreciated..Well done . top stuff. keep it up

[@user-jx7fo8qo2l]

Ears over shoulders. This musician does pass no grades of this master.

[@vinesinha]

He skipped a lot of complicated parts of Asturias

[@garcidal1269]

Nunca había oído tocar tan mal Asturias, hay que tener cojones.

[@rivercreekman]

+Borja Garcidal Qué verdad has dicho...en España el salao este no ganaba ni el concurso de su pueblo.

[@GaraMerry]

quizas la acoplo a su estilo tiene un tremolo muy rápido , pero si, nada como la original

[@polomarco4335]

Pues porque como dicen por aquí, será por que lo ha adaptado a su forma de tocar, además supongo que el jurado/audiencia no sabrán de la existencia de ella xD así de simple, aunque quieras o no el tío tiene una forma de tocar que embriaga.

[@stevemarcosunny3916]

This is ...Asturias

[@DarthRektar]

+Steve Marco Sunny Knew I heard this somewhere else

[@davidgallois5634]

How did he get that sound out of a guitar with such beaten up frets (yeah - look at them!!) and wood screw holding the fret board together. I am awestruck... Loved it!!!

[@zenmeister451]

To all you naysayers out there... I've been playing guitar since I was 14 years old. I am now 67 years old and I'm here to tell you all, this guy is very, very good!

[@maikelc9238]

His own arrengement? This song is leyenda

[@lil_vill773]

so many haters it's disgusting

[@empireravenshadow5]

This sounds terrible to a trained ear. Segovia played it best.

[@Univ4rset]

Probably better than you.

[@secondchild2]

Agreed, this sucks. I can play way better and faster

[@icallbullshitjoshbullshit386]

Josh Liddane You lying piece of shit

[@secondchild2]

Not bullshit haha

[@Facehate666]

Josh Liddane If you're going to say it sucks and purport yourself to be better you need to show some kind of proof. You have a camera and a mic, upload your version and then talk shit.

[@alleblacks3802]

vederlo dal vivo ad Edimburgo ai buskers del Fringe Festival del 2012, gran fortuna!!!

[@Luiblonc]

Indeed a good guitar player, but I've visited to Granada Spain over the years and have bumbed into some amazing young guitarist with blazing speeds and great dynamic playing and feeling by the dozens!! Simply no comparison with one of these kids from Granada! OLE Granada!!

[@blyatman11]

asturias isaac albeniz ... but not the original at all ...

[@user-gf5vt2nd2q]

Thanx

[@samdepaepe6534]

Hmmm, I have seen a lot of better players playing this piece named 'Asturias.' Hate talentshows, meh.

[@aidansuskic8736]

I can play this but with out the shitty arrangement of his.

[@fungoskhan]

same here

[@ronaldrodriguez6655]

post your video

[@Sora-o]

+etot26741 it's actually really to play the normal version

[@johanherrera6413]

Asturias by Isaac Albeniz

[@aidansuskic8736]

etot26741 ya mad bro

[@dcmhughesful]

I'm a guitarist for my profession, and can honestly say this of a high calibre...yes there are plenty of people that perform this piece, either to the original or add there own style. I just don't see why people are rating/comparing/dissing..because lets face the majority of people that comment couldn't play like that no matter how hard they try. Its not about who's 'the best' people don't go comparing singers like this, its not about being the best! Theres always a bigger fish.

[@harris2898]

You are right in so many levels... I bet that they wouldn't be so amazed had they had any basic "classical music knowledge" or previous experiences with classical guitar players.

[@JoaoSantos-ho3db]

I wanna kill myself just by hearing those judges....this is a guy who learned how to do tremolo (not saying that is easy) and just started strumming on the damn strings....speed doesn't make you a good musician....and what is the point of sounding "good" for "ordinary" people if when it comes to a professional musician say his words about you, he is probably gonna say..."wow, that sucked!!"...?

[@JoaoSantos-ho3db]

...and there is no need for those white type "girl" nails!!!

[@typmithemd4867]

+João Santos actually there is :) there is a product making your nails a lot harder which makes it better for guitarists. It whitens the nails as you see here. Sungha Jung uses it too, check him out :) Normal nails would break the way he shredds

[@JoaoSantos-ho3db]

Well thank you for the explanation pal :) I've noticed that in a lot of guitarists now, I still think my "natural" fingernails are better but that is just my opinion :)

[@typmithemd4867]

You're welcome :) But yea I don't like it either.. I prefer normal nails

[@theguitarscrolls759]

it was just a variation of asturias sooo dislike

[@sanctifiedsoldier3727]

He has some strong technical ability, but this arrangement is absolute crap!

[@TheDiabolitos]

fantastic..i 've got the chance to meet Tom in France...in Avignon (july 2013) i caught a video...playing in the street, the same song. The song is : Asturias (Leyenda) by Isaac Albeniz

[@HakeTake]

Look for Ana Vidovic to see a better performance (Asturias - Isaac Albeniz) / Procurem pela Ana Vidovic pra verem essa musica sendo tocada como deveria ser tocada.

[@Draganko123]

That is shredding? Go watch some Dimebag, kiddo. Dislike for the misleading title.

[@MarsLonsen]

Draganko123 its not, but there are indeed some similarities

[@dimitrischaralampis4892]

i personally think it's a disgrace to ruin such a masterpiece by altering it just to show off, whoever is in classical guitar i think would agree, there are much better perfomances on asturias

[@kewell582]

not better than Vinh Bui

[@petrkadlec9421]

You are the boss :D it's a pitty then no one else can understand this :D

[@kewell582]

hahaha ;)

[@rambo134e]

+Petr Kadlec Vihn Bui blew John Lennon away ;)

[@retroguts1]

lol

[@petrkadlec9421]

Just watch a video Vinh Bui in Australia's got talent ;)*****

[@NIKEDrago1]

thank you

[@MegaConify]

FANTASTIC!!!!

[@jahblazek]

Boring, sloppy, and barbaric

[@agusgembur2]

Amazing man

[@tmjcbs]

at 0:28 "you make people go to a different place"....I couldn't agree more ;-)

[@TimBee100]

Spanish Caravan - The intro riff was taken from "Asturias," a Classical piece by Spanish composer Isaac Albeniz (1860 - 1909).

[@robinvloon]

this man is king dude i love this he’s just amazing

[@coolguy478]

people who don't play guitar will never understand this man just give it up. trust me the general public is so stubborn, they see speed and they are impressed, period. If he came on the show and played it like John Williams this wouldnt even have half the views i swear.

[@MaryMartinish]

Go Tom! Saw Tom in Pitt Street Mall- he is even cooler on the street!

[@eas26]

I dont look at it like a classical guitar composition, i look at it as a variety act. Something for a talent show, which is basically what this show is.

[@amritm5113]

What you are playing is completely different.Tom ward is very talented, props to him

[@ApexVaporr]

Dude your legit incredible.

[@MSNIC]

beautiful and one talented guy

[@zee1158]

Emotion can come in many forms.

[@danafrog3]

he is awesome,, very talented in deed,,

[@TheFutureVirtuoso]

I don't know why people are reacting so negatively to the comment. His audition piece was in dadgad, and he literally just strummed all the strings, played some scale runs up the neck with percussive attack on the strings, and then finished with the chord again. It wasn't anything difficult at all. But as usual, the general public is mesmerized by fast speed.

[@OO0sofie0OO]

The way he plays the guitar reminds me about a traditional Chinese musical instrument, Pipa. I can't post a link to another video in my comment (KZbin says "Error, try again"). If you're curious, please search for "十面埋伏 - 劉德海(琵琶獨奏) 1970年" and click on the first video in the list. The picture quality isn't so good as it is an old video one from 1970, but the music is amazing.

[@carter316]

awesome tom

[@avozinhaxisde8670]

If you want to know the name of the song, it's Asturias - Isaac Albeniz

[@emilybarron5759]

Guitar to a new level...

[@Lydario]

Now that's a valid point. I agree, after listening to each of those examples, I see he is definitely playing beyond his years. It's a bummer though, as I do enjoy his playing.

[@SullivanBurke777]

His playing style puts me in mind of both cellists and koto players. Funky. ;3

[@ConorFilms]

AWESOME

[@Skellytor07]

I saw him at the fringe festival today!

[@friendzezgolbin2235]

Amazing u were amazing

[@tomwardmusician]

I love the keyboard warriors :) the time limit for AGT is under 2 minuets, that’s why it’s not the whole piece. For the classical guitarists and guitar connoisseur’s here please recommend a piece under 2 minuets that you think would get a better reaction from the audience and judges? And no El Colibri doesn’t lol

[@vannyteng4669]

Wow ...amazing

[@AllThingsProg]

Maybe not a month. But given 3-4 months.. you can become the next Australian Idol!

[@naobieeyendrembam1699]

I learned this piece long time back but quite hard to keep the momentum going . He played it quite well .

[@kingrrrragokorli]

asturias is soo fantastic and he is soo fantastic,i try to learn it but it's difficult

[@olavbrresonfossdal5330]

dude, are you kidding me? If you can play Asturias on the guitar you know how hard it is to get your left hand right. His lefthand is doing an amazing job, but it looks like he is bearly moving it, that right there is art. he should get an award. Good tunes=smal movments

[@SuperSossossos]

his performance was good. he didnt overuse his speed and it was relaxing to hear the melodic part of his arrangement

[@waelkfourylive4358]

Awesome !!

[@jaysupelana8834]

this is very nice

[@petey899]

the best guitar player in the world!!

[@Oma30003]

The beginning is not by himself, it was originally a song on piano by isaac albeniz (asturias) but at 3:30 ,so the last few seconds, are not from that song

[@bootlegDENMARK]

Love it !!

[@TannerHoytFooty]

This is one of the first classical songs I learned

[@putinstop5940]

Awesome style/

[@navneetchouhan7401]

legendary

[@josegodinez294]

wow the best

[@Zepp710]

Exactly, and that's because people who are actually incredible don't go on [Country]'s got Talent. They can make a living being amazing at their instrument.

[@annpan5120]

To everybody who thinks this isn´t something amazing I have to say this is unbeliefable hard! I play guitar since I was 8 years and man this is imposible for me to TRY! He is one of the best guitarists on this world... not the best but amazing good!

[@adrianmartinezcorraliza3703]

TOM WARD EL MEJOR GUITARRISTA SIN DUDA DE AUSTRALIA LA MELODIA ME HIZO LLORAR. OLE OLE Y OLE¡¡¡ QUE ARTE TIENE

[@juicemaker95]

Since everyone else is doing it, you guys should check out Paco de Lucia(his song Almoraima), Nino Miguel(his song Los Pescadores), and Sabicas(his song interpretation of farruca). They all died and were some of the best flamenco guitarists.

[@MR-vw9nd]

*big like from Iraq* Ich mag tom sehr sehr

[@af9125nna]

that was perfect