Mike Dawes - The Impossible - Solo Guitar

The official video for ’The Impossible' by Mike Dawes. Guitar TAB available: candyrat.com/tabs
Order ‘What Just Happened?’ through CandyRat records: candyrat.com
Tour Dates and Tickets: bandsintown.com/mikedawes
Booking, Press, Publishing and other enquiries: mikedawes.com/contact
All the sounds you hear on this song are produced by one guitar, played by one person.
Follow Mike on...
Facebook: / mikedawesofficial
KZbin: / mikedawesofficial
Twitter: / mikedawesmusic
Instagram: / mike_dawes
Official Website: mikedawes.com
Tour Date Alerts via Bandsintown: bandsintown.com/mikedawes
Stream ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ & ‘The Impossible’ on Spotify: tinyurl.com/ngdstf5

[@AlexandrMisko]

His guitar is handmade by the luthier Nick Benjamin in tiny workshop in Britain, and this guitar is the hundredth guitar that made by Nick

[@Vivek2062]

Please play Hotel California on your channel I wanna see your version of it.... 💯👌

[@gaddasia23]

Your personality gets reflected through your guitar🔥🤘🏾. Love u bro! 🇮🇳Please play “cause we have ended like lovers” by Jeff beck

[@sofyanzhafrie2962]

Nobody cares bro

[@aliaksandrb4756]

No, u not right

[@zachthiel2785]

@@sofyanzhafrie2962 I care, you negative nancy

[@mikedawesofficial]

Just wanted to stop by with a huge THANK YOU to those of you that have been digging my videos on this channel. It is life changing, honestly. Here's to a happy holiday season, looking forward to getting some new tunes up for you ;) See you on facebook. Peace!

[@RebeccasPanda]

Good evening, Sir, would you happen to have any tips for an aspiring young guitarist? Specifically in the realm of your style of play since its sheer complexity is rather overwhelming.

[@paolograssi19]

thanks to YOU! I love listening to you, so inspiring!

[@cool8709]

RebeccasPanda I could be WAY wrong, but this is a natural thing, not a learned style. Its very hard to teach I would assume.

[@cool8709]

Perhaps I didn't articulate my statement well enough. I mentioned the fact that I could be way wrong.

[@koliko987]

Anything can be learned if you put in time and effort.

[@alovitos4239]

His sense of the rythm is astonishing!!

[@MrRealGuitar]

Heard it - wanted to learn it - challange accepted - practised a lot - after 2 months i can do it - i'm proud of me :D

[@zegaboy098]

+MrRealGuitar Read it - wanted to believe it - focused a lot - after two months I can't do it - Total bullshit confirmed.

[@MrRealGuitar]

zegaboy098 damn it .. :D

[@bbdragonemoji420]

+MrRealGuitar how did you learn it? kindly volunteer some information

[@MrRealGuitar]

Bikesh KC i bought the tabs and mike taught me over skype

[@TheGuavaberry]

+MrRealGuitar I bought the app. It's been about 2 months and I'm almost done. This song is addicting to play.

[@bruno280678]

This would cry tears of joy michael hedges if he were still with us...

[@harrisonayres8918]

it was amazing when Mike Dawes did a master class at my music college, he is even better in person then on video

[@naomijulve5918]

He is amazing. I never get tired of watching him or hearing him. Pure brilliance.

[@traverd]

This is one of the most beautiful compositions I have ever heard. Keep making music, Mike. I will try to catch one of your shows sometime.

[@Farinadog13]

My teenage son and I saw Mike perform with Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues at City Winery Chicago. An amazing talent, who is very personable. We met him afterwards and bought his CD which he graciously autographed along with a guitar pick for my son.

[@denisdion4732]

créativité... ingéniosité... Bravo, un artiste qui mérite toute notre attention !!!

[@joshuathomas3856]

Incredible stuff. His hand co-ordination takes my head off, every single time.

[@HufftownGirl]

I had the fortunate opportunity of experiencing Mike Dawes' incredible talent at his first concert of the USA tour with the fabulous Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues. I never saw anyone play quite the way Mike does. He is a genius and I am so happy that Justin brought him along to introduce this young man to all of us.

[@rabinmallick7318]

There are many fast , tricky & fine guitar players around the world. but when it comes to "incredible sounding" , this guy is best of the bests !!!! absolutely awesome.....!

[@jeremykennedy3896]

You .... I'm glad I'm already on the toilet because I crapped myself in awe of your excellent and awe inducing talent. Carry on

[@thirsk66]

I feel like this song digs so deep, and touches everyone's soul. Its so pure, and amazing!

[@Goofygreyhoundgoober]

A few times a year since i found Mike, i have come back to his youtube channel, sift through his videos and just sit and watch in awe of his accuracy, complexity, and mind boggling ability to play 5/4 on one hand and 7/8 on the other. Blows my damn mind every time

[@RaymondPeckIII]

I've listened to a bunch of the Candyrat stuff, but Mike Dawes is the first one that really captures some of the spirit, rather than just the technique, of the great Michael Hedges. Wonderful stuff. Thank you!

[@kennyfoster655]

Amazing... the timing and coordination needed to execute all the harp harmonics interspersed with the percussive elements, while keeping a steady pulse is mind boggling... love the playing behind the capo as well... wonderful...

[@cjbruner3668]

One of the most amazing things I've ever heard. Just amazing.

[@cmbrown832]

Absolutely amazing!

[@EuMilo]

that washy reverb is absolutely luscious, also amazing playing!

[@jakopet]

Steel string guitar + reverb = random epicness

[@_Dio_Brando_69]

You are to the guitar as dumbledore is to magic.

[@velocipoppy1612]

Thank you, Mike Dawes! You and Marcin both amaze me!! This is so so so beautiful!!!!

[@rohandisley8110]

Mike Dawes plays with such musical maturity and passion. A phenomenal player, I'll have to see him live

[@codybigler5357]

I wish I could apply myself to anything like he applied himself to being a guitarist

[@Quodge]

The present moment is the only place you can ever apply yourself. The past is just a memory.. contained within your experience in the present moment. The future is just a projection you make, again in the present. The only reason you can create the projection of a future at all is because you have a memory of the past. There is enough time for anyone to become great at any thing. All they have to do is do it. p.s Doing something you love makes dedication pleasurable and not a chore. p.p.s Pick something YOU love. Not something that you think will make people love you.. or something that you think will bring you money etc.. Money cannot make you happy. That comes from a sense of fulfilment, and you get that threw accomplishment, and progress in your skills. Not sure if thats gonna help or spin you out but if there is anything else I can help you with let me know. Hold Fast.

[@codybigler5357]

Quodge Thank you very much for that, you just completely changed my mood. You're correct I've just been looking at it in the wrong way. I really appreciate you taking the time out of your day to help me out. P.s I took a screenshot of your comment and set it as my wallpaper for a reminder.

[@Quodge]

Great to hear my words were well received. :) You're welcome. Kinda curious about what you want to apply yourself too now lol

[@mburunganga]

Quodge Thank you, anonymous friend :)

[@cesarcruzjr9156]

Quodge thank you so much :) your words of wisdom gave a lot of inspiration to keep playing guitar even though it seems like i have no improvements.hehe thank you again and GOD BLESS :)

[@BurntBrian]

I really love this styling of finger picking incorporating percussion. Awesome song! Huge thumbs up

[@joedecamara7000]

such an amazing journey. really fabulous

[@SavaMakesMusic]

what a dynamics! beautiful

[@P90Custom]

Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor! That was a stunning display of pure talent. Mesmerizing. You sir have truly been blessed by God with such amazing skills. More please!

[@majordendrocopos]

P90Custom Blessed by god? Many years of learning and practice and hard work is how you get to be this good .

[@ronlweasley]

That was just INSANE. I've been a Hedges fan for like 30+ years. I've even visited Windham Hill from where much of Aerial Boundaries was inspire. But I can tell you, he would have thought that was just AWESOME. And by the way, your duet with Mitch Emms was immense!

[@AnotherJoe]

Following you for years now and everytime when I come back to this masterpiece I think to myself this simply is awesom within the level of awesom. Right up there and way above it.

[@joshuashackelton6800]

This is the most beautiful song I've ever heard. The melodies, the backbeat...words cannot describe how this song makes me feel. Beautiful work Mike, keep it up!

[@ChargetheGateNOVA]

That note at @00:58 YES

[@BoxOPirateCrayons]

i thought i was the only one that obsessed over that note lol

[@MemoryDestiny]

i...have no words...Love it.

[@ahfrdz]

best guitar work i've heard in a long time

[@marioscaduto6805]

this guy is the passion personified.. this sound is pure enjoyment.

[@stephen3073]

Richard Leo Johnson, who seems to have largely disappeared since about '07, played like this. Very much like this. I had a CD of his called "Fingertip Ship", that was way out on the fringes of the acoustic guitar's sonic arsenal. Mike must know all about Richard Leo Johnson. They both have the same kind of outer-dimensional mind and the same kind of seven-level rhythm going. Mike Dawes is revelatory.

[@jesussurfs]

Did somebody buy dislikes? Because there is nothing about this song that warrants 300+ dislikes. This song is absolutely beautiful

[@Handplottedblackhole]

+Billy Guy Jealousy. Quite understandably too.

[@Fantasy38294]

absolutely

[@eschelar]

And it's very repetitive and not all that interesting. Mike Dawes is very talented, but this is far from his best work. It gets on my nerves and I have to click away after around 12 seconds.

[@Handplottedblackhole]

eschelar You're completely welcome to fuck off, btw.

[@eschelar]

Such an amazingly intelligent comment. I already expressed that I am a fan of Mike Dawes. So your point is that I'm a poor bastard because he has one composition that I don't like because it's too repetitive and predictable, so the music I listen to (which includes most of Mike's other compositions) is probably terrible. Yep, that's some golden logic right there. Do you want to try that again? Perhaps you'd get a bit more traction if you tried insulting my mother or said something about my cat smelling funny? Oh, fyi, I don't have a cat.

[@jujuman8]

thats art right there!! just... wow

[@MultiPhilomina]

remniscent of a time or age gone by. It is Romantic and beautiful. What a musician. Excellent

[@michaelallen6911]

Holy poop, I'm a guitarist and I've been practicing with percussion and slap harmonics, but this is a whole new level lol you're fantastic man

[@egcowling9657]

Me too bro! This is Inspiring as fuck!

[@Taronites]

So gorgeous, seriously. The harmonics melody layer completely makes my heart leap... so beautiful. Fantastic playing, wonderful song, thanks and congrats! I just saw Mike on Guitar Star as mentor and had to track him down on youtube! 8) ...I'm sorry for being so late to notice. Boy, am I happy now! 8D

[@MissandTropMusik]

wonderful wonderul wonderful!!! a benchmark of motivation for any artist!!!

[@hvaccityman]

Sir you have mad skills. Keep doing what you are doing and sharing with the world your talents. Just amazing. David from North Carolina

[@herolaubet]

When I hear this song I think about those moments of comtemplation right before you begin a very difficult journey. Like I'm watching a incredibly high mountain that I must climb. I admire its beauty yet I also feel the insecurity of climbing it. I weigh all the hardships and prospects of such journey and then, on a sudden moment of inspiration, I feel powerful and capable.I walk foward with confidence towards the unknown.

[@cruzgonzales8349]

Wow. Such poetic words.

[@countryside_guy]

herolaubet Dude its just a dude playing a guitar.

[@doomsteinx5617]

+chilliman07 the thing is that he spoke exactly what is the song's story talking about without words... the problrm is that you can't understand when someone tries to tell a story of f what is happening in the song... sorry if i offended you. But it is the truth ;)

[@garmonslaveman759]

+herolaubet Lol kinda feels the same way to me. I can imagine this being the soundtrack to a video game where you explore an open world with a huge nature landscape around you.

[@funtertainment07]

That feels so true.

[@GuitarguyRichard56]

why so many dislikes? WTF?! so creative, new and exciting. taking the guitar to new dimensions building off the greats Hedges, and Don Ross! wonderful.

[@joydaniels5467]

Another amazing piece!

[@JloBroOFFICIAL]

crazy dynamics! that reverb really hits the spot too.

[@OlduserNewabuser]

i highly recomend not reading the comments and just enjoying this music.

[@9UaYXxB]

Excellent advice, and I am taking it immediately

[@VadimLenda]

I don't know why people trying to compare guitarists by their technique or by impossibility of guitar parts. First of all they are musiscians and they are making music. Personaly I love the way Mke makes his music.

[@learningtocompute]

I like his style, very smooth transitions.

[@4asovoi]

WOW. It's amazing how you just fill every single moment with music and feeling, It's like there's a whole orchestra playing. Bravo and THANK YOU for dong this. Some people are just born to do something.

[@NoshameInPlaying]

At this point there are 177 people that are jealous of Dawes. Great piece ! I like it. :-)

[@APE_FIST]

Eat fresh.

[@NoshameInPlaying]

Mac Cavanah Lol. 181 already? Still like it. ;-)

[@Scias]

You can add me to that XD

[@NoshameInPlaying]

UncleRob199 :-) Still like it. Even more than before ! :-) 198 Haters ! Likers grow faster ! Hopefully for Mike ! ;-)

[@saje91]

Do you mean Envious?

[@russellemde]

53 dislikes? WTF?! Even if you don't like the song, you have to appreciate the talent.

[@RB-qe7ni]

Jealousy

[@seank7227]

This song is so beautiful....I'm in a state of complete awe

[@stevel178]

simply amazing!

[@c5-085]

Wow this has really inspired me.... To quit guitar

[@Alexo1954]

+Haaris Raja It's a bit like that... Some of these guitarists are just soooooooo good. Don't give up, though. Or find another instrument?

[@kassraniavarani9927]

+Haaris Raja that was great hahahahaha

[@xSferQx]

+Haaris Raja Same here ;____;

[@PmrGuitar]

dont quit. used as motivation to become better. That what i said when frist seen hear this song. Like holy i will be alble to play like this one day. Is what you say lol

[@eschelar]

+Patrick Robichaud Actually, in seriousness, I would second this. I felt the same way when I heard the Koyunbaba Suite. I then decided that given a million years, I could never learn to play such a masterpiece (never learned the guitar before). Then I realized the truth was that I *had nothing to lose*!!! So I gave it a shot and it really was way beyond me as a first piece to try to learn, but it pushed me to learn many other things. Now, a few years later, I don't practice as much as I I probably should, but I have been able to play the first 3 movements for a few years now. I played it for my Grandmother the last time I ever talked to her before she passed. I can also play several other pieces now. Not all of them perfectly, but all of them passionately. It is precisely by shooting for the unattainable goal that we find out exactly how much more we can accomplish than we previously thought.

[@EdwinManual]

this helped me realized that 2 hands are enough to build a masterpiece

[@garyhall8104]

Awesome! Love this style of playing.

[@Ad_Astra2023]

Just amazing!!

[@johnsafox2]

Part of me keeps expecting Maynard to start singing.

[@kelvinkonkel3351]

Really does have that sound to it

[@mikedawesofficial]

Don't feed the troll folks, he's a badass.

[@pieredupreez5915]

never mind playing this...the composition is genius, you truly are one of kind Mike, The more musical and technical understanding one has the greater this song becomes.

[@codyd.1415]

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING

[@musicbruise]

This dude has a whole band in his guitar I know it...

[@danielvanniekerk7084]

"Using one's guitar to the best of one's ability" is an understatement. And, I assume this is done on a standard tuning (or drop D), just with a 5 string capo on fret 4. If so, doing this *without* a alternate tuning is something to really look up to. Although this performance might not be as long as John Butler's "Ocean" - where you start getting bored at the 8th minute - it is still some of the best guitar skills that I've seen in a *long* time. And these that say that he's got no timing and/or no melody writing/improvisation abilities, go check "Mike Dawes - Boogie Slam" from the 3:06th minute. And, while you're at it, stop placing comments like our old friend Mike Kenneth Devine.

[@4Richie4Poorer]

Great comment, although I'd never get bored listening to John Butler; had the privilege to see him live with my eldest son & daughter a few years back when he played in the UK (I mean he was live, not my son & daughter, they were watching with me :) )

[@haydendillon-lloyd9304]

I totally agree Daniel good comment but i don't think its standard tuning you can just tell when he hits some of the higher strings

[@danielvanniekerk7084]

Meh, seems like I was wrong about the tuning >.< but hey, I'm just a passing commenter, not a *total* guitar nut. I still have a far way to go. I give credit to John Butler, don't get me wrong, he is way up there with the best, and I would give just about anything to watch his show live. But if I could choose between the two, it'll be like choosing between a Indian rosewood 900 series Taylor and a custom built Brazilian rosewood guitar. The 900 is for the masses, but the custom built guitar is something I would rather go for. Ocean is for the masses but... ... I would rather watch this.

[@AntonyKein]

What an amazing composition, arrangement & technique !!! Full support for Mike Dawes!!!

[@timhartmann2037]

thank you for this beatiful music and candyratrecords to make it happen!

[@uFlavaMe]

Girl: Finger me Mike Dawes: Okay Judge: I'm sentencing you to 25 years for manslaughter

[@DROWXXI]

uFlava tippity top kek

[@HackionSTx]

Womanslaughter xD

[@MoCatt]

Nose fountain comment right there.

[@MathijsIgnoul]

I could watch all of Candyrats video's just for the fancy guitars.

[@tm502010]

Every time I watch this, I am in awe. Truly AMAZING!

[@natanclassic]

I have no words to it, amazing !

[@KenFarnham]

This makes me want to buy an acoustic guitar just so I can throw it in the trash in rage. lol

[@marianitoguitarrita]

it's well named

[@sheller123m]

That is amazing work...amazing.

[@CallMeStabby]

Absolutely phenomenal.

[@PmrGuitar]

1:31 to 1:36 thatwas crazy

[@fastguitars4380]

amazing what you can do if you stay in the same chord position and just keep changing the rhythm.

[@ischertzer11]

Man of many talents very impressed

[@MrShan129]

never get bored of this amazin piece

[@johnbroadley535]

I do believe this is an acoustic cover of; Darude - Sandstorm?

[@vooxo]

maybe it's even the original

[@AlexandrMisko]

No, its dadgad

[@neilpodoba8917]

Saw Mike Dawes last night. What a phenomenal talent! His videos don't even compare with seeing him live.

[@honeybluedreams]

Wow. Bravo. Those are some slick techniques for playing your instrument.

[@izaaco5438]

so this is what shaggy from scooby doo has been up to all these years lol

[@sanymiah662]

সূর্যের ফালিতে মিশে থাকা ধুলোর মতো একেক তারের সুর, আমার গোধূলি পর্যন্ত গিয়ে মিশে আনন্দ-আক্ষেপের বার্তা নিয়ে.........

[@saikat1686]

bahh chorom

[@brunogaxpa]

Ronaldo

[@ArpanHotaJU]

sany miah "সূর্যের ফালিতে মিশে থাকা ধুলোর মতো" Upomata just osadharon............

[@samiurrahman4497]

হাহা জোশ

[@anantay]

Genius at work!

[@jimzweersguitarist]

Absolutely stunning. Amazing piece!

[@_Dio_Brando_69]

What's the tuning?

[@_Dio_Brando_69]

Nvm, DADGAD capo 4th for those who are wondering.

[@TheImmortalBurger]

You learned that from Nick Johnson lol. Nick is the man. Btw, you should really take that rap video off your channel..xD

[@_Dio_Brando_69]

Chuck Norris Google+ is your best friend. Also, plan on it. Video isn't mine, i'm just the uploader. I'd need to ask my brother, it belongs to him.

[@salvadorchavez2346]

Jesus Christ the last string is open so you'll need a short capo

[@papahuge]

***** i think you mean permission.

[@rickenbacker40011]

hey now dont leave jon gomm out now

[@deewalker6944]

Addicted and loving it,Thank you!

[@necatihakan2151]

Incredible! Soooo beautifully soothing my soul...

[@Nostrologyy]

Passion flower by jon gomm is much more impossible than this

[@whouston33wh]

The fact that people like you still compare these guitarists shows that they don't realize that all these guitarists respect the hell out of one another for their unique take on an instrument. Music, especially in the fingerstyle guitar realm, is not about comparing who's better and which song/artist is better. These artists don't care about that, they're having a blast seeing what other people can accomplish. Meanwhile, everyone else turns it into a competition. Music isn't about that. If you can't discover the simple, but much deeper purposes of music, then you haven't really listened now, have you? Let go of the human condition where we have to judge everything we come across. If you don't like the music, don't listen to it, but don't think your taste in music is better than everyone else's. KZbin rant complete.

[@devmrochko]

whouston33wh thank you that was well said I wish everyone thought like this

[@Axel_Stewart]

Falcoratwork Comparison isn't the problem. People who think that it's worth their time and other people's to assert that one thing is sooo much better than another in a setting where arguments have no weight are the problem.

[@Axel_Stewart]

Falcoratwork Not necessarily. It's the manner in which the message is conveyed. Still, there are plenty of times when KZbin could do without and maybe be better off without certain opinions one way or another.

[@fuck4203]

@ufera, you should never compare two artists' music. Even those who might not be as talented as Jon Gomm or Mike Dawes. Any true musician plays or sings directly from the heart. And comparing any two songs isn't fair to the artists or the listeners. No two people listen to a song the same way. Nobody will ever take away from either Passion Flower or The Impossible what I did. That's the beauty of music. Even musicians who...have yet to master their instrument are capable of profound beauty if what they sing or play comes from their heart. The only "artist" I would ever find worthy of contempt are those who never bother to write or play their own material. At that point it's just a cheap imitation of a real person's feelings..

[@seanpertudo9591]

sungha jung became nothing haha

[@AlexDia]

Stupid

[@Nitsua_Atayha]

right I used to look up to him now not really

[@watso-007]

Sean Pertudo ur right

[@lifeisgood7462]

Lol what i was thinking

[@HeavenlyDemonicEmperor]

😂😂😂😂💀💀💀

[@shawnajennings2905]

Beautiful!

[@taxijohari]

Exquisite! As always, WOW.

[@braunicklandaez9120]

dude, the dynamics

[@bratahtaph5706]

Simply poetic ... !

[@joshuatorresnarvaez8765]

What an amzing piece of guitarwork! Just blows my mind every time i listen!!!

[@RitwikSilwalalchemy]

Harmonics are simply breath taking.