Welcome to Berklee! (Tommy Emmanuel's evolution)

On the 17th of September 2009 Tommy Emmanuel came and delivered one of the most inspiring and invigorating clinics I have ever had the honour of attending.
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Here Tommy talks about his evolution as a guitar player and musician. He began his musical adventures by learning songs from the radio and, having never seen a bass guitar before, he learned how to play both rhythm and bass parts.
(Plays a section of 'The Savage' by the Shadows - 0:43)
It wasn't until he was 6 years old, 2 years after beginning to learn the guitar, that he saw his first bass guitar, a Fender Precision Bass, at a concert that he and his brother had played. It was also here that he first saw the Bee Gees.
After hearing Chet Atkins on the radio, and being drawn in by his unique style, Tommy began to learn Chet's work; this was made easier by the fact that he had been playing bass and rhythm parts for some time already. His struggle with flatpicks came to an end some time later when Tommy final saw an album cover of Chet's, with him holding a thumpick.
(Plays a section of 'Windy and Warm' by Chet Atkins - 5:35)
Tommy admired Chet for his inventiveness and his use of the independent thumb technique; he recommends that anyone who wishes to pursue this style should start with the simplest of songs so that the motor skills can become engrained in one's playing.
At the end of this section Tommy demonstrated a thumb stretching exercise that he came up with, describing it as "rather hairy" - so not for the faint of heart! (8:09)
He also demonstrated the differences in his hands that the nearly 50 years of playing have done; his right thumb is remarkably flexible, whereas that of his left is rather rigid due to the sheer about of rhythm playing he has done.
"I come from the bush ... where men are men, and the sheep are nervous."
Tommy Emmanuel (4:07)

[@flagmuffin1221]

"Where men are men, and the sheep are nervous." This guy....

[@clemalford9768]

That's an old joke.

[@jgus4312]

Clem Alford it was 7yrs ago you must’ve been born yesterday

[@ms8742]

@@jgus4312 I heard that joke 30 years ago in college.

[@communityreject3627]

@@ms8742 some people are just stupid

[@BradfordGuy]

@@communityreject3627 " Community Reject 1 week ago @Mark M some people are just stupid" And some are sheep! HEHAW!

[@RobertGilliesMusic]

It's my pleasure - there was no way I wasn't going to share this with those who couldn't be there.

[@dhammarosi]

And now 1 million views. Wow

[@m2dad2]

About 3 years ago Tommy was in town and I got a few minutes alone with him in the green room. From watching his performances I was convinced he had freakishly long fingers to make the reaches he does. So, naturally I asked him to pose for a photo with my left hand up against his. Much to my surprise his fingers were exactly the same length as mine, albeit mine were a bit wider. However, he told me the key is to practice, practice, practice those reaches and they eventually come. He was so right. I practiced like I had never before to the point my fingers and hand ached but within weeks I was making reaches and chord changes I never thought possible. I am so grateful for someone like Tommy who is so accessible and is on a mission to teach anyone who will listen.

[@EvilSean62]

ive met a few greats and mostly they have been open and nice ... i think the ones that are dicks are still on a quest and just want you to get out the way

[@MrRetinas]

That's a very inspiring story. I have to admit spending a few years stretching my hands until I could finally just about use my thumb for F or D/F#. I'd had to buy a guitar with a very narrow fingerboard. These come with their own issues! Anyway I was following one of Tommy's instructional books. It was a colossal exercise in frustration. But then I too met Tommy and discovered he had fingers and thumb about a third bigger than mine! So I guess your mileage may vary.

[@myyparentsbasement5167]

m2dad2 Go watch Shawn Lane. Stubbiest fingers ever - and the fastest guitar player that's ever lived.

[@13daniel1974]

I was so SAD....I divorced and moved away from the QUAD CITIES (Iowa/Illinois). He was there two years after I moved and I couldn't get back to see him. He is amazing.

[@christineschmidt8494]

Have you ever watched Bucketheads fingers? Now those are some long fingers, look like snakes crawling around on the fretboard!

[@edwardmorton6691]

The mans an absolute star but so natural and down to earth with it. I love KZbin for enabling all us to watch and listen to stuff like this. It's been a real privilege

[@Dante3085]

I think Tommy made me realize that the word talent is a negative and destructive word. At least it has a side which is that. I've watched many of his concerts workshops and just playing with fans. He never focused much on the thing that he is a very good player. Instead he just embraced that you have to keep going and that it takes time to develope skill, groove and timing. Once he even said to a guy:" Look, you play it like this. If I can do it, you can." I think when we see somenone who is very good at something and we say:" That's talent!." We're just expressing our current feeling of hopelessness in terms of achieving that skill and pureness, unaware of the abilities that we ourself might achieve if we really wanted it.

[@sonidamara5018]

Slash gnr can do that skill.. But he can not teach and entertaining in the same time like tomy

[@forgetful9845]

I think talent is usually very misunderstood and people forget that negative side. Something I've also noticed is people kind of saying it half jokingly and half serious that they won't ever be able to do something.

[@realdiamondshow]

Strange how, the more you practice, the more talent shines through. Clearly, from his youth, Tommy spent many hours playing guitar.

[@Sonja14athome]

@@forgetful9845 The negative side of being born with God given talent is that everything related to it comes so easy that it's also easy to take it for granted and wrongly believe there is no need to put work with it to excel. Kids with talent are so far ahead of their age group they Can get away with it...for a while. Before they know it, their peers, who Have been putting in the work begin to pass them up & leave them behind & if they aren't helped to develop self discipline, their talent will go to waste. Parents, too, though need to be more proactive with their kids from the first notice of talent - not to make it a chore, but to show them how it is fun - fun to learn a little each day & then a little more, then compete with yourself & try to learn and/or do 1 thing more than you could the day before, Always keep it fun and you'll be giving them a love for it and just maybe they'll be lucky enough when they grow up to make a living doing something they'd do even if they didn't get paid to do it.,

[@Sonja14athome]

@elissa f I beg to differ with the recent study's "findings" Both types, practicing 10,000 hrs each, will absolutely NOT produce "absolutely no difference" between a person born without talent and one born with it No matter what the field, the top ranks are always made up of those who are artists and those who are merely competent technicians. The difference between an artist and a technician is "heart". Heart is innate talent. It is not, can not be learned, can not be created. It is not, will not, be magically bestowed upon the completion of 10,000 hrs of practice. A person is either born with it, or not. Period. The study w/b more credible had it said findings were : Those with talent who seldom, if ever, devoted time to practice were found less adept at performing certain specific techniques in their field than those with no talent, who had practiced for 10,000 hrs. It was also found that those talented who practiced for 10, 000 hrs far surpassed those with no talent who also practiced 10,000 hrs. I am more than confident that a detailed audit of every single part of every part of that study would reveal it to be flawed. You can not tell me that if 8 people with no talent practiced 10,000 hrs, and so did Mohammed Ali, Larry Fitzgerald, Beverly Sills, Tommy Emanuel, Michael Jordon, Yo Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman and Richard Petty, that within each of 8, two-person teams there would be "absolutely no difference" in the results for each person - They'd be exactly the same. Puh - leeze! I'm not taking any issue at all with you, elissa f. Just the study claims. I may be missing, or misinterpreting something here - I am pretty tired - so, please, if that's the case, enlighten me & save me from my overworked brain! Thx.

[@arthurblackhistoric]

His best line here is . . Then when I was SIX!!! . .

[@jeffreyedwards609]

It flew over there heads.

[@Annunaki_0517]

Exactly! I live with a kid who plays like that. Check this out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIvOioyBrLyghdE Unfortunately these days he’d rather play Fortnite and Overwatch than practice, and I swore I’d never force him to play, so I just bite my lip. I hope that once he realizes cute girls dig guitar players and don’t care if you’re God of XBox, he’ll stop wasting his talent.

[@mdoering]

I don't know, "where men are men and sheep are nervous" was a pretty epic line...

[@danielkneebone4412]

After seeing him live, even Eric Clapton said he was the greatest guitarist he had ever seen. That says something.

[@punishr36]

Steve Vai said he was stunned into silence and people in the future wont be able to play like him. Joe Satriani said when they played together on electric that "now I have a chance"." The man is incredible.

[@nachonightmare148]

Tommy is great. I've seen him live a couple times. He should be a household name like Chet. I geuss Chet isn't even a household name anymore. I want out of this world. Haha!

[@jedimindtrix2142]

@SvendBosanvovski You hit it spot on. He is incredible at the way he plays. He may not be the most technical player but what he does is extremely interesting.

[@toneman335]

Tommy is a combination of talent, discipline, and determination.

[@paulmitchell5349]

Maestro.

[@widowmakerheartattack5212]

You can go the the best music school in the world. NOTHING will surpass persistent practice and love of what your doing and reinventing.

[@KnowThyself619]

Very true.

[@jedimindtrix2142]

Generally most people don't attend music school unless they have the passion you speak of. Schooling and knoeledge are great compliments to a player who is accomplished and creative but they wont create the greatness.

[@DouggieDinosaur]

Tommy Emmanuel is the reason Chuck Norris plays saxophone.

[@sanctuarynuts]

That's the best comment ever!!!!

[@aleksanderszymanowski6631]

douggiedinosaur hahaha!!!

[@nigelparsons2402]

Now that’s funny.. I have one of his original Matons! Still!

[@MightyCraicDJ]

LMAO

[@westerling8436]

Wow

[@lawrencekedz]

This man is a gift to humanity...!!!

[@jwstout007]

And this is why he's an INTERNATIONAL treasure!!!

[@Neverdii]

he's the best guitarist they're ever going to see in their lifetimes most likely :) I would feel so fortunate to be there if I was them

[@gaybe2000]

this man has the pick of destiny

[@ophiolatreia93]

Because a pick is so essential for fingerstyle .

[@akanecortich8197]

Tommy is the nicest guy you could ever wish to meet.

[@jra2515]

Tommy is a very nice and gracious man. I met him at CAAS and he was just as friendly could be.

[@biddibee3526]

Listening to Mr Emmanuel tell stories from his life while playing the guitar is a good morning treat to enjoy with my coffee. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@Gichanasa]

I have been listening to, watching, and following Tommy for over a decade, and I still learned so much about him from this talk. His left and right thumb being completely different shape from the years of practice and training just plain floored me with respect for his dedication. What a wealth of knowledge and source of inspiration he is! Thank you for sharing this great video.

[@bertramcoenraats8715]

phenomenally incredible

[@kennybradshaw2122]

World class musicianship and an entertainer!

[@buffalowings89RnR]

he's talking about his hands adapting to the guitar playing over the years and his left thumb being now "modified" I thought the guy was BORN to do this unreal player. much respect to Tommy Emmanual

[@JohnJesus]

The fact he always took the harder path (unknowingly most of the times) means he is the best at what he does

[@WarrenPostma]

This guy is THE MAN.

[@abedunovits]

He’s been a legend for a long time in Australia !

[@alisoncarpenter232]

There is nothing this man can't do, he is the master..the ultimate guitar player and he is still progressing. Amazing!

[@toamataafa9463]

Love this guy..Tommy Emmanuel👈👍thanks for sharing this video👍

[@frillylizzard]

thanks for posting. Saw him bout 25 years ago in Brisbane at southbank.. never heard anyone to this day play an acoustic like that.. a great guitarist!! love him.

[@sundaru1]

Love you Tommy you are humble and fun great guitar player

[@RickyHortonMusic]

I was there!! It was awesome!

[@PlanetRockJesus]

I just love this guy and his music.

[@theslidedaddy]

So inspiring. Thanks for sharing this gem.

[@bkguitarrepairrestoration5509]

wow, best player I think I have ever seen...

[@kronos350]

This gentleman is phenomenal

[@adamredman3000]

I first saw Tommy on a late night news show I used to watch in Australia in the 80's called "Robbo's World Tonight." This show was classic in that it was probably the first "news" show where the anchor would take complete control, injecting his personality into stories, often very serious stories with droll commentary, eye rolling, yawning etc. Each week, or most nights, there would be an interlude where Clive Robertson would introduce some act. Tommy was one of these and it was early on in his career. In a later episode he played with his brother. Been a fan ever since so this was just a great clip to stumble across. cheers

[@pls_explain9608]

That same thing happened to me it was on Clive Robertson I heard this guitarist play Michelle - I thought ‘who is this guy? How come I have never heard of him before?’ expecting that he must be some great international artist that I had somehow never manage to have heard of before. Then I learned that he was from the bush out back. I couldn’t believe such a talent could be so underrated and unrecognised - but I knew it wouldn’t stay that way 🙂

[@mahmoudeledrissi7234]

legend i love this man. he is my inspiration. and till now i can now reach his talent.

[@Horido1231]

i could listen to him for 10 hours...

[@Deevious26]

What an absolute legend and a class act.

[@GuitSiva]

Thanks dude for sharing Tommy Emmanuel in Berklee..👌👍😊

[@MaXaNoMaLoUs]

I love the point he was making about his own learning, which is, we learn by mimicking and we don’t always know how someone is doing something, so we make our own way. It reminds me of this drummer instructional video, where the guy said “I grew up listening to The Police, and the song Walking on the moon, and I tried learning the awesome high hat licks only to later find out that the drummer of The Police over dubbed a separate track of high hat improv” so in trying to mimick that sound the guy found his own way

[@MaXaNoMaLoUs]

It’s like Paul Gilbert talking about Shawn Lane playing insane licks on guitar and it sounds like he is using two hands but he is not

[@danielmesery2904]

A lot of years, and alot of talent.....⭐🎶 And a sense of humor.....😎

[@shadow-Sun]

One word ...LEGEND .

[@guitarsword1]

Tommy is the guitar master.

[@stevehughes1510]

He's an international treasure this man..........what a great artiste.

[@hillbillymanjackson]

I have seen him 2 times and cant wait to go again.

[@ukulelechriswilson]

Thank you master Tommy.

[@Goffas_and_gumpys]

How good's this fella ey. Genius.

[@allymayful]

Love Tommy's story about Barry Gibb.

[@leecooper4213]

allymayful: THANK YOU! I replayed that spot on this clip until my finger is sore.....Could NOT, for the life of me, figure out WHO he said! I even turned on sub-titles, but (as usual) that was no help! I got all the story build-up, but then couldn't hear WHO he named! So thanks a bunch for posting this comment......Now I get to laugh!! Funny.....

[@DC180]

Tommy you are just mind blowing.

[@AcousticHills]

This guy is truly Amazing!

[@buddyrichrocks]

E is for “Enigma”（amongst other things）. Such a special person and he really is so generous in what he does.

[@trevortimoko7512]

one word AWESOME

[@badaml]

What a great video! Thank You for posting this! My time to attend a music college is long past, but I still daydream about it now and then :)

[@Mike-dk7wj]

He is the absolute greatest.

[@ironman4934]

Yes, very clever and best interview I ever listened to. This man is a genius! A perfect example of where passion and dedication can lead to! More useful advice in here than a 3 year guitar course... :-))

[@bolingopaccy3515]

Amazing guitar

[@ConservativeVoicesUniversity]

he really is a great man I met him in jax fl what a guy

[@KjartanHaugen]

wow, great video!! more more please :-)

[@bazwillrun]

thats why Tommy and The Bee Gees et al are so fucking good at what they do...theyve been doing it all their lives, since they were young kids...i

[@swikkis]

His time is super solid.

[@billtruttschel]

I think he talks about time/tempo later on in this same demo. Must be a different video out there though.

[@fg87fgd]

"I come from the bush. (..) Where men are men and the sheep are nervous."

[@playmovingpictures]

Aussie my mate tommy, god bless you.

[@jon780249]

Fascinating and very humorous too!

[@caranauba]

this makes my eyes rain

[@garst59]

That pick is no ordinary plectrum. You see the reaction of TE when it was out of his possession? It is one of a kind, can not be replaced. If he lost this pick he will die.

[@kjjmusic]

+Ramon Navarro Maybe it's "the pick of destiny"?

[@AntonLFG]

I think he's said before in some interview that he uses mandolin picks that someone gifted to him.

[@martijnvandenakker803]

Ramon Navarro It's just a Dunlop thumbpick, he was joking...

[@shingomurata]

Lols I think Ramon was probably joking too... Let's give him the benefit of the doubt 🤑

[@johndeem5554]

I was just watching a doc about Brian May and he's been using some type of Euro coin for the past 40 years. ?

[@locle7998]

Tommy is a true blue Aussie and a great musician, always willing to pass on to the younger generations his wisdom . Lovely guy . ❤️

[@nodgelyobo1]

Watching Tommy is like watching Hendrix in a way...You might as well just sit down quietly and enjoy his playing, cos you (very few) ain't gonna copy it.

[@forgetful9845]

You won't copy it yeah, but you can get to his level.

[@Deliquescentinsight]

Copying is not the objective, it is called sharing musical insight, you don't play do you?

[@forgetful9845]

@@Deliquescentinsight gotta share the insight yeah

[@nodgelyobo1]

@@Deliquescentinsight Oh hush now, you are trying to sound as if you know me after reading a throwaway comment, but you just come across as a complete dick, now behave yourself.

[@DC180]

Thanks for sharing, valuable Guitar Wisdom from the Master... and it was for free.. amazing

[@AkshatMehrotra07]

very imp video for every instrumentalists irrespective of the instrument. Thanks for the share.

[@mikeinmunich8814]

Awesome. The Australian God of Guitar.

[@patricklastname5646]

What a cool and knowledgeable guy.

[@guysmalley]

I learn finger picking from watching Tommy one of the best

[@allosaurusfragilis7782]

The more i see of TE the more impressive he becomes. Bit of a legend really

[@johnbuffaloe9160]

What an amazing artist!

[@50nuccio]

What a magnificent human being. He and Guthrie are so down to earth.

[@davewhitehill3602]

Tommy is on The Atkins Diet...fingerpickin' GOOD!!!

[@usernamemykel]

No, dummy, that's "Kentucky Fried Chicken".

[@michaelp8856]

wow - wow - wow!

[@albertortiz1338]

Just amazing..

[@southernstingray2743]

We saw Mr Tommy Emmanuel at the Matt Dann Center in South Headland Wild West Oz, back in the mid 90s,we were really close seating wise,Tommy's finger tips were glowing red playing his Matons,broke 1 of them ,started on the other,Supreme Masterclass of guitar n many different music genres!Country, blues,countryblues,country jazz,jazz,A ridgy didge, fair dinkum, larrikin Ozzy Legend!!

[@flightofthefatman]

Dat was awesome.

[@DjangoThunders]

Thanks for posting this! He's such a great and versatile player. The only thing I could recommend to him is to grow some sideburns! LOL!

[@slimstealthy]

Can't help but feel a little "behind", seeing as tommy was playing since he was fricken 4...

[@VladPGuitar]

I know the feeling brother

[@blackie75]

The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.

[@joshuatate5671]

@@blackie75 yep

[@sebb440]

yeah bout dont worry, your bones will change even if you start at 50. He knows, i mean although he played from an age where bones were growing and shaping.

[@headlesssoldier]

what a talent!

[@philisgarn]

He will always be practising.

[@agork]

That is so funny the one finger BeeGees story. That is exactly how I got started on the guitar, since I didn't have any teacher. I tuned the guitar to an open chord and almost instantly recognized the 4 and the 5 chord on fret 5 and 7. There aren't many pop songs you can't play with three chords and a little imagination.

[@zorbanongreco]

Ronny Casperson : Country music= 3 chords and the truth .🐂💨💨💨

[@AnthonyBurnsSydney]

The Yoda of guitars.

[@docwill184]

Thanks for the synopsis and time-markers...

[@supersteveworld]

Tommy is just incredible. Cool vid thanks :)

[@CHUMPTYTRUMPTY]

Tommy wouldn't like my saying this because he is way too humble and grounded but he is actually fucking brilliant in so many ways and truly an inspiration to countless musicians worldwide!

[@MatthewRivers]

Amazing guy! Great video...

[@jesuisravi]

what a guy!

[@richardleslie3013]

My Dad reckon he seen Tom and Phil in 1962 in Cunnamulla ❤❤ toms the best at everything on guitar sit in with anyone

[@MightyCraicDJ]

That's a big thumbs up from me :-)

[@TRICK-OR-TREAT236]

PROBABLY THE BEST GUITAR PLAYER TO COME OUT OF CLEVELAND IN A LONG, LONG TIME.

[@daniel.gibbon]

Cleveland?

[@daniel.gibbon]

@Pete is never wrong Easy mistake to make I guess!

[@robinlabouche2230]

Tommy is a proud Australian !!!!!!!

[@TheGregor1605]

fantastic!!! :)

[@MrJoeyBoombotz]

Master of masters.

[@nathanfrigerio3473]

Capo 3rd fret. I did the same with Steve Miller's Jet Airliner. Stretched like hell to get the B flat 6 and F 6. But it paid off.

[@Yankydwad]

ooooh I have a question: Do you, by any chance, know the tuning for "Come on in my kitchen" acoustic 12 string number he does on The Joker?

[@WesW3187]

He’s plain brilliant.

[@tomkozic8505]

Great stuff

[@Дмитрий-ъ9й5г]

what a Person