103: Tommy Emmanuel

A personal hero of mine is on the show today: 2-time Grammy nominee, Guitar Virtuoso, Tommy Emmanuel CGP (Certified Guitar Player)! His latest album is 2020’s The Best of Tommysongs, a double CD that features some of Tommy’s best original works with 5 brand new songs.

1:03 Nikhil’s personal musical journey starting with Tommy Emmanuel
5:01 How many solo’s did you learn off records?
6:38 Tommy’s advice for young musicians, “Get to Work!”
7:36 What do you mean by working 3hrs on a song?
8:53 Is it important to get the exact voicing when transcribing things off records?
10:58 Did you learn the complete solos of all these artists you mentioned?
12:00 What is your system for making sure what you improvise fits correctly on top of the chord?
13:06 Did your improvisational skill experience a general increase over the years or were there intense periods of practice at it?
14:37 Is it important to listen to singers?
16:43 Do you compose music like writing a song rather than guitar music
18:10 Do you play the piano?
18:46 Composing in a piano-like manner
19:24 Dixie McGuire
19:52 How long does it take to write a song?
21:20 Does the melody come first or the harmony?
22:07 What is your definition for a musical idea?
22:35 Does the melody dictate the form of the song?
23:58 Composing a song in 20mins and talking about inspiration
27:08 Do you have many sketches of incomplete songs in your archive?
28:37 The horizontal thought process of composing melody with chords/bass underneath
30:39 Tommy attempting to take lessons to learn how to sightread in the past
32:57 Economy in songwriting
34:25 What should someone look for when listening to a great song?
36:09 Chet Atkins, his influence and why he’s so special
38:01 Django Reinhardt
41:23 The Grammys
43:08 Do you have interest in arranging/orchestrating your songs?
44:05 What is your hardest song to play?
44:37 Performing live at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Singapore for billions of viewers
45:50 Do you find inspiration to compose music from physical things in life
47:49 Top 3 Jazz Guitarists
47:56 Top 3 Country Guitarists
48:03 Top 3 Blues Guitarists
48:11 Top 3 Pop Songwriters
48:21 Top 3 Film Composers
48:41 Top 3 Classical Composers
48:59 Top 3 Drummers
49:08 Top 3 Billy Joel songs
49:27 Top 3 Beatles Songs
49:40 Do you get musically inspired by books, movies, non-musical things?
50:54 The Endless Road Documentary, substance abuse past
53:04 The mystique around drugs to improve your creativity
54:24 The importance of good male role models in life
55:56 I Still Can’t Say Goodbye and the connection to the father
58:38 Are you religious or spiritual person? And does it affect your life?
1:00:11 Upcoming projects, albums and events
1:02:22 Wrapping Up