Tommy Emmanuel- Boogie Meltdown Medley
It’s been a while since I made a guitar player post! I wanted to start back with Tommy Emmanuel (only seems fitting).
Here’s a segment of a live concert from November 2019, Weiz, Austria featuring some “Buck Owens” style
pickin’ (as Tommy calls it- and hey let’s face it, Buck never did anything like this).
Drive, Rhythm, Timing “ahead of the beat”
Tommy is an energetic picker full of “Drive”. This is what sets him apart from almost anyone. Mainly, he’s able to get this driving sound by playing ahead of the beat. You might be wondering what exactly is “ahead of the beat?”
A quick answer is he is anticipating each note just a little bit by being ahead of the bar line or where the metronome would be. This is the same kind of drive that is prevalent in Bluegrass Music or Gypsy Jazz. Trust me, it’s easier to explain it (even though I’m doing a poor job) but even harder to pull off.
But then with all this great groove Tommy is just nailing line after line with such accuracy. Yea, the great timing, drive and dead on accuracy makes for a lethal combination- a one many wrecking crew.
Obviously Tommy has worked, and worked and worked on his guitar playing.
Dedication and more Dedication
Friends of mine that saw him at a guitar festival years ago said he was walking up and down the hallways just playing his guitar.
Do me a favor while watching this performance- pay careful attention to the use of his thumbpick. In this medley, he’s not only using it for the rhythm root note bass lines, but also blazing single note lead lines as well. Also of note- At the time of this concert, Tommy was 65 but his “Guitar Metabolic Age” is 20.
Tommy Emmanuel: Current Status
“As of December 2024, Emmanuel continues to captivate audiences worldwide. He’s currently on an international tour, bringing his electrifying performances to fans across Europe and North America. Beyond the stage, he’s announced a new album, “Accomplice Two,” a sequel to his acclaimed collaborative project “Accomplice One,” showcasing duets with artists from various genres.
Tommy Emmanuel’s official website is https://tommyemmanuel.com/. Here, you can find tour dates, news, merchandise, and more about his music and career.
To witness Emmanuel’s unparalleled skill, check out this performance where he takes harmonics to another dimension: https://acousticguitarvideos.com/979/tommy-emmanuel-harmonics-in-another-dimension/
Author: Robert Harris
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Thanks Bob,
I’ve missed your lessons!
Hi Kristin, great to hear from you and I’ve missed all my guitar friends and the lessons too! Looking forward to a great New Year 2025- New stuff coming!!
Great to hear from you again Robert, look forward to more posts,
Yes saw Tommy in London a couple of years ago, his energy was amazing, felt tired just watching him!
Amazing inspirational performer
Hey Guy, I think I remember you telling me about that concert? I bet it was so much better than watching a video! Yes, he’s got the energy of a 20 year old.. So amazing!!!
Bob, Thanks for this great musical entree! Emmanuel’s playing evokes the wonder of a small child’s discovery. Watching this, I just sit with my mouth hanging open! Wow!
Hey my friend Joel… thanks for commenting here and glad you enjoyed Tommy. So much fun to watch (I didn’t even mention how good of an entertainer he was). I’m looking forward to a great guitar year 2025 with more spotlights of great guitarists and lessons!!!