That was nice. Thanks

A+ Very cool.

Is it Wino?

No?

Then I'll see better.

Thanks for showing me this!

I'm awestruck, humbled and inspired. Wow.

Holy crap.

Open tuning with a capo...zzzzzz

Too many notes!

/Herr Mozart

Just saw him last week in Toronto playing for the "guitar humane society". Fantastic show.

Meh. The Edge does that by only plucking the strings once.

man I'd love to see him do bron y aur stomp.

My dad works on a TV show that had him as a guest last February. The guy not only plays like a mother, but is really a good story teller. Decent singer too, if I remember correctly. Thanks for reminding me what is name is.

Most weeks I'd agree with the submitter, but I just watched Carlos Montoya play Malegueña on YouTube.

I've seen better.

Although I am not a big fan of the fast for the sake of fast playing, it is pretty cool.

I_AM_M so the tuning matters? Somehow it would be cooler if he dropped it down? You play it, film it, and post it, then talk.

/And, no, none of you haters can do better
//not yours

Tucci: Banjo licks on a capoed six-string wi. open G tuning.

*yaaaaaawn*

I'll just repeat what Welcome to the Machine said. Play it, film it, post it. Do better.

What he's doing is essentially easy. He's still doing it better than I ever could.

Tucci: Teleken: Tucci: Banjo licks on a capoed six-string wi. open G tuning.

*yaaaaaawn*

I'll just repeat what Welcome to the Machine said. Play it, film it, post it. Do better.

Link (new window)

was the bunny supposed to make that a good video?where were the screaming fast licks?or what ever.I bet that was your bunny on accordion.

I've had the pleasure of catching Tommy live a few times. He comes to Syracuse for the Local Guitar League just about every year it seems. While the guy is endlessly talented, he is one of the cockiest people I've ever met. Sure, he's got the skill to back some of it up. But at some point you've just got to realize you're being an ass.

That being said. I have lots of friends who try to downplay the talent and sheer ability of other players by saying, "Capo? Open tuning?" What I find very funny, is they're the ones in their parent's basements playing for a crowd of pot smoke and empty beer bottles. Heh.

If you still think this is a "*yawn*" look up some of his other stuff. This guy will play circles around whatever you think you'd be able to do "if I only put my mind to it and practiced for an extra half hour a day." or whatever the likely excuse is now.

As expected with a headline like that, here is some better guitar playing:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=a9ssJBlLYxs

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ayOII0ftRoM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FhJJBGXFpW0&feature=related

But it was still very good.

His talent on the guitar is so impressive that I am hesitant to say this, but as it is the Internet and you can't find me to yell at me in person, here goes: To be perfectly honest, I find his playing to be a bit dull. I'd put it in the same vein as those Shrapnel Records guys from the 80's, many of whom seemed to be so focused on technique that the songwriting got lost in the shuffle. So, incredible technique? Obviously. More impressive than 99% of guitar players in the world. It's just that, for me, his songs are not memorable at all. (I'm not a technique-hater BTW; I loves me some good shreddin'.)

Is this the light-bulb installation seminar? I see that today's panel is packed full with experts.

Welcome to the Machine: I am not a big fan of the fast for the sake of fast playing

pretty much this.

yah yah, i get it, he can play way better than me. which is good for him, since i don't play guitar. but seriously, i could think of a half dozen players right off the top of my head that make me feel and appreciate the music much more, with one tenth of the notes he's playing.

I was waiting for a little white flag to pop out of the guitar and wave back and forth.

Seriously, that looks like a good way to chew through strings like popcorn.

Yup... that's some mighty fine geetar pickin'. Ah'yup.

/can't play a chord myself, but can appreciate skill when's I see it.

Subby's headline: The best guitar playing you'll see all week.

The claim against

I_AM_M
Open tuning with a capo...zzzzzz

Tucci: Banjo licks on a capoed six-string wi. open G tuning.
*yaaaaaawn*

The Defence

Welcome to the MachineYou play it, film it, and post it, then talk.

/And, no, none of you haters can do better
//not yours

Teleken

Play it, film it, post it. Do better.

The Problem with the Defence

Defence's argument is


1) To have an opinion you must be able to play better

2) You cannot play better
--------------------------------
3) It is true then that this is the best guitar playing you will see this weekend

But this is problematic on two accounts

1) 'Best' can be considered to be a subjective assessment. Subby does not make us aware that his/her claim is 'qualified' through personal skill. In other words, if the criterion for judging something is mastery of that skill, then whether or not you agree or disagree you must possess such mastery. Those who assent have no more right than the dissenters.

2) The claim is vulnerable to reductio ad absurdum. I cannot sing to save my life. There are many people who can sing. Because I cannot sing, then I cannot judge that any of the people I hear singing are better or worse than any of the others. Therefore, all of the singers are the best singer I will hear this weekend.


/I would not normally put this much effort into this sort of thing, especially with my workload this weekend. However, I am terribly bothered by these sorts of arguments because they erode the ability to judge art objectively. In our effort to support the person who puts their work out there we eliminate our capacity to make negative judgments.
//This guitarist sounds quite accomplished at what he does. I enjoyed watching it, although I found the actual piece to be structurally shallow. I know that is probably not an issue for the genre. I could easily find guitarists with more skill. I admit I am not willing to put the effort forth to find a better guitarist at what this guitarist does as I don't like this style.

Goldsfool: As expected with a headline like that, here is some better guitar playing...

Ah, those cats aren't even close to Emmanuel's level.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow (new window).

Guitar Boogie (new window)

And he's funny (new window).

wai better guitar than tommy (but he is good too) (new window)

Dude has amazing skill, but I kinda agree with some other posters-- it wasn't all that great. I don't play, am not a musician, but I still have some appreciation. Maybe the guy can play other stuff with heart, but that was a performance meant for watching, not listening to.

/was real-looking though

I can play better. Video proof (new window)

Great technique. Does he also play music?

What's supposed to be good about it? I'd pay good money not to have to see this guy in concert.

Massa Damnata, cherry picking from my post is absurd also. I love working on cars, I have my own tastes when it comes to customizing them. I still do not put down someone who has put a lot of work and effort into a vehicle, even if I do not personally like what it was they did to it.

Same with singing, I don't have to particularly like what it is someone is singing to still appreciate their talent.

Same with picking. I do not like his style, but his ability is first rate. Those two guys were implying that what the guy was performing was simple, to say the least.

I prefer mine a little more subdued (new window)

There's only one problem with musicians commenting on another musician's technique/ability/etc.:

The audience doesn't care.

I run into this all the time - pro keyboardists whining about how a keyboard just isn't the same as a real piano or real tonewheel organ as if

A) the differences are massive (unless you're using a crap instrument, acoustic/electromechanical modeling nowadays is superb), and
B) the average music fan they're playing for gives a shiat about subtle differences only a handful of people hear and/or care about.

When I see a movie with a lot of CGI, the only thing I care about is whether it's real enough to look believable for my entertainment dollar (Transformers nailed it, the Star Wars prequels not so much). It doesn't ruin suspension of disbelief if the animated robot isn't perfect - I already know it's not real. Similarly, if I listen to an album, I couldn't care less if real instruments were used versus samples & synths or how it was recorded - as long as everything blends well and the content is good, I don't really care. And I'm a musician.

This guy is a good guitarist, and to criticize him for using a capo and open tuning is ridiculous. If you heard the song without seeing him play it, you'd probably be a little more impressed at his ability. Could it be performed in standard tuning without a capo? No. Changing the rules opened up new possibilities, none of which had anything to do with his skill at getting a full, clear sound out of an acoustic by playing that fast - which is the point of the piece. He made the guitar do what he wanted it to do, impressed some people with his skill, and collected a check - and that's all that matters.

You esthetic conservatives need to realize that your musical snobbery only belongs in a stuffy university that preaches "art for art's sake", and that what's interesting and skillful isn't always entertaining. Or, you can just STFU.

I've said it a million times, and I won't ever stop: music (and musician) appreciation isn't a contest.

I admire that kind of playing for the skill, but, as others have said, give me some heart (same for shredders). It's like watching a guy shoot consecutive three pointers for 5 minutes. Awesome to see, but not as exciting to me as an overtime game.

somewhere, some 15 year old boy is saying to himself:

"I am so much better than that when I'm playing guitar hero."

/probably posting it on youtube right now
//unnecessary

Open tunings do create a forgiveness scenario when playing. It was cool but those making the note about it aren't far off in their assessment.

I'm just surprised he didn't have a loop pedal like all those other open-tuning acoustic "great" players that get youtube vids posted.

As others have said it's an open tuning with a capo to move the chord higher. But then for this style for playing, on a guitar or banjo, that's usually the case. The skill in playing this is more in the right hand rhythm then the chord fingering of the left.

I agree with what someone else said. He'd probably play a mean Bron-Y-Aur Stomp.

wow. Whiner-fest.
Whiners for the win!

Ah, good old Tommy Emmanuel.

Oh, and for all of you criticizing his playing, realize: this video is not indicative of his entire style of playing. In fact, it is a very small part of his entire repertoire. Look up Angelina, Since We Met, I've Always Thought of You, Sanitarium Shuffle, Bella Soave, or any of the other myriad of videos that exist of him on youtube, and you'll see the broad range of his abilities that extend far beyond the acoustic shred you see here.

Goldsfool 2008-05-11 12:26:44 PM
Interesting commentary by the 'tubers on The Clap

scyen (4 weeks ago)
Marked as spam
His goddamn son better farkin' appreciate having this farkin' awesome song dedicated to him. That must be the ultimate reason for anything, like:

"Dylan, do your chores."
"But I'm going out with my friends."
"biatch, I dedicated THE CLAP to your miserable ass! Do your shiat now, before I bust your face with ANOTHER guitar, and you know how many big ones I've got!"

Hell, that's what I'd do.

Yes, he's a fast picker. The song was extremely monotonous. Same riff, over and over and over again. Yeah, we get it. He learned that riff really really well. He's no Doc Watson.

So Japan has this crazy ass guitar show. This one ^

Thumbpicker:

Ah, good old Tommy Emmanuel.

Oh, and for all of you criticizing his playing, realize: this video is not indicative of his entire style of playing. In fact, it is a very small part of his entire repertoire. Look up Angelina, Since We Met, I've Always Thought of You, Sanitarium Shuffle, Bella Soave, or any of the other myriad of videos that exist of him on youtube, and you'll see the broad range of his abilities that extend far beyond the acoustic shred you see here.


Oh, you and your silly "perspective." Can't you see that the "experts" here have already pronounced the gentleman to be a snooze-inducing sham? Really.

Maybe not the best playing you'll see, but this guy is certainly the most amazing guitarist you'll see all month!

/His guitar skills are quite disarming!

is not impressed.

zymosan: is not impressed.

A grandpa's guitars? That's for pussies... and grandpas. I think you know it.

Lando Lincoln: Yes, he's a fast picker. The song was extremely monotonous. Same riff, over and over and over again. Yeah, we get it. He learned that riff really really well. He's no Doc Watson.

please click my link from previous post