I was his guitar road tech for a few years- we would change strings every show, and sometimes again during intermission! Tommy just “knows” what he wants to hear and I got real good at stringing 3-4 guitars a night real fast,and strove to satisfy his exacting standards because he Knows and can demonstrate how important to his sound the string setup is. 192 TE shows and never once was bored and every time heard something new and sweet and astonishing. An honor…
Did he keep the same gauges on all his guitars or did anything vary? I've known guitarists who might like to go heavier with open tunings. Also, does he lean toward 12s or 11s?
@@JB-fh6pt light gauge.012. I hear he has a signature custom set out now, if you search for that. Surprisingly, as hard as he played, with Avery rigid plectrum, he rarely broke strings but I saw his break two at once and before I could get out on stage with a new guitar he had retuned and finished the song- ON FOUR STRINGS. ( ps and I even saw him several times restring while continuing to play and talk! There’s a myriad of reasons why he is who he is.
When stationed in the Philippine Islands during WWII, my father sent $2 to the Gibson Guitar Company along with an order for a couple of sets of strings. For the next 3 years, he received a set of strings every month...at no charge.
Aditya Makhija two dollars in 1940 was roughly $35 and considering a decent lack of strings nowadays runs for $15 with the increased popularity he still got much more than he paid for
So here I am listening to Tommy tune is guitar....and I could listen for hours just tuning, and learn something new every minute. Tommy is the master, and so totally approachable and so not full of himself (with every right to be). Always a fan, Tommy. Thank you.
Who better to learn from than the king of the strings, the one and only Tommy Emmanuel. This is a masterclass in the history of strings from the origin of custom strings to how to find the best gauge for your guitar. Candid knowledge that comes from a true love of the guitar. Thanks for all the inspiration, Tommy.
Good solid information! Tommy is as amazing of a gentleman as he is a guitar player! So real and so pure. I never get tired of hearing and especially seeing him play. Probably my all time favorite guitarist!
Thanks Sir - your tip about changing up the strings is spot on. I’ve used Ernie Ball on my Epiphone dreadnaught for a long, long time now. After hearing your tip I changed to D’Addario and it’s made a world of difference to the tone. Great tip indeed.
"I can't afford to eat, but can I afford to buy a new set of strings!" You are the man, Tommy. I used to be homeless long ago, and new strings was DEFINITELY the priority over eating, because I could street musician it and make the money back. I remember getting change from food stamps specifically to buy new guitar strings!
I remember watching Tommy did this one his VHS video years ago when I was a lad, he was so inspiring (not just his playing but the way he talked about it). I still use this method to this day.
There aren’t any words that describe this mans talent. From a humanitarian standpoint he is equal to or exceeds his talent. Phenomenal on so many levels.
I also appreciate that Tommy's playing hasn't been hidden with too much post production digital jiggery-pokery like many channels do. Great video Reverb .
Mr Emmanuel, if you have any spare guitars that may need a loving new home , I'm a guy with limited resources but love your style and guitars. Thank you for all the knowledge you give out. I'm still learning a lot after all these years.
I literally just got my new stings out of the mailbox and was thinking....I wonder what the best way to tune a guitar. Opened RUclips and this popped in my feed. Perfect timing. Thanks!
Tommy Emmanuel was the one that made me choose some new strings for my one and only beloved Dreadnought. He's right again after 4 years the same acoustic guitar with the same strings did get somewhat dull... Changing keys, strings and Attack make your guitar speak/ evolve, that's what I learned from him at a concert about 10 years ago.
Excellent reinforcement for things I've been doing. Stretching the strings instead of turning the peg if they're slightly sharp and keeping it clean. Thanks for posting. Hearing him talk about the guitar is almost as much fun as hearing him play.
People been calling me crazy for years because I do that process Tommy was explaining. A guitar sounds it's best and rings out better when perfectly in tune no doubt.
Thanks for posting this. If Tommy says it... LISTEN - This guy has no peer... an amazing musician, amazing guitarist and a heck of a nice guy. Saw him at the TownHall last year.. spent the whole show with my jaw on the floor...
I'm so pumped that I string my guitar properly ala Tommy, mad respect for this guy. I can't even remember if I saw someone use the finger hold technique up on the headstock or if I did it myself, ditto for the pull the string up to measure the length I need. I stretch my strings differently though, I just bend each one as far as I'd normally go on each string around the 7th and 12th frets, bringing each string back up to tune until they hold. Man, my playing is nowhere close to this though, he's effortless!
Many thanks for all this splendid info. My favourite once the guitar is in tune by tuner, pitchpipe or comparison (5th fret against open) is to then hit a harmonic octave at the 12 fret and compare that against the fretted note on the 1st string eg 5th string harmonic octave A against fingered A (5th fret 1st string) and adjust the harmonic string until any 'beating' disappears. Essentially I am checking to see the intervals and octaves on the guitar are correct as they are the important sounds for my solo playing.
Dont Lie Tell The Truth hate to break it to ya, mate, but he is wearing makeup. Most artists do. Look at the difference between his neck and face. And look at his forehead where his hairline is; You can see the difference in color. It’s also unnaturally orange. I don’t know much about makeup, but know that it should at least match colors.
raceface_m i wouldn’t say he is wearing makeup cosmetically for himself, id say reverb producers probably made him apply makeup for the type of lighting there trying to achieve in the video
@@XxNolliesxX Correct. Back during acting in my High School Drama club I vehemently opposed wearing makeup the first time I went on stage ... Until I saw photos of myself from that night. The oils on your skin will reflect all stage lighting, making your face glow whiter than a ghost.
I loved how he explained how he fix the guitar action. He tighten the rod until string sticks to a neck. Then starting putting a relief and when string stops buzzing, thats his good action. LOL Of course we have to realize his guitars are high -HIGH END guitars, so obviously it works that's way.
Thank you for your wisdom and insight on strings & tuning. I think you are definitely onto something with using different string manufactures to restore the "liveliness" as I feel the vibrations related to each frequency & harmonic channels through the wood in a radiant pattern for each tone played. This is why guitars that been played a lot over the years seem to be more responsive versus and old vintage guitar that just sat in a case.
7:27: Definitely going to try. No wonder, at times seems like guitar can still be out of tune, even when tuned up. Very interesting insight. Thanks Mr. Emmanuel.
I am heading to wvf,and will be missing seeing& hearing you there! Hoping you get back to heartlandia soon we luv u like crazy in KANSAS😍😍😍🕊🐘🐝🐝🐝🌹🌹🌹🗽🚲⛺🐴
I'm amazed by this man.... so cool! And yes, I wipe down my guitar all the time... No Gunk on my Junk... I had a 50 year old Ventura V6 that I love. It's clean..it has dents and buckle rash, but it shines!
2:46 - A more probable theory is that your ear gets used to the sound of those particular strings, so that when you change to a different kind, the different sound has more "pop" to your ear
@@shutitup68 Tommy told that story about some guy that wanted to introduce him to his wife. He told her about the 30 yrs and then mangled his name. I just thought that was so ridiculous. I had to slip it in somewhere. I think a lot of people know that story. Who would have such a ridiculous name as Enamal? People are crazy sometimes.
Beautiful interview. An interesting questions should be know what strings gauge he really use. . Some time ago in a local shop of Bologna in Italy he said use a .010 gauges because he play many hours all days! Certainly he has a superb technique that most not have.
I like the way an open C chord will always tell you if your guitar is even a little out of tune. Electronic tuners will only get you in the ball park (so to speak), but your ear will always tell you, especially when you pick 2 strings together. That's the best way to hear if a string is out. Pick 2 open strings at a time, all the way down. This has worked for me for over 50 years.
Amazing guy.Amazing guitarist. He comes here and takes the time to teach us. "God bless Tommy" To the guys who commented on his complexion....Wow The only thing shallow around here is your mentality.
Great insite, observation and technical tip on how to string the guitar so the string goes downward on the peg and across the nut to get the best tone and ring out if the strings.
Love Timmy E. Just saw him in Sydney, he said check out Jack Pearson the "best musician" he knew. And I did. Wow. Great player, also humble like Tommy. Plays Squires!
This is exactly the way I tune my guitar, always have done it this way. On every guitar I've ever owned I've had to find the happy place in pitch for the B and high E strings that ends up being slightly flat when played open, but still will pull slightly sharp when fretted, especially close to the nut (as verified by a digital tuner). My newest guitar has a two-piece bridge insert that actually makes the B and E strings slightly longer. This helps narrow that discrepancy substantially. In fact I can get it just about right by tuning those strings to pitch using the tuner, then backing off the machines a touch and giving each string just a little stretch. My favorite strings are the Ernie Ball Titaniums (2156), which are out of production :-( Luckily I found a bunch on eBay and bought a drawer full. I also find that heavier gauge strings seem to stay in tune up and down the neck better than light gauge. This may be just me, my hacker, wannabe approach has been honed by years of poor technique and lack of talent! But I've settled on "Medium Lights", once again the happy place between intonation and pain, playability and tonality. But as Tommy says, it takes a good bit of experimentation to come up with something that sounds right, tunes right, and plays right.
Yes! Absolutely correct! a few other tweaks - If I won't be playing an open E chord much, but maybe will be playing the G chord, will make sure whichever frets I' ll be using will be in tune, so may tune that low E a tiny bit flat for some songs so the low E string sounds good when playing the open G chord! As for the B, amount of flat I can tolerate somewhat depends on how many A chords vs open E, C9, Asus4, and D chords are in the song. Which ever is prominent needs to be more in tune...so I may tune a tiny bit flat for the B string.....or bit more. of course for all of these, if E and B are flat, will bend these up when playing other notes (ex, a G chord), so it sounds good. Mostly I find, the third of a chord must be tuned down or de-ephasized in some way (not hit hard with strumming hand, to hide it), or it'll be sharp and unfixable while playing and sound bad to me. Where as fifths and octaves in a chord that are tuned flat can be fixed by bending with fingers on left hand, so the priority is always tuning down strings that have the thirds in them...I suppose if I were playing a song with a lot of E-bar chords, I'd have to think about tuning the G string a bit flat. I'll have to check into that... All the Best -
Always had trouble getting sweet sound at guitar stores, then realized that guitars need to hit "running temperature" before you can expect a good result. Wood expands with temperature as well as humidity, don't underestimate the effect of sitting on your lap. New strings should be pulled in short sections up and down from the bridge even above the nut. They can relax wit a little stretch lengthwise AND in short sections, just don't overdo it, the unwound will tolerate more and require more to stabilize. New strings seat over frets if given time, I dont like playing new strings until the frets have left their impressions on the underside, you can observe this effect if you look real closely .I don't change a good set often and enjoy a lot of stability. Also, the impact of the stress on the neck needs consideration, as the neck will bend when tightening a string, and the result is all the other strings go flat a little, and need firming up to place the whole into a good temper. See "the well-tempered Clavier by Bach which deals with the tendency of harpsichords to be in tune in some keys, but flat or sharp in others, An experienced harpsichord tuner will "temper" the instrument to sound good in all keys, and you should check your tuning in many keys before you are happy. I sometimes will pull a string that is sharp until it seats into correct tune, this tends to help with uneven stretch over the nut, violins tune from the bottom as well as the top, you can approximate this by pressing above the nut or pulling to flatten, just hold down on the lower string and lift the upper to flatten tone a bit. Keep em clean, before and after playing, a very little cooking oil helps the glide. A really good tuning that is 'tempered' will sound good barre-ing all the way up the neck, in different keys, and resist shifting when capoing and un-capoing. The harmonics will self reinforce sympathetic strings and the whole effect is sweet and sympathetic. See Berta Rohas tune onstage during performance, takes forever, and is revealing of the effect of bending neck as the tone is raised, on classical.Having a great ear is a big help.she doesn't use a digital tuner,and lastly, I read that age will alter your perception as will experience. Older performers tend to percieve the tone as being high in general. I am alarmed to hear some older folk work by dylan et al, where the mouth harp is sour, and usually the b is flat, chords now sound sour to me.....
Sorry, Berta ROJAS, session with a $16,000 Yamaha, two fast waltzes then the tuning, then "La Cathedral", if you search for her La Cathedral,and see the two Waltzes, you will see her tuning routine, very detailed, informative...
@Kaptain Kid I'm sure you know how much of a pleasure it was hearing from such an accomplished musician as you surely are . One who takes pains to spread light liberally. I return the accolades and I'm glad you are in receipt of my ignorance. I'm sure you could make Rojas look bad. A tout alors, ici, PS the Rojas tuning will translate exactly as I said, it was very instructive to one who is more interested in learning than making inflammatory insults. Are you a Trump supporter? I forgot how many assholes there were out there, how do you block ignorant assholes like this?Perhaps you can enlighten me to that extent, since you are so free with your advice? Adios , el Kapitan
Excellent! That's been one of my biggest frustrations with fingerstyle. The damn guitar idiosyncracies. I've never been able to afford a well-built guitar that holds the pitch all up and down the neck. Maybe it's my fault? I string and tune exactly how Tommy showed it. Always have thanks to my first guitar teacher back in the 70s, Don Hanna, in central Florida.
1. change your string brands at times 2. keep the string down when winding 3. stretching and tuning and playing some mid-range chords or melodies to make sure it's steady 4. use different tuners 5. clean your hands before playing 6. clean your guitar(s) at times thanks Tommy, great and concise tips!
wipe the strings and neck of the guitar AFTER playing. every luthier i've met does it. your strings will retain tone noticeably longer. EDIT, clean, dry, preferably purpose-made cloth.
@@figjam9530 also he left out if you really cannot afford new strings and they are not frayed, one can wash them,some boils them etc -I have found Andy handy with water and a good rinse and an immediate drying works wonders to revive the tonal value ,one thing for sure a clean instrument and playing hands is paramount.
For guitar, I love good old un-coated D'Addario strings. An old rosewood D-28 or D-21 should sound incredible till the last note before a string breaks. It's the ultimate sign you have a cannon for a guitar that it will sound like it never needs new strings. The sound comes from the instrument itself, not that it has new strings. While I'm having a beer, I'll give you a tip that REALLY rocks, but seems like it would be insignificant. Learned it from Tony Williamson, and I absolutely LOVE it! When you change your strings, clip the "balls" off of your old strings. Now slide them all the way down to the ball on your new strings before putting them in the holes and slots so that you have 2 balls on your strings now. The best part is the enhanced sound, which to me, it profound, not slight. The other advantage is that you will not put undue wear on your slots over time. It's like the effect of a thicker tail piece on a mandolin. It transfers the sound better to the instrument. After having done this with several Martin D-21's and D-28's, they ALL sound VASTLY better. I myself doubted it, but had to try it out of curiosity, and because when Tony Willamson tells you a trick, you better listen. Of COURSE he's right. Makes me want to experiment with heavier string weights with heavier metals like gold. It clearly works, and it makes sense too. TRY IT!! What is to stop you from clipping off your old "balls" and trying something new? I've told others, and they NEVER even try it! amazing! Thanks Tommy! You are a mentor for me.
I learned this exact method for stringing guitars in the 70s. Have used it since. While other complain about their Les Pauls having tuning issues, mine don't...
Thanks for the tip of not rushing the tuning. Went through my strings all were in tune. But for some reason. The B-string was in tune. But playing from B# and up. They were all out of tune. Thank you again, great video!
let's just say elixir is the best haha, and any string played by Tommy Emmanuel is always so good, because Tommy is the Living Legend, i love you Tommy!
Good video, though I'm not sure I buy into the idea of a guitar getting used to a set of strings. I suspect it has more to do with your ear becoming accustomed to the unique combination of overtones after using the same brand for months or years, and then then immediately hearing the contrast of overtones that a different brand produces.
Great advice-I was looking at James Taylor's tuning regimen also, he advises not tuning strictly to a tuner either, it is here on RUclips, worth checking out
It's your senses that get used to things. Like how your eyes get used to tinted lenses - you don't notice the color after a while. When I started playing a nicer guitar - my new Martin, I went back to try my old guitar and thought, wow! how could I even play on this thing? Sold the old one and now I'm used to a higher standard. A lot less to get excited about at the guitar store - mostly just check out the higher end stuff as my ear and touch has become more refined. As the guitar tech at my local shop says.. "The biggest variable affecting the sound is the person playing the instrument". Which is what is meant when people say that tone is mostly in the fingers. :)
Nice to see. My theory is sound works the same as perfume. You get used to it. Change the perfume and your nose will go crazy about it. Maybe the same with the strings?
It would. A different example would be when mixing music. If you don't take breaks your ears get used to nuances, brightness and bass to the point where you can't make relevant decisions properly. But as with Tommy Emmanuel, or any player of course, even if changing strings might benefit him more than the listeners it would still be relevant for him as a player if that makes him more inspired from the sound.
If the guitar sounds dull to YOU it's your brain making the call. But I think it's useful to say the guitar gets used to it, even being aware it's you. You are part of the equation. How you feel about the sound your guitar makes influences your desire to play and play well.
It is true that your ears get used to the sound but me being a person that builds guitars can see the logic in what he is saying. Alot of acoustic guitars have tenced bracing. Thats where the braces are glued on in a way to add tention to the top or stiffness which if done correctly will add brilliance to the sound. The downside is that in theory the tention will give away through time. And the guitar will get used to the tension. So it makes sense that if the certain brand of strings vibrate a certain way the guitar will get used to it just like your brain. Of course this is very slight.
The reason the bridge is at different locations for different strings is that the steel strings have a stiffness that prevents them from flexing at fixed points like a hinge. This means the node is effectively shortened from the bridge, fret or nut where it is held fast. The string flexes from those points more like a fly rod flexing from the handle than like a jump rope threaded through a wooden handle. The stiffer the string, the more the bridge location needs to be extended. Wound strings are only as stiff as the wire inside the winding. This is why the two unwound strings have bridge locations that appear to be positioned differently than the other four. The strings your guitar likes best are the ones that exactly double the open string pitch when fretted at the 12th fret.
I was his guitar road tech for a few years- we would change strings every show, and sometimes again during intermission! Tommy just “knows” what he wants to hear and I got real good at stringing 3-4 guitars a night real fast,and strove to satisfy his exacting standards because he Knows and can demonstrate how important to his sound the string setup is. 192 TE shows and never once was bored and every time heard something new and sweet and astonishing. An honor…
Did he keep the same gauges on all his guitars or did anything vary? I've known guitarists who might like to go heavier with open tunings. Also, does he lean toward 12s or 11s?
That's fascinating.
That is amazing
HELLO CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT GAUGE STRINGS TOMMY DOES USE ON MOST OF HIS GUITARS? THANK YOU SIR.
@@JB-fh6pt light gauge.012. I hear he has a signature custom set out now, if you search for that. Surprisingly, as hard as he played, with Avery rigid plectrum, he rarely broke strings but I saw his break two at once and before I could get out on stage with a new guitar he had retuned and finished the song- ON FOUR STRINGS. ( ps and I even saw him several times restring while continuing to play and talk! There’s a myriad of reasons why he is who he is.
The real Guitar Hero. No one on the planet like Tommy. Classy to the bone.
When stationed in the Philippine Islands during WWII, my father sent $2 to the Gibson Guitar Company along with an order for a couple of sets of strings. For the next 3 years, he received a set of strings every month...at no charge.
What a lovely story
Cuz 2 dollars had more value that time
awesome. ww2 daddy. even more awesome.
Aditya Makhija two dollars in 1940 was roughly $35 and considering a decent lack of strings nowadays runs for $15 with the increased popularity he still got much more than he paid for
The Kaveman have
Tommy Emmanuel always reminds how much life is worth living!
How incredibly generous of Tommy to impart this sort of priceless knowledge to beginners. These things can take many years to learn on one’s own.
So here I am listening to Tommy tune is guitar....and I could listen for hours just tuning, and learn something new every minute. Tommy is the master, and so totally approachable and so not full of himself (with every right to be). Always a fan, Tommy. Thank you.
Who better to learn from than the king of the strings, the one and only Tommy Emmanuel. This is a masterclass in the history of strings from the origin of custom strings to how to find the best gauge for your guitar. Candid knowledge that comes from a true love of the guitar. Thanks for all the inspiration, Tommy.
Such a humble man, brilliant talent
Sat a few feet away from Tommy last night, he played all the hits and told some good stories. Man, what a player!!
Good solid information! Tommy is as amazing of a gentleman as he is a guitar player! So real and so pure. I never get tired of hearing and especially seeing him play. Probably my all time favorite guitarist!
Tommy is a class act...such a great guy and an unbelievable musician...
Another wonderful contribution to guitar players everywhere.
Thanks Sir - your tip about changing up the strings is spot on. I’ve used Ernie Ball on my Epiphone dreadnaught for a long, long time now. After hearing your tip I changed to D’Addario and it’s made a world of difference to the tone. Great tip indeed.
"I can't afford to eat, but can I afford to buy a new set of strings!" You are the man, Tommy. I used to be homeless long ago, and new strings was DEFINITELY the priority over eating, because I could street musician it and make the money back. I remember getting change from food stamps specifically to buy new guitar strings!
Thanks so much!!
a tip: watch movies at Flixzone. Me and my gf have been using it for watching a lot of movies these days.
@Uriel Jeffrey yup, been using Flixzone} for since november myself :D
Thanks reverb for forking out enough money to get this dude out for so many lessons
I remember watching Tommy did this one his VHS video years ago when I was a lad, he was so inspiring (not just his playing but the way he talked about it). I still use this method to this day.
There aren’t any words that describe this mans talent. From a humanitarian standpoint he is equal to or exceeds his talent. Phenomenal on so many levels.
I also appreciate that Tommy's playing hasn't been hidden with too much post production digital jiggery-pokery like many channels do. Great video Reverb .
Nice humble guy. Thanks for sharing Tommy. Best wishes From Adelaide
Mr Emmanuel, if you have any spare guitars that may need a loving new home , I'm a guy with limited resources but love your style and guitars. Thank you for all the knowledge you give out. I'm still learning a lot after all these years.
Fantastic tips. It’s those little things that make such a huge difference. Thanks Tommy!
When Tommy talks, everybody listen👍thanks Tommy👍
I literally just got my new stings out of the mailbox and was thinking....I wonder what the best way to tune a guitar. Opened RUclips and this popped in my feed. Perfect timing. Thanks!
Tommy Emmanuel was the one that made me choose some new strings for my one and only beloved Dreadnought. He's right again after 4 years the same acoustic guitar with the same strings did get somewhat dull... Changing keys, strings and Attack make your guitar speak/ evolve, that's what I learned from him at a concert about 10 years ago.
Excellent reinforcement for things I've been doing. Stretching the strings instead of turning the peg if they're slightly sharp and keeping it clean. Thanks for posting. Hearing him talk about the guitar is almost as much fun as hearing him play.
People been calling me crazy for years because I do that process Tommy was explaining. A guitar sounds it's best and rings out better when perfectly in tune no doubt.
I teach in a high school in Arizona and use your videos for teaching aids. They are a wonderful addition.
Thanks for posting this. If Tommy says it... LISTEN - This guy has no peer... an amazing musician, amazing guitarist and a heck of a nice guy. Saw him at the TownHall last year.. spent the whole show with my jaw on the floor...
I'm so pumped that I string my guitar properly ala Tommy, mad respect for this guy. I can't even remember if I saw someone use the finger hold technique up on the headstock or if I did it myself, ditto for the pull the string up to measure the length I need. I stretch my strings differently though, I just bend each one as far as I'd normally go on each string around the 7th and 12th frets, bringing each string back up to tune until they hold. Man, my playing is nowhere close to this though, he's effortless!
The song he plays at the beginning and end of the video is called, Kentucky, written by Karl Davis. It's on Chet's Guitar Country album.
Many thanks for all this splendid info. My favourite once the guitar is in tune by tuner, pitchpipe or comparison (5th fret against open) is to then hit a harmonic octave at the 12 fret and compare that against the fretted note on the 1st string eg 5th string harmonic octave A against fingered A (5th fret 1st string) and adjust the harmonic string until any 'beating' disappears. Essentially I am checking to see the intervals and octaves on the guitar are correct as they are the important sounds for my solo playing.
Did you find out a way to fix this?
when Tommy says, I listen.
Nam Giang amen
Nam. Yep he's done the hard miles, no substitute for experience.
Amen
Well said 👏
right!
Tommy is the master. Listen and learn from a great.
Great knowledge shared by a legend.
But who did this man wrong with his makeup?!
Youre being a phoney, and no one wants to hear such bullshit! Why should Tommy have to hide his face with fake makeup? GTFO
@@T.R.U.T.H.. you do realize that he's talking about the fact that he HAS makeup on his face right?
Dont Lie Tell The Truth hate to break it to ya, mate, but he is wearing makeup. Most artists do.
Look at the difference between his neck and face. And look at his forehead where his hairline is; You can see the difference in color. It’s also unnaturally orange. I don’t know much about makeup, but know that it should at least match colors.
raceface_m i wouldn’t say he is wearing makeup cosmetically for himself, id say reverb producers probably made him apply makeup for the type of lighting there trying to achieve in the video
@@XxNolliesxX Correct. Back during acting in my High School Drama club I vehemently opposed wearing makeup the first time I went on stage ... Until I saw photos of myself from that night. The oils on your skin will reflect all stage lighting, making your face glow whiter than a ghost.
This guys a multi national treasure...
This. A planetary treasure.
Well he's Australian and you cant have him! Lol. But I agree.
What does that even mean?
Grant international I assume
very sympathic guy, this Tommy Emmanuel - i like his teachings very much - thank you !
Tommy is the best thing that ever happened to music and the guitar !
What a lovely bloke. And his playing's pretty good, too ;)
I loved how he explained how he fix the guitar action. He tighten the rod until string sticks to a neck. Then starting putting a relief and when string stops buzzing, thats his good action. LOL Of course we have to realize his guitars are high -HIGH END guitars, so obviously it works that's way.
I'm a big fan. Thank you for sharing. God bless.
Thank you for your wisdom and insight on strings & tuning. I think you are definitely onto something with using different string manufactures to restore the "liveliness" as I feel the vibrations related to each frequency & harmonic channels through the wood in a radiant pattern for each tone played. This is why guitars that been played a lot over the years seem to be more responsive versus and old vintage guitar that just sat in a case.
Sir, I don't have a guitar right now but, I'm sure I will be able to buy one someday and I'll tune it accordingly to your advice, thank you. 😍🎶🎶🎶🎶
Where do you live.?
I'm ready to learn how to take care of my strings and tune my guitar after all these years! I love learning!
7:27: Definitely going to try. No wonder, at times seems like guitar can still be out of tune, even when tuned up. Very interesting insight. Thanks Mr. Emmanuel.
I am heading to wvf,and will be missing seeing& hearing you there! Hoping you get back to heartlandia soon we luv u like crazy in KANSAS😍😍😍🕊🐘🐝🐝🐝🌹🌹🌹🗽🚲⛺🐴
I'm amazed by this man.... so cool! And yes, I wipe down my guitar all the time... No Gunk on my Junk...
I had a 50 year old Ventura V6 that I love. It's clean..it has dents and buckle rash, but it shines!
We have been discussing nuances of the guitar literally for centuries. And we still are.
I swear by Elixir strings on my Maton 225. Sound great, feel great, and the tuning is rock solid.
Great musician and personality! Thank you!
Thank You Tommy
2:46 - A more probable theory is that your ear gets used to the sound of those particular strings, so that when you change to a different kind, the different sound has more "pop" to your ear
Wow.....what an absolute pleasure...thank you Tommy-Reverb.com and RUclips...❤️
I've been listening to this guy for over 30 years. Tony Enamal is such a good guitar player.
30 years and still butchering the spelling of his name? Lol
@@shutitup68 Tommy told that story about some guy that wanted to introduce him to his wife. He told her about the 30 yrs and then mangled his name. I just thought that was so ridiculous. I had to slip it in somewhere. I think a lot of people know that story. Who would have such a ridiculous name as Enamal? People are crazy sometimes.
Do you know the name of intro song in video?
Tommy is the ultimate guitar nerd and I wanna be a nerd like him
Beautiful interview. An interesting questions should be know what strings gauge he really use. . Some time ago in a local shop of Bologna in Italy he said use a .010 gauges because he play many hours all days! Certainly he has a superb technique that most not have.
What a beautiful sounding guitar you have.....
Great player and seems to be a gold Sir, like and tanks for the tips
I like the way an open C chord will always tell you if your guitar is even a little out of tune. Electronic tuners will only get you in the ball park (so to speak), but your ear will always tell you, especially when you pick 2 strings together. That's the best way to hear if a string is out. Pick 2 open strings at a time, all the way down. This has worked for me for over 50 years.
"I can't afford to eat but can I buy a set of strings"? Tommy Emmanuel 2018. This made my day. :)
Wise words!
Get to know your instrument REALLY well... 👍
Amazing guy.Amazing guitarist.
He comes here and takes the time to teach us.
"God bless Tommy"
To the guys who commented on his complexion....Wow
The only thing shallow around here is your mentality.
Thanks Tommy, very helpful info.
Tommy Emmanuel the guitar Wizard of Oz.
Great insite, observation and technical tip on how to string the guitar so the string goes downward on the peg and across the nut to get the best tone and ring out if the strings.
He said, "I can't afford to eat, but can I buy a set of strings?" I felt that lol
Love Timmy E. Just saw him in Sydney, he said check out Jack Pearson the "best musician" he knew.
And I did. Wow. Great player, also humble like Tommy.
Plays Squires!
I love that man!
This is exactly the way I tune my guitar, always have done it this way. On every guitar I've ever owned I've had to find the happy place in pitch for the B and high E strings that ends up being slightly flat when played open, but still will pull slightly sharp when fretted, especially close to the nut (as verified by a digital tuner). My newest guitar has a two-piece bridge insert that actually makes the B and E strings slightly longer. This helps narrow that discrepancy substantially. In fact I can get it just about right by tuning those strings to pitch using the tuner, then backing off the machines a touch and giving each string just a little stretch. My favorite strings are the Ernie Ball Titaniums (2156), which are out of production :-( Luckily I found a bunch on eBay and bought a drawer full. I also find that heavier gauge strings seem to stay in tune up and down the neck better than light gauge. This may be just me, my hacker, wannabe approach has been honed by years of poor technique and lack of talent! But I've settled on "Medium Lights", once again the happy place between intonation and pain, playability and tonality. But as Tommy says, it takes a good bit of experimentation to come up with something that sounds right, tunes right, and plays right.
Yes! Absolutely correct! a few other tweaks - If I won't be playing an open E chord much, but maybe will be playing the G chord, will make sure whichever frets I' ll be using will be in tune, so may tune that low E a tiny bit flat for some songs so the low E string sounds good when playing the open G chord! As for the B, amount of flat I can tolerate somewhat depends on how many A chords vs open E, C9, Asus4, and D chords are in the song. Which ever is prominent needs to be more in tune...so I may tune a tiny bit flat for the B string.....or bit more. of course for all of these, if E and B are flat, will bend these up when playing other notes (ex, a G chord), so it sounds good. Mostly I find, the third of a chord must be tuned down or de-ephasized in some way (not hit hard with strumming hand, to hide it), or it'll be sharp and unfixable while playing and sound bad to me. Where as fifths and octaves in a chord that are tuned flat can be fixed by bending with fingers on left hand, so the priority is always tuning down strings that have the thirds in them...I suppose if I were playing a song with a lot of E-bar chords, I'd have to think about tuning the G string a bit flat. I'll have to check into that... All the Best -
Always had trouble getting sweet sound at guitar stores, then realized that guitars need to hit "running temperature" before you can expect a good result. Wood expands with temperature as well as humidity, don't underestimate the effect of sitting on your lap. New strings should be pulled in short sections up and down from the bridge even above the nut. They can relax wit a little stretch lengthwise AND in short sections, just don't overdo it, the unwound will tolerate more and require more to stabilize. New strings seat over frets if given time, I dont like playing new strings until the frets have left their impressions on the underside, you can observe this effect if you look real closely .I don't change a good set often and enjoy a lot of stability. Also, the impact of the stress on the neck needs consideration, as the neck will bend when tightening a string, and the result is all the other strings go flat a little, and need firming up to place the whole into a good temper. See "the well-tempered Clavier by Bach which deals with the tendency of harpsichords to be in tune in some keys, but flat or sharp in others, An experienced harpsichord tuner will "temper" the instrument to sound good in all keys, and you should check your tuning in many keys before you are happy. I sometimes will pull a string that is sharp until it seats into correct tune, this tends to help with uneven stretch over the nut, violins tune from the bottom as well as the top, you can approximate this by pressing above the nut or pulling to flatten, just hold down on the lower string and lift the upper to flatten tone a bit. Keep em clean, before and after playing, a very little cooking oil helps the glide.
A really good tuning that is 'tempered' will sound good barre-ing all the way up the neck, in different keys, and resist shifting when capoing and un-capoing. The harmonics will self reinforce sympathetic strings and the whole effect is sweet and sympathetic.
See Berta Rohas tune onstage during performance, takes forever, and is revealing of the effect of bending neck as the tone is raised, on classical.Having a great ear is a big help.she doesn't use a digital tuner,and lastly, I read that age will alter your perception as will experience. Older performers tend to percieve the tone as being high in general. I am alarmed to hear some older folk work by dylan et al, where the mouth harp is sour, and usually the b is flat, chords now sound sour to me.....
Sorry, Berta ROJAS, session with a $16,000 Yamaha, two fast waltzes then the tuning, then "La Cathedral", if you search for her La Cathedral,and see the two Waltzes, you will see her tuning routine, very detailed, informative...
@Kaptain Kid I'm sure you know how much of a pleasure it was hearing from such an accomplished musician as you surely are . One who takes pains to spread light liberally. I return the accolades and I'm glad you are in receipt of my ignorance. I'm sure you could make Rojas look bad. A tout alors, ici, PS the Rojas tuning will translate exactly as I said, it was very instructive to one who is more interested in learning than making inflammatory insults. Are you a Trump supporter?
I forgot how many assholes there were out there, how do you block ignorant assholes like this?Perhaps you can enlighten me to that extent, since you are so free with your advice?
Adios , el Kapitan
Excellent! That's been one of my biggest frustrations with fingerstyle. The damn guitar idiosyncracies. I've never been able to afford a well-built guitar that holds the pitch all up and down the neck. Maybe it's my fault? I string and tune exactly how Tommy showed it. Always have thanks to my first guitar teacher back in the 70s, Don Hanna, in central Florida.
I know yours is an old post, but maybe you'll see this. Are you sure your guitar
is properly intonated?
Thank you Tommy for sharing those tips
1. change your string brands at times
2. keep the string down when winding
3. stretching and tuning and playing some mid-range chords or melodies to make sure it's steady
4. use different tuners
5. clean your hands before playing
6. clean your guitar(s) at times
thanks Tommy, great and concise tips!
A little bit of 'Fast Fret' before and after playing would be a good idea also... just saying.
wipe the strings and neck of the guitar AFTER playing. every luthier i've met does it. your strings will retain tone noticeably longer. EDIT, clean, dry, preferably purpose-made cloth.
@@figjam9530 also he left out if you really cannot afford new strings and they are not frayed, one can wash them,some boils them etc -I have found Andy handy with water and a good rinse and an immediate drying works wonders to revive the tonal value ,one thing for sure a clean instrument and playing hands is paramount.
I always enjoyed your music. It always made me happy.
7:15 YES! i thought i was the only one! i always have to fanagle everything a little differently on every guitar.
Solid tips from the master himself
Best living guitar player.
Francis Rossi !
In his style defenitely 😉
No such thing, best is in the ear of the beholder.
Have you seen PDL play? That said, I LOVE Tommy Emmanuel"
Hands down
For guitar, I love good old un-coated D'Addario strings. An old rosewood D-28 or D-21 should sound incredible till the last note before a string breaks. It's the ultimate sign you have a cannon for a guitar that it will sound like it never needs new strings. The sound comes from the instrument itself, not that it has new strings. While I'm having a beer, I'll give you a tip that REALLY rocks, but seems like it would be insignificant. Learned it from Tony Williamson, and I absolutely LOVE it!
When you change your strings, clip the "balls" off of your old strings. Now slide them all the way down to the ball on your new strings before putting them in the holes and slots so that you have 2 balls on your strings now.
The best part is the enhanced sound, which to me, it profound, not slight. The other advantage is that you will not put undue wear on your slots over time. It's like the effect of a thicker tail piece on a mandolin. It transfers the sound better to the instrument. After having done this with several Martin D-21's and D-28's, they ALL sound VASTLY better. I myself doubted it, but had to try it out of curiosity, and because when Tony Willamson tells you a trick, you better listen.
Of COURSE he's right. Makes me want to experiment with heavier string weights with heavier metals like gold. It clearly works, and it makes sense too. TRY IT!! What is to stop you from clipping off your old "balls" and trying something new?
I've told others, and they NEVER even try it! amazing! Thanks Tommy! You are a mentor for me.
What a great musician for giving back
I learned this exact method for stringing guitars in the 70s. Have used it since. While other complain about their Les Pauls having tuning issues, mine don't...
This man makes so much music coming from his hands even while he just tunes his guitar .
You made perfect sense Tommy. Thanks for the tips. God bless!
So, guess I won't be asking can I play your guitar! LOL! Thanks for being the best and teaching too!
Thanks for the tip of not rushing the tuning. Went through my strings all were in tune. But for some reason. The B-string was in tune. But playing from B# and up. They were all out of tune. Thank you again, great video!
B#....aha! heres lies your problem😉
Martin authentic acoustic bronze strings are really amazing sounding
let's just say elixir is the best haha, and any string played by Tommy Emmanuel is always so good, because Tommy is the Living Legend, i love you Tommy!
Too bad Tommy doesn't like elixir. They don't work with his guitars he claims
@@Wistbacka maybe daddrio or ernie ball evelast string..
Pure gold. Thanks Tommy!
Love this guy! Though I don’t know about all his theories on guitar getting used to strings
Good video, though I'm not sure I buy into the idea of a guitar getting used to a set of strings. I suspect it has more to do with your ear becoming accustomed to the unique combination of overtones after using the same brand for months or years, and then then immediately hearing the contrast of overtones that a different brand produces.
Had a set of Ernie Ball on my main bass for 8 years now, just started to sound good
Great advice-I was looking at James Taylor's tuning regimen also, he advises not tuning strictly to a tuner either, it is here on RUclips, worth checking out
Thanks Tommy much appreciated for your video
It's your senses that get used to things. Like how your eyes get used to tinted lenses - you don't notice the color after a while. When I started playing a nicer guitar - my new Martin, I went back to try my old guitar and thought, wow! how could I even play on this thing? Sold the old one and now I'm used to a higher standard. A lot less to get excited about at the guitar store - mostly just check out the higher end stuff as my ear and touch has become more refined. As the guitar tech at my local shop says.. "The biggest variable affecting the sound is the person playing the instrument". Which is what is meant when people say that tone is mostly in the fingers. :)
Amazing talent, great video!
Nice to see. My theory is sound works the same as perfume. You get used to it. Change the perfume and your nose will go crazy about it. Maybe the same with the strings?
Yeah, I would agree with you.
There is something in your theory as well.
Doesn't that mean it's only the player himself who is desensitized while the guitar actually still sounds good?
It would. A different example would be when mixing music. If you don't take breaks your ears get used to nuances, brightness and bass to the point where you can't make relevant decisions properly.
But as with Tommy Emmanuel, or any player of course, even if changing strings might benefit him more than the listeners it would still be relevant for him as a player if that makes him more inspired from the sound.
If the guitar sounds dull to YOU it's your brain making the call. But I think it's useful to say the guitar gets used to it, even being aware it's you. You are part of the equation. How you feel about the sound your guitar makes influences your desire to play and play well.
It is true that your ears get used to the sound but me being a person that builds guitars can see the logic in what he is saying. Alot of acoustic guitars have tenced bracing. Thats where the braces are glued on in a way to add tention to the top or stiffness which if done correctly will add brilliance to the sound. The downside is that in theory the tention will give away through time. And the guitar will get used to the tension. So it makes sense that if the certain brand of strings vibrate a certain way the guitar will get used to it just like your brain. Of course this is very slight.
This guy has found his gem x
There is hardly a better guitar player anywhere than Tommy Emmanuel.
tommy is most likely the best guitarist in the world if you dont believe listen for awile you will see loveya tommy keep it rockn
The reason the bridge is at different locations for different strings is that the steel strings have a stiffness that prevents them from flexing at fixed points like a hinge. This means the node is effectively shortened from the bridge, fret or nut where it is held fast. The string flexes from those points more like a fly rod flexing from the handle than like a jump rope threaded through a wooden handle.
The stiffer the string, the more the bridge location needs to be extended. Wound strings are only as stiff as the wire inside the winding. This is why the two unwound strings have bridge locations that appear to be positioned differently than the other four. The strings your guitar likes best are the ones that exactly double the open string pitch when fretted at the 12th fret.
Tommy is an inspiration
Gentleman scholar educator CGP.. LEGEND.
James Taylor says that guitars wear out. Maybe the fact is, it's the guitar getting used to one brand of strings, as Tommy says here.
Great teacher, great player...