Tommy Emmanuel "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" / Summer NAMM 2009

[Nelsonisms]

I think it's just the lighting in this video makes him look a little pasty. I've seen him perform this live and he does seem to be hamming it up for the audience a little more than usual during this piece, so maybe all that combined comes off as drunkeness here....But then again, have you ever tried to play guitar drunk? If he could play this drunk (which he's not) then that just makes it all the more amazing.

[darose24]

Wow! Very nice work. Covers all the bases. Tommy has fun when he plays and he plays well. I'll drink with him any time! I could say a lot more but... Thanks Tommy.

[tomfong292]

He makes everything look so easy!

[akuwandy]

Question for everyone: if i practice everyday..can i be as good as him?

[cpchro]

@akuwandy probably not....but practice everyday none the less

[trottheblackdog]

Lenny Breau is up there smiling

[Eselsjunge]

4:27 hahaha

[r0fl3d]

i love the guitar and playing, and let me say...........that was just bad. What exactly was this song supposed to be? It seemed pretty amateur to me, perhaps he was drunk?

[JanetWilliams01]

@r0fl3d Oops, left your ears at home. Not only was this "supposed to be" but it actually was a rather lovely, engaging, v successful rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Brilliantly done. No drunkenness apparent to me!

[pocuddm2]

@r0fl3d Are you a guitarist? I am. I know what he did was pretty damn impressive. If you tell me you can do better I will sit down and shut up.

[eado2007]

^^^

sometimes a guitar can be the best singer, exhibit A

[StereoLightz]

Boegershausen & Emmanuel.. Gods of fingerstyle

[nickforthetitle]

tommy never fails to disappoint...fact

[hillbillymanjackson]

the dislike dipshit probably keeps up with the kardashians and likes bieber n shit like that. tommy never fails 2 make me smile in wonder

[Coolcutting]

Tommy is Tommy and nobody is like Tommy, and nobody will ever be like Tommy.

Thank god - To experience Tommy Emmanuel is enjoyment, awe and inspiration and we need that. :D))

[Firestoner46]

I wonder why he didn't use any reverb on this..

[Jebowski]

last night he amazed us in Spokane!! fantastic!!

[TheReilly8]

hes terribly awsome

[HBriver]

Beautiful harmonics !

[alexandertechnology]

he is unbelievable. such feeling. such technique. amazing♥♥♥

[biggerbigd]

Always the best. See you soon in Southern Oregon Tommy!

[YSBCITTAR]

True aussie legend...

[yogevcohen]

what's not to like, god ! ! !

[mirie6]

no poser, no masturbation, just the hell of a guitar....

[Vermillion2176]

He's really a master of darn near everything about guitar.

Big Ron

[freestylerja16]

This is what God sounds like 

[anonymous668]

there is a treasure pot at the end of the rainbow, and his name is Tommy Emmanuel

[Saithelord]

OH MY SON.

[ramarazzz]

DEMIGOD...

[RoaminOutlander]

This is The Song of a perfect summerday for me! It just sounds so mellow and beautiful that I want to melt into a place that is beautiful as this! Don't know if this is understandable =)

[biggfingger5]

@RoaminOutlander very understandable!

[clydenate]

@RoaminOutlander I agree!!!

[gemyneye]

I saw this show in Nashville!!! He was superb!

[gemyneye]

I was there and it was an awesome show!!!!

[luvcomedy123]

that eye thing at 4:28 was priceless! love him

[drumcircler]

another show-off. that's it, i'm selling my guitar.

[erkq]

Wow. Well worn guitar. Obviously one of his favorites.

[rkhgtrpkr]

Outstanding, Tommy.

[Saendar]

Wow...he had that audience holding their breath. Good thing he gave them time to laugh!

[acoustique69]

incredible as usual ! !

[vekou]

he really is a master of artificial harmonics!

[SweetLittleRnRoller]

@vekou Man, they're real :D :D

I know, stupid joke :)

[matroks]

@vekou actually it's real harmonics :)

[Davidstan2]

@matroks You sure?

[matroks]

@Davidstan2 Yep :) "It's a combination of real harmonics and opened notes" Tommy says. There's a video where he explains that: watch?v=obh1x2z6cOI at 0:20

[Davidstan2]

@matroks Cool man

[vekou]

@matroks oh yeah, I've watched that video too ages ago :)

[DarkFottloch]

@vekou its actually all natural harmonics. artificial harmonics are harmonics occuring where they naturally couldnt, which is why you need your palm or thumb (depends on your technique) to be able to create artificial. By fretting a string, you simply chnage the strings scale which leads to the harmonics being dispositioned from their original place. Just in case anyone wants to know the difference^^

[vekou]

@DarkFottloch with all due respect, an artificial harmonic is what Tommy Emmanuel did on the intro part of the song. It's true that artificial harmonics are harmonics occurring where they naturally couldn't, that is why one would fret the string, touch the string with your picking hand as if you're making a natural harmonic to be able to reach the certain harmonic note artificially. I could be wrong, but you may search YouTube about Tommy Emmanuel Artificial Harmonics lesson.

[DarkFottloch]

@vekou ive looked it up just know, just in case, was starting to worry my theory wasnt up to date^^ its, as tommy states himself, "real harmonics" (natural) since hes playing a chord and simply uses his picking hand index finger to pluck the harmonics at the position they moved to^^

[vekou]

@DarkFottloch i'm no expert at music theory, i have to admit, but based on what i know, the technique that he uses is called artificial harmonics. And yes, I've watched that video before, that he clarified that it wasn't called "fake harmonics" since they are "real harmonics." And indeed, artificial harmonics are real harmonics since you just muted the fundamental sound from a vibrating string albeit the fretted string. I'll be willing to stand corrected, just convince me more.

[kennykennyman]

@vekou I agree with what is being said. Natural Harmonics are the ones at 5th 7th 12th 19th and 21th fret (and more may be). An artificial harmonic is the one which you need to press a note, then count from where you press, 5,7,12... and play a harmonic there. the word artificial only means that the harmonic is not played by an open string. As a violin player myself, that's how i define it