Tommy Emmanuel has been nominated for two Grammys. But that’s only the start of his achivements. He can namedrop Eric Clapton, Les Paul, Keith Urban, George Martin, Tina Turner, Joe Walsh, Stevie Wonder and Hank Marvin among his collaborators. He has toured the world and released 16 solo records. He was given the title of ‘Certified Guitar Player’ by his hero Chet Aikens for his lifelong dedication to his instrument. Oh, and he's one mean guitarist.

Having first picked up a guitar aged four, Emmanuel learned to play by ear. This, he reckons, is the best method, “We all do things in our own way, but it worked for me,” he says. “It’s a good idea to learn to read music, but that should only be used as a road map – you need to have a good ear.”
And a good ear he had – by the time he was six, he was already a fluent guitarist. After his father died in 1966 his family were taken on the road by Australian star, Buddy Williams. They toured Australia until the threats of the child welfare department called a halt to it. Alas, such intervention was shortlived and soon after Emmanuel and his siblings were gigging again with their band The Trailblazers. I asked Tommy what drove him towards music with such vigour at that time.
“I was just listening to everything and I loved all kinds of music, anything with a melody: The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Buck Owens, all sorts.”
Emmanuel is fond of pointing out that guitar solos are not always the mark of a great player: “Guitarists need to learn to be good accompanists first. There are so many amazing singers out there and they need good accompaniment.”
With such a humble personality, mammoth ability and unique style, it is no wonder that Emmanuel has been in such high demand, among his peers and idols.
Finding it difficult to settle on a favourite collaboration, he names a tour with Eric Clapton in the 1990s as a particular highlight.
“It was fun and I had been such a fan. I just wanted to tell him what a great singer he was. Everyone talks about Clapton’s guitar playing but he has such a quality to his voice that so often gets overlooked.”
I ask him who his favourite guitarist is, expecting Clapton or Chet Aikens to be among his answers. But no, he’s full of surprises.
“John Mayer, he really is the leader of the pack right now.”
Emmanuel is known for his fast fingers – a method he has dubbed simply as ‘finger style’.
So a serious guitarist needs some serious guitars and I’m guessing after four decades in the business he’ll have racked up an enviable collection.
“At the moment on the road with me I have three Australian made Matom guitars,” he says.
Explaining price is not really a consideration for him when it comes to his choice of instrument, he says he wouldn’t risk bringing his more prized guitars on tour.
“I have one pretty special one with me, a 1934 Gibson Kalamazzo. I feel like it’s a pretty big risk to even have that.”
Using the same acoustics in studio as he does on tour, Emmanuel doesn’t vary too much with his choice of instrument.
“I have electrics at home, but I’d never use them live so I don’t get to play them much.”
Tommy tells me he’s pretty organic is his set-up, with not too many bells, whistles, wires or fiddly bits.
“I just use an AER amp, made in Germany, an Alesis Mini-verb II and I bring a tuner on stage with me, that’s it,” he reveals.
Emmanuel’s tuner of choice is a Korg DTR-2000 Digital Tuner.
As much an instructor as a musician, Tommy shares his wealth of wisdom through workshops and instruction books and DVDs. The virtuoso is coming to town in July to hold a guitar workshop as part of the Waltons Guitar Festival of Ireland.
“My workshops are always very practical, but I’m open to whatever people want. A lot of them come to my workshops just for me to help them with one particular problem that they’re having.”
He will also spend time on stage with a gig in Tripod as another element of the festival. Tommy, like most musicians, has a soft spot for Ireland.
“I love Dublin,” he enthuses. “I remember playing a venue years ago, called The Cobblestone – it was right between the Jameson Distillery and the Guinness Brewery.”
A man after our own hearts. Skilled, talented, gracious and a gent, Tommy Emmanuel is a musicians’ musician.

Tommy Emmanuel is in Ireland this month for the Waltons Guitar Festival. He plays Tripod, Dublin on July 5 and holds a workshop in the Royal Academy of Music on July 6.