EP10: Jon Gomm on Songwriting, Musical Storytelling, and Writing Your Own Rules
Fingerstyle guitar virtuoso Jon Gomm discusses his creative process, from songwriting to guitar techniques. We cover everything from tunings to handling critics, PLUS a masterclass breakdown of his arranging method for "Deep Sea Fishes."
The Guitar Journal podcast returns with a new episode featuring the extraordinary Jon Gomm, acclaimed singer-songwriter and virtuoso acoustic guitarist from Yorkshire, UK. In this wide-ranging conversation, host Jesse Paliotto and Jon explore fascinating insights into the guitarist's creative process—from developing song concepts before touching the guitar to his approach to alternate tunings and performance techniques. The discussion covers everything from the challenges of touring the US to Jon's unique method of handling online critics (hint: it involves his mom). This episode gets into both technical wisdom and some deep artistic philosophy.
And be sure to check out Jon demoing his arranging method (about 25min in) by deconstructing his song "Deep Sea Fishes", breaking down how he builds complex arrangements from simple elements. It's a masterclass in fingerstyle guitar that connects Jon's remarkable ability to balance technique with authentic emotional expression.
Links
- "A Little Respect" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHfbPBAGe4M
- "Deep Sea Fishes" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei4nRyWV0Gc
- Jon's Instructional Videos - https://www.jongomm.com/video-lessons
- Jon's Guitar Bootcamp - https://www.jongomm.com/bootcamp
Tracks
- 00:00 Introduction to Jon Gomm and His Music
- 03:13 Experiences at NAMM and Music Trade Shows
- 06:14 Challenges of Touring in the US
- 08:54 The Art of Covering Songs
- 11:37 Songwriting Process and Techniques
- 12:20 Deep Dive into 'Deep Sea Fishes' Songwriting
- 15:30 Technical Guitar Playing and Performance
- 32:05 The Art of Tuning and Fingernails
- 33:47 Songwriting Process: From Concept to Arrangement
- 35:30 Production Techniques: Blending Acoustic and Synthetic Sounds
- 37:24 The Importance of Originality in Music
- 40:09 Navigating Creativity and Learning
- 42:06 Exploring Alternate Tunings
- 46:28 Texture and Expression in Fingerstyle Guitar
- 54:46 Advice for Aspiring Guitarists
- 01:02:40 Upcoming Projects and Events