Description
About Tommy Emmanuel’s It’s Never Too Late Songbook
Interactive Video Songbook Featuring 6 Fingerstyle Guitar Tracks
”Quality is laced throughout Tommy Emmanuel’s It’s Never Too Late, the first regular studio album featuring Emmanuel completely solo without guests since 2000. Boldly emblazoning every musical nuance and idea he can conjure, Emmanuel plays with a practiced expertise that is dispersed throughout the record. With this release, Emmanuel once again sets an example for every aspiring guitarist to strive towards.”
Few would argue that Tommy Emmanuel is the most charismatic, soulful, and technically brilliant fingerstyle guitar player walking the planet today. Tommy Emmanuel’s It’s Never Too Late Video Songbook features six original songs off the album, each one a testimony to his mastery of the instrument and acumen as a composer.
Learning to play any of Tommy’s songs, as Tommy himself would perform it, is no easy task for we mere mortal guitar players, but with TrueFire’s interactive video, looping, slow motion, and synced tab/notation; the learning adventure is always rich with rewards.
“”Hey thrill seekers! This is a collection of six of my favorite songs from the ‘It’s Never Too Late’ album. I wrote them all on the road and it’s an interesting mix of songs that cover many styles. For each of the songs, I’ll tell you the story behind why I wrote it and then I’ll play the song for you, break it down slowly, and show you all the things that you need to know to play it yourself.
With each song, you’ll also be able to see a close-up of my right hand, left hand, and a wide shot where you can see both. You’ll be able to work out the whole thing using looping, tab, notation, and slo-mo video! I hope you’re ready to learn because I’m sure ready to teach. Let’s get to work!”
Tommy Emmanuel’s It’s Never Too Late Video Songbook includes multi-angle video guitar lessons presenting full performances and detailed breakdowns of Only Elliot, It’s Never Too Late, Hope Street, Blood Brother, Traveling Clothes, and Old Photographs.
Only Elliot – ”I wrote this song pretty quickly, actually. I was doing a photoshoot in Los Angeles, and the makeup lady has a beautiful little girl, who came in when I was getting my makeup done. I asked her name, and she said “Elliot”. I thought it was a beautiful, unusual name. I told her that she should have more kids, and she said, “Oh no…only Elliot!” When she said those words, I thought, “There’s the song right there!” I set about writing this tune during the course of that day, taking photos and playing the guitar. It happens a lot when doing photos, as you end up holding and playing the guitar a lot. I ended up writing most of it right there, a sweet little tune that ended up turning into something more than that. I hope you enjoy it!”
It’s Never Too Late – ”I wrote this song in December of 2014 on tour in Poland. My third daughter, Rachel, was coming very soon – born January 6th, 2015. I wrote this song for her arrival, and I had my friend Adam on the road with me. I played it for him and said, “Tell me the first thing you think of when you hear this.” After I played it for him he said, “It’s really interesting. It’s a minor song with optimism.” Which is a nice thing. In my household, we call it “Rachel’s Song”, but its title comes from me turning 60 and about to have a baby. My friends also gave us a sign to hang in our house that says “It’s Never Too Late to Live Happily Ever After”, and that’s what this song is about.”
Hope Street – ””Hope Street” was written in my head without the guitar in my hands. I was driving to Liverpool, where The Beatles are from. The night before I had watched Martin Scorsese’s documentary on George Harrison’s life, called Living in the Material World. I was so inspired by George’s life and the things he wrote, played, sang, and said. He inspired me in just about every way that you can imagine. I got this idea for the song, and I had to drive to Liverpool and started to map it out. As I get into Liverpool, and I’m getting close to my hotel and checking in, ready to take my guitar out to finish it, I suddenly have the thought in my head, “I wonder what I could call this song?” Just at that moment, my navigation said, “In 500 meters, turn right onto Hope Street.” That was it! And also, that’s where the Liverpool Philharmonic is, and where a lot of the places that The Beatles played.”
Blood Brother – ”This song was inspired by Sting’s music. I had a very powerful and vivid dream one night about two brothers who got caught up in a battle during the war, who got separated and ended up finding each other by the end of the dream. I don’t remember exactly where I was when I wrote this song, but I remember that I had been listening to Sting and the beautiful chords that he uses that are full of tension and possibilities. I hope you enjoy it!”
Traveling Clothes – ”This is “Traveling Clothes”, which almost explains itself, doesn’t it? I set my clothes out ready for a long trip, and I thought, “These are the clothes that I always wear when I’m traveling”. They’re comfy, soft, and have been with me a long time. If these clothes could talk, what stories would they tell? They’re all in this song.”
Old Photographs – ”This song was written after I watched Steven Spielberg’s great movie Lincoln. It just moved me and transported me. I started thinking about my childhood and being with my grandparents, remembering how my grandmother used to open up these biscuit tins (cookie tins in America), which were full of old photographs of family members, some of which were uncles who never came back from the war. The stories that went along with these, the things they experienced, were very precious to me. Being inspired by the movie Lincoln was really a great thing – I had to write this song while I was in that zone. It’s so important to be in a place of inspiration; it’s very difficult to be creative if you’re not. So, I’m always so thrilled when I’m inspired by something and have an idea I can run with. This was one of those songs. It has tenderness and some strength that I try to get out in the music.”
All of the performance studies come with standard notation, tablature, and a detailed breakdown. You can loop or slow down any of the videos down so that you can work with the lessons at your own pace.
Grab your guitar and ‘let’s get to work’ with Tommy Emmanuel!
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