Despite being one of the most admired acoustic guitarists in the world, Tommy Emmanuel recently revealed he can’t read traditional music notation—a surprising fact given his role as a teacher at the world-renowned Berklee College of Music.
The Australian fingerstyle legend, celebrated for his dynamic percussive techniques and emotive playing, shared this candid detail during a live appearance on Australia’s news program The Project. When asked about his ability to read music, Emmanuel replied, “I can’t read notes. I can read a chord chart and follow the chords, but I can’t read notes.”
While it’s not entirely unusual for musicians of his caliber to lack formal training in music theory, Emmanuel admits that his inability to read notation has led to some interesting challenges—especially in academic settings. “It’s really weird, being a teacher in a place like Berklee College of Music: 400 students asking questions, and I’m the only person there – and I’m the instructor – I’m the only one there who can’t read! It’s bizarre,” he confessed.
When asked how this affects his ability to compose, Emmanuel was frank: “I don’t write it down. I can write you a song and play it, but I can’t write it on paper. I have to hire people to do that.”
Instead of using traditional sheet music, the Grammy-nominated guitarist relies on voice memos and audio recordings to capture his musical ideas. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, for instance, he worked on a film score entirely through his iPhone. “I wrote the whole film, all the themes, on my iPhone and texted it to the guy in LA and he put an orchestra and stuff on it. And then I redid the guitar in a proper studio when we were able to move around,” he explained.
Tommy Emmanuel’s story is a powerful reminder that musical mastery doesn’t always require formal training or sight-reading ability. Through raw talent, creativity, and relentless practice, he continues to inspire guitarists and audiences worldwide—even without reading a single note.
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