Chewing the Gristle with Greg Koch
Music:Music Interviews
Tomo Fujita is one of the most well-known guitar teachers on the planet, famously beloved by his current and former students at Berklee College of Music (including John Mayer). His YouTube and Instagram channels have a treasure-trove of useful lessons for guitarists of all levels, and their popularity led Guitar World to name him among "15 of the greatest all-star guitar teachers" (a list that also included the Gristleman himself).
2:57 - What drew Tomo to the guitar, the influence of Jeff Beck and Larry Carlton, and earning a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music
9:40 - Graduating from Berklee, transitioning to becoming a professor, and the early years as a teacher
13:27 - Tomo’s website ‘Guitar Wisdom’, and the importance of finding balance in your life
20:24 - How to navigate lesson plans for students who aren’t exactly excited about the material
33:20 - Performing in the US versus Japan & other countries
35:36 - Tomo’s favorite type of guitars, unique short-scale guitars, and vintage guitars
46:26 - Playing the guitar in the time of COVID
50:16 - Tomo’s relationship with Ibanez Guitars, and his work with them as an advisor to help build out better guitars for less
62:15 - How to stay motivated
Total Length: 69:25
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