It kind of makes sense to release an episode with Tom Quayle right after one with Jack Gardiner in this podcast series. After all, the latter guitarist calls Tom his "second father."

After every conversation in this series, I always need a moment to come back down to earth. With headphones on, it feels like we're diving into our own little microcosm together. I find myself in a sort of hyperfocus, and it amazes me every single time, in a positive way, how openly the guests are willing to share their life experiences.

Toward the end of the conversation with Tom, he mentioned the term "imposter syndrome." It’s something even a ridiculously skilled guitarist like Tom has had to deal with. Choosing to live as a musician is a bold decision. A choice that, alongside the excitement, comes with doubt, introspection, and other uncertainties. Tom openly talks about it.

He also shares stories about his guitar-obsessed family roots and how he mastered the legato technique that brought him global recognition. Tom reflects on his musical influences, the challenges of balancing performance with teaching, and how his love for improvisation shaped his approach to guitar playing.

Tom also provides insights into the influence of jazz theory and the subtleties of his personal sound. In this conversation, he reveals key moments from his career, including his discovery of Dream Theater, his time at jazz college, and the struggles he faced when writing albums. He also gives us a peek into his current obsession—analog synthesizers—and how this unexpected passion has influenced his creative journey.

Thanks again, Tom! It was an absolute pleasure to have this conversation with you. Enjoy the full interview, and don’t forget to subscribe! 😀

#TomQuayle #LegatoMastery #GuitarSummit #JazzGuitar #MusicTheory #GuitarTechnique #Improvisation #AnalogSynths #ShredGuitar #DreamTheater #GuitarCommunity #SixtyScalesAndTheTruth #GuitarInterview #GuitarInspiration

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to Tom Quayle
00:23 - Tom Quayle's first impressions of Guitar Summit
01:05 - Tom Quayle's guitar-obsessed family
02:10 - Tom Quayle's father's influence and guitar style
03:56 - Starting guitar at age 15
05:40 - Getting obsessed with punk and electric guitars
07:04 - Learning from magazines and first teachers
09:12 - Obsession with Dream Theater and technical guitar playing
11:02 - Overcoming self-doubt and Dunning-Kruger effect
13:24 - Searching for a guitar teacher
15:30 - Studying music theory and tuning in fourths
17:55 - Jazz college experience and harmonic obsession
20:04 - Tom Quayle on doors of musical obsession
21:55 - Developing legato technique and finding his sound
25:00 - YouTube videos and the rise of his online following
28:03 - Legato vs. Picking techniques in guitar playing
31:45 - The fulfillment of teaching and helping others
35:33 - Reflecting on his peak playing ability during teaching years
37:00 - The struggle with album releases and composition
41:06 - Acceptance and contribution to the guitar community
46:00 - Tom Quayle's family member and high jumping parallels
49:25 - Current obsession with analog synthesizers
50:43 - Possible future music endeavors

‪@tomquayleguitar‬