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Sixty Scales and the Truth with Niels Guns

More than just a music podcast, Sixty Scales and the Truth reveals the human struggles, triumphs, and profound life lessons behind the strings of exceptional guitarists. It’s an invitation to discover the truth behind the scales, one unforgettable face-to-face conversation at a time. Whether you’re a die-hard guitar enthusiast, a casual music lover, or simply someone who appreciates craftmanship, resilience and creativity, this podcast will leave you inspired, enriched, and eager to uncover more of the wisdom and artistry that these guitar icons have to offer.

Latest Episodes:

Tom Quayle Oct 17, 2024

Show notes

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! 😀

Jack Gardiner Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

Subwoofer Alert! You might want to turn down your subwoofers because when Jack Gardiner speaks, he brings all the bass you need! But if you choose to keep them on, watch out—they might just explode! 🎸 In this latest episode of "Sixty Scales and the Truth," I had the pleasure of sitting down with the incredibly talented Jack Gardiner during the Guitar Summit in Mannheim. We shared some great laughs and dug deep into his journey as a musician. One of the things I truly value while making this podcast series is how openly my guests talk about their life experiences. Jack, despite coming from a musical family, had to make some tough decisions to carve out his path as a professional guitarist—a choice that wasn't always encouraged. Throughout the interview, Jack offers an honest perspective on the struggles of being an artist, the influence of his working-class roots, and how the mentorship from guitarists like Tom Quayle shaped his playing and musical approach. We explore his take on improvisation, the role of muscle memory, and finding that elusive "zen" moment on stage. Plus, Jack gives us a sneak peek into his upcoming album and his exciting collaborations with various talented musicians.

Richard Henshall (Haken) Sep 20, 2024

Show notes

How do you find focus while life keeps rushing by in all its chaos? How do you keep learning fun and, moreover, interesting? And how valuable is it to make music with real friends? These are just a few topics that came up in the conversation I recently had with Richard Henshall, the guitarist of the fantastic British prog rock band Haken. Richard also releases albums as a solo artist—music I personally treasure as beautiful, interesting, surprising, and simply very well produced.Every time I bring a guitarist in front of the microphone for this podcast series, I realize how grateful I am that they take the time for a conversation. Each time I learn something new. And each time I meet interesting, talented, and very kind people. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed the conversation.

Pablo van de Poel Sep 07, 2024

Show notes

From Conservatory to Rock Legend: DeWolff’s Pablo van de Poel Shares His Musical Journey!

In this Podcast interview, DeWolff’s frontman and guitar virtuoso Pablo van de Poel talks about early struggles at the conservatory, to crafting iconic songs with DeWolff, Pablo opens up about his shift from complex music theory to trusting his gut and instinct.

#DeWolff #PablovandePoel #ClassicRock #GuitarLegend #MusicJourney #Songwriting #LiveMusic #RockInterview #StudioRecording #GuitarHero #MusicalEvolution #AuthenticityInMusic #BluesRock #RocknRoll #BehindTheMusic #MusicLovers #DeWolffFans

Theo van Niel Jr. Aug 30, 2024

Show notes

After a period of playing less guitar myself, I’ve recently dived back into it with renewed enthusiasm. It’s been fantastic to explore new styles and follow online lessons from guitar legends, trying to catch even a small part of their brilliance. While browsing through True Fire’s offerings, I came across a name that seemed distinctly Dutch: Theo van Niel Jr. Intrigued, I downloaded his course and quickly realized I was dealing with an exceptionally talented musician.

Not long after my ‘discovery,’ Theo released a new album where he masterfully blends rock, fusion, metal, and country in his unique style. I decided to visit Theo at his home, where he also runs his music school, for an in-depth conversation. We talked about his talent, his learning process, teaching, his childhood, and some of his musical heroes.

Get to find out more about this crafty player as we explore Theo’s journey through music, his creative process, and his insights into mastering the guitar.

Tommy Emmanuel on Chet Atkins, Stage Fright and 50 Years of Guitar | Sixty Scales and the Truth Aug 21, 2024

Show notes

Many consider Tommy Emmanuel to be the greatest of all time (GOAT), and while music isn’t a competition, I wholeheartedly agree. Tommy is not only a phenomenal musician but also a remarkable human being. I had the privilege of meeting him once before this interview, and what struck me was his presence. He truly connects with everyone around him, which, as he told me, is no coincidence. It’s a state of mind that Tommy deliberately chooses. We discussed how this mindset has helped him as a musician and performing artist. We also delved into his youth, his struggles, the lessons he has learned, and some other anecdotes that only Tommy Emmanuel could share. At the end of our conversation, I couldn’t resist asking if he would play a song. You can hear it in a separate video I’ve posted. Enjoy listening to this one-of-a-kind person.

Plini Jul 16, 2024

Show notes

The more music you’ve heard and the easier it is to access, the harder it is to be truly surprised and captivated by something that you find completely refreshing. Maybe that comes with getting older. Or perhaps it’s a deflation of your listening experience, given that you can hear almost any imaginable music with just a few clicks. This contrasts with the romanticized version etched in my memory from my youth: spending your hard-earned money only on music that truly moves you and then playing it a million times.

When I first heard Plini’s music, I suddenly felt that kick again: I had never heard anything like it. Inventive music, ranging from soothing to hard-hitting, with simply wonderful melodies, amazing rhythmic ideas, and skillful playing. Each new release from the laid-back Australian is a gift.

It's not surprising that Plini can evoke such an experience. When making music, he responds to his impulses like a child, he mentioned in the podcast. This approach avoids clichés and well-trodden paths, sometimes turning everything upside down.

Plini talks about the role of his parents, his architecture studies, and answers a question from Matteo Mancuso, who wanted to know why his productions sound so good.

Plini will be playing on August 17th, a month after the release of this episode at Complexity Fest! Check https://www.complexityfest.com/ for more info and tickets.

Matteo Mancuso Jul 09, 2024

Show notes

What if you are told that you are ‘the best in the world’? A nice compliment. But one that burdens you with a lot of responsibility. At least, that’s how the fantastic Italian guitarist Matteo Mancuso experienced it when the hype around his playing reached its peak. Matteo wanted to practice even more than he already did, he told me during this podcast interview, prior to the Bridge Guitar Festival in Eindhoven.

Anyone who has seen and heard Matteo play knows that you are dealing with an exceptionally talented musician. It’s no small feat to stand out head and shoulders in an era where one top guitarist after another showcases themselves on YouTube.

Apart from the technical feats, he simply makes beautiful music. He is a guitarist who is constantly evolving and someone who lives for the guitar. The way he absorbs and makes styles his own is, in my opinion, unprecedented. Matteo does this with intent. During our conversation, I noticed that the Italian is someone who thinks carefully about what he does and—although the guitar is everything to him—does not get lost in the instrument. One of his goals is also: ‘Enjoy life,’ as he said at the end of the broadcast. Something you can certainly achieve by putting on this guitarist's music.

Michael Lee Firkins Jul 02, 2024

Show notes

Music embeds itself in a special way in your brain. Many interesting studies have already been conducted on this topic. Thinking about this, I also recall videos of elderly people with dementia who can do very little. However, one thing they can still do is flawlessly sing or play songs they stored in their memory during their youth.

I experienced the powerful way all that music is etched into your memories when I listened again, for the first time in at least 20 years, to Michael Lee Firkins' debut album from 1990. The melodies he writes are quite complex, yet I could still sing along with all the nuances of "Laughing Stacks."

This is, of course, not only due to my brain but also largely to the talent of this friendly American. I had lost sight of him for a while, despite the great impression his debut album made on me when I became captivated by instrumental guitar music as a teenager. Along with 'Passion and Warfare' by Steve Vai and 'Surfing with the Alien' by Joe Satriani, 'Michael Lee Firkins' was my favorite guitar album. MLF had and still has a tone that you can recognize out of thousands.

After his debut album, he made a lot of music, but he never matched the success of that first album. Although, what is success really? Is it reaching a lot of people with your music? Or making the music you want to make, regardless of the number of listeners? Michael Lee Firkins leans more towards the latter vision. He writes more music than ever, he told me in the podcast interview. However, he doesn’t release much music anymore. The guitarist disagrees with the revenue model behind Spotify and similar platforms.

I consider myself lucky to have finally seen him play live after all these years and that he took the time to talk about his music, his career, and the choices he has made in his life.

Reinier Baas Jun 25, 2024

Show notes

Music is a game of tension arcs. Of fulfilling expectations. Or of going in the completely opposite direction. Reinier Baas is good at the latter. Very good. When I first heard the music of the Dutch jazz guitarist, I was constantly on the edge of my seat. One surprise followed another. It quickly became clear to me that I was dealing with a free spirit for whom composing is an adventurous journey.

Last year, I already spoke with Reinier in the run-up to the Bridge Guitar Festival. After that conversation, I realized that I had not yet finished asking my questions.

It intrigued me that such a free spirit like Reinier developed an application that helps him with composing. During the interview at the Amsterdam Conservatory - where Reinier teaches - he explained how restrictions can help him when he composes. When everything is possible, frameworks provide guidance. From that idea, his one-minute-radio compositions were also born.

We also talked about marketing. Being able to create a product is very different from being able to sell a product. Something I struggle with myself at times. Regarding his latest album ‘Relief Party,’ Reinier had some good advice: ‘If you like the album, buy it. If you don’t like the album, buy it for someone you don’t like.’

So, if you like this podcast series: listen to this episode. If you don’t like it, share it with someone you don’t like!

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