Leo Kottke (born September 11, 1945) is an acoustic guitarist. He is known … Read Full Bio ↴Leo Kottke (born September 11, 1945) is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. He overcame a series of personal obstacles, including partial loss of hearing and a nearly career-ending bout with tendon damage in his right hand, to emerge as a widely recognized master of his instrument. He currently resides in the Minneapolis area with his family.

Focusing primarily on instrumental composition and playing, Kottke also sings sporadically, in an unconventional yet expressive baritone described by himself as sounding like "geese farts on a muggy day".[1] In concert, Kottke intersperses humorous and often bizarre monologues with vocal and instrumental selections from throughout his career, played solo on 6- and 12-string guitars.

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Tom Roger Lilleby

There's so much going on in his playing at the same time !
Sounds like three guitarists are playing at the same time !

I believe that that's what Leo are wanting to create with his music -
it sounds like he wants the guitar to have a life of its own - and that he is just the medium
to make it all happen ! And that is why he succeeds so well !

And one more thing : no one has such a good repertoire as this man has.
So many fantastic songs and tunes ! All his recordings are unik !

All comments from YouTube:

Ryan Renfield

5y↑18

I hope everyone who gave this vid a thumbs down, collectively step on a rusty nail.
Leo is arguably the greatest polyphonic syncopation player ever.

rexvisitor44

He’s a great guitar player too!

cahillgreg

4y↑2

I stood on a rusty nail while working in the RAI in Amsterdam in 1988 - but I gave a thumbs up

Tilmer Wright

9y↑27

I had the fortunate privilege of meeting Leo Kottke in person at a little music store in downtown Knoxville, TN about three years or so ago. They say you don't want to meet your heroes because they will always disappoint you. Not so with this guy. I have met few people in my life who are as approachable and genuinely nice as Leo Kottke. You would think a guy with talent like this would be aloof and maybe egotistical - but no - 100% gentleman and 100% awesome.

Rolo A

Tilmer Wright Just seen this, my 1st ever encounter, and what you say comes as no surprise somehow!

timbo wilderbeeste

@Mike Mccoy Same here. I met him once when he was touring Australia with Paco Pena and Joe Pass. I approached him to ask if he could sign an album cover for me and he just looked at me and said, "Are you sure you're not here to see Paco?" He was so humble that he genuinely thought everyone had come backstage to see the famous Flamenco player.

Mike Ben Williams

Tilmer, I live in Knoxville TN! Just curious if you remember which store this was? Thanks!!

Mike Mccoy

9y↑1

+Tilmer Wright I once shook his hand

Mr1978cobra

12y↑8

ah leo i saw him in australia in 1981 i think ,i was 18 . .i went home and played 10 hours a day for 3 years , ive been teaching guitar now for over 20 years thanks LEO

Ryan Renfield

5y↑1

I just discovered him last year. Been playing my whole life, accomplished a lot as a guutarist but now it's really on! 😃

Adam Marr

8y↑23

A polite smattering of applause for a whirlwind that just tore up the room.

Ryan Renfield

Agreed. I think someone spiked the punch bowl with lithium that night

JenkyBoom

7y↑1

John Stevenson nailed it.

promerops

7y↑1

Well said!

John Stevenson

7y↑3

If the applause was light, I can only imagine it's because half the room were using their hands to pick their jaws up off the floor.

Adam Marr

8y↑3

I've seen him twice live and his finger picking makes me want to jump out of my seat!

1 More Replies...

Dicky Fisher

6y↑9

I started playin a 6. After hearing Leo i got a 12 string. Never played a 6 again. Thanks Leo for 40yrs. of pure enchantment.

Jonathan Moore

11y↑1

Watching his hand at 3:18 literally gives me chills. The amount of sound he produces from one guitar at any moment here is absolutely incredible.

Dave McKenzie

12y↑2

Saw him in the early 70's, and he has been my guitar God ever since. I love Chet Atkins and Tommy Emmanuel of course. But I keep coming back to Leo.

Austin Warner

2:16 gets me every time. One of the greatest songs ever recorded by one of the greatest guitar players to ever live. Fahey, Kottke, and basho changed my life. Thank you Leo, you’ll live on forever.

jjleonard1

14y↑1

From 2:10 to 2:25 or so is just insane. The first time I ever saw Leo was on the "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" show when I was in the 8th grade. That would make it 1976. Absolutley hooked me on guitar. I bought every Leo K record for years. I have a stack of them in my garage. This has refreshed my admiration for this American Treasure.

bdazzled08

14y

I can see the strings. And hear them. Check at ~3:53. Love the man. Only seen him live twice. Definitely among my top 5 performers though. Great player, and great storyteller and entertainer. Thanks for posting this one!

curt crosby

11y↑1

finally,after years and years of waiting, i will see him live in november. such talent , coupled with a unique creativity......

Anton Sydorenko

The most extraordinary blues I’ve ever heard. Awesome!

Davide Grossi

13y↑1

Kottke playing is Insane!

sphexes

7y↑1

I love Leo! Like 3 guitarists in one.

erinbeth05

17y↑1

one of my favs live

Francis Madigan

8y↑2

The depth of this mastery ...OMG !!!

Milan Smidt

12y↑1

Amazing. Close your eyes and feel the the whirling power, the dynamic urge, the fire.

Bob Gnarly

Milan Smidt , well put!

tdquarry

17y

I know what you mean - I saw him in the early 80s in Sydney when I was but a teen - it was so gobsmakingly astounding I actually got depressed and almost gave up guitar. I didn't though and now I'm rediscovering him (and saw him again, almost 30 years later) and watching it all on youtube - still inspiring. Still pining for a 12 string.

Guitar MD

17y

WHAT!! WHAT!! That took me by surprise! The man truly is a machine. The perfection of his technique is almost depressing to me. If I weren't such a tenacious neophyte, perhaps I'd have given up the guitar completely after watching that section, if I even made it that far. Geez.

ottawadrummer

13y↑1

the riff at 1:36 is godly

frets4life17

15y

thats insane and for the record i did see the unwound strings and i saw him fretting them so im sure he was playing them

buddyrichrocks

11y↑3

woah woah. I've never heard a song like this. mind opening!

Hans

9y↑1

The change at 2:20... LOVELY!

David Mckenzie

4y↑1

I've lost track of how many times I've said to someone, "Ya wanna see some real acoustic guitar playing?" and direct them to the first minute of this song.

Forque YU Gugle

16y

PHEW!!This tune really crystallizes everything about Leo that makes hin so unique- the way he keeps that alternating bass line going whilst he picks that melodic figure- the nearly Avant-Garde middle section where he is doing all that wild 1/2-step stuff.. just the incredible intensity of the whole piece.. geez! MINDblowing! Hard to imagine ANYone else out there coming up with something like this.

Dave McKenzie

I gotta watch this at least once a week...So good. Saw him at a small place in So-Cal in '73. Wow.

MSTFreak

14y

Playing the guitar for a long time, of course all the strings are there!

Michael Collins

14y

I saw Leo Kotke in Sydney in about 1976 and I never thought I would see another guitarist as skilled as him, but now I've seen John Butler. Have a look at his instrumental on Youtube called Ocean.

Bertrand Laurence

A great take of that title. Mind boggling everytime

Loren Neufeld

6y↑2

I can't recall ever seeing LK perform standing! Usually sitting down...Anyway, tour-de-force composition and technique! Try playing like that! It is not easy, damn near impossible, IMO!

Mark Bailey

12y

Astonishing - Kottke is truly the 12-string master.

Brandon Richard

13y

Don't even wanna know what he would do on a 6 string. I just stumbled on to this by accident, never heard of him before but I am amazed.

H Jones

15y

Damn amazing fingers!

Paul Hagerty

I play a Taylor 12 string, Leo is an inspiration to all of us who took up the guitar, keep it up Leo.

Hey Magee

13y

I don't own any Leo Kottke CDs but I love all of these youtube videos I find. What's a good one to start with? Preferably one with just him and his guitar, I don't know if they come any other way or not.

ed burner

His debut album 6 and 12 string guitars (no vocals) and Greenhouse which does have vocals. Also One Guitar No Vocals album

sun Tao

14y

Wow Kottke (our venerable guitar God) was in the moment on this day, hope to catch his concert soon again before his ingrams explode:) sunaj

erinbeth05

16y

my father in law, who has played acoustic for 30 years told me, "dont sell the taylor for an electric, it is a whole dif animal" then my friends say, u would rock on electric

bullss21

11y↑1

Don't forget Jerry Reed, RIP. Severely underrated.

Ryan Renfield

Agreed. Probably parallels Kottke talent wise. I love both but prefer Kottke's original style

Roger Jackson

11y↑1

Leo Kottke, if you're not looking when he's playing (even then it's unbelievable), can make you think there are two others baking him up. Phenomenal!!!

Dennis White

15y

:) It's a mystery... is it bad video or innovation? Kottke is genius either way. Anybody else have an opinion about the stringing of his guitar here?

Linda Ingrid Lundgren

14y

Phenomenal !!!

misinglink15

12y

Someone just introduced me to this.....seriouslly this guy...too good...and on a phuckin 12 strings?

Erik Haber

11y↑1

I get the feeling from this video, and the Deep River Blues from the same night, that the audience doesn't fully appreciate what they're seeing/hearing..

Orange Crush

Yeah, if only you'd been there to assure Leo of a "proper" response. I mean, this was what? His 3rd time on stage, right?

telescope5061

13y

To all of you folks wondering if Mr. Kottke is playing without the 1st and 2nd set of strings, go to "Hear the Wind Howl" from the same concert, then play at :54 seconds in. See the reflection off the unwound strings. c'mon people! THINK!

Aaron's Random Life

14y

leo has been playing a 12 string guitar for around 40 years. he strings his guitar conventionally and just has incredible hand control. And if you cannot hear him playing the b and e strings, maybe you should take up playing bass guitar.

Dave McKenzie

11y↑1

Saw him in '73. No slight to Chet and Jerry and Tommy Emmanuel; Leo will always be my guitar hero.

Richard Anthony

agree totally.leo kottke rules.

Ryan Renfield

5y↑1

All four are brilliant but Kottke's style is ethereal

Skavennnn

such an underrated guitarist

da324

12y

Me too..although it's a bit discouraging as a player to watch him sometimes. I always remind myself that I just need to play what I feel and let the rest happen, just as he has done..

Marc Hosch

If I turn the Speed down to 0.75, I almost think I can play it just like Leo Kotke!

Steve

14y

Absolutely colossal

Erik Haber

11y↑5

and Leo was clearly ON that night!

Bob Shank Jr

13y

If any of you have 'reservations' about Leo's guitars, his tunings OR the strings on his guitars, order the video cassette, 'Home and Away' by Leo Kottke. I think Amazon.com still has some. I have one - and I have no questions at all. And I've been listening to, and seen in concert several times in Texas and Arizona, live, 'Mr.' Kottke. He is the real deal.

Apelock

12y↑1

A nicer performer you won't find. Leo is the real deal, yet he has a sense of irony and humility unmatched.

Strange Universe

15y

the tunings and string pairings are exactly what players would discuss, and exactly what Leo would expect to discuss with other players.

SebienthePoet

12y

Interestingly enough, he plays an 11 string

Michael Arvin

There will never be talent like this again

Dennis White

15y

...... thanks for the response - I'm still not convinced - listen to what he's playing. I'm a huge fan and did not mean anything derogatory by my comment. :) I play 12 string and, once, in a recording session, I put tape on the lower strings to allow me to play my part with a more aggressive attack and not worry about unintended strikes. I watched this video again and not only do not see the high strings, I don't hear them or see him strike them. If I'm right, it's just innovative playing.

traildoggy

6y↑2

Perhaps Leo is really a genetically modified guitar with a nervous system attached to it?

tom wray

10y↑10

Stand on your damn head. Leo Kotkke is the greatest living gutarist, He creates absolute tapestries of sound that mere mortals find themselves lost in.

Tom Roger Lilleby

mark hende

+William Sell he's from Athens, Georgia

William Sell

+tom wray He's an exceptional picker, but I hesitate to crown anyone the Finest. A true musician, there's nothing I can define that he doesn't understand forward and backwards. He used to play fairly often here in Colorado Springs. Never missed his concerts. I believe he's from Cheyoming, isn't he?

Hans

+tom wray Couldn't have said it better myself, Tom. Damn straight.

ACoustaDC

13y

I think the beauty of Leo is his RIGHT hand. I think most player concentrate on their left hand, and watching him, I find myself looking at his left... his left hand isn't doing anything that complicated, it's that right hand, and as Leo often says... HIS THUMB.. but the right is really doing amazing things.

fngrstyl

13y

The Man!

31041955

16y

primordial!

zorba nongreco

Fuckin' astonishin' !!
I found some LPs in an abandoned garden . This was in late 70s. They were lying on the over grown lawn and a bit wet from recent rain.
One of them was this guy. WoW. Very inspiring. I like some of his songs too.
🐂💨 💨 💨 💨

gregorheinrich

15y

could it be that only strings 6,5, and 3 are double, and 4, 2 and 1 are singe, played in open tuning?

John Juhant

12y

always can learn!

Arthur Amaker

12y↑1

thanks. I will. I never thought about Joe Pass playing fingerstyle before.

Ryan Renfield

Joe is one of Kottke's heros . brilliant as well

S. Mizrahi

15y

please somebody tell me where I can buy or download this song!?......please.....

Kurt Hegman

17y

def does not get the respect he deserves ....... an acoustic god ....i wonder if he has played elec before (im sure he has but has anyone heard it?) awesome post thanks

ed burner

yes he has Bean Time on Greenhouse is played w an Gibson elec

TheGwill64

14y

@Mouldytone He has all strings on it, you have to look at the clip around 2:45 when they do the close up. You can easily see the strings at that spot.

demingff

13y

Who cares where strings are?! I defy any of you to show me that kind of talent. It just won't happen. I paused and looked and all the strings are there but he makes it impossible. Still, who cares, enjoy the awesomeness he has bestowed on us.

uneedtherapy42

in some strange, cosmic way this reminds me of say Phillip Glass' music....

Jake Mockler

16y

No one has this talent....

Jim Bouldin

16y

There's only one of the pair of D strings (see 1:25). Is that how he always strings it?

Mathew Hale

Magesterial

greenthumbguy1

15y

12 string genius! No cowboy chords here folks. I thought I knew how to play 12 strings til I saw Leo. He re-defined the technique.

Childe Harold

Kottke at his very best. No one like him.

Watts

13y

@deadhead5003 You can see all the strings at 2:47, when there is a close up of the sound-hole...

dm10901234

15y

The only thing I didn't like was the "mildly impressed golf-clap" at the end. Was this a deaf crowd? I want some hoots dammit!

da324

12y

The right hand is what makes a player...

Yanick Lehmann

Ive heard the penis makes the guitar player

Dave Carrett

luvit

Elliot Novak

13y↑1

Is it just me, or does he look just Bruce Greenwood? (google image search him)

MSTFreak

14y

most of the time, people ask for the tuning and get an answer. You guys ask how many strings there are and don't even listen for an answer.

OspreyD40

13y

@deadhead12008 At 2:47-2:50 you can see him holding down the uppermost strings with left hand pinkie.

Mark Barton

14y

@Mouldytone i can hear the higher strings @ 2:26, i think, but i sure cant see them! oh well, who knows?

Dave Landreth

11y↑1

It doesn't get much better than that.

catsaregrey

7y↑1

Since you've taken the time to comment twice here, why not tell us all who you prefer?

Bob Rosenburg

10y

Ohhhh yes it does!

Francis Madigan

I think he stole a stroke from John Fahey on this one .

metalmattm

16y

Hes cheating some how, this is not possib...Oh wait he's leo Kottke!

I’m Not A Dipswitch!

12y↑1

Mark Knopfler is pretty serious as well.

Ryan Renfield

Indeed but not on Kottke's level. Not even close

Michael Luckett

This sounds like the Buster B Boogie. Obviously way before he wrote it, but really enjoy the pick pattern. The way I play it still doesn't sounds exactly right

Ray's Dad

12 string clutters the sound.

newanatolia

17y

If Robert Johnson sold his soul, LK must have sold the soul of every person he ever met. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa is right. :)

imdanhoover

16y

check out "chewing pine"a little electric stuff there..

juspasenthru

11y↑1

Not even human. Must be robotic.

Eddy Duhan

12y

Play Classical Gas!

Shank Ferfield

14y

whoa

parkt6792

15y

'tis not ignorant, because it is interesting and maybe actually useful information for the guitar player who uses them internets for searching and finding Leo Kottke on here, and wondering; is there any way I could make sounds like, somewheres, in the realm, like the ones I just heard?

Peter Jongsma

Teach me a Roll.What are doing without a Slide?Twelve strings takes Muscle.Americans!

erinbeth05

17y

some a little on some older stuff, but very little, its funny though cuz the little he did play isnt that good, like me i am a awsome acoustic player and when i pick up an electric i kinda suck

flagemdown66

10y↑1

ouch, my hands hurt!

risingsorrow

10y

steel fingers

Rehdman6444

10y↑2

Steel fingers and one inch thick callouses on his finger tips. Give me just one of his music genes and maybe I'll be able to tune my three 12-strings guitars.