EP15: Andrea Valeri on Groove, Guitar Tone, and Chasing Curiosity as a Composer

The Guitar Journal

In this episode of The Guitar Journal Podcast, I'm joined by Andrea Valeri, an internationally acclaimed fingerstyle guitarist who has graced stages around the world alongside legends like Tommy Emmanuel and Guthrie Govan. With nearly 20 years of professional performance and recording under his belt, Andrea brings a unique voice that seamlessly blends thumb picking, finger picking, and flat picking techniques into something entirely his own.

We dive deep into Andrea's philosophy on tone and dynamics—what he calls the "fourth dimension" of music that you can actually hear and feel. He shares fascinating insights about his decade-long quest to achieve his signature sound, explaining how he spent years practicing 8-10 hours daily to develop the color and dynamics that define his playing today. From his early days as a rhythm player in an Italian singer-songwriter duo to discovering fingerstyle through Tommy Emmanuel DVDs at age 12, Andrea's journey reveals the dedication required to master multiple guitar techniques while maintaining that essential connection between soul and instrument.

The conversation takes an inspiring turn as Andrea reveals his ambitious plans for 2026—his 20th anniversary tour that will bring together musicians from every country he's visited over the past two decades. We also explore his home studio recording techniques (including his unique three-microphone setup that captures both the player's and listener's perspectives), his collaborations with film score legends like Hans Zimmer's percussionist Satnam Ramgotra, and why his cat Lilo serves as the ultimate quality control for his compositions 🙂 Whether you're interested in fingerstyle technique, recording philosophy, or the deeper emotional connections that make music transcend mere notes, this episode offers profound insights from a true master of his craft.

Links

• Km184 Neumann mics - https://amzn.to/4kDCN3S
• Lexicon rack unit reverb - https://reverb.com/p/lexicon-mx200-multi-effects-rack
• ProTools - https://www.avid.com/pro-tools
• Valve Preamp - TL audio - https://reverb.com/item/89995273-tl-audio-dual-valve-mic-pre-amp-di
• Satnam Ramgotra - https://www.satnamramgotra.com/
• Maton Andrea Valeri model - https://maton.com.au/guitar/er90c/
• 1073 Neve - https://www.sweetwater.com/neve-1073/series

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Andrea Valeri
• 01:51 Celebrating 20 Years of Music
• 03:26 The Journey to Fingerstyle Guitar
• 05:23 Developing a Unique Playing Style
• 08:50 The Importance of Sound and Tone
• 12:36 Connecting with the Instrument
• 16:11 Recording Techniques and Studio Setup
• 23:38 Collaborating with Other Musicians
• 27:53 The Creative Process of Collaboration
• 29:57 Understanding Composition and Creativity
• 34:37 Translating Emotions into Music
• 37:07 The Importance of Childlike Wonder
• 38:41 The Role of Feedback in Music
• 41:35 Choosing the Right Instruments
• 46:26 Gear Wishlist and Musical Inspirations
• 49:22 Final Thoughts and Future Projects