Chords Used
Passionflower is the piece that changed everything. When Jon Gomm uploaded his performance video in 2011, millions of viewers who had never considered fingerstyle guitar suddenly found themselves watching it multiple times, trying to understand how one person could produce that much music from a single instrument.
The piece is built on an Open Dm tuning (CGDGGD) that gives every note a haunted, resonant quality. Gomm detuned strings mid-performance using the tuning pegs as a compositional tool, shifting the harmonic landscape beneath the listener's feet. Slapped bass notes anchor a framework of natural harmonics and tapped melodies — at moments the guitar sounds like three instruments playing simultaneously.
For learners, Passionflower is an aspirational piece best approached in stages. Begin by understanding the tuning and the basic chord shapes it creates. Study the slap technique in isolation before attempting to integrate it with melodic lines. The detuning sections require strong tuning-by-ear skills.
Most importantly, listen to the piece dozens of times before attempting to play it. Gomm's timing and the emotional arc of Passionflower are as important as any individual technique. This is not just a guitar exercise — it is a complete piece of music that deserves to be understood as such.
Estimated learning time: 12–18 months of focused practice.