God damn he plays one note and I'm immediately hearing cream songs. You could blindfold me and cut the voice and I'd know that's Eric Clapton any day. Amazing! Truly a one of a kind guitar player
Joe Bonamassa said something to the effect that Clapton can plug a Stratocaster directly into a Fender twin amp and you’d know instantly that it was him.
He has a 1994 blues album and the deluxe edition has a mini video documentary I believe of him talking guitar, he starts playing a song and its bad ass, then he says can I start over and its twice as bad ass.
Was thinking the same and thought it must have had a switch that needed to be pounded in order to switch on or off. Mine is sometimes sensitive like that.
His peak years were from 92 to 2000. 94 to 98 being on another level. Watch the documentary nothing but the blues featuring EC, and his Fillmore shows from the mid nineties, this is not in the same Stratosphere.
@@robmorrison1043pre unplugged, but the thing about Eric isn't just one phase, it's his evolution throughout his career which makes him so special, his gift to make anything great from jazzy, to Robert Johnson back in cream, to reggae in the 70s, to 80s even his drug years was insane, but those 80s suits and short haired Clapton was monster, very close to SRV being so fast, but a better song writer because of his age, and smooth sounds, do you remember that special Carl Perkins had, Clapton, and some Beatles playing? You see how many influences he had, and country influence like lay down Sally, and 57 Chevy, all those in that era were so clean to me as a child from the 80s, but after his son died, he really got deep into his heavy stuff, and it was painful for me to listen to the anguish from his music both guitar and voice. That's the sign of a genius like him, same as he describes here about taking out his anger through his music, he used it as therapy for mourning and pain. One of the hardest things for someone to go through and you can actually hear it
Hahaha I love how he's just explaining extremely basic tone and volume control as these crazy groundbreaking new features, at the time just the concept of distorted guitars was such a novelty I suppose
3:11 Eric Clapton is so honest. When asked if he uses stock phrases while improvising, he honestly admitted he did! 💯 / 💯 for honesty, and over all such good behaviour.
Back at that time, nobody sounded like Clapton. Even today, only a few other guitarists like Hendrix etc. have been so influential. He took the sound of the blues which he learned from Robert Johnson, Freddie, BB and Albert King and others---- into a whole new creative dimension. Eric is a guitar genius with a God-given talent. He inspired a whole generation of guitar players.
Eric is a great player but most of what he did up to that point was destroyed by a trio of kids who released only a few albums that were mind-blowingly future-proof and fresh. The Hendrix Experience was like the 'Sonic Youth' or the 'Talk Talk' of their day. They abruptly changed the entire landscape. Listen to what hendrix is playing on his guitar when hes not soloing yet, singing vocals. Clapton could not come even close to that level of lyrical comping. That kind of comping is what you learn playing the chitlin circuit in the u.s with R&B acts. But no. I'm not knocking clapton he was a prophet ( not a genius ) in opening up white audiences ears to black musicians and black music. This is what Eminem did for rap music. And Eric gets nothing but praise from me for that, because it seemed like only a white person can sell black music and Black Ideas to white audiences back then. And yes, Im white AF. We've come a ways, to be sure.
@Andy Butler Hell yeah, dude. This wont be a debate! Zappa is certainly a better guitarist than eric clapton, but his thing was composition. Zappa could write for any instrument you presented him with. Johnny Winter... the Silver haired slider was great as well. Dont forget to add Jeff Beck to this list. Coryell and Hendrix had a guitar battle. Coryell played a wall of notes while Hendrix shattered his wall with one looong beautifully toned note. In the Audience was Robert Wyatt from softmachine and matching Mole. He said it was the only time hes ever heard one beautiful note destroy an army of notes. Alan Holdsworth, I had a beer in a pub with him years and years ago. He is a practical joker and keeps you in stiches. he is a guitar god without question and Zappa in interviews has gone on record for saying he likes listening to holdsworth. While were on the subject of holdsworth, the first guitarist from Chick Corea's return to forever ( Bill Connors )is up there too.
So, you practice for hours a day for year/s and become good at something and this is what you call god given ? And Robert sold his soul to a creepy old black fella in the middle of the crossroads too ;) yep all true.
Same deal with guys like Peter Green and Paul Kossof all of them had a completely unique vibrato, it’s sad how modern players underestimate the power of blues licks.
The more time a player puts under their belt the better they become. Fortunately music isn't like sports, where you retire in your 30s. Therefore, a Guitarist can keep getting better till the sweet lord choses to take him away. 🎸🤘
I'm constantly impressed by Clapton's humility. Whereas most guitarists act like alchemists who guard their skills like formulae, Clapton pulls back the curtain, shows his techniques, acknowledges his predecessors, and demystifies the instrument. Rather than judge the better guitarist, I think every musician could learn from Clapton's workman-like attitude, and from his openness.
@@Levottomat01 I'm glad you commented on this. What I thought thirteen years ago about his guitar playing is something I still stand by, but his statements outside the music world are disappointing. Makes me wonder if and how it's possible to divorce the artist from their art.
@@taoman108 I think that it is possible. I mean I like both Clapton and Rage against the machine but more Tom Morello, but yet I absolutely disagree with Clapton and his position on covid and I dont fully support Morellos politics either.
This was back when the electric guitar had to be explained to skeptical, snobby posh people. And to be honest, I still find myself explaining it to those people. 😂
Shoulder length hair, big sideburns, moustache, Gibson + Wah through a cranked Marshall stack... The blueprint for every heavy rock/metal band to come.
Clapton's playing in Cream was amazing and something he never captured later in his career. So much incredible talent at such a young age among many of the early Brit rock guitarists- Clapton, Townsend, Beck, Page, you can count Hendrix because he blossomed in the UK. Late 60's/early 70's an amazing time for rock.
Don't forget Peter green....never forget the great Peter Green. His performance of " ive got a good mind to give up living" is one of the best pieces of music I will ever hear.
@@paulcooper5748 Really? You think he had an exaggerated sense of his abilities? Pretty down-to-earth considering the Beatles were considering him as a replacement for George.
I've heard players from one end of this earth to the other. From Yngwie to George Harrison, from Zappa to Jack White. . . And I'm telling you: Nothing sends chills in me like Clapton's playing with Cream. Simply elegant and heartfelt. His overall guitar playing is as close one can get to seeing an actual human soul.
He’s maybe the most overrated of the big names. He’s also kind of a shitty person, not that that’s related to his playing. I just don’t think he’s a big deal.
Grant Green? Pat Metheny? Scott Henderson? Charlie Christian? Pat Martino? Greg Howe? Joe Pass? Bireli Lagrene? Nelson Faria? Frank Gambale? Guthrie Govan? Bella Fleck? Paco de lucía?
I first saw this film 10 years ago and it changed the way I played guitar, and frankly that then changed my life forever. Eric, you grumpy old bastard, you changed my life. Keep slaying and keep inspiring us
He's actually talking about perfecting his vibrato. You can still read interviews with many pro players who consider Clapton's vibrato the most musical and fluid of all time. Many will talk about how they've practiced it for years but still can't match the feel of it.
We may find this trivial with him explaining the controls of his SG, but this was the late 60’s and it was all new. His phrasing is absolute gold. Even today, few play with the refinement and precision Eric does when he plays licks.
@@surviveandstrive6436 his vibrato is also known as whole hand vibrato where he pushes the string upwards. John Mayer and SRV use it. Traditional vibrato is just using your wrist e.g: bb king and jimi hendrix. Last but not least is classical vibrato where you just slide your fingers from left to right or vice versa. E.g: mark knopfler
Top move of all guitar legends, I saw Lennon do an interesting move on the new doc, he pierced the bottom of the filter on the end of an untrimmed string
Everyone can learn scales. NO ONE can play like Clapton. I've tried playing Sunshine of your love which is one of the simpler ones. Fucking impossible to get the sound and that vibrato right.
Caio, it’s most certainly true though. Go watch them play crossroads together. Clapton is one of the most overrated players of all time. He sounds like every thirteen year old wanking off his pentatonic scales at the guitar center.
Bryan Cortes i love both john and eric, but seriously, Eric is one of the reasons john was fucking around the pentatonic at the shop in the age of 13..
yes these Eric Clapton's today and the way they dress, versus the way they used to dress 50 some years ago oh my God it's just terrible, The Clapton's today have no rock and roll fashion sense at all!! Not like the Clapton's of 47 to 50 some years ago!!!
Drew Card Bleh, who cares about who is better anyway? After playing guitar for 7 years, I'm no expert, but everyone plays so differently. It's like saying basketball is better than pizza; there is sometimes just no comparison.
Those bunch always say the others are better than them: Clapton, Buddy Guy, BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, the list goes on. It's all a mutual respect thing. In their own eyes, the others are always better than they are.
BB King is a humble guy. And what he means by better could mean technically. BB admits he's not the most technical. But the reason why we all love him is because every single note he plays is more gorgeous than anyone else's.
And God picked up his guitar for a BBC interview and played upon the heavens on earth a minor pentatonic lick on the fly and thus noodling came to be. When asked to play the same noodle through an exceptionally large tone potentiometer connected to a pedal, a sound swept the Earth. Through the valleys and mountains, a "Wah," was heard and lo behold, angels were pleased, and became to be funky. Amen. Hallelujah.
I saw that film when I was 15 and it changed the way I tried to play guitar, copy that fluency of his, dynamic stuff from Eric, his early years were a godsend.
His playing back then reminds me of SRV. Of course he became more interested in the song and not just shredding. There is no goat. Lots of beautiful players. I will say the ones that make great songs impress me more. That's why Hendrix is always thrown in to the conversation.
Great to be able to see this again-my first view was when the 'show' appeared on American television 'way back. We were desperate to know how in the world he got that vibrato sound. Saw him using this guitar then changing for a Les Paul when the SG broke a string, in Back Bay Theater, Boston. The Les Paul had a beauty and penetrating clarity that this SG lacked, in that setting. Thank you for posting this 'lesson'.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for this, i hadn't seenen it. this period of EC was what made me want to play the electric, and though the players and styles i was influenced by went all over the place after that, this still hammers me. it's so good to see the humility, objectivity, intellect and sweetness he put into his work.
I remember Eric being asked how it felt to be the best guitarist around. He said, I don’t know. You would have to ask Prince. Both Eric and Prince are indeed two of the very best guitarists in history. I would imagine had Prince been asked the same question. He most likely would have said someone else he admired would have been the best guitarist. That’s why these guys are icons. Eric will be remembered for his amazing contributions to music and how he expanded people knowledge and minds with his abilities on a guitar. And Prince!! Oh man. Such a next level genius. He mastered so many different instruments during his lifetime. For me, he was the ultimate, consummate professional. Simply amazing.
The goat thing is ridiculous. So many beautiful players. Mick Taylor and Wayne Perkins get no love. But when it comes to commercial song writing.Hendrix and Page did more for rock than anybody..
It’s so subjective to say who’s best. I think creativity/diversity in playing styles goes to Jimmy Page. Hendrix is my favorite rhythm guitar player. For technical capability you gotta give to to EVH and Eric Johnson, the speed and precision those guys have is incredible. Clapton is amazing and certainly up there but he doesn’t make the #1 spot in any of those categories for me.
@@LiLhusLLa094 You left out NUMBER ONE...The Late Great RORY GALLAGHER. NO ONE had that level of musical genius. Rory did not WANT the commercial fame. Love and peace to all. -Smythie
And in 2021 he still sounds amazing. I've been learning to play since the 1960s and still can't sound like him. He is and was just amazing and am so privileged to have been around since he started with the Yard Birds, when I first saw him, and the Cream, so aptly named and they were just that. This is what I will remember of what normal life used to be like. So so blessed. RIP Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. We used to go around dressed like our heroes. Such such raw talent now we have f***** Simon Cowell..
Best advice I could give (which you didn't ask for..lol) is try to NOT sound like ole Slowhand, or anyone apart from you to be fair. Uniqueness makes a good guitarist 'Great' imo..and compose your own..no-one can tell you that you're wrong!😁
"can you show us some aggression in your music?" "oh yeah sure..." *Outplays not only any guitarist then, but any guitarist who has come along in the next 40 years*
This is the way EC looked when I started listening to him in 1968. Other girls screamed over the Beatles; I just listened to Eric and fell for him and the way he played.
Clever girl. Me and my three mates worshipped him too. We're very privileged I think to have grown up with that music and my tastes have wondered but I still love The Cream.
Ugh. My favorite part has been cut! It's when Clapton remarks on Hendrix in a way only an Englishman could do. Something about "He plays the most the most amazing Gypsy blues...and occasionally freaks out a bit" Brill.
Some players are just meant to play certain brands. Hendrix on a Strat, Gilmore on a Strat, Peter Green on a Gibson, Clapton was explosive on a Gibson, he completely changed once he joined Blind Faith with that Tele/Strat neck
He had a lot more urgency and legato back then. Strat... That's when he became slowhand. I think I'm Steve Vai or SRV, but I'm really Clapton. He was my bread and butter before I found Jimi.
For my part, Eric made me realize you have to transfer your emotions through your instrument so listeners will feel the heart of blues you're playing He's the best and most valuable teacher i've ever had
