Seriously? In my career in music I've met a lot of people who sucked at it. They just didn't know they did. Just because you want to be good and want to make good music doesn't necessarily mean you're going to. There's this thing called talent that you either have or you don't. Just saying.
@@paultiberi641 If your heart is in the right place, ie you are really trying to make honest music, then you might well fail, but you don't suck. You mean (I think) that there are plenty of people who aren't good at playing/singing/songwriting etc - to me, if they are sincerely trying, even if they are no good technically, they might fail, but they don't suck. They are just good(OK, untalented) people making bad music. Just my definition - only creeps and phonies truly suck however technically good they are.
Eric is a great and though I've pinched things from Eric I don't sound like him I sound like me in fact I've borrowed from BB king , Gary Moore , SRV Angus young , chuck Berry to name but a few oh and the great keith Richards 🎵🎵🎸🎸🎵🎵
I love EC. His guitar playing is so expressive. It's melodious and it expresses so many human emotions. The amazing part he doesn't seem to need too many notes to say that and he can say that slowly without the need to play fast
Yes, exactly. I wasn't quite old enough to experience Clapton's break out moments, but his Crossroads solo was the first work of his to put me back on my heels. Great stuff.
Great video, Mark. I've met younger guitar players who think Clapton is "over-rated" or "sucks", and obviously they are dead wrong. However, they have been watching and listening to the old man Eric Clapton, who is a far cry from the young Eric Clapton of the '60s and '70s. They aren't aware of, or haven't seriously studied Eric's early work from the time he was a phenomenal young guitar genius just out of his teens. Nobody had ever played and sounded like Eric back then. You didn't mention the one thing besides his guitar sound and his "Slowhand" tone that is still as phenomenal as ever: his phrasing. To this day, there are very few guitarists who are able to phrase like Clapton. It's a God-given gift and he had it in spades.
Mark, THANK YOU for beautifully presenting what I have tried to articulate to newer guitarists, but you speak and play much better than I can! I love your lessons, your analyses, and your explanations. Please keep it up.
Mark, a great tribute to EC, w some nice examples and analysis of his technique. I’ve been playing for almost 60 years and am still learning from early Clapton recordings. Always enjoy your videos!
Im still not a believer on clapton, and im not a youngster, im 58, but I will agree with you on this: Just a guitar plugged into an amp - make that sound good with just your fingers (no fancy complicated gadgets) and the better guitar player you will be! Been working towards that myself!
Agree. And given his early lifestyle, which I understand continued until the 90s, that he's the only one of those guys still standing is amazing. (Well, B.B. was from an earlier era, but you get what I'm saying.)
Clapton is easily the most influential blues/rock guitarist of all time. Nearly the entire British Blues boom resulted from his playing and his influence. Further on up the road, he had a similar effect in the United States and throughout the rock loving planet. The Beatles made everyone want to play in a band. Clapton was the guy who made them want to play guitar. His influence cannot possibly be overstated.
I think it's a generational thing though too. For me it was definitely Page first and foremost. That was mid-1970s. Clapton had already left Cream-style far behind. I thought he was just okay ... then a friend's sister put on Wheels of Fire for me! So I don't choose #1, but Clapton is there with Jimi, Jimmy and possibly Chuck and Eddie for other generations.
@@MarkZabel Yes, Page later became the guy, when Zeppelin broke, but Eric was the first "guitar God" whom everyone took note of. I don't know how many fell into the Hendrix camp, as he seemed much more evolved for the average kid. But the big guys, Eric certainly among them, started pulling out all of the stops once Jimi had blown their minds. After Jimi, a whole new arsenal of effects and pedals were invented to chase the sound that Jimi was emitting through his unrestrained attack. Hendrix was still playing a form of blues, but it didn't sound anything like the blues that had gone on before him.
@@obbor4 All good discussion. I think a lot of people got into guitar because of Hendrix, but then quickly gave up playing like him. Clapton, good as he was, was easier to emulate or approximate in any event. Page is too ... for the most part. (Heartbreaker and Since I've Been Loving You are super-difficult to get that beautiful "sloppy control" he had.)
Clapton's playing and TONE on Beano and Fresh Cream is transporting. Either one of those albums and he's in the Hall of Fame. He doesn't try and wow you with his chops, he wows you with the music.
I had the joy of seeing Clapton in concert twice. First with Cream in the next to last concert they ever played. Most of that was all jamming. Incredible performance on an SG i believe. Next was when he went solo and he was using the Strat. The guy used a wah wah and not much else. He got incredible tones from the guitar controls and amp. Didnt need 10 pedals. He also didnt need tricks on guitar either. His solos were pure notes, not tapping or shredding or feedback. Hes a throwback.
Great video Mark! Eric is an icon. I think what bothers people is his change of direction of his music, they get upset because his music nowadays does not sound like his Cream or Bluesbreaker era. Clapton has evolved, he plays music that he wants to play, everyone should play music that they want to play.
The bit that I like when hearing people talk about this major scale or that minor scale is that the original player never gave it a thought .They just played it and it sounded good ,end of discussion . I like that because I just do it and have no idea what I am playing apart from kind of knowing the chords .
Yes, a bit like that. Though I think those things can be helpful whether the original player was thinking about that or not. My only quibble is that one should NEVER be thinking about that stuff while playing. It's fine for analysis and practice.
I have been lucky enough to see Clapton four times over the years, the first time with Cream in 68’, the second time with Blind Faith a couple of years later. In those days he was a monster player at the top of his game and a huge influence on virtually everyone that picked up a guitar. Thanks to UA-cam I can revisit those early days. Some of my fave solos are live versions of Meet me at the Bottom (Cream) and Sleepy Time Time (also Cream). Phenomenal feel and phrasing and that vibrato off of quick bends. Unbelievable.
@@MarkZabel First of all Mark, thanks for taking the time to reply and keep up the great work, very much appreciate your vids. Yes, I was lucky to see Cream, my very first concert in my hometown of Vancouver at 13 years old and it remains fresh in my mind. The three of them came on stage with attitude man! They knew they were the best out there and it showed. At various points, Eric actually turned his back to the audience and faced the plethora of Marshall stacks while ripping through a solo. Serious attitude. As I recall he was playing his famous “fool” SG. They were all amazing musicians and it blows me away that Clapton was in his very early 20’s. Blind Faith was more subdued but still outstanding. The back up band was Bonny, Delaney and friends with Leon Russell and Clapton joined them for their encore. Also in that band was Jim Gordon and Bobby Whitlock and that sowed the seeds for Derek and the Dominos shortly thereafter. What can you say about the Layla album, still at the top of my list to this day. Anyway Mark, thanks again and you take care of that back. Larry
Of the three main Yardbirds’ lead guitarists, Page was the one I listened to the most, Beck was the one I believe to be the best, but while all three influenced my playing, Clapton was the biggest influence, although I will never be confused for any of them.
Awesome lesson and rant, Mr. Z! So much helpful information in a small package. I agree with you 100%! Eric Clapton - Guitarist for The Yardbirds, The Blues Breakers, Cream, Blind Faith, etc., not to mention a solo career that has spanned decades. World class, unimaginably influential bands. And his playing sucks? It would seem the suckage is happening on the critics end!
Thank you so much for this. Clapton has been my favorite musician for 4 decades and every era of his career has something to offer. His playing is all stuff and no fluff to me. It is expressive, melodic, aggressive at times, and very vocal-like. Great Stuff👍👍🎸
I have been listening to Layla sessions since Christmas. But I mean that very literally. Almost non stop. Clapton ages incredibly well. The only break I have taken from the Layla sessions has been a few stops by the journeyman album. Totally different album. Totally different songs. Still incredibly expressive and beautiful. Clapton is God. Still.
After 25 years of playing guitar Id be ashamed if I couldn't say that I'm an advanced player. However your videos have always taught me something, and most importantly given me a different perspective. Thank you Mark! You are an amazing teacher and a great guitar player.
For me it was worth watching today to see and hear some useful Clapton tricks demonstrated on that beautiful Sire L7 guitar with P90s. Looks like it's dressed in a tuxedo for a big night on the town. Sire's Larry Carlton line has it goin' on, very high quality at reasonable prices. Gibson, take note. Is this L7 a new guitar for you, Mark? Hope your back gets better soon, mine's a little sore lately too.
Hey Mark! Yes, the Sire Larry Carlton L7v is new for me. I bought it because I didn't want to damage either of my 2 favorite guitars (Gibson 70s Tribute and B&G Little Sister) when I play out. Plus ... BONUS, it's exactly 8 lbs. Not super-light, but compared to a Les Paul Standard it's a feather! Other nice features are the bone nut, locking tuners and the spoon cut on the cutaway. Really nice for a $700 guitar. (Even less for the Goldtop or Sunburst, because they have nickel hardware.) So far I'm really enjoying it!
@@MarkZabel Fantastic. I know what you mean, I don't take my few 'nice' guitars out of the house. Your B&G, I definitely get how you feel about that. I got an Ltd EC-256 in a sweet deal last Fall to have a 'Les Paul' I'm not scared to use and surprise, it's become my main rock axe. Watch this happen to you with your new Sire. It's beautiful. Congratulations!
JJ Cale was another great player but most don't know about him. Eric Clapton is truly amazing and was a great friend of JJ Cale too. Oh and by the way Mark, your back is probably hurting from the heavy Les Paul. You should probably just send that over to my house so your back can heal. hahaha.. I do love that guitar.. Peace.. Joe
Ha ha! Sorry to disappoint, but it's exactly 8 lbs. My lightest LP is 6.5, which I love. It's a *huge* drawback of Les Pauls ... definitely. Yes, J.J. was cool!
@@MarkZabel Hi Mark, so sorry oops, obviously I didn''t watch the whole video. I was just stunned of the P90 sound. I am a big fan of P90 pickups. Thank you you.
A black LP with cream colored p90s has to be one of the coolest looking, not to mention sounding, guitars ever! Thanks for bringing a sense of the progression of art, and time to the young and brash. If anyone states "Clapton sucks", then they need to line up in order to get slapped. There, is that a cranky enough? - and I'm not even suffering in pain and on meds. Respectfully, I did get a twing of disagreement with the statement that Clapton influenced Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck. While "Clapton is God" was a common slogan back then, he did have contemporary dieties. I remain a practicing member of The Church of Beck. Great video, Mark. Can I borrow your Les Paul?
MARK, listen to a lot of Cream live concerts because Clapton also plays Triadic Soloing ( not scalar ) by using the tritone triads 3-b7-1 or 3-b7-5 mostly because he likes to land and end a phrase on the 5th. I'm not sure what its called music theory wise when a phrase ends on the 5th chord tone/scale degree? This is called Triadic Soloing by inserting tritone triads into the pentatonic licks. Try to make a lesson about it
I know I'm commenting a lot on this video, but I got to the part where he would use the neck humbucker with the tone knob turned down...the song SWLABR is a great example of him using that tone...
1❤yo buddy perfectly correct the greatest blues interpreters of our time think of it yardbirds cream Derrick and the domino's blind faith Beatles while my guitar gently weeps he single handedly brought Jamaican blues to the forefront i shot the sherif Bob marley i never would have listened to redemption song if he didn't cover Bob Marley thank you for this both Eric and Bob changed my life earning my zub in the most delightful way 😂
Thanks! And that's funny, I got into Marley for the same reason. (And now I don't really like Clapton's version because Bob's was so great .. but Clapton got me into it!) But yeah, Yardbirds through Derek - just great.
both a great instructional lesson and a pro's-eye explanation of what makes Clapton great. all the Clapton-bashers need to shut up and listen to this video.
I agree. His playing was not complex, it was stylistic and soulful for a blues/rock guitar player, and it was all about the fingers and playing what sounded good, not what sounded athletically impressive on the fretboard. And, that is what many new guitar players should pay attention to.
I think Clapton does some groupings of notes that are really powerful and unique. Like a run that strings together a number of notes in a phrase that doesn’t sound like anyone else. Does that make sense? You really have to slow down Crossroads to pick it up. Btw, note that your lesson is pretty much all Cream or early 70’s Clapton. I think most of the complaints about EC is that he lost his tone and fire. Still great though
I totally agree with you. In the 70s he became a singer-songwriter and his guitar playing lost a lot of "magic". He's still a great musician, he made some great records... but I much prefer the young Clapton, angry and raw.
Agree, he's quite melodic. Not just the notes, but the rhythm he uses with them and his musical motifs - quite good. And yes, all of the tips are from 1965-1971 Clapton. His play after that, with the exception of "Riding with the King" in 2000 and a few odd songs from the solo Clapton albums of the 1970s doesn't really do much for me. I don't hate it, but I don't love it either. Still, for me, that early Clapton was really something!
@@MarkZabel you hit on the head - it’s the rhythm of his playing/phrasing. Very different from Page, Beck and Hendrix. There are some 8-10 note (I think) fast phrases that are not slurred at all, all picked, where you go: did I hear that correctly? Hard to beat Crossroads solos - maybe best blues rock solos ever - but he’s not overall my favorite player - but those are in my top ten solos!
My favorite Clapton era, was between Ceam,and Blind faith, although there is no bad Clapton era. I find people who talk crap, about the Great's like Clapton normally can't play good enough to get out of the bedroom 😤
I find it's about 70/30. Those who you describe and inexperienced players who generally worship speed and purely technical play. I was there once a long time ago. Bonamassa recently had some choice words to say about Clapton's playing (all complimentary). Great phrasing and melodic sense ... and that vibrato. Just hits me in the gut when I listen to Fresh Cream and Mayall's Beano.
I loved the Cream era where Clapton used that SG...it just fit what that band was doing...and was very sad to see him NOT use a Les Paul or and SG when he did the reunion thing at Albert Hall with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker...I don't know if it was because of him being a Fender endorser or what...I mean even a 2 humbucker strat would have been a better choice in that mix...just my opinion...I think it would have been way closer to authentic Cream sound.
When a kid first Chuck Berry's double stops, and then learned Clapton's Crossroads and Badge on 45 records played at 33 1/3 speed hundreds of time to copy those single-line solos. (Along with Jumping Jack Flash by the Stones) And then all of these at full speed to jam along with. A Twenty-five year oldies festival weekend pro. Now retired. Good times. Thanks Eric and Keef ! ua-cam.com/video/qGd7SkdETro/v-deo.html
Other styles of guitar playing only exist because not everyone can play as well as Clapton 🙂. …not literally true obviously but what he plays in this era is almost like what the guitar sounds like by default or what it ‘wants to’ sound like. It’s the like the guitar being played in first person, present tense.
It’s funny how I know that I’ve heard harsh criticism of Clapton from several guitar players, but it seems nearly impossible for me to think of anyone who’s not a musician, having any kind of complaints about Clapton’s playing from any stage of his career.
I know your back is bothering you and i by no means was trying to poke you with a short stick. The foot note was for any unexperienced folks learning this for the first time - hoping you feel better soon and thanks for all the cool videos! 😇@@MarkZabel
Of course - standing. Did you watch this video? It's all about how he took from Blues greats and moved it to rock to create a new sound and genre. I focused on the "3 kings" because people mostly know them. People like Otis Rush and Earl Hooker are tough for most people to relate to.
Of course. Just reiterating your point. Love the old masters. Eric along with many of his contemporaries were lucky enough to showcase the genius of men who lived the music they played.
Anyone who achieves any level of musicianship (just the work involved) deserves respect, and not the rubbish these idiots dish out. (Most modern artists excluded)
imo, berry, clapton, then eddie. yeah i know i missed two but clapton already did blues on steroids, the missing two were awesome but not really game changers
Thanks and LOL! All of my LP style guitars are light. (One is 6.5 lbs!) I agree that's a drawback of the LP. IMHO the whole tonewood and "giant mass of wood" arguments are not true. This new Sire is 8 lbs even, which is okay. The culprit this time, as usual, was prolonged sitting. (Long drive without taking breaks.)
@@MarkZabel my back was out of commission a few months ago. Couldn’t do a thing, if I went out in public I nervous someone would bump into me. Rest and advil, unless you can get some muscle relaxers.
Try to play the solo in Badge, and play it right...then talk to me about Clapton being over -rated...I don't even consider the main rhythm lick he uses throughout Lay Down Sally easy...not everything he's done I would consider over the top fantastic, but him in Cream? That was spectacular...remember, a lot of what he did was in the early 60's/ through the 70's...if it was Clapton that met a young death, my guess is he would have been as elevated in popularity like what happened to Jimi...and really, he is still relevant today, and still plays to huge crowds...probably never see Eric Clapton booked in a Casino small concert room...not that that is bad...I'd love to be in a band booked in one of those casino concert halls, but Eric? Probably never see that happen. I'm with you...Eric Clapton, when you consider his log of material, I would not consider him "overrated". Hey, thanks for the video, and hope you and yours are well!
Eric doesn't suck, he's just limited to a creative peak inhabiting a short time-span. I saw him live in 1992 and it was just good, not amazing. But them I'm not one for post-Cream. There are only a few of his singles I like... and can't stand the vocals or bombast of D&tD 'Layla'. Overall, I think he hit on something early but his mojo didn't have the stamina to survive the year of 1968, and he withdrew.
I think that's right. Arguably he still did it a bit - flashes of it, but I agree with your assessment. IMHO it's a pity, although I love the layered sounds of Derek and Blind Faith.
Clapton was God - until he switched from Gibson to Fender. His Fender-style is cleaner, but lacks energy and emotion. Jack Bruce regarded Gary Moore as a a more charismatic blues player and I agree, unless we listen to Eric's work on the Les Paul and 335.
Yes, I liked his thicker tone better - and his aggressiveness during the early years. Still had it through the early Strat years too, but then became less interesting to me.
With all due respect I think that title goes to Hendrix. Clapton (aside from is asshole tendencies) is a great player but it seems to me that the Hendrix blow the doors wide open. Take care of that back!
Actually was Clapton, before Hendrix, that "invented" the aggressive and distorted sound who made Rock. He was a game changer... and was "god", at least until Hendrix... Hendrix was from another planet.
Hendrix had to go to London to make it (in NYC he was playing little dive bars) - the reason that he agreed to go to London with Chas Chandler was that Chandler told him he could introduce him to Clapton. The brilliance of Hendrix does not (or definitely should not) diminish the amazing acheivements of EC in his early career.
Really? The best and most influential player in the genre for about 3 years - 3 *pivotal* years in the development of rock and rock guitar. Extraordinary influence.
No one who is truly trying to make music sucks! We are all in this together, from Eric, to you, to me.
very good point
Seriously? In my career in music I've met a lot of people who sucked at it. They just didn't know they did. Just because you want to be good and want to make good music doesn't necessarily mean you're going to. There's this thing called talent that you either have or you don't. Just saying.
@@paultiberi641 If your heart is in the right place, ie you are really trying to make honest music, then you might well fail, but you don't suck.
You mean (I think) that there are plenty of people who aren't good at playing/singing/songwriting etc - to me, if they are sincerely trying, even if they are no good technically, they might fail, but they don't suck.
They are just good(OK, untalented) people making bad music.
Just my definition - only creeps and phonies truly suck however technically good they are.
@kienwilkinson3645 @rodjones117 I LOVE YOUR COMMENTS! So true. Goes for all worthwhile endeavors.
Eric is a great and though I've pinched things from Eric I don't sound like him I sound like me in fact I've borrowed from BB king , Gary Moore , SRV Angus young , chuck Berry to name but a few oh and the great keith Richards 🎵🎵🎸🎸🎵🎵
I love EC. His guitar playing is so expressive. It's melodious and it expresses so many human emotions. The amazing part he doesn't seem to need too many notes to say that and he can say that slowly without the need to play fast
I agree on Clapton. His 2nd solo on Crossroads is something else and I see that you touched on that one too.
Yes, exactly. I wasn't quite old enough to experience Clapton's break out moments, but his Crossroads solo was the first work of his to put me back on my heels. Great stuff.
Great video, Mark. I've met younger guitar players who think Clapton is "over-rated" or "sucks", and obviously they are dead wrong. However, they have been watching and listening to the old man Eric Clapton, who is a far cry from the young Eric Clapton of the '60s and '70s. They aren't aware of, or haven't seriously studied Eric's early work from the time he was a phenomenal young guitar genius just out of his teens. Nobody had ever played and sounded like Eric back then. You didn't mention the one thing besides his guitar sound and his "Slowhand" tone that is still as phenomenal as ever: his phrasing. To this day, there are very few guitarists who are able to phrase like Clapton. It's a God-given gift and he had it in spades.
One of the best examples of his blues phrasing ability has to be the steppin out live version from cream 2 live album. Truly a masterpiece
Yes, he has great phrasing too!
glad you pointed that out. the youngsters really don't understand what a revolution Clapton brought to the guitar.
Bro Im 17
A bad back is something to endure but your rant is one to enjoy, Mark!
Thank you so much!
5150 percent
I must say, I'm thoroughly impressed. Bravo!
Wow, thanks!
Mark, THANK YOU for beautifully presenting what I have tried to articulate to newer guitarists, but you speak and play much better than I can! I love your lessons, your analyses, and your explanations. Please keep it up.
Wow, thank you!
Mark, a great tribute to EC, w some nice examples and analysis of his technique. I’ve been playing for almost 60 years and am still learning from early Clapton recordings. Always enjoy your videos!
Thank you!
He's one of my favs.. .
Mine too.
Im still not a believer on clapton, and im
not a youngster, im 58, but I will agree with you on this: Just a guitar plugged into an amp - make that sound good with just your fingers (no fancy complicated gadgets) and the better guitar player you will be! Been working towards that myself!
Okay, sounds good!
You have to admire his Brilliance , he's a big influence on me as we'll as Gary Moore , and BB king , and SRV ,,
Agree. And given his early lifestyle, which I understand continued until the 90s, that he's the only one of those guys still standing is amazing. (Well, B.B. was from an earlier era, but you get what I'm saying.)
Clapton is easily the most influential blues/rock guitarist of all time. Nearly the entire British Blues boom resulted from his playing and his influence. Further on up the road, he had a similar effect in the United States and throughout the rock loving planet. The Beatles made everyone want to play in a band. Clapton was the guy who made them want to play guitar. His influence cannot possibly be overstated.
I think it's a generational thing though too. For me it was definitely Page first and foremost. That was mid-1970s. Clapton had already left Cream-style far behind. I thought he was just okay ... then a friend's sister put on Wheels of Fire for me!
So I don't choose #1, but Clapton is there with Jimi, Jimmy and possibly Chuck and Eddie for other generations.
@@MarkZabel Yes, Page later became the guy, when Zeppelin broke, but Eric was the first "guitar God" whom everyone took note of. I don't know how many fell into the Hendrix camp, as he seemed much more evolved for the average kid. But the big guys, Eric certainly among them, started pulling out all of the stops once Jimi had blown their minds. After Jimi, a whole new arsenal of effects and pedals were invented to chase the sound that Jimi was emitting through his unrestrained attack. Hendrix was still playing a form of blues, but it didn't sound anything like the blues that had gone on before him.
@@obbor4 All good discussion. I think a lot of people got into guitar because of Hendrix, but then quickly gave up playing like him. Clapton, good as he was, was easier to emulate or approximate in any event. Page is too ... for the most part. (Heartbreaker and Since I've Been Loving You are super-difficult to get that beautiful "sloppy control" he had.)
Hey Mark. Your tone sounds killer. Love the P90’s!
Thanks!
Excellent lesson
Thank you!
Beautiful guitar!
I'm really digging it so far!
Clapton's playing and TONE on Beano and Fresh Cream is transporting. Either one of those albums and he's in the Hall of Fame. He doesn't try and wow you with his chops, he wows you with the music.
Yes, especially in those early days IMHO.
Great job that really helps me thank you. Hope you feel better soon brother 😊
Thanks so much. Appreciate it!
Clapton is incredible ❤
LOL!
Great lesson about a great player!!! Thx Mark keep up the great work!!
Glad you liked it!
Clapton during his Cream days! My God! Guitar God indeed
I had the joy of seeing Clapton in concert twice. First with Cream in the next to last concert they ever played. Most of that was all jamming. Incredible performance on an SG i believe. Next was when he went solo and he was using the Strat. The guy used a wah wah and not much else. He got incredible tones from the guitar controls and amp. Didnt need 10 pedals. He also didnt need tricks on guitar either. His solos were pure notes, not tapping or shredding or feedback. Hes a throwback.
Yeah, that's awesome. He's a throwback, but of course, he was there! Quite a career.
Great video Mark! Eric is an icon. I think what bothers people is his change of direction of his music, they get upset because his music nowadays does not sound like his Cream or Bluesbreaker era. Clapton has evolved, he plays music that he wants to play, everyone should play music that they want to play.
Thanks!
Thanks Mark for covering so much of Clapton's blues tricks. Oh, Lots of stretching for a better back! Good luck.
Thanks Michael!
Clapton is a master he truly has a complete understanding of the gutiar.
The bit that I like when hearing people talk about this major scale or that minor scale is that the original
player never gave it a thought .They just played it and it sounded good ,end of discussion .
I like that because I just do it and have no idea what I am playing apart from kind of knowing the chords .
Yes, a bit like that. Though I think those things can be helpful whether the original player was thinking about that or not.
My only quibble is that one should NEVER be thinking about that stuff while playing. It's fine for analysis and practice.
I have been lucky enough to see Clapton four times over the years, the first time with Cream in 68’, the second time with Blind Faith a couple of years later. In those days he was a monster player at the top of his game and a huge influence on virtually everyone that picked up a guitar. Thanks to UA-cam I can revisit those early days. Some of my fave solos are live versions of Meet me at the Bottom (Cream) and Sleepy Time Time (also Cream). Phenomenal feel and phrasing and that vibrato off of quick bends. Unbelievable.
Very lucky indeed!
@@MarkZabel
First of all Mark, thanks for taking the time to reply and keep up the great work, very much appreciate your vids.
Yes, I was lucky to see Cream, my very first concert in my hometown of Vancouver at 13 years old and it remains fresh in my mind. The three of them came on stage with attitude man! They knew they were the best out there and it showed. At various points, Eric actually turned his back to the audience and faced the plethora of Marshall stacks while ripping through a solo. Serious attitude. As I recall he was playing his famous “fool” SG. They were all amazing musicians and it blows me away that Clapton was in his very early 20’s. Blind Faith was more subdued but still outstanding. The back up band was Bonny, Delaney and friends with Leon Russell and Clapton joined them for their encore. Also in that band was Jim Gordon and Bobby Whitlock and that sowed the seeds for Derek and the Dominos shortly thereafter. What can you say about the Layla album, still at the top of my list to this day.
Anyway Mark, thanks again and you take care of that back.
Larry
hope your back gets better. You're a great teacher thx
Thanks so much!
Great analysis and demo. Many thanks. Love the slow down with tab.
Thanks! Glad you liked it.
He was a game changer, thanks for the lesson Mark! 👋🖤🦋🖤
Total game changer, I agree. Glad you enjoyed it!
Mark, how do you record your sound? Is your amp mic’d?
I go direct to an audio interface for the guitar and vocal mics.
Of the three main Yardbirds’ lead guitarists, Page was the one I listened to the most, Beck was the one I believe to be the best, but while all three influenced my playing, Clapton was the biggest influence, although I will never be confused for any of them.
Awesome lesson and rant, Mr. Z! So much helpful information in a small package. I agree with you 100%! Eric Clapton - Guitarist for The Yardbirds, The Blues Breakers, Cream, Blind Faith, etc., not to mention a solo career that has spanned decades. World class, unimaginably influential bands. And his playing sucks? It would seem the suckage is happening on the critics end!
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks!
Thank you so much for this. Clapton has been my favorite musician for 4 decades and every era of his career has something to offer. His playing is all stuff and no fluff to me. It is expressive, melodic, aggressive at times, and very vocal-like. Great Stuff👍👍🎸
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Mark! Thanks for your great tutorial. I still love Cream. Eric is a truly-influential guitarist.
Thanks Mark
You're welcome. Thanks for watching!
I have been listening to Layla sessions since Christmas. But I mean that very literally. Almost non stop. Clapton ages incredibly well. The only break I have taken from the Layla sessions has been a few stops by the journeyman album. Totally different album. Totally different songs. Still incredibly expressive and beautiful. Clapton is God. Still.
That Clapton tone!
Incredible - especially early on IMHO, but even later.
After 25 years of playing guitar Id be ashamed if I couldn't say that I'm an advanced player. However your videos have always taught me something, and most importantly given me a different perspective. Thank you Mark! You are an amazing teacher and a great guitar player.
Wow! Thank you so much. You made my day!
For me it was worth watching today to see and hear some useful Clapton tricks demonstrated on that beautiful Sire L7 guitar with P90s. Looks like it's dressed in a tuxedo for a big night on the town. Sire's Larry Carlton line has it goin' on, very high quality at reasonable prices. Gibson, take note. Is this L7 a new guitar for you, Mark? Hope your back gets better soon, mine's a little sore lately too.
Hey Mark! Yes, the Sire Larry Carlton L7v is new for me. I bought it because I didn't want to damage either of my 2 favorite guitars (Gibson 70s Tribute and B&G Little Sister) when I play out. Plus ... BONUS, it's exactly 8 lbs. Not super-light, but compared to a Les Paul Standard it's a feather! Other nice features are the bone nut, locking tuners and the spoon cut on the cutaway. Really nice for a $700 guitar. (Even less for the Goldtop or Sunburst, because they have nickel hardware.) So far I'm really enjoying it!
@@MarkZabel Fantastic. I know what you mean, I don't take my few 'nice' guitars out of the house. Your B&G, I definitely get how you feel about that. I got an Ltd EC-256 in a sweet deal last Fall to have a 'Les Paul' I'm not scared to use and surprise, it's become my main rock axe. Watch this happen to you with your new Sire. It's beautiful. Congratulations!
Sorry you back hurts, hang in there. Thank you for all you do.
Thanks so much!
Really enjoyed the vid., first one of yours Ive seen. Definitely not the last thx! That Sire is a fine looking beast!
Thanks a bunch Dave! Yes, I'm enjoying the Sire. It's a fairly new purchase. Quality instrument.
Clapton got:
- Precission
- Feel
- creativity
and Clapton is a hell of a Guitar Guy.
And Mark...I love that P90s
Thanks. Yeah, I'm digging the P90s on this too!
What a fantastic video have a wonderful day also do you have regrets when looking back in life ❤😊
Thanks! Regrets? I don't know ... probably. I try not to dwell on the negative. Thanks and have a great day!
JJ Cale was another great player but most don't know about him. Eric Clapton is truly amazing and was a great friend of JJ Cale too. Oh and by the way Mark, your back is probably hurting from the heavy Les Paul. You should probably just send that over to my house so your back can heal. hahaha.. I do love that guitar.. Peace.. Joe
Ha ha! Sorry to disappoint, but it's exactly 8 lbs. My lightest LP is 6.5, which I love. It's a *huge* drawback of Les Pauls ... definitely.
Yes, J.J. was cool!
Really digging the P90. This maybe a silly is that a Gibson Les Paul?
Watch the whole video! He says what it is at 5:26.
Hi Angel, as @zuperdee says, it's in the video at 5:26. A little hint though - no, it's not a Gibson, but YES, it's great! (And a lot less money too.)
@@MarkZabel Hi Mark, so sorry oops, obviously I didn''t watch the whole video. I was just stunned of the P90 sound. I am a big fan of P90 pickups. Thank you you.
A black LP with cream colored p90s has to be one of the coolest looking, not to mention sounding, guitars ever!
Thanks for bringing a sense of the progression of art, and time to the young and brash. If anyone states "Clapton sucks", then they need to line up in order to get slapped.
There, is that a cranky enough? - and I'm not even suffering in pain and on meds.
Respectfully, I did get a twing of disagreement with the statement that Clapton influenced Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck. While "Clapton is God" was a common slogan back then, he did have contemporary dieties. I remain a practicing member of The Church of Beck.
Great video, Mark. Can I borrow your Les Paul?
Hey Mike! You can drop by any time ... to have a look at the Les Paul! LOL! Sure you can borrow it man.
MARK, listen to a lot of Cream live concerts because Clapton also plays Triadic Soloing ( not scalar ) by using the tritone triads 3-b7-1 or 3-b7-5 mostly because he likes to land and end a phrase on the 5th. I'm not sure what its called music theory wise when a phrase ends on the 5th chord tone/scale degree? This is called Triadic Soloing by inserting tritone triads into the pentatonic licks. Try to make a lesson about it
I know I'm commenting a lot on this video, but I got to the part where he would use the neck humbucker with the tone knob turned down...the song SWLABR is a great example of him using that tone...
Yes ... and comment as much as you like brother!
Crossroads finex4xample minor to major
Yes.
1❤yo buddy perfectly correct the greatest blues interpreters of our time think of it yardbirds cream Derrick and the domino's blind faith Beatles while my guitar gently weeps he single handedly brought Jamaican blues to the forefront i shot the sherif Bob marley i never would have listened to redemption song if he didn't cover Bob Marley thank you for this both Eric and Bob changed my life earning my zub in the most delightful way 😂
Thanks! And that's funny, I got into Marley for the same reason. (And now I don't really like Clapton's version because Bob's was so great .. but Clapton got me into it!) But yeah, Yardbirds through Derek - just great.
@@MarkZabel I agree I have to listen to Bob as well and oh yes thanks I forgot the blues breakers as well and all his solo work
both a great instructional lesson and a pro's-eye explanation of what makes Clapton great. all the Clapton-bashers need to shut up and listen to this video.
Thanks!
Thanks!
One of the absolute greats. If you love the blues you love this guy. He wasn't God but close enough. Take care of that back.
Thanks!
Try taking Turmeric for back pain instead of medicine. Don't forget to add a little black pepper for absorption or you won't get the proper effect.
I'll try that, thanks.
I agree. His playing was not complex, it was stylistic and soulful for a blues/rock guitar player, and it was all about the fingers and playing what sounded good, not what sounded athletically impressive on the fretboard. And, that is what many new guitar players should pay attention to.
Yes ... that!!
Raise that 3rd
I still go for JIMMY PAGE!
Awesome!
CLAPTON IS GOD!!! \m/
It's not that his playing sucks, it's that everything else about him sucks
I think Clapton does some groupings of notes that are really powerful and unique. Like a run that strings together a number of notes in a phrase that doesn’t sound like anyone else. Does that make sense? You really have to slow down Crossroads to pick it up. Btw, note that your lesson is pretty much all Cream or early 70’s Clapton. I think most of the complaints about EC is that he lost his tone and fire. Still great though
I totally agree with you. In the 70s he became a singer-songwriter and his guitar playing lost a lot of "magic".
He's still a great musician, he made some great records... but I much prefer the young Clapton, angry and raw.
Agree, he's quite melodic. Not just the notes, but the rhythm he uses with them and his musical motifs - quite good.
And yes, all of the tips are from 1965-1971 Clapton. His play after that, with the exception of "Riding with the King" in 2000 and a few odd songs from the solo Clapton albums of the 1970s doesn't really do much for me. I don't hate it, but I don't love it either.
Still, for me, that early Clapton was really something!
@@MarkZabel you hit on the head - it’s the rhythm of his playing/phrasing. Very different from Page, Beck and Hendrix. There are some 8-10 note (I think) fast phrases that are not slurred at all, all picked, where you go: did I hear that correctly? Hard to beat Crossroads solos - maybe best blues rock solos ever - but he’s not overall my favorite player - but those are in my top ten solos!
My favorite Clapton era, was between Ceam,and Blind faith, although there is no bad Clapton era. I find people who talk crap, about the Great's like Clapton normally can't play good enough to get out of the bedroom 😤
I find it's about 70/30. Those who you describe and inexperienced players who generally worship speed and purely technical play. I was there once a long time ago. Bonamassa recently had some choice words to say about Clapton's playing (all complimentary). Great phrasing and melodic sense ... and that vibrato. Just hits me in the gut when I listen to Fresh Cream and Mayall's Beano.
Yup. It's all in the fingers. Slow hand. ... can you do a version of I think it's called, nobody knows you when you're down and out? Clapton is God.
Ask and (sometimes) you shall receive. Here's "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out". ua-cam.com/video/t0sCqVagrIo/v-deo.html
I loved the Cream era where Clapton used that SG...it just fit what that band was doing...and was very sad to see him NOT use a Les Paul or and SG when he did the reunion thing at Albert Hall with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker...I don't know if it was because of him being a Fender endorser or what...I mean even a 2 humbucker strat would have been a better choice in that mix...just my opinion...I think it would have been way closer to authentic Cream sound.
Totally agree. Gave fodder to all the people who think "Strat and only Strat" for Clapton. Now they can even say, "See? He used a Strat with Cream!"
When a kid first Chuck Berry's double stops, and then learned Clapton's Crossroads and Badge on 45 records played at 33 1/3 speed hundreds of time to copy those single-line solos. (Along with Jumping Jack Flash by the Stones) And then all of these at full speed to jam along with. A Twenty-five year oldies festival weekend pro. Now retired. Good times. Thanks Eric and Keef ! ua-cam.com/video/qGd7SkdETro/v-deo.html
Backaches are lame. I hope you feel better Mark. I love Cream. White Room is gorgeous. Awesome wah.
Thanks David!
Don't forget Clapton also used 335s.
True.
Clapton is God. Period....
Other styles of guitar playing only exist because not everyone can play as well as Clapton 🙂.
…not literally true obviously but what he plays in this era is almost like what the guitar sounds like by default or what it ‘wants to’ sound like. It’s the like the guitar being played in first person, present tense.
It’s funny how I know that I’ve heard harsh criticism of Clapton from several guitar players, but it seems nearly impossible for me to think of anyone who’s not a musician, having any kind of complaints about Clapton’s playing from any stage of his career.
❤️
foot note for folks who have not studied this style/tone before - early Gibson play by Clapton were PAF loaded Gibsons, not P90 loaded Gibsons.
Yes, I know.
I know your back is bothering you and i by no means was trying to poke you with a short stick. The foot note was for any unexperienced folks learning this for the first time - hoping you feel better soon and thanks for all the cool videos! 😇@@MarkZabel
I think Clapton had a dull spell in the early to mid 2000’s but seems to be rocking it again
If I could only show you the jump scale you would say that's it!
How so? Maybe the only "Gibsons" are Charlie Christian, T-bone and Robert?
@@MarkZabel I learned so much from Charlie Christian, the is so many things he does that are genius
@@MarkZabel Benny Goodman used the Jump/Swing scale Charlie Christian brought it to guitar.
He got famous standing on the shoulders of giants. All his early licks came from black blues men that most of you have never heard of.
Freddie King is rolling in his grave 😂
@@michaelhockmuller4677 Freddie Was a god!!!
Of course - standing. Did you watch this video? It's all about how he took from Blues greats and moved it to rock to create a new sound and genre.
I focused on the "3 kings" because people mostly know them. People like Otis Rush and Earl Hooker are tough for most people to relate to.
@@MarkZabel No offense. Love Clapton. Love the video. Thanks for doing what you do.
Of course. Just reiterating your point. Love the old masters. Eric along with many of his contemporaries were lucky enough to showcase the genius of men who lived the music they played.
Clapton, the Epiphone of guitar players.
EC as a guitarist was hugely influential, but as a bandleader he's a demigod.
Anyone who achieves any level of musicianship (just the work involved) deserves respect, and not the rubbish these idiots dish out.
(Most modern artists excluded)
imo, berry, clapton, then eddie. yeah i know i missed two but clapton already did blues on steroids, the missing two were awesome but not really game changers
Sorry to hear about your back Mark, those Les Pauls will do that 🤭
Thanks and LOL! All of my LP style guitars are light. (One is 6.5 lbs!) I agree that's a drawback of the LP. IMHO the whole tonewood and "giant mass of wood" arguments are not true. This new Sire is 8 lbs even, which is okay.
The culprit this time, as usual, was prolonged sitting. (Long drive without taking breaks.)
@@MarkZabel my back was out of commission a few months ago. Couldn’t do a thing, if I went out in public I nervous someone would bump into me. Rest and advil, unless you can get some muscle relaxers.
Well. I have a Sire Larry Carlton T5. I have a Sire Larry Carlton H7V. Now I need an L7V... thanks for nothing Mark! ;-)
LOL! Sorry about that.
Try to play the solo in Badge, and play it right...then talk to me about Clapton being over -rated...I don't even consider the main rhythm lick he uses throughout Lay Down Sally easy...not everything he's done I would consider over the top fantastic, but him in Cream? That was spectacular...remember, a lot of what he did was in the early 60's/ through the 70's...if it was Clapton that met a young death, my guess is he would have been as elevated in popularity like what happened to Jimi...and really, he is still relevant today, and still plays to huge crowds...probably never see Eric Clapton booked in a Casino small concert room...not that that is bad...I'd love to be in a band booked in one of those casino concert halls, but Eric? Probably never see that happen. I'm with you...Eric Clapton, when you consider his log of material, I would not consider him "overrated". Hey, thanks for the video, and hope you and yours are well!
Thanks Rob!
Clapton offended the C- cultists so it's open season on him.
If you think Clapton is overrated or boring, than you know nothing about music or guitar playing. Thanks, Mark, for setting these noobs straight.
Thanks!
Eric doesn't suck, he's just limited to a creative peak inhabiting a short time-span.
I saw him live in 1992 and it was just good, not amazing. But them I'm not one for post-Cream. There are only a few of his singles I like... and can't stand the vocals or bombast of D&tD 'Layla'.
Overall, I think he hit on something early but his mojo didn't have the stamina to survive the year of 1968, and he withdrew.
That was a Gibson Les Paul with p90s
Watch the whole video! He says what it is at 5:26. It’s NOT a Gibson or an Epiphone.
I'm with you Frank. I know. I'm fresh out of 1959 Les Pauls. (now I'm gonna cry ... actually, I'm laughing. Appreciate your comment.)
After Cream he stopped playing aggressively…still great, but he evolved. Page filled that niche…imho.
I think that's right. Arguably he still did it a bit - flashes of it, but I agree with your assessment. IMHO it's a pity, although I love the layered sounds of Derek and Blind Faith.
Clapton is god!
Clapton was God - until he switched from Gibson to Fender. His Fender-style is cleaner, but lacks energy and emotion. Jack Bruce regarded Gary Moore as a a more charismatic blues player and I agree, unless we listen to Eric's work on the Les Paul and 335.
Yes, I liked his thicker tone better - and his aggressiveness during the early years. Still had it through the early Strat years too, but then became less interesting to me.
LOL!.....Eric who?
With all due respect I think that title goes to Hendrix. Clapton (aside from is asshole tendencies) is a great player but it seems to me that the Hendrix blow the doors wide open. Take care of that back!
hey man why do you got to throw in your opinion of Clapton personally. gtfoh with negative garbage.
Actually was Clapton, before Hendrix, that "invented" the aggressive and distorted sound who made Rock.
He was a game changer... and was "god", at least until Hendrix... Hendrix was from another planet.
Hendrix was a big Clapton fan.
Hendrix had to go to London to make it (in NYC he was playing little dive bars) - the reason that he agreed to go to London with Chas Chandler was that Chandler told him he could introduce him to Clapton.
The brilliance of Hendrix does not (or definitely should not) diminish the amazing acheivements of EC in his early career.
Eric made a name for himself for sure. You don't have to like him to respect what he brought to the table.
Clapton sucks. He ruined rock.
Nah man, that band Greta van fleet is the reason the New York Dolls came about, the singer is pretensious and goofy AF.
CraPton...
I've never any of those things in regards to Eric Clapton. You're probably making that up because you have a UA-cam channel for no reason.
Huh? Have you been living under a rock for the past 20 years?
Try using Google before you accuse me of lying.
There's dumb then there's dumber then there's no nothing untalented losers who live in their mom's basement.
He's the definition of overrated imo
Really? The best and most influential player in the genre for about 3 years - 3 *pivotal* years in the development of rock and rock guitar. Extraordinary influence.
@@MarkZabel you should replace best with favourite imo.