A older player told me long ago. It’s not the notes but the space in between them. Lots of value in that statement. I’m a true Clapton fan. Style and tone for days….
Yep and along the lines of that old 'blues' adage, that, sometimes, "less is more". ... I thought Peter Green's playing in the early period epitomised that.
I've played with some fantastic musicians who were incredibly precise and fast. But I never got into that. I wasn't fast, and I could never be fast, because injured my hands when I was a sailor and just didn't have the speed or dexterity to do that. I adapted by tending towards more emotive playing. Guys like Clapton and Gilmour gave me hope. I still play, and I still love it.
I used to shred pretty well but stuffed my left hand diving. Cut some nerves, so now I just take it easy too mate. I actually enjoy the challenge of playing less notes. I watched Guthrie Govan lately and although he’s amazing to me now it’s just note salad. Gilmour and Clapton were my biggest influences when I was young as well.
I am 53 and with arthritis and carpal tunnel I’ve slowed down but used to play Yngwie and Petrucci level. What I have noticed is when I play a tasty, melodic Gilmoresque solo at a gig I get faar more positive audience feedback rather than acrobatic speed stuff.
I bought the first 3 Cream albums, vinyl, when they were released. Loved Clapton the first time I heard him. Fresh Cream (1966) Disraeli Gears (1967) Wheels of Fire (1968)
Yes, these albums remain pretty special - not least for Clapton's incredible SOUND on "Fresh Cream," and "Disraeli Gears," particularly - and his particularly appropriate brilliance in what he did in each song. People who deride the later laid-back Clapton should hear how incredibly fiery he was as a young player in his very early twenties - which to so many people's regret, he seems to have lost in the decades since! Even though, in many ways, he's broadened and become more sophisticated as a player, with no need to prove himself in any way!
@@fiddleandfart Especially when you consider he's in his 70's now , so of course his playing style is more mature sounding now. But I absolutely love his early work , people expect him to play the same as he did over 50 years ago. I've always liked his playing!
This is something that most people miss (judging from what I hear from UA-cam). I think the way to get it is to try to play solos *exactly* -- so that they are indistinguishable from the originals, and do that with solos that aren't blazingly fast. A good one to work on would be George Harrison's solo on "Something". This is what classical musicians are doing *all* the time -- the notes are all given to them, so the only thing that distinguishes one performance from another is exactly how each note is played. It's all about the details.
Emotional phrasing & touching each note with a soulful expectation brings life and dimension. Once your soul becomes involved your music moves to a much higher level and intensity.
I like this guy but yeah he has quickly mastered the art of stringing along to just increase viewer time to obtain the views and therefor $$$. He even does it with the “continuation in the next video!” Method Man we are all just goddamned consumers 🤣
Pat Metheny's first guitar teacher was a horn player too. He told Pat to phrase things as if it were a horn solo where you had to take a breath. It's also why many good players sing along with their solos. Singing with the solos forces you to play with breathing space.
I call Eric's music "Funky Falling Water". His notes flow seamlessly up and down the scale like water flowing over rocks in a stream with no harsh transitions. Every note fits and NEEDS to be there.
A GREAT lesson / insight. Congrats to DW! That’s part of why I felt that BB loved Peter Green’s playing. Greenie was talking to us, and each word made a difference. Rock on, Bro.
@@mikeg6666 Duane was known for the slide part on that song far as I know Eric played the main riff and Duane all the crazy slide which makes it big time.
It is called "soul". Putting one's self into all of a song. Not just a few riffs. The Concert for George was an amazing look at EC playing "While My Guitar Gently weeps" with so much feeling for his friend now gone.
...and the most important thing in Clapton's playing: He always plays the “right amount” of notes. There is never an unnecessary note, never a note too much. He never "overdoes" his playing.
Great analysis! I think this note by note approach explains Santana’s playing as well. Think of the great guitarists in history who you can name by hearing only one note.
Very interesting video. Really enjoyed it. I’ve only seen Clapton live once. He just blew me away. He just plays differently than anyone else. He really has a gift. It’s God given. And he plays notes in places no one does - it just grabs you. Plus, his phrasing. Unreal. Need to see him live again
I have always preferred one note from David Gilmour over 50 notes from any so called Prog Player. The difference is in Intent! Am I trying to SAY something to you, or am I just trying to impress you with how many notes I can cram into a measure?
Great presentation David, and I'm just starting to see these concepts after playing guitar for many years, long story short, it comes down to very subtle nuacesand technique variations that'll give any player his or her unique style, not to mention make special
I love unplugged stuff of his so much but I never liked clapton's electric guitar playing (i thought it was nothing unique as you mentioned) until i saw the Cream reunioun concert: clapton can just play pantatonics in the pocket all over the fretboard for very long period of time without sounding cheesy, which is soooo hard to do. Additional to what you mentioned on his note accent, he is always at the right note and at the right time and so natural and soulful.
Very nice vid. I'm a huge Clapton fan as well, and for me it's always been his 'touch' and the way the notes seem to 'drip' off his guitar. When I first started playing (before I could understand what was going on technically), his playing always made me visualize water. Still enchanted with it to this day. Thank you for the reminder.
They used to call it soul. Not R&B Soul music. He puts his soul into every note. That's why he's been my favorite guitarist since I first heard him in Disraeli Gears and Tales of Great Ulysses.
Clapton is a bluesman first and foremost. Like all the greats who preceded him, inside himself he sings the tune that he will then play. With method and many exercises you can succeed. Notes should not be thrown away. Just listen to B.B. King, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, etc
BB King, Hubert Sumlin, and many others did the same thing. They put it all in every note, every phrase, and even in the "rests" in the intervals. Pure art and soul.
Even Steve Vai said he does the same thing. It might seem crazy because his music is so technically difficult. But he said that something he tries to do is “live within every note I play, no matter how slow or fast”
"eric clapton's another guitar player that's blown my mind many times..it's because of his ability to create a solo that tells you a story..he never play anything fast,it's always well thought-out and beautifully played",.thats what tommy emmanuel said on eric clapton
He has also really grown as a singer. His tone and tasteful playing is part of the appeal. He likes songs. Nothing wrong with songs being accessible and memorable.
Clapton didn’t write all his songs but the ones he did are great. I was never really into him until I saw the documentary and Red the book. I have respect for him and by sheer coincidence I ended up being offered a Clapton signature Strat! Cool guitar!
I saw Clapton on an Australian tour he has Derek Trucks in the band. Clayton’s tone , phrasing and feel were perfect. I went because my father told me as a guitar player it’s my duty lol. I’m really glad I saw him, he’s a genius.
Yeah…that’s how I also ended up seeing Les Paul at Fat Tuesday’s in NYC way back in the early 90’s. Had a nice conversation w him after. Lifetime memory! Nice handle btw 😉
Thank you. I first heard clapton when I was 11 years old. There is some kind Of magic that keeps me listening....I love all music and love all guitarsis....I stopped listening to music during covid as I was too depressed....until I heard clapton collaborate with ozzy.
Wow, I play just like that, thinking about every note. I was playing at a club on sunset with a blues singer and the soundman called me over after our set and I thought he was going to chew me out cause I was playing too loud and he said to me, "I hear about a hundred guitar players every week and you were one of my favorites". I think of the solo as if I was going to sing it in my head and I can sing along with all of my solos and do the George Benson thing. You are spot on about Eric Clapton.
This is a great point, David, and I don't know that I ever thought of it quite this way. I used to have this conversation all the time. "What do you play?" "I mostly play blues." "I don't like blues. It all sounds the same." "Well, the way I look at it is, most blues songs do have the same structure - but because of that structure, you have infinite ways to express yourself." Your explanation here really gets at that. The one thing I would try to evangelize to my guitar-playing buddies is that there are a lot of ways just to bend a note, and the blues lives partly in your relationship with those infinite spaces between the traditional 12 tones. (Jazz and classical avoid microtones completely; blues thrives on them.) And although I didn't verbalize what you're saying about each note's individuality, bending notes is where I most felt that intuitively. Anyway, this was great!
Heard Clapton say before that he approaches leads as a singer. People don’t sing every word/syllable the same either. Clapton used a Sinatra vocal melody on “Sunshine of your love” I think it really can help guitar players to sing a phrase then translate it to guitar. It helped me Rock on David 🤘
Yeah, saw an interview and he said he looks at a solo as the meaningful parts of the melody. Not just ripping some unintelligible notes off the guitar.
Recently Rick Beto put out a video of shredders and save The Best for last and that was Steve lukather. The amazing thing about Steve shredding is, like Clapton, he put love into every single note even while he was shredding. That is what set clapton, Steve lukather and Gary Moore apart from most other great guitar players.
Excellent lesson! This should be required for all guitar players to watch this video. Those who get wrapped up in technique forget that the notes have to have a soul. BB King played three note solos that anyone could play, but no one could have that passion in three notes like him. I am not knocking shredders. Eddie Van Halen had great technique AND soul in every note. Many copied his technique and no one sounded like him either.
He listened to Jeff Beck. Yardbirds. Jeff has never played a note with the same volume, attack, intensity and tremolo arm combinations twice in his entire career.
If you wanna really see Eric Clapton's heart & soul watch him play the song he wrote for his baby boy who sadly passed away as a child. I'm, of course, talking about, "Tears In Heaven." You can see just how much he loves his son.
This is exactly why satriani is my favorite player. He can go from full on shred to playing with soul. Imo, a player needs both in their arsenal. This personalization of notes is what truly does bring emotion into the music. We, as players, get caught up with all things technical and forget music is about emotion and touching people
I am just coming into this way of playing. I imagine conversations or storytelling as I play. The notes are the syllables sometimes, sometimes they are the feelings. I play what I hear see and feel now. It's changed everything. I play so much now because of it. So much my calluses are cut through. I put in 10-16 hours a day every day when my fingers aren't all cut up. It becomes addictive when you can play like this.
A Master can do it with one punch....All it takes is the right note in the right place..ala Jeff Beck..Albert King..Miles Davis...BB King...or Robben Ford
I've always thought Clapton was extremely precise. Way more so than other blues players. His technique is just flawless. The bent note with vibrato at top is so hard to do and he's a master at it.
To me, Eric Clapton is the epitome of “class”. Every note rings true. He steps back to let others shine when they’re time to shine comes, he’s right on time when his time to shine comes. He’s got nothing to prove. People know he can kick ass amongst literally anyone but he’s perfectly happy to be amongst other greats and step into a secondary position. He chooses people to be part of his band he knows feel the same and who are always welcome and can be counted on to be dependable. He plays great songs with such melodic and beautiful meaning and every song is always perfect. He’s been through enough shit in his life that when he’s playing blues he obviously can truthfully deeply feel it and relate to it and his fingers know exactly the notes and tone to let the audience feel it and relate to the music. The man is truly a master of his craft. He’s not there only for the money or to collect a pay check, but to be amongst good friends who love him and who he loves. I have enjoyed and loved Eric Clapton for MANY years and when Eric Clapton passes from this life a huge hole will be left not only in the world but in the hearts and souls of all of us who have rocked, danced, played, sang to, sang with, laughed, and cried to songs, learned his unmistakable riffs, and meaningful lyrics he has left us all with that have truly touched our lives and souls in the special way that no one else will ever come close to. There is not anyone of note who Eric hasn’t played with and none who would not jump at the chance to have the honor of having Eric play on their recordings. I look forward to listening to ERIC CLAPTON in Heaven where we’ll meet again because although your song “Tears in Heaven” states you don’t belong there, we know you belong and will be there entertaining all who love and look forward to hearing the amazing talents the Lord has given you to bless all who will be forgiven due to the Lord’s eternal mercy and forgiveness. Thank you Eric Clapton for truly making this world a better place with your music and the kindness you have given others.
A lot of times when I watch your videos, I feel like I am learning something. Then, by the time you finish, I feel like I spent a lot of time just watching somebody beat around the bush explaining their opinion but not learning much (kinda like how I felt when my old high school physics teacher would ramble on about how amazing science was and the amazing world we live in, blah blah blah this and that but not get anything out of it and be screwed by the next test). Today though, I felt like I really took something out of it, so thank you. As an art student, the idea of every note and segment of the songs being a character expressing itself really helped me see music different.
I agree Clapton is one of the most ‘Soulful’ Lead players of all time. In many interviews Clapton admits he was inspired by the great Delta Blues and Chicago Blues guitarists eg the ‘Three Kings’. Fundamental to Clapton’s Soloing is his foundation of Major and Minor Pentatonics, Blues Boxes, Octave positions, I believe 90 % of his lead playing is this foundation plus his own ‘Phrasing and bending’.
On the same vain, gilmour once said he can play a note 100 different ways. It’s the little things, the attention to detail, that have placed both Clapton and gilmour in my Mount Rushmore.
David, you need to listen to Clapton's early stuff. John Mayall and the Blues Breakers (The Beano Cover), Cream up to and including Wheels of Fire. That may give you some idea. I've been listening to Clapton since 1968. To me, Layla and Cocaine are at least later Clapton.
I so agree! Clapton's Mayall, and Cream recordings established the early greatness of young Clapton. "Layla," and beyond were great records, but never quite matched the stage-ripping magic and power of his early years!
Well said David. The best way I've heard it said is "only play as many notes as is necessary." Most players are better off being intentional and slow rather than trying to fit as many scales into a phrase as possible. This is NOT to say that technical or fast playing is bad, it's just harder to make musical.
If you were a teenage guitarist when the Blues Breaker album came out, you knew that Clapton was on a different level from everyone else at the time. It is more than "feel" which of course he has, but it is his mastery of the guitar neck and his ability to move freely around it. Being a musical genus helps too.
I personally think that Blues Breaker album was earth shattering...although Mayall said they were just recording what they were then playing in the clubs every week. If you can play half the stuff Clapton did on there, you'd bee a very good blues guitarist !
He sucked! How can these people idolize such an average pentatonic scale player-He had no feel just vanity! I could learn a Clapton song when I was 14 in one take! DiMeola Stanley Clarke will never be matched. Especially Stanley Clark-he could make that base sound magical, and could match most electric guitarist. He simply in my mind was the best guitarist ever. He could do anything with that base any electric virtuoso could! I’m so sick of these so called shredders. Satriani probably had more feel than any guitarist. Johnson is a showboat, but it’s the blues that will forever ever hold the mantle for heart & soul!
Nice work, David. I like to mention - Like any accomplished blues player, Clapton does not just play pentatonic scales. It seems like kind of a myth out there that this is all Clapton, Hendrix, etc. played. But they carefully choose when to play the 6th, major 3rd, etc. Take apart some of his solos in his 'middle period,' like on Just One Night in Worried Life Blues, for example, and these things stand out. B B King's playing is similarly full of some surprises.
I don't know who you are or how you ended up in my feed, but boy, what a great analysis. Indeed, Eric has this attention to articulation that is hard to replicate. Kinda like Jim Hall in the jazz world. Not super virtuosic, but greatly intriguing through great phrasing and articulation.
Your onto something I happened upon at first when I first started playing. And I've been feeling them out so long I never got around to getting into the fast sets. The fast sets never seemed to have any real life. Always seemed more like a party trick or some affectation. But I do realize that there is a place for it now, and I don't have to shun that either, or perhaps I'll miss out on something good in there too. So I'm finally looking at Van Halen types.
@@julaiarnold641 My favorite surprise was "Worried Life Blues". I also loved the beginning of "White Room" where Clapton is playing in what looked to be a backyard. I wish I could find the entire footage from that "backyard" jam.
The way I heard it, Eric’s solo patterns were played in a way to emulate someone singing. His intervals, perhaps complemented his playing? I’m not a professional, just my novice bedroom player opinion.
I think there are a number of the OG blues rockers that put a lot of emotion into their music and a primary method is tone and crafting the note. Whether you are pinching a harmonic on a pluck or bending to a mute, the attention to detail is key to showing emotional connection with the music. A flurry of notes is interesting and shows a high level of skill, but it doesn't really convey any feeling other than possibly impatience or urgency. When it comes to crafting notes, I think of Mark Knopfler, Santana, Jeff Beck, John Mayer and of course, Hendrix. Eric Clapton is among these greats.
I used to enjoy learning theory and techniques here, especially the diagrams and explanations. Ever since the channel shifted focus to personal motivation stories and entertainment, learning wise, watching had diminished value per time spent. We talked about it several times in the comments, and i understood why you needed this change. Yet, at this point I feel like It would be more fair to just unsub and be replaced by people who support & enjoy this kind of content, instead of bitching about it every video. 😋 I want to Thank you again for helping spread knowledge across the internet. Good luck in the future! From a 40y old loyal viewer who need to make the most out of what little time he have left xD
Sir, this video opened my eyes! Thank you so much for this deep inside! To be honest...I always found Clapton not so special... This insight is amazing!
I totally get you I’m a musician. I’ve been a percussionist for many years but now I’m trying to get into the guitar. I’ve got basic guitar down but you have to feel what you’re playing every single note just like singers do when they bust out different tones in songs they feel it it’s like you’re acting you have to feel it inside and you’re right I don’t see a lot of musicians that do that Clapton surely does!! good video!
Thanks for sharing yoir observation. I agree some of the song, normally the simpler the chord progression, the easier it is to be memorized and keeps on singing on our minds. Art is not to be treated like competition or race. Thank you David.
You are absolutely correct in your basic analysis of Clapton's real talent. I've always felt that his attack was especially unique, we're sort of talking about the same thing. These qualities were also shared with his replacement in the Bluesbreakers, Peter Green, who would found Fleetwood Mac about a year later. The deeply troubled Green is more lyrical in his playing than Clapton, but these are and or were two really great guitarists in their heyday. They are both also pretty easy to identify just by hearing a few representative licks.
Not to nitpick but the internet did in fact exist in the mid 90's. Just not everyone had it yet. It actually started in 1983 and was made public in 93'. I don't think I had it at home until around 99'. God I don't miss those modem sounds... Geeky internet rant over. Sorry about that... Excellent video though I never looked at it this way and now this opens me up to ALOT of different phrasing ideas. Thanks David!!! 🔥🔥🔥🤘🤘🤘
You're right. I was playing on the internet in the early 1990s and it was fascinating to see all of the stuff that was there. I would do random searches and read for hours. It was like the Wild Wild West, it was wide open and lawless, no Big Tech directing your searches to whatever they wanted you to see. There was so much promise there, it was a new-born baby full of promises with a bright future. And now it's all mature and grown up, and it is serving it's masters like a good corporate machine. Still fun, but not what it was - or what it could have been.
Not surprised you picked out a clip from his live version of My Father's Eyes in which the emotion flows out of him to his guitar. Goosebump invoking guitar for sure.
I love this video. Guitar-wise, it is full of mature statements and a high degree of realization for subtlety and tone, usually expressed by older players. It is sad that so many present-day guitarists miss the opportunity of distinguishing between pure music and flatly, soulless acrobatics or pyrotechnics, irrespective of the speed or technical difficulty implied in the latter.
Eric has some of the best vibrato ever, he's extremely focused, his phrasing is great, anyone can learn from him, his tones great...some people have their own preference there...also he's got stamina and he brings it. Sure anyone can sound great here and there but he brings it. Also your hand fatigue playing in this style can add up. Trying jamming to him live on stepping out and keep up, pick a long jam and see how tired you are after jamming that for ten minutes...this isn't 20 second licks of today...
EC has a quality in his playing (and tones) that I always related to. I'm a big fan of all those technical shredders and a lot of jazz players as well, but those bluesy pentatonic licks are in my DNA. Robin Trower is another guy that inspires me a lot too. It's all about the "feel" baby!
i find it amazing you learned all the technical ability but missed the music ...all this time now you found it well done i bet your playing n enjoyment improved too
great guitar lesson, david....i stumbled on this video, and am glad....you know I have known about clappy's signature sound for a long time, but never thought of his notes, individually...yes, i agree, that lick from layla definitely has characters...basically 2 parts.... the first part ACDFDCD...are a bunch of bold conquistadores announcing their presence...the 2nd part could be their handlers, or bodyguards rolling in those inversions....I am trying this approach in re-recordings some of my old material....
A couple of years ago, I figured out how to play the lead parts of 'Wonderful Tonight". Playing each note was one thing but playing with feeling was another. Each note stood alone and added to the entire phrase of the feeling. The total was more than just notes. Like the words in a sentence, each note has meaning in the feeling of the part of the song.
Before watching the video I'm going to guess bends. Thats what makes the guitar the greatest instrument on earth. Ive been playing for 20+ years and still the guitar finds ways to blow my mind with its versatility.
A older player told me long ago. It’s not the notes but the space in between them. Lots of value in that statement. I’m a true Clapton fan. Style and tone for days….
Yep and along the lines of that old 'blues' adage, that, sometimes, "less is more". ... I thought Peter Green's playing in the early period epitomised that.
That is Mozart’s quote.
"… space between …" … of which, perhaps Wayne Shorter is the most extreme example (LOL!). 😁
Stanley Hudson said the same thing.
Absolutely.
I've played with some fantastic musicians who were incredibly precise and fast. But I never got into that. I wasn't fast, and I could never be fast, because injured my hands when I was a sailor and just didn't have the speed or dexterity to do that. I adapted by tending towards more emotive playing. Guys like Clapton and Gilmour gave me hope. I still play, and I still love it.
I used to shred pretty well but stuffed my left hand diving. Cut some nerves, so now I just take it easy too mate. I actually enjoy the challenge of playing less notes. I watched Guthrie Govan lately and although he’s amazing to me now it’s just note salad. Gilmour and Clapton were my biggest influences when I was young as well.
Remember the old addage.."going nowhere fast"..
I am 53 and with arthritis and carpal tunnel I’ve slowed down but used to play Yngwie and Petrucci level. What I have noticed is when I play a tasty, melodic Gilmoresque solo at a gig I get faar more positive audience feedback rather than acrobatic speed stuff.
@@tonymarinelli7304
👍💯
Although he can play fast, Gary Moore is at his best when he hangs around a note with bending and vibrato.
I bought the first 3 Cream albums, vinyl, when they were released. Loved Clapton the first time I heard him.
Fresh Cream (1966)
Disraeli Gears (1967)
Wheels of Fire (1968)
Yes, these albums remain pretty special - not least for Clapton's incredible SOUND on "Fresh Cream," and "Disraeli Gears," particularly - and his particularly appropriate brilliance in what he did in each song. People who deride the later laid-back Clapton should hear how incredibly fiery he was as a young player in his very early twenties - which to so many people's regret, he seems to have lost in the decades since! Even though, in many ways, he's broadened and become more sophisticated as a player, with no need to prove himself in any way!
I love his playing on those Cream albums , still listen to those songs and his playing still sounds just as amazing as it did back then!
@@fiddleandfart Especially when you consider he's in his 70's now , so of course his playing style is more mature sounding now. But I absolutely love his early work , people expect him to play the same as he did over 50 years ago. I've always liked his playing!
This is something that most people miss (judging from what I hear from UA-cam). I think the way to get it is to try to play solos *exactly* -- so that they are indistinguishable from the originals, and do that with solos that aren't blazingly fast. A good one to work on would be George Harrison's solo on "Something". This is what classical musicians are doing *all* the time -- the notes are all given to them, so the only thing that distinguishes one performance from another is exactly how each note is played. It's all about the details.
Emotional phrasing & touching each note with a soulful expectation brings life and dimension.
Once your soul becomes involved your music moves to a much higher level and intensity.
Nice to see a teacher emphasize the importance of playing each note with feel and dynamics and the importance of phrasing, etc.
I really hear this in Mark Knopfler’s playing. He doesn’t waste any notes!
Agree totally 👍
agree. for me knopfler does it more melodic and more effective notes. I love clapton as 2nd
3:29 every note has dynamic.
There, saved you minutes of waffling
I like this guy but yeah he has quickly mastered the art of stringing along to just increase viewer time to obtain the views and therefor $$$. He even does it with the “continuation in the next video!” Method
Man we are all just goddamned consumers 🤣
Hendrix taught me that.
Thank you so much
I dig every second.
If you know he's doing it then he hasn't mastered this art. 🤗🤔😉
Pat Metheny's first guitar teacher was a horn player too. He told Pat to phrase things as if it were a horn solo where you had to take a breath. It's also why many good players sing along with their solos. Singing with the solos forces you to play with breathing space.
True.. Or just as obvious.. Solo like you're singing.
I have heard this before. Makes sense too. Thanks for reminding me . Great point.
"Call and Response" from the Maestro ..maybe...?
EC is AMAZING..in every sense...
so true my friend
Santana said the same thing..he trys to play like a horn would with the drums...when he was in his 20s
I call Eric's music "Funky Falling Water". His notes flow seamlessly up and down the scale like water flowing over rocks in a stream with no harsh transitions. Every note fits and NEEDS to be there.
best comment i’ve ever seen
A GREAT lesson / insight. Congrats to DW! That’s part of why I felt that BB loved Peter Green’s playing. Greenie was talking to us, and each word made a difference. Rock on, Bro.
Very nice video! Just want to comment that Clapton did not write Cocaine (JJ Cale did) . Layla I would not call a simple chord progression.
Wasn't Duane Allman playing on Layla also?
@@mikeg6666 yup
JJ also wrote the breeze. Lynyrd skynyrd made so famous.
Duane Allman played all the guitar parts because Clapton was out of it on drugs.
@@mikeg6666 Duane was known for the slide part on that song far as I know Eric played the main riff and Duane all the crazy slide which makes it big time.
Cracking video 👏🏼❤️ Clapton learnt from the best BB King and his philosophy in life was it isn’t how many notes you play it’s how you play them
and the silent space between them
It is called "soul". Putting one's self into all of a song. Not just a few riffs. The Concert for George was an amazing look at EC playing "While My Guitar Gently weeps" with so much feeling for his friend now gone.
As a singer first that makes total sense. It gives it emotion and personality. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
...and the most important thing in Clapton's playing: He always plays the “right amount” of notes. There is never an unnecessary note, never a note too much. He never "overdoes" his playing.
there are 2 guitarist's I don't think I have seen you cover? Peter Green and Mark Knopfler?
Phrasing
Miles Davis - "It's not the notes you play, it's the notes you don't play."
It's very intuitive to EC, he's surgical the way he approaches & delivers his music.
@@andyt5559 TWO of the greats !
Great analysis! I think this note by note approach explains Santana’s playing as well. Think of the great guitarists in history who you can name by hearing only one note.
Very interesting video. Really enjoyed it. I’ve only seen Clapton live once. He just blew me away. He just plays differently than anyone else. He really has a gift. It’s God given. And he plays notes in places no one does - it just grabs you. Plus, his phrasing. Unreal. Need to see him live again
I have always preferred one note from David Gilmour over 50 notes from any so called Prog Player. The difference is in Intent!
Am I trying to SAY something to you, or am I just trying to impress you with how many notes I can cram into a measure?
Great presentation David, and I'm just starting to see these concepts after playing guitar for many years, long story short, it comes down to very subtle nuacesand technique variations that'll give any player his or her unique style, not to mention make special
His phrasing got me, and it's hard to reproduce, it's inherent in him, a gift. BB, Chris Cain, SRV and EC. That and his vibrato(back in the day).
I love unplugged stuff of his so much but I never liked clapton's electric guitar playing (i thought it was nothing unique as you mentioned) until i saw the Cream reunioun concert: clapton can just play pantatonics in the pocket all over the fretboard for very long period of time without sounding cheesy, which is soooo hard to do. Additional to what you mentioned on his note accent, he is always at the right note and at the right time and so natural and soulful.
Very nice vid. I'm a huge Clapton fan as well, and for me it's always been his 'touch' and the way the notes seem to 'drip' off his guitar. When I first started playing (before I could understand what was going on technically), his playing always made me visualize water. Still enchanted with it to this day. Thank you for the reminder.
They used to call it soul. Not R&B Soul music. He puts his soul into every note. That's why he's been my favorite guitarist since I first heard him in Disraeli Gears and Tales of Great Ulysses.
GREAT ALBUM, GREAT SONG!
Those were awesome music pieces. In my opinion Clapton at his best.
The main explanation, playing each note with meaning, is why I loved Prince’s work so much . Fast or slow, he said something with each note he played.
There are only a set number notes tones but sooooo much feeling
indeed The Artist we all love , forever known as Prince !
Clapton is a bluesman first and foremost. Like all the greats who preceded him, inside himself he sings the tune that he will then play. With method and many exercises you can succeed. Notes should not be thrown away. Just listen to B.B. King, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, etc
Clapton ain't my man , but I will use this valuable lesson . Without even trying it yet I feel I've already improved by just knowing this. 👌🏼
BB King, Hubert Sumlin, and many others did the same thing. They put it all in every note, every phrase, and even in the "rests" in the intervals. Pure art and soul.
Jeff Beck
@@cherrysunburst1959 oh, hell yeah. May he RIP.
His Rockabilly session was so fulfilling.
Even Steve Vai said he does the same thing. It might seem crazy because his music is so technically difficult. But he said that something he tries to do is “live within every note I play, no matter how slow or fast”
And T Bone Walker , B.B King and Chuck Berry's influence.
Hendrix too, in even his wildest solos
"eric clapton's another guitar player that's blown my mind many times..it's because of his ability to create a solo that tells you a story..he never play anything fast,it's always well thought-out and beautifully played",.thats what tommy emmanuel said on eric clapton
Hence he’s is called SLOWHAND
Slow hand
He has also really grown as a singer. His tone and tasteful playing is part of the appeal. He likes songs. Nothing wrong with songs being accessible and memorable.
Love your videos man, and hope your daughter gets better safely! ❤
Clapton didn’t write all his songs but the ones he did are great. I was never really into him until I saw the documentary and Red the book. I have respect for him and by sheer coincidence I ended up being offered a Clapton signature Strat! Cool guitar!
What drew me to Clapton was his use of double stops and bends…the growl and dissonance…makes the hairs stand up on your arm!!
I saw Clapton on an Australian tour he has Derek Trucks in the band. Clayton’s tone , phrasing and feel were perfect. I went because my father told me as a guitar player it’s my duty lol. I’m really glad I saw him, he’s a genius.
Yeah…that’s how I also ended up seeing Les Paul at Fat Tuesday’s in NYC way back in the early 90’s. Had a nice conversation w him after. Lifetime memory! Nice handle btw 😉
@@80Shades-Guitar you lucky bastard!
Yeah, but "Cocain", after midnight", and travelling light are not Clapton songs but of course (you knew) they are J J Cale songs.
Yep!
Thank you. I first heard clapton when I was 11 years old. There is some kind
Of magic that keeps me listening....I love all music and love all guitarsis....I stopped listening to music during covid as I was too depressed....until I heard clapton collaborate with ozzy.
Wow, I play just like that, thinking about every note. I was playing at a club on sunset with a blues singer and the soundman called me over after our set and I thought he was going to chew me out cause I was playing too loud and he said to me, "I hear about a hundred guitar players every week and you were one of my favorites". I think of the solo as if I was going to sing it in my head and I can sing along with all of my solos and do the George Benson thing. You are spot on about Eric Clapton.
This is a great point, David, and I don't know that I ever thought of it quite this way. I used to have this conversation all the time.
"What do you play?"
"I mostly play blues."
"I don't like blues. It all sounds the same."
"Well, the way I look at it is, most blues songs do have the same structure - but because of that structure, you have infinite ways to express yourself."
Your explanation here really gets at that. The one thing I would try to evangelize to my guitar-playing buddies is that there are a lot of ways just to bend a note, and the blues lives partly in your relationship with those infinite spaces between the traditional 12 tones. (Jazz and classical avoid microtones completely; blues thrives on them.) And although I didn't verbalize what you're saying about each note's individuality, bending notes is where I most felt that intuitively. Anyway, this was great!
Heard Clapton say before that he approaches leads as a singer.
People don’t sing every word/syllable the same either.
Clapton used a Sinatra vocal melody on “Sunshine of your love”
I think it really can help guitar players to sing a phrase then translate it to guitar. It helped me
Rock on David 🤘
Paul gilbert does something similar when he does covers of some songs while playing lyrical melody and some if his instrumentals as well.
Zappa the same. An “argument between a chicken and a spider”
Yeah, saw an interview and he said he looks at a solo as the meaningful parts of the melody. Not just ripping some unintelligible notes off the guitar.
I had the same affirmation with David Gilmore.
Recently Rick Beto put out a video of shredders and save The Best for last and that was Steve lukather. The amazing thing about Steve shredding is, like Clapton, he put love into every single note even while he was shredding. That is what set clapton, Steve lukather and Gary Moore apart from most other great guitar players.
Clapton and Santana. My two favorite guitarists from my youth. (The Santana video referred me to this one)
Excellent lesson! This should be required for all guitar players to watch this video. Those who get wrapped up in technique forget that the notes have to have a soul. BB King played three note solos that anyone could play, but no one could have that passion in three notes like him. I am not knocking shredders. Eddie Van Halen had great technique AND soul in every note. Many copied his technique and no one sounded like him either.
He listened to Jeff Beck. Yardbirds. Jeff has never played a note with the same volume, attack, intensity and tremolo arm combinations twice in his entire career.
If you wanna really see Eric Clapton's heart & soul watch him play the song he wrote for his baby boy who sadly passed away as a child. I'm, of course, talking about,
"Tears In Heaven."
You can see just how much he loves his son.
True !...it reveals the mechanical nature of the metalheads sometimes trying to play faster an longer !
This is exactly why satriani is my favorite player. He can go from full on shred to playing with soul. Imo, a player needs both in their arsenal. This personalization of notes is what truly does bring emotion into the music. We, as players, get caught up with all things technical and forget music is about emotion and touching people
I am just coming into this way of playing. I imagine conversations or storytelling as I play. The notes are the syllables sometimes, sometimes they are the feelings. I play what I hear see and feel now. It's changed everything.
I play so much now because of it.
So much my calluses are cut through.
I put in 10-16 hours a day every day when my fingers aren't all cut up. It becomes addictive when you can play like this.
A Master can do it with one punch....All it takes is the right note in the right place..ala Jeff Beck..Albert King..Miles Davis...BB King...or Robben Ford
I like this new style your doing for your lessons now its been great watching you grow
All notes that comes from Eric Clapton is pure music. There is no scales that you can hear. Emotions and musicality that matter most.
Good analysis. I think of his playing as being "ultimate tasteful." David Gilmour also does this.
I've always thought Clapton was extremely precise. Way more so than other blues players. His technique is just flawless. The bent note with vibrato at top is so hard to do and he's a master at it.
I never found it hard to do it feels quite natural to me
@@ryanholland5582 screw u! ryan!
Well done !!!@@ryanholland5582
I am very thankful for your insights! Definitely your assessment will impact my playing! CHEERS!!
To me, Eric Clapton is the epitome of “class”. Every note rings true. He steps back to let others shine when they’re time to shine comes, he’s right on time when his time to shine comes. He’s got nothing to prove. People know he can kick ass amongst literally anyone but he’s perfectly happy to be amongst other greats and step into a secondary position. He chooses people to be part of his band he knows feel the same and who are always welcome and can be counted on to be dependable. He plays great songs with such melodic and beautiful meaning and every song is always perfect. He’s been through enough shit in his life that when he’s playing blues he obviously can truthfully deeply feel it and relate to it and his fingers know exactly the notes and tone to let the audience feel it and relate to the music. The man is truly a master of his craft. He’s not there only for the money or to collect a pay check, but to be amongst good friends who love him and who he loves. I have enjoyed and loved Eric Clapton for MANY years and when Eric Clapton passes from this life a huge hole will be left not only in the world but in the hearts and souls of all of us who have rocked, danced, played, sang to, sang with, laughed, and cried to songs, learned his unmistakable riffs, and meaningful lyrics he has left us all with that have truly touched our lives and souls in the special way that no one else will ever come close to. There is not anyone of note who Eric hasn’t played with and none who would not jump at the chance to have the honor of having Eric play on their recordings. I look forward to listening to ERIC CLAPTON in Heaven where we’ll meet again because although your song “Tears in Heaven” states you don’t belong there, we know you belong and will be there entertaining all who love and look forward to hearing the amazing talents the Lord has given you to bless all who will be forgiven due to the Lord’s eternal mercy and forgiveness. Thank you Eric Clapton for truly making this world a better place with your music and the kindness you have given others.
The intro to 'Sitting on Top of The World ', from Goodbye Cream, still kicks ass.
A lot of times when I watch your videos, I feel like I am learning something. Then, by the time you finish, I feel like I spent a lot of time just watching somebody beat around the bush explaining their opinion but not learning much (kinda like how I felt when my old high school physics teacher would ramble on about how amazing science was and the amazing world we live in, blah blah blah this and that but not get anything out of it and be screwed by the next test). Today though, I felt like I really took something out of it, so thank you. As an art student, the idea of every note and segment of the songs being a character expressing itself really helped me see music different.
I agree Clapton is one of the most ‘Soulful’ Lead players of all time. In many interviews Clapton admits he was inspired by the great Delta Blues and Chicago Blues guitarists eg the ‘Three Kings’. Fundamental to Clapton’s Soloing is his foundation of Major and Minor Pentatonics, Blues Boxes, Octave positions, I believe 90 % of his lead playing is this foundation plus his own ‘Phrasing and bending’.
On the same vain, gilmour once said he can play a note 100 different ways. It’s the little things, the attention to detail, that have placed both Clapton and gilmour in my Mount Rushmore.
David, you need to listen to Clapton's early stuff. John Mayall and the Blues Breakers (The Beano Cover), Cream up to and including Wheels of Fire. That may give you some idea. I've been listening to Clapton since 1968. To me, Layla and Cocaine are at least later Clapton.
I so agree! Clapton's Mayall, and Cream recordings established the early greatness of young Clapton. "Layla," and beyond were great records, but never quite matched the stage-ripping magic and power of his early years!
Early Clapton had fabulous feel and phrasing. The intro to 'Sitting On Top of the World' from Goodbye Cream still kicks ass. Imo.
SWEET. EACH NOTE HAS ITS OWN PERSONALITY.
Well said David. The best way I've heard it said is "only play as many notes as is necessary." Most players are better off being intentional and slow rather than trying to fit as many scales into a phrase as possible.
This is NOT to say that technical or fast playing is bad, it's just harder to make musical.
If you were a teenage guitarist when the Blues Breaker album came out, you knew that Clapton was on a different level from everyone else at the time. It is more than "feel" which of course he has, but it is his mastery of the guitar neck and his ability to move freely around it. Being a musical genus helps too.
I personally think that Blues Breaker album was earth shattering...although Mayall said they were just recording what they were then playing in the clubs every week. If you can play half the stuff Clapton did on there, you'd bee a very good blues guitarist !
He sucked! How can these people idolize such an average pentatonic scale player-He had no feel just vanity! I could learn a Clapton song when I was 14 in one take! DiMeola Stanley Clarke will never be matched. Especially Stanley Clark-he could make that base sound magical, and could match most electric guitarist. He simply in my mind was the best guitarist ever. He could do anything with that base any electric virtuoso could! I’m so sick of these so called shredders. Satriani probably had more feel than any guitarist. Johnson is a showboat, but it’s the blues that will forever ever hold the mantle for heart & soul!
When we naturally the feel music, these different dynamics come out in our playing.
Clapton is a musical genius - born with talent .
Nice work, David. I like to mention - Like any accomplished blues player, Clapton does not just play pentatonic scales. It seems like kind of a myth out there that this is all Clapton, Hendrix, etc. played. But they carefully choose when to play the 6th, major 3rd, etc. Take apart some of his solos in his 'middle period,' like on Just One Night in Worried Life Blues, for example, and these things stand out. B B King's playing is similarly full of some surprises.
Derek and the Dominoes at the Fillmore East is what caught my attention he was all over that neck he was amazing.
Yup, DATD Live is one of the best live albums ever.
One of the best live albums.
Your explanation of the "character" of the note is very profound and I enjoyed this video.
I don't know who you are or how you ended up in my feed, but boy, what a great analysis. Indeed, Eric has this attention to articulation that is hard to replicate. Kinda like Jim Hall in the jazz world. Not super virtuosic, but greatly intriguing through great phrasing and articulation.
Your onto something I happened upon at first when I first started playing. And I've been feeling them out so long I never got around to getting into the fast sets. The fast sets never seemed to have any real life. Always seemed more like a party trick or some affectation. But I do realize that there is a place for it now, and I don't have to shun that either, or perhaps I'll miss out on something good in there too. So I'm finally looking at Van Halen types.
First time I heard Clapton was when I bought the "The Cream of Clapton" VHS. It showed him from Yardbirds to 90s. Freakin' awesome!
i bought that too on vhs tape when i was in wpb,fl working as a waiter on a casino ship..
@@julaiarnold641 My favorite surprise was "Worried Life Blues". I also loved the beginning of "White Room" where Clapton is playing in what looked to be a backyard. I wish I could find the entire footage from that "backyard" jam.
@@newgunguy4176 worried life blues from "just one night album" was one the best version..
The way I heard it, Eric’s solo patterns were played in a way to emulate someone singing. His intervals, perhaps complemented his playing?
I’m not a professional, just my novice bedroom player opinion.
I think the word that best describes Eric’s playing is “elegant.”
I think there are a number of the OG blues rockers that put a lot of emotion into their music and a primary method is tone and crafting the note. Whether you are pinching a harmonic on a pluck or bending to a mute, the attention to detail is key to showing emotional connection with the music. A flurry of notes is interesting and shows a high level of skill, but it doesn't really convey any feeling other than possibly impatience or urgency. When it comes to crafting notes, I think of Mark Knopfler, Santana, Jeff Beck, John Mayer and of course, Hendrix. Eric Clapton is among these greats.
I used to enjoy learning theory and techniques here, especially the diagrams and explanations. Ever since the channel shifted focus to personal motivation stories and entertainment, learning wise, watching had diminished value per time spent. We talked about it several times in the comments, and i understood why you needed this change. Yet, at this point I feel like It would be more fair to just unsub and be replaced by people who support & enjoy this kind of content, instead of bitching about it every video. 😋
I want to Thank you again for helping spread knowledge across the internet. Good luck in the future! From a 40y old loyal viewer who need to make the most out of what little time he have left xD
Its dynamics. I learned that playing trumpet and reading music long ago. make each note have value.
Sir, this video opened my eyes!
Thank you so much for this deep inside!
To be honest...I always found Clapton not so special...
This insight is amazing!
P.S. It must be "this deep insight"
an original riff is genius, shredding is nothing more than guitarfapping
thank you!
Really enjoyed that analysis.
I totally get you I’m a musician. I’ve been a percussionist for many years but now I’m trying to get into the guitar. I’ve got basic guitar down but you have to feel what you’re playing every single note just like singers do when they bust out different tones in songs they feel it it’s like you’re acting you have to feel it inside and you’re right I don’t see a lot of musicians that do that Clapton surely does!! good video!
You hit the nail on the head brother. Thank you 🙏 🎸
Guitar teacher here, the characters idea is actually a great idea. Thanx David.
Thanks for sharing yoir observation. I agree some of the song, normally the simpler the chord progression, the easier it is to be memorized and keeps on singing on our minds. Art is not to be treated like competition or race. Thank you David.
David I have always been a player in the style and feel of the blues men. Thanks for this great and insightful video.
You are absolutely correct in your basic analysis of Clapton's real talent. I've always felt that his attack was especially unique, we're sort of talking about the same thing. These qualities were also shared with his replacement in the Bluesbreakers, Peter Green, who would found Fleetwood Mac about a year later. The deeply troubled Green is more lyrical in his playing than Clapton, but these are and or were two really great guitarists in their heyday. They are both also pretty easy to identify just by hearing a few representative licks.
Not to nitpick but the internet did in fact exist in the mid 90's. Just not everyone had it yet. It actually started in 1983 and was made public in 93'. I don't think I had it at home until around 99'. God I don't miss those modem sounds...
Geeky internet rant over. Sorry about that... Excellent video though I never looked at it this way and now this opens me up to ALOT of different phrasing ideas. Thanks David!!! 🔥🔥🔥🤘🤘🤘
You're right. I was playing on the internet in the early 1990s and it was fascinating to see all of the stuff that was there. I would do random searches and read for hours. It was like the Wild Wild West, it was wide open and lawless, no Big Tech directing your searches to whatever they wanted you to see. There was so much promise there, it was a new-born baby full of promises with a bright future. And now it's all mature and grown up, and it is serving it's masters like a good corporate machine. Still fun, but not what it was - or what it could have been.
@@michaelleary8694 very well put!!!
Not surprised you picked out a clip from his live version of My Father's Eyes in which the emotion flows out of him to his guitar. Goosebump invoking guitar for sure.
I love this video. Guitar-wise, it is full of mature statements and a high degree of realization for subtlety and tone, usually expressed by older players. It is sad that so many present-day guitarists miss the opportunity of distinguishing between pure music and flatly, soulless acrobatics or pyrotechnics, irrespective of the speed or technical difficulty implied in the latter.
Eric has some of the best vibrato ever, he's extremely focused, his phrasing is great, anyone can learn from him, his tones great...some people have their own preference there...also he's got stamina and he brings it. Sure anyone can sound great here and there but he brings it. Also your hand fatigue playing in this style can add up. Trying jamming to him live on stepping out and keep up, pick a long jam and see how tired you are after jamming that for ten minutes...this isn't 20 second licks of today...
EC has a quality in his playing (and tones) that I always related to. I'm a big fan of all those technical shredders and a lot of jazz players as well, but those bluesy pentatonic licks are in my DNA. Robin Trower is another guy that inspires me a lot too. It's all about the "feel" baby!
i find it amazing you learned all the technical ability but missed the music ...all this time now you found it well done i bet your playing n enjoyment improved too
Great video! This is exactly what I've told my students for years :-)
great guitar lesson, david....i stumbled on this video, and am glad....you know I have known about clappy's signature sound for a long time, but never thought of his notes, individually...yes, i agree, that lick from layla definitely has characters...basically 2 parts.... the first part ACDFDCD...are a bunch of bold conquistadores announcing their presence...the 2nd part could be their handlers, or bodyguards rolling in those inversions....I am trying this approach in re-recordings some of my old material....
This is basically the well-known approach of guitarists from the blues tradition.
A couple of years ago, I figured out how to play the lead parts of 'Wonderful Tonight". Playing each note was one thing but playing with feeling was another. Each note stood alone and added to the entire phrase of the feeling. The total was more than just notes. Like the words in a sentence, each note has meaning in the feeling of the part of the song.
Bravo. Clapton, May, Gilmore, A Young, M Young, Trower, Gibbons, Page, Hendrix, MOntrose, Emmit. Schenker, et al...they all had this...
My favorite since the 60s. Slowhand.
Otis Rush and BB King are two examples of Clapton’s influences who played by feeling each tone that they played.
Before watching the video I'm going to guess bends. Thats what makes the guitar the greatest instrument on earth. Ive been playing for 20+ years and still the guitar finds ways to blow my mind with its versatility.