Comments on: Blues Guitar Lesson: How to play blues guitar like Eric Clapton.

By: Matias

Matias — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 05:11:08 +0000

I´m from Uruguay, i have been playing guitar for 5 years. Like someone said i was totally blind with “speed and distorion” trying to play like bands of the 80´s. I have learned from Clapton, Muddy Waters or Peter Frampton, that you got to feel the music inside you, you have to let your feelings run trough the guitar, and i realized that playing “as fast as possible” i could not make it feel right although it sounded good. When i got the “Unplugged” from Clapton it totally changed my playing, i realized that from the start to the end he never played a single note that you can not identify, every note he plays is shiny and in the correct time. After that i get what i could from Clapton, and i learn from listening and playing over it. Pentatonics are my main scales now, sometimes i add “bluenotes” so it sounds different, i quit studying rare scales invented by you know who. I think Clapton has THE feeling, and that´s the most important thing in every musician. I also listen to Angus Young (AC/DC) or Peter Frampton and they have that kind of feeling too… in different ways. THE FEELING is everything, if you love what you do and what you play you got to let it sound trough the guitar. Slowdown and enjoy every note that´s the key i think.

By: Jim McDougall

Jim McDougall — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:44:17 +0000

Eric Clapton has to be my all-time favorite. There will never be another SRV with his endless depth, he was never searching for the next thought, he’s right up there. Tragically his life was cut far too short. I saw Clapton 3 times, Derek & the Dominos in about 72, solo tour in 87 and 2007 in LA. He keeps reinventing himself and is probably one of the cleanest most articulate player I’ve ever seen or heard. And look at all the different styles. If you haven’t seen the ” Making of the Robert Johnson Sessions ” DVD Get it now !!! No he’s not as fast as the Cream days, too many guitar players are blinded by speed. It’s content not quantity. His content is incredible……God Bless..Jim

By: todd

todd — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:05:24 +0000

Mine has to be Journeyman. He is all blues on that with some dynomite licks & solos. I also really enjoy his Unplugged album for other reasons. Thanks for the help and lessons. Cheers.

By: John Tuggle

John Tuggle — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:44:22 +0000

Thanks for the great comments guys! Another one of my favorite Clapton songs, would be his cover of the Ray Charles song “Hard Times”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppHBC9VWm8s&feature=related

By: yerblues

yerblues — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 05:32:52 +0000

Clapton has to be one of my favorite players. Not flashy but very expressive and tasty. From his electric lead playing to his bluesy acoustic playing. I personally like that skunky down home feel. So I would say Eric’s version of Milk Calf Blues by Robert Johnson has to be one of my favorites from Sessions for Robert J. True Blues and Clapton at his nastiest.

By: Steve Draeger

Steve Draeger — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:03:05 +0000

Hey John,

Wow great site, I just came across your site on Itunes and subscribed. I have taught gutiar a few years ago and with the crazyness of life have stioped but still love to play and grow my skill. Am excited to see what you have to have and will probbly buy some of your resources.

As far as Eric Clapton, wow tough question, well How about “Give Me Strength” or “My fathers eyes” I guess.

By: Mr. Jack

Mr. Jack — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:41:56 +0000

First of all, nice web site John! I also am a guitar instructor and I am going to be sending my students your way so they can learn on their own with your lessons on line. Very nicely done.

Mr. Clapton (he’s earned my respect over the years) has a very diversified collection of material. As much as I was not a fan of some of his departures from his blues roots (like material from the 70s -’I shot the Sheriff ‘etc…) I give him credit for stretching out and expanding to new sounds as well as being rather successful with them.

I like a few others here on your blog am rather partial to ‘From the Cradle’ where he took his influential covers from bluesmen of old and did a great job of doing tribute to them. The songs have the Clapton signature which makes them his own even though they be covers. I think his choice of guests musicians, the over all production and his song choice was as good as it gets. Many of his versions actually top the originals which many times is a difficult task. Lowell Fulson’s Sinner’s Prayer is the one that comes to mind first.

Thanks for this web site,
Mr. Jack

By: Marc Scott

Marc Scott — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:38:16 +0000

Hey man just found your podcast. Very interested in becoming a better player… I’ve been a really basic open chord guy for like 16 years (way too long to be at that level) So anyway I’m glad to have found you. I did get to watch Clapton during the Hard Rock Fest in London he’s still as amazing as ever! My favorite song is still “If I could change the world” just the story behind it…even though I perfer more of his blues sound from some reason that poppy tune always stands out in my mind.

Keep up the good work man I’ll be watching!

By: Rick

Rick — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:45:51 +0000

A true bluesman, Clapton is one of the most versatile musicians alive today. I do like a lot of his earlier stuff better, but I’d still go see him anytime, anywhere. Slowhand is still my all-time favorite album.

Great podcasts, John…keep ‘em coming!

By: John Tuggle

John Tuggle — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:59:19 +0000

Well, I do like From the Cradle. I thought his guitar work was excellent on that album. It is true that he played different in the early days, but I think he still sounds good today, maybe not as good in his hey-day though.