3 Eric Clapton Licks From 1968

Here's the next episode of Three-For-All with 3 Eric Clapton Licks From 1968. Needless to say, Eric Clapton is a monumentally important guitarist and one of the most influential/respected in the history of rock music and all over the world. From his biting blues-rock phrasing and tone to signature bending and vibrato moves, pentatonic-based licks and phrases, and so much more - Eric Clapton is a monument of the electric guitar and this lesson sheds a little light on a handful of classic ideas from some raw footage recorded in 1968 when he was technically wrapping up his time with the historic trio Cream.
This lesson focuses on targeting and building vibrato technique and adding a strong dose of expressive/emotive elements to your playing. This area of playing the guitar is often overlooked and/or completely neglected, but in many ways, a strong command of both string bending and vibrato is essential with creating your own signature feel and sound. These two techniques really separate amateur players from the pros - and you can hear poor bending and vibrato a mile away. A great bending/vibrato technique can emulate the sounds coming heard from vocalists, violinists, cellists, and many other instruments in music.
While this lesson features some simple blues-rock phrases from Eric, it's the way he makes contact with the guitar strings and manipulates the notes he performs using his controlled and emotive qualities as he plays. He's well-known for having one of the best vibrato styles on the planet and this lesson can help you refine some of those ideas and borrow a few secrets from this complete master of blues-rock guitar.
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[@mikestarr7377]

The ever-changing album cover in the corner frame that corresponds to each lesson is a nice touch - phenomenal content - love the channel!

[@michaelrayle3467]

Yeah man it's all about the little things. Great content as always:)

[@jts400hp]

I thought I imagined that watching the EVH vid

[@slowhand633]

ya this guy is a true gem of youtube, great stuff!

[@jeffgarrison7056]

Agreed! I pick up more litter wrinkles to add to my playing here than any other KZbin channel! Dudes got chops too! This is by far one of my favorites!

[@urago69]

Saw the Farewell Cream performance at the Albert Hall. Clapton was on fire probably because he knew that the audience was crammed with the best rock musicians of that era. Rory Gallagher and Taste opened for Cream and set the tone for one of the best rock concerts of all time featuring 2 of the best lead players around. Yes was on the bill as well but everyone came to see Clapton....for a reason. As the song goes.."those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end."

[@Deliquescentinsight]

Eric Clapton, the name means Guitar! One of my earliest influences, he blew my mind when I was 7 years old. After The Beatles, Cream were the true champions.

[@hawaiirealmedia5610]

Your insight is always impressive. When I try learning Clapton stuff, I often give up because some of the licks are so hard to decipher. It's like, you hear Clapton play, then you play it, and no matter how hard you try, you often get it a bit wrong. But your lesson really shows the inside scoop. Thanks!!!

[@chriscampbell9191]

Just remember that Clapton worked sometimes for A WEEK AT A TIME on just a single riff. He'd play each lick hundreds of times, literally, before performing it (I think it was a friend of Clapton's, who -- during an interview -- said that he saw Eric practicing a single riff, over and over again -- over a week's time -- to get it down, during the Yardbirds or Bluesbreakers period). Clapton wanted to get each lick PERFECT. And when you watch his fingers -- even in that clip that David shows interspersed in the lesson -- his finger movements are really precise. They still are, today, actually. I don't really dig his tone today, but his playing is impeccable.

[@keithraaum9559]

Great lesson Eric is one of my absolute favorites. If you are going to do more blues lessons I suggest a very underrated player - Mick Taylor. His work with the Stones was unreal!

[@martyrosser3451]

Dude, seriously man, you're darn good at this!!! Awesome skills and killer licks!

[@chillidogkev]

I'm really not a great player by any stretch but my vibrato has been remarked upon a few times. I got it all from listening to Michael Schenker on the album Force It by UFO. Bought it in 1976 and played the vinyl until there was nothing left.

[@rubicon-oh9km]

Force It is a masterpiece.

[@mikec2582]

Learning Clapton's stuff can't help but make you a better player. Great content. Keep the Clapton stuff coming.

[@jbellflower83]

Eric is just consistent and always delivers whats needed on time. He wasnt the flashiest or the fastest but he was just consistant and had a neverending bag of licks to draw from. All aspiring guitarists ahould study Clapton at some point in their journey

[@Busyfingers24]

Always found it fascinating that many of the greats sight Eric as a huge influence, yet I don't always hear that influence. EVH comes to mind. Thanks for this gem Dave! Really looking forward to the bluesy content you mentioned and congrats on your new album! BEST DAMN CHANNEL OUT THERE 🤘

[@idontmindatall]

I love all your videos, thank you for taking the time to do this

[@PaulJonesy]

Another great, well thought out and well presented video. Yours is one of my absolute favourite channels.

[@johndanter2246]

Right on the money yet again, you're so good at this - nailing the vib and the phrasing is not so superficially hard but as you say so well, there's an intangible about late '60s Clapton that just connects, with anybody soulful, it's beautiful, the very essence of blues rock, it's the original pebble dropped in the pond metaphor, I mean who hasn't been influenced by that beautiful sound, from headbangers to contemporary jazzers, basically just anybody you want to listen to. What a life. Respect.

[@chrissterrmusic]

YES! I got this in the ‘90’s on VHS as kid just for this interview.

[@humansnotai4912]

Great great video yet again. Love this channel. Namaste x

[@klojke]

He starts playing an 5:40

[@steveoconnor7069]

Thanks for the lesson, I will be wearing this out trying to learn these licks.

[@buddylobos5277]

Peter Frampton said when he was coming up everybody in London sounded like Eric The trick was to NOT sound like Eric but still kinda sound like him. lol..

[@rdmkeytohwy]

Good comment. Frampton did say everyone wanted to play like Eric and that influenced him to go another route which was more influenced by jazz phrasing in a rock context. It is interesting how all of these great guitar players carved their own niche. Jimmy Page-heavy rock and also folk (light and shade), Jeff Beck-a style from another planet 😆, George Harrison-pop, rock, rockabilly, and a slide style that was very unique, and Keith Richards-leader of the best blues rock band in the universe. Keith is also one of the best riff writers and rhythm guitar players of all time. All of them pretty unique and great in their own right. And Pete Townsend acoustic and electric rock as well as one of the forefathers of the rock opera.

[@wesleyalan9179]

Lol😂makes sense ❤

[@HasseC]

I died first time I saw that clip with Clapton from -68, and now you're breaking it apart in a brilliant way!! Love you channel!!!

[@leewarren]

Great take on EC. Thanks!

[@markpickering6594]

Much much thanks learning volumes from. You. Love your contagous enthusiasem. Makes me to practce and learn even more. Your a fantastic articulate and quality teacher. God bless

[@petermayonejr.3420]

I really like your style and how deeply you break the substance down of what you're teaching, and this coming from a blues rock guitar player whose main inspiration was/is Hendrix, Marino, Trower, SRV and the players who influenced them, and have been playing guitar from '73. TY!

[@dmc549]

Really high quality content on this channel man 👍 please keep making videos just like this!!

[@frankiedonofrio5438]

Killer lesson my man!!!

[@lrm215]

Love these lessons!!!!

[@richardparry7083]

Wow what a brilliant lesson and video so helpful

[@frantisca]

You nail it: tonelike and vibrato-wise; Well done !

[@markroylance1584]

I went to the cinema to see 'Farewell Cream' in 1971 and hid behind the seats so I could watch it three times!! Just hearing Clapton's tone coming through daisy - chained Marshalls from the Albert Hall into a fairly primitive sound system convinced me I had chosen THE best instrument to play..... I still strive to emulate that amazing vibrato..... Can't explain it but I hear the connection between his wailing tone and Edward Van Halen's intensity.... Just taken me about 4 decades to hear it!!!! Doh! I've said it before Mr B but I love your lessons and your passion for wood and steel!

[@stephencrane391]

I love the way you captured the essence of Eric in 20 minutes! That is actually very clever indeed - kudos to you. I echo the comment made about Mick Taylor. The latter’s playing with Albert King on John Mayall’s “Blues Alive “ video is tremendous.

[@KajHeGeHaggman]

Thank you so much for this lesson! I stopped listening to Clapton at some stage when I was young, as I thought he was becoming boring. I definitely need to go back to to his albums!

[@nicolasmaurin182]

Awesome !

[@GoldCoastAngler]

Aaaaamazing!! Such cool licks!!

[@TheSterlingSound]

Your lessons are super inspiring - and not everyone cops Clapton’s vibrato that well.

[@timothyholmes4588]

cool video. good licks. I love your chill way of showing licks. just subscribed. and it's 4 am so late night lessons fits.

[@STAMPER-DESIGN]

Great lesson! Thank you

[@ToddGillespie1977]

Excellent! Thanks Dave

[@TheCream14]

great lesson! Thanks!

[@Tonedefdom]

Great video, first I've seen of yours, new subscriber

[@HeadbangersLocal]

Great lesson. Another underrated blues player is Tom Kiefer from Cinderella. Heavily blues influenced. Caught up in the hair metal scene, but night songs and long cold winter are great blues albums .

[@chrisweissert7397]

Agree! I remember being blown away by Bad Seamstress Blues as a teenager. Such an amazing sound vs the poppy music coming out at the time. The blues licks of Cinderella would be a great Late Night Lesson *hint hint*

[@timothyholmes4588]

@@chrisweissert7397 that tune is great tom is an underrated bluesman

[@timothyholmes4588]

Tom. kiefer blues licks I want that video

[@mma1st105]

I was just reading a guitar world mag from the 80s that I found and the was an article about how alot of hair band guys kinda had to hide the fact that they could really play.

[@KingKull1971]

@@mma1st105 most hair metal was really blues hidden behind distortion. The Hair Metal scene kept the blues alive in the 80's. Warrent's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" comes to mind, or anything from Badlands and Saraya.

[@bobbrajovic2907]

Just found you. Man you’ve got a lot of content. I like the “3 licks of” stuff along with the cultural and historical commentary.

[@George-pt7uv]

Another very good LNL. I'm thinking that further on down the road there will be another EC episode or two. Again, some good stuff. Thanks David!

[@sanzmantra]

Fantastic playing, great channel 👍🏻

[@guitarjonathan]

Fantastic lesson!! Dig the CME shirt too.

[@kevmet84]

Even though I've never been a huge Clapton fan, I still respect the man's guitar talents given the relative range of material he's managed over the years and so this visit to that Cream era is intriguing, and does provide a few bluesy licks for me to work on as I've never really worked on learning Clapton's particulars. 😎

[@Craig_Fussell]

Great video man! I always learn a lot! Love that you call out the notes and not just the string/fret numbers like a lot of folks do. Lick #2 reminds me of Billy Gibbons’ signature licks as well. Seems like a staple in blues rock!✌🏻🎸🎶

[@halweyant4737]

thanks. you are awesome.

[@santiagodeponce9390]

Great explanation

[@DannyGatton94]

6:31 9:50 11:25 w tone 14:40 16:28 17:23

[@HarryBarry97]

På Vikingtog tackskaruha!

[@BluesRootsMusic]

very useful to cut out all the chatter

[@roberto5019s]

👍👏👏

[@yakfisher79]

Great vibrato on those bends! I’ve been playing 31 years and can play a lot in “Clapton style” but I have never been able to get a good vibrato on bends. Maybe I should just devote several months of practice to nothing but bending vibrato. Awesome job! Thanks for making this video!

[@illbillfan]

Man I have been searching all over for the tab to this. How do I get lessons from you. I lose you after the finger rubato

[@lovemusiceveryday]

hes a master , his feel ,tone and licks are the best .gtreat voice too

[@Ric007Mason]

Yay! Blues stuff on the way! :)

[@mikeivey8471]

"Ol' Slow Hand" !!! Truly the master of the "vibrato" !! The 2 guitarists who have the most identifiable sounding vibratos ... Eric Clapton & B.B. King !! I imagine Zack Wylde falls in there 3rd with his wide ranging , aggressive style vibrato ! If you practice mastering these 3 styles of vibrato & get proficient at them your playing will sound amazing !!! Great lesson & thanks for focusing on the importance of vibrato !!!

[@Bicyclekelly]

Hey David, love your videos and lessons. I steal a lot of licks from your vids lol. Question: when you play, do you kinda rest your index finger on your left hand on the First 3 strings when you solo?

[@Bricklinsv1970]

I cant get over Alex Skolnick there is something about his playing that I cant figure out why I love it so much. Can you help figure out what it might be that makes his solos so great? I am still blown away after all these years! I saw your other video on him but I need more lol!

[@joedavis8481]

I dig your videos and couldn't agree more on the greatness of the guitarists you speak of but...... I can't get my head around how more guitarists don't bring up Rory Gallagher more often 🎸🇨🇮🤟🍻

[@SuperNick090]

The collaboration EC had with Duane Allman was Awesome ! ✌

[@gregjandt2841]

Good stuff! You have a "GREAT" tone what amp are you playing through?

[@charlesjaphe]

awesome

[@markarita3]

Nice tone coming out of that Blackie!

[@shakeyblues5128]

Once again more killer content David ♪♫♪♫♪

[@lightningstrikes7314]

Every Angus Young solo is basically vibing off the Badge solo. Virtually Every Eddie Van Halen references the final outro lick on the live Cream Goodbye Sittin On Top Of The World. John Mayer's vibrato and bending is all Clapton.

[@traitorsamongus2417]

Great tone. Which guitar and amp are you using? Pedals?

[@dsmalf]

Cool video, love those licks. Do a video on Peter Green and Danny Kirwan

[@matiasponsxx]

I really like this máster lessons because this guy inspire me and also let me exercise muy english level. Jajja excelent job man. Highjy recomend hin.

[@jeffgarrison7056]

That dog pic is adorable!

[@ronmcbride986]

Could you do a video on Spoonful by Cream? Specifically the Wheels of Fire version? Just the main licks ?

[@grechiasebring]

Sorry new here...what is your rig rundown? Thx

[@azmike3572]

Your Les Paul has some wicked sustain!

[@blacksabbath1022]

Angus Young has some of the sickest vibrato ever to grace a Gibson. That guy was somewhat of a prodigy. At only 19 he already had the touch of an experienced pro. Maybe we can get 3 Angus Young licks in the future if you haven't already? Once again an awesome lesson🤘

[@chriscampbell9191]

And Angus probably got it from hearing Paul Kossoff.... another vibrato pro.

[@rockerjoe59]

On one of these Late Night Lessons videos regarding Clapton you mentioned some headphones you really like that I made a mental note to check back on. Went back to look for it in the video but never found it (kind of bad at searching for specific points in videos...) Anybody know what I'm talking about? Seen the video or know what headphones he was mentioning? Cheers!

[@halbertking2683]

I got a funny story for you. A number of years ago , I'm driving around with my brother in law. We're listening to a Freddie King cd. So my brother in law says "Hey,this guy sounds like Eric Clapton."

[@mma1st105]

He he

[@Timliu92]

Excellent video! IMO you cannot talk about rock guitar without mentioning Eric Clapton. Many players might have outshred him nowadays, but he was one of those who started it all!

[@alexcastillo6185]

Clapton wasn’t a shredder he was a storyteller

[@simply3141592654]

Please continue to cover more Clapton - Cream, Journeyman, Derek and the Dominos, acoustic

[@islander4986]

Another great one. I am a bit surprised that your vibrato king list didn't include the two I inevitably think of: Paul Kossof and Angus Young. Eric's tone in the interview segments INSTANTLY conjures Cream-era mojo. Sometimes I really wish he'd go back to the Gibsons.

[@bobrichardson3854]

Love the Chicago Music Exchange tee. Do you live in the area? Would be cool to get together if possible.

[@bi0lizard1]

I don’t even smoke weed, but if I did I would want to smoke it with you!

[@trevorgwelch7412]

Your probably gay

[@OniDasAlagoas]

@@trevorgwelch7412 What fixation with gay people is that? You want help or something?

[@dashleannnn]

@@trevorgwelch7412 goteeeeeeem

[@julianschulz1620]

So true in regards to bends & vibrato. Whether it be Clapton, Gibbons, EVH, BB King, SRV, Sykes or Yngwie... All of these guys have it down to an art form. My ears hurt when a player has bad vibrato or out of pitch bends, doesn't matter if they can sweep pick or play 64th notes.

[@davidsmith-jj4iq]

paul kossof was so unique ,his vibrato was instantly recognisable.

[@ttbfan]

I always assumed that he was hammering on to the major third from the minor third in those licks. Thats how I always played them. I'm not sure I can unlearn that now!

[@strivingx67]

My vibrato is pretty lacking. And my vibrato on a bend is taking forever to get any consistency at all. I'm starting to get the idea that vibrato is really a (good) habit one has to get into. I often find when I am working on a solo part (my own or trying someone else's) my brain is preoccupied with what the next note is my finger has to move to. By the time I get to the last note, I realize I forgot about vibrato pretty much everywhere. lol. Great lesson. I guess I just need to focus more.

[@proltd203]

Love Clapton! Love your lessons and the style in which you present them! Thanks so much, you are an inspiration! And now for something completely different... I have a suggestion / challenge for you for a Chordplay or 3 for all lesson on the massively talented guitarist and musician artist Ed Wynne of Ozric Tentacles. Very interesting guy who rarely gets a mention anywhere and very rarely seen any lessons or analysis on his playing... How about it Brewster? ;-)

[@proltd203]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWmWpoKfjbV5Z80

[@proltd203]

Please have a read of the interview with Ed in the link above I'm sure you will enjoy it and check out Ed showing how he plays Myriapod in the KZbin video link.

[@ari1234a]

David, for Your next project consider Leslie West. That guy needs some exposure and the band "Mountain" was ahead of it`s time too.

[@knightfall9394]

There’s a lick of his i stole from a vid of him playing the white room solo in 1986. Super simple lick where you’re trem picking and sliding into a double stop and then following it with these repeated minor third bends

[@michaelkatz1539]

What guitar is Clapton using in the video?

[@rudiger1337]

The Fool. Quote:"Purchased by Clapton in March 1967 (likely March 13th Christopher Hjort's Strange Brew book states), “The Fool” SG is probably the most famous Gibson instrument Slowhand ever played. In no small part, that’s due to its striking looks."

[@jperryfan]

Have to mention the late great Leslie West for great vibrato as well!

[@trevorgwelch7412]

If Clapton was God then Trower was an Alien and Malmsteen is an insane Paganini . All Genius's .... ⚡️

[@jamesbaker8653]

Great selection of vibrato masters in the pic at 3:29 BUT no Paul Kossoff there???

[@GG5150]

Warren DiMartini and George Lynch really make held notes sing.

[@timothyholmes4588]

2 of my favorite. Warren crazy good phrasing. and George has those slides I love

[@waynegram8907]

Cream Reunion album Licks lesson would be nice. Eric Clapton used a lot of those blues double stops that used dissonant intervals with that fuzz amp cream tone. The whole album is good of the cream live reunion album check out the licks he plays.

[@michaelm298]

How about a video on Trower's guitar work with Procol Harum (1967-1971)?

[@raddison3187]

Maybe you could compliment or compare to see why who oftentimes work with different musicians tour it all around the world using the bar technique.. thanks!

[@monkface]

I do that same exact muting and you're the first person I've ever heard talk about it. And I just came up with it on my own. I'm not saying I created it, I was just aware that ok, I can put my finger here and the pick here and shake that thing with no noise! When the Cream reunion happened I was so.hoping he was going to show up with Marshalls and a les paul, but nope!

[@billsims1033]

Hey great! I was just playing Wheels of Fire this afternoon. BB King, EC and Bloomfield have great vibrato.

[@mrandsp]

Killer lesson Dave. IMHO, although he has done some great stuff since, Clapton has never surpassed his playing in Cream. On the subject of vibrato, would you consider a lesson on Paul Kossoff? Clapton was impressed!

[@jperryfan]

No argument with your choices I would add, Gary Moore, Paul Kossoff , & Slash

[@insomnia863]

Any chance you could get to Jared James Nichols?

[@bludworm1]

You should include the tabs for the licks you played. The variations of the four Clapton licks. I liked them just as much if not better!

[@TweedSuit]

Clapton belongs with T-Bone, Berry, The Kings, etc. He really is that important to electric rock guitar. He's arguably also responsible for the whole vintage guitar movement.

[@freddymclain]

the FIRST tip is to hold the neck like a shovel handle.