Cream - Crossroads (Clapton's Solos)

Recorded solely for educational purposes.
Epiphone Les Paul Custom 2010
Boss SD-1 Japan
Vox Pathfinder 15

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Hey, seems like this video is getting some traction again, I’m very grateful for that. I’d like to take the opportunity to ask those of you who have some extra time to check my latest videos, that would also be greatly appreciated. Thank you all who have liked and commented and given any kind of support. 🙏🏻

[@getpeko54]

Will do. Thanks for the instructional vids.

[@gregorycarlson6632]

Clapton himself has never been able to repeat that solo, and you’ve done it perfectly! Tremendous!!

[@gregorycarlson6632]

Superb!! Best cover I’ve ever heard of this song! You’ve got a new subscriber.

[@navneetsinghr4290]

My fav guitar solo from my fav guitarist, and this is just perfect . No edits or stuff just pure rock and blues

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks so much, glad you like it! It's a great solo for sure, school of rock and blues rock.

[@eatmagnumrevolver3048]

"It took me about a month or so to learn it note for note" It took me more than a month to figure it out and more than a month to be able to "lay it down" like Eric does but CONGRATULATIONS!!! You do an amazing job on this song, you should be very proud. If you (or anyone) can play this song with even 90% efficiency you should consider yourself a very good player As you know, when you include all of the mini "time signature breaks" and all the "subtle nuance" with all of the "damping" and "scrubbing" of the strings with the right hand in both the first and second lead breaks this is quite the accomplishment. Laying it down is the artistry of this song. Also for the uninitiated, while this 68' recording is "live" there is one edit in the song. At the end of the second lead break, RIGHT BEFORE you hear Eric sing "You kin Run, You kin Run" there is a SHARP STOP where a splice was made. I'm not sure if it was some unwanted stage noise, feedback or what but it was clear it was something they didn't want on the recording. So it those days on live songs they didn't have Pro Tools to go in and fix it on analog tape, so the tape was cut with the offending sound removed and the tape spliced back together which is why we have the sharp stop after the end of the second lead break. Rafael, laying down the Artistry Brother....Awesome!!! (I clicked on everything for you)

[@rafaelzengo5534]

First of all, thanks so much my friend. I really appreciate you and all the others taking the time to leave such nice words of encouragement and detailed info. I really do. Lately I have not been in the best confidence about my playing, I’m working on it here and there when I find the time. But i don’t want to sound like I’m whining or down because maybe this is the right place to be - constantly searching, constantly trying, constantly not satisfied. In the beginning of this year this channel had zero subscribers, and in the past months I have been blessed with a lot of generosity from you guys who have liked, subscribed and left a comment, I had zero expectations when I started to make some videos here and there. I have limited time and resources to make better quality content, audio and video-wise, but I’m working on it slowly. About the recording, it makes complete sense! It indeed has an abrupt change. I remember listening to this song with my father in his car (he was a musician too), and he would always tell me “see how the band completely ‘shut down’ here”. It’s like they were at a thousand miles per hour and came down to a hundred. But still the cut is very well done, and kudos to the band because the bpm doesn’t seem to change much, if at all. Thanks again my friend!

[@spitmahoney1153]

Phew...worked up a sweat just watching it ! Fantastic ! 😎

[@dwcleary8694]

omg, there are at least 20 people doing lessons on the crossroads solo, but I still come here.

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Hey, that means a lot to me! I’ve been thinking about a follow up for a while, maybe breaking down segments of the solo.

[@kensnyder9372]

Hot Dam . Finally some who can lay it down like the old man did

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks so much Ken! I’m far from that smooth Clapton vibrato, but trying!

[@greguitard7812]

Me & a friend played that song on the school cafeteria's record player virtually every day for one semester in 9th grade (way back when) - I never got tired of it, but after a while other students started blocking our access to the turntable... Great job replicating it, Raphael! I transcribed/notated it a few years ago but haven't worked it up to your degree (might need a good month or so)

[@rafaelzengo5534]

You surely educated these people, even though they didn't appreciate it at the time! Thanks so much :)

[@greguitard7812]

@@rafaelzengo5534 There's a great clip of a long-lost EVH interview from around 1979 where at the end, after talking about how he learned EC solos to learn how to play well, Eddie grabs a spare gtr (sounds unplugged in) and plays Crossroads solo note-for-note, with a few mess-ups that he bothers to stop and fix; but his style and bends sound great. He probably hadn't played it for 7 years!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

@@greguitard7812 yes, I heard that one. The interviewer kind of challenges him to play it, and he goes like “oh yea” in the most nonchalant way, grabs whatever guitar and just rips it, note for note. To be honest I myself expected him to take liberties but he really played the whole thing, both solos, exactly like the original. Only his trademark wide vibrato is different. I am a huge VH fan too, I just don’t venture into copying his style because it’s so unique to him. Dude had a very fine bluesy thing in the middle of his brilliant crazy style.

[@greguitard7812]

@@rafaelzengo5534 I always thought it odd that EVH claimed EC as an influence - they seem so different. But that says something about EVH, that he could absorb aspects of EC and create something unique to himself. And high standards: copping Clapton solos!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

@@greguitard7812 true. I had the same impression too when I first knew that he mentioned EC as his biggest influence.

[@nongkhiew]

Cleaner and more effortless than I can play it after 7 weeks of practice. Congrats!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks! But after 3 years i don’t think I could play it now without some practice lol

[@TheCream14]

My favorite song by my favorite band. Nice job!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thank you!

[@Green_House]

Note perfect ! 🙂

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks!

[@vgfxworks]

not even Eric could play note by note as you did !! great job !!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

@@vgfxworks thank you, but, on the other hand, I could never play a solo like this on the spot, off the top of my head like he did.

[@yakfisher79]

You make it look easy!!

[@aminahmed2220]

Absolutely amazing have a wonderful day ❤😊

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks so much! Have a wonderful day you too

[@TheSonicDeviant]

Amazing work! Greetings from Scotland!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thank you Paul! Glad you like it. Scotland is wonderful!

[@TheSonicDeviant]

@@rafaelzengo5534 - You’re welcome! Liked, subbed and shared!

[@dpraptorP]

That was great! You should be a legend too! 👍

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks my friend, glad if you like it. I'm just a regular guy trying to play a little better each day. Happy 2022!

[@baboxe]

Absolutly fantastic job !

[@andyrudge1316]

Superb. Well done.

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks so much. Happy 2022

[@farmhand6524]

Sir, impressed. Masterful. Loved, loved.

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks so much!

[@farmhand6524]

@@rafaelzengo5534 Sure thing; so well deserved...

[@enricofiori7641]

Beautifully!!!

[@Yousless1]

One of the greatest nights in rock and roll history. You killed it. Beautiful. Thanks!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thank you! Glad you found this effort worth of a listen. Have a great week!

[@weekendpartier]

Really GOOD

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thank you!

[@fernandosugeta]

Fantastic!

[@kidtikiart]

Fantastic stuff, Rafael!!!!! I think anyone who can play this should be proud for the rest of your life - in my opinion the best solo in the history of Rock N Roll by Clapton at his peak. Thanks for posting!!! Peace

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks so much! Indeed these solos are a big mark in rock n roll history, and are a pretty nice way to learn and practice. Cheers!

[@juanilarreguy4836]

👏👏👏 thanks man. Congrats from Argentina

[@jobckts682]

Prfct. Nobody nails Killer Bass runs. They skimp.

[@lorettamacaluso2857]

Absolutely amazing!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thank you!

[@chrischamberlain2168]

Magnificent.

[@jontafferofficial]

first one i’ve heard that’s spot on, good shit man awesome job really

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks so much Jon, glad if you think it’s worth a listen

[@jgallman11]

Incredible job!

[@GNERI123]

Cara, nunca vi um negócio tão bem feito, parabéns a você pelo cover e dedicação. Aproveitando também para dizer, que absurdo a técnica que o Clapton tem. Olha o tanto de variações que ele faz no segundo solo usando a mesma "altura" na guitarra. É impressionante, não a toa é chamado de gênio.

[@rafaelzengo5534]

@@GNERI123 eu fico feliz que tenha servido de alguma coisa amigo, obrigado mesmo. Esse solo com certeza mostra toda a genialidade do clapton na guitarra. Muita precisão, e ele pensava essas frases tão perfeitas e tão bem executadas, com ótimo senso de tempo, improvisando.

[@petercota]

Smoked it man,.....great..i cant even get kinda close...aint got No discipline..lol my favorite song ..

[@han36solo]

Awesome!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thank you Han! Have always been a fan of yours!

[@han36solo]

@@rafaelzengo5534 Very very kind of you! I will be doing more vids soon. Amazing job on this Rafael you earned a sub!

[@ninexapple1]

great just as good as Clapton

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks so much my friend! But I’m waaaaay behind lol

[@ninexapple1]

@@rafaelzengo5534 Hey Raf Clapton did his in a studio with professional sound supports

[@TonyNardella-n7y]

Excellent Man 👨

[@BrentTaylor56]

Excellent! You did a great job! I could never find a video that stayed on Clapton's fingers when he played that solo from the live album. Now I know how he played it. Thank you! 👍

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks so much! Glad if it helped. Happy 2022

[@joepeterson2819]

Brilliant

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks so much! Happy new year!

[@joepeterson2819]

@@rafaelzengo5534 That's actually one my favourite tunes, I was waiting for the notes.... and then there were! Happy new year

[@elikipreos9007]

Thats-it ... great-job

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks Eli, glad you like it !

[@MarshallAmpMan]

Great!!!

[@mck974]

EXCELLENT! that was really incredible! note for note! its so difficult for me to get his timing down!

[@baboxe]

whaoo, what a great job ! Thank you !!

[@jo6paq]

Fantastic job! That’s one of my all time favorite live recordings, and you played it so well. I have all of Creams live stuff, but they didn’t capture nearly enough back then. Keep on rockin.🤘

[@TheTomdriscol]

thank you, well done, clear and easy, a great help to an old guitar player

[@rafaelzengo5534]

I am very happy and thankful to be of any help

[@andylaycock4221]

Very cool 😎

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks Andy!

[@tomcabrera8223]

Gave me chills dude.

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Hi Tom, thanks! glad if you found it worth listening

[@mikaelkarlsso8804]

My compliments! 🔥

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks so much Mikael :)

[@3340steve]

Thank you for posting this important work. You nailed it. Congratulations.

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks so much Steve!

[@charlottefox4775]

Fandamtastic!!

[@keithaguirre4927]

Wow nicely done. liked

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Glad you like it Keith! Cheers

[@centermass1976]

Wow!!!

[@thesentinel8974]

Crazy

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thank you

[@alraymond1618]

Bravo!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks Al!

[@TheTimshumaker]

great job! a very true to original reprise

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks so much Tim, happy 2022!

[@WorldsOkayestGuitarPlayer]

Dude this sound epic!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Glad you like it! Thanks so much

[@WorldsOkayestGuitarPlayer]

@@rafaelzengo5534 absolutely bro you killed this

[@Cristian-vm1bg]

loved the solo and ur edit was great too. fantastic job. love cream era clapton myself, the white room and sunshine solos were two of my fav original accomplishments. crossroads came later coz it was a bit more tuff. as u know im sure, killed it!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thank you Cristian, glad you like it! I love the sunshine and white room solos too

[@petercota]

Great man,just fucking great... My favorite song..has always got me going.....awesome guitar man.. thanks for sharing ..

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks so much Peter! This song is a soundtrack of a lot of peoples youth, me included. I’m happy if you like it!

[@javrolet2]

Brutal 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@MA-vr8gp]

Fantastic!!...please teach this version!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks so much, glad you like it! I have been thinking of a way to record a follow-up breaking down the solo in segments, I just don't have enough time and technological resources to do it in a way that would be pleasant to watch and easy to learn, but I'll keep it in mind.

[@jkmorrison1013]

perfect mate

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks JK!

[@samuelhain2712]

Great job Rafael!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks a lot Samuel!

[@jayscheidemen4455]

VERY tasty!!!

[@pretty_lucky]

Brilliant job Rafael, well done! ...and the Epi sounded spot on.

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks so much John. Glad if you found this worth giving a listen.

[@paulcooper5748]

Perfect.👌🎸

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thank you Paul!

[@hkguitar1984]

Well done Rafael. I started learning to play this version of Crossroads back in 1978! No need to comment how spot on your playing is. And I don’t need to see your face in the video to know you are most certainly smiling. Congrats, it takes a bit of time to learn these passages/solos so close to Eric’s original. Again I’ll say it, well done Sir.

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks so much! I am happy if you like it. To think that in ‘78 this solo was already a classic.. it really is canon to all of us guitar players.

[@hkguitar1984]

@@rafaelzengo5534 yes indeed, it was already a classic in 1978 (ah the good-ol days). Back then I only had a vinyl record or cassette tape to help learn songs! What I really enjoyed about your playing is how close you get to the original. While playing the right notes at the right time is of course important achieving the Artist's inflection of each note is paramount to making it sound good when performed (as you've stated in these comments section). Check out my cover of The Rain Song (lots of little inflections required to make it sound like the original). Great Playing Rafael, I really enjoyed listening/watching your performance. Thank You for sharing.

[@rafaelzengo5534]

@@hkguitar1984 I will check it out!

[@coreymihailiuk5189]

Bang on! Well done!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks Corey!

[@frankgioia514]

perfect replay !!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks Frank!!

[@tedmckinney3944]

Good job.

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thank you!

[@manuelsosahenriquez]

¡Fantástico! Perfectos los solos… nota por nota….. Me atrevo a pedirte que subas el solo de White Room, pero el del concierto de despedida de 1968 en el Royal Albert Halll.. Es fantástico y muy superior a cualquier otra versión.. Escúchalo por favor y… ¡anímate! Gracias

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Muchas gracias Manuel! Es mucha bondad. Es mucha bondad. Atrevome a escrever a escribir en espanol pero sé muy poco. Conozco esta versión! Puedo intentarla. Gracias por la sugerencia! Have a great week

[@geraldmiramonti1667]

great job! you make look so easy like i can master those solos! haha!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks Gerald, glad you like it.

[@stevem6869]

Nailed it! Good job! And no edits..I'm impressed! Just curious...how long did it take you to learn this note for note?

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks Steve! I am happy if you like it. The beginning and both solos have no edits or punch-ins indeed (other than jumping the singing in between solos). Only at the end, for the very last bit ("I believe I'm sinking down"), I recorded just that part again, as I thought it was a little out of time. It took me about a month or so to learn it note for note. I would sit with headphones and go back every single "cluster" or "little units" that I found inside the solos, going back as many times until I got it. Then I had to glue all the little bits together and rehearse the solos in real playing time. Still there's little nuances here and there that I could have done better. Like the vibrato, which I'm still working on. I feel that I could do it a little bit better now, I was just in a hurry to record it while it was fresh in my head. It means a lot to me if you found this effort worth of listening. Thanks again, have a great week.

[@tacyu5595]

すげー👏👏👏👏

[@TriGrutt]

Na cabecinha das notas, shredding massa, man. Baita!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

O man, obrigado! Tenha uma ótima semana

[@armorer94]

Robert Johnson. The father of them all.

[@claudioalmonti4667]

Super excellent

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks so much Claudio, glad you like it

[@GUITAR69]

Great playing indeed, Rafael. Nailin' it

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks! Glad you like it.

[@anthonywurst2548]

👏👏

[@しゅじお]

まじでかっこいい！ you are very cool!!!!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thank you my friend! You are very cool too !

[@caspelake]

Great job man👍🏻👍🏻 Do you have the tan ?

[@caspelake]

Sorry I meant the guitar tab ?

[@rafaelzengo5534]

@@caspelake Glad you like it, thanks! I dont have the tab unfortunately. Maybe if you use the slow down thing on the video it could help? Anyway I'd be glad to help, I just didnt use a tab or sheet music.

[@nicolasribeiroporto7913]

Boa!!

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Valeu Nicolas!

[@c.s.mcleod7383]

I've always considered @2:10 probably the most difficult.

[@rafaelzengo5534]

True! That’s the part when he’s going completely nuts. The hands start to cramp and the fingers to tangle up lol. It’s such a handful of complex equations that he’s doing there.

[@lolapalacios1654]

Nice 👍

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thank you !

[@natman6905]

The doubling is distracting but you did great

[@adalinezalkin7224]

What does that mean?

[@zainpunka1703]

@@adalinezalkin7224 I think he means you playing along to the original. Very great job mate!! Would have taken me years not weeks.

[@gorimus]

Well played. Sounds like two guitars - how do you achieve that effect?

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks so much! I’m playing over Clapton’s original guitar, maybe that’s what you are hearing?

[@gorimus]

@@rafaelzengo5534 Wow! That makes it even better as it must be nearly note to note!👏

[@rafaelzengo5534]

@@gorimus I tried, it’s a difficult solo. Clapton’s inflections are the real seasoning that is so hard to get right

[@gorimus]

@@rafaelzengo5534Indeed, those bends, vibrato, and phrasing are so unique and difficult to master, but you did a great job. Maybe now try Sunshine solo, it is simple to get in the ball park buy difficult to get those bends perfectly in time ( for me at least).

[@rafaelzengo5534]

@@gorimus Good suggestion! I'll see if I can do the Sunshine solo. Yes, Clapton is all about the bends and vibrato, especially vibrato, he's really the master. My vibrato in these solos is not quite there yet, I'm trying to improve it.

[@ほんとのまーくん]

0:34

[@dicer0075]

I wanna give you more likes but I can’t :(

[@rafaelzengo5534]

Thanks my friend, glad if you like it!

[@ChemaPascual]

I bought the guitar anthology volume 1 book with the tabs, but yours make much more sense. is there a way to get the same tabs you used? thanks in advance

[@thejimmymeister]

He didn't use tabs. He figured it out for himself.

[@andrewpride5230]

Good but could have done with a bit more attack my friend

[@johnnyhmash]

Good for you but EC presumably improvised this 55 years ago and did another version the next gig.Mind you I wondered if all the recorded live stuff has been tinkered with because what I've heard of the 'new' unearthed live stuff on KZbin is nothing like as coherent.Maybe they were on best behaviour.!