Eric Johnson at Saucer Studios, Austin TX

Footage is from b-roll used for Up Close interview in 2010. Eric is improvising and displays really super great guitar work throughout. Could not hide this in the vaults any longer. Enjoy.

[@pascalrouen]

Just give me 10,000 hours of his clean tone chord changes. Pure musical bliss.

[@michaelescareno7048]

Exactly!!!!!

[@frankalbertsson128]

Exactly!!!! Eric`s clean playing is from outer space.....

[@BobMaulucci]

Amen to this. Like Holdsworth, those beautiful chords make the songs and both can blaze, too!

[@vi3686]

i could just have this be the soundtrack i live in and be completely happy with it T^T

[@johnyoungblood2771]

IAM with you on that LIFES DELIGHT I WANT TO PLAY LIKE THAT FOR JESUS CHRIST IN WORSHIP AND PRAISE 😇😇😇😇😇😇🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾😇😇😇🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰😍😍😍!!

[@sbklein]

If I played that well I'd just quit work and listen to myself all day.

[@tgerule]

+stan klein you could probably earn money as well doing it :)

[@summershark]

stan klein he did.

[@cypan1]

Eric came to Toronto .......... last week omg hes so Awesome His Panto Scales are Friggin down to a T ya he was amazing !! Been to Austin in 2004 Went to golfSmith to learn club fitting should of found out where he was playing in Austin ?? Was a Amazing night @ the Rockpile ! in TORONTO CANADA !

[@atznorbert]

😂😂😂🤟🏼

[@kevah94]

@@Byrddog17 you have to bend strings to be considered great?

[@HardWorkingKat]

Every time I listen to this cat play, even if he's just warming up, my stress level goes down big-time.

[@Plymouthmusicschool]

Had the pleasure of running into Eric before his show in Ohio about 16 years ago. He was so kind, I asked him to sign something for me he said he didn’t have the time but gave me the email of his tour manager and told me to ask him for the address to send our tickets for him to sign. Needless to say I did exactly what he suggested Emailed his manager then sent my ticket out. Four weeks later I had Erics signature on my ticket! What a great guy...

[@alexlaris5069]

Isn't it faster to sign something than to tell you all that? lol.

[@Plymouthmusicschool]

Alex Laris he’s a lot like Chet Atkins a true gentleman not a rock star that must scribbles on a piece of paper and walks away

[@bigelile07]

He didn't have time to sign something but had time to give you an email address and what to do ? Sounds fishy. 😂

[@Plymouthmusicschool]

@@bigelile07 nothin fishy here. It was BEFORE the show. He wasn’t going to put a signature over ticket we needed to get in

[@gsmeeuwsen]

His tone and playing are utterly gorgeous.....

[@aliensporebomb]

Most people warming up sounds like licks. Eric warming up is an unreleased song from somewhere.

[@alecdawson1668]

aliensporebomb that is so true!

[@mrsnakepit]

True

[@cars.796]

U just have to know modes caged and 7ths

[@AxemanMessiah]

@@cars.796 do you really have to know modes? You can just play a major scale over it with emaphasis on the third...

[@MarkThomasMusic]

I could listen to this all day

[@glennhecker4422]

Same here!

[@S_Heavens]

His clean phrasing stuff is the best. This stuff, i can sleep to.

[@flyjoseph6355]

One of the very few players that can wield the strat like a magic wand

[@Bodyknowledge77]

The clean chordal /arpeggiated stuff he plays here is particularly sublime

[@thepoweroftheweed2215]

The tone alone is sublime

[@beefcake0354]

his dynamic/phrasing are second to none.

[@danknasty661]

3:13 until 3:39, I had literal chills down my spine and goose bumps all over my arms because of that tone, dear god!

[@Tim_Forters]

Sound from another world

[@Shho13]

Favorite guitarist of all time...

[@TMWilson71]

Not even a shard a doubt , people that sleep ok EJ are just not in the know.....

[@GreenDistantStar]

EJ is the proof that speed alone doesn't make a great guitarist. Eric can burn along with the best of them, but it's his awesome taste, tone and articulation that sets him apart.

[@mariomessina6389]

Peter D glad u are one of the people that see that ! Being a great guitarist isn’t all about speed theirs much more that goes into it to accompany other musicians well and play many styles . If it’s all about speed u are playing to a small audience . Eric is very unique and sets himself apart from other players !

[@mrsnakepit]

But Eric's pentatonic is so damn fast...

[@stingraybeach572]

I asked one (speed lover) guitarist I know: "Sure "X" is faster, but who has better songs?!" Eric's songs are also prettier, and prettier has a quality all its own!

[@modsbeck]

Elton John?

[@deanwitt7903]

@@stingraybeach572nothing wrong with speed and plenty of guys who are blessed with speed and clarity can also play melodic and slow . Speed is compared to non speed players through total ignorance of the instrument.

[@florentvauxion3664]

EJ is my inspiration for every day.

[@ErizotDread]

I love his use of his thumb, and how he utilizes pretty much most of the fretboard, even in a single run.

[@cowsgobob3518]

I really wish he wasn't so underrated, he really deserves more fame

[@South3West77]

Back in the day, them 80s, seen him, was amazing performance.

[@mattrwilkins]

EJs chord work is so insane it beats out his single note stuff.

[@CorbinSmith-yf3wd]

Both is good.

[@Earlvis]

I met Eric in 2001 after a show and we actually had a great conversation. He is a humble soul and his music comes from a desire to heal people and to thrill them as well.

[@johnhall393]

I've seen him perform twice and he's absolutely fantastic!

[@ijjeklmcklmk6452]

His playing and sound takes me to the better place of this world :)

[@MrJst9b]

extraordinary guitarist and musician. my favorite of all time. in a class of his own.

[@audiophileman7047]

This guy is really something. I would positively love to see him perform live. He's just so expressive and technically excellent, a true artist of the highest caliber.

[@catboyzee]

I continue to revisit this video to be reminded of the tonal possibilities between the player, the guitar, the amps, and effects. Thank you Eric Johnson, you are an inspiration to us all.

[@dallastoto3189]

Probably the most , or one of the cleanest solo players EVER. Blazzzzzzn speed and musical phasing genius

[@eliyam27]

So many styles!

[@outoworkdreamer]

i can only shake my head in wonderment

[@BarbsWorld1]

What I want to know is who are the 7 uneducated deaf people that gave this a thumbs down??? Are you kidding me.... This guy stacks up with ANYBODY on the planet.

[@speedfreakleo]

His clean tone sounds as if it came from heaven

[@linsk78]

He is the master- plain and simple.

[@cypan1]

Grand Master lol Not so Simple But outstanding !! lol

[@cmhardin37]

Guthrie Govan is the masters master.

[@thepracticingguitarist]

A true musician. A true gentleman.

[@lapwiz]

I worshiped Jeff Beck since I was a young player in the early 70's..challenging playing then, ground breaking in fact. for any kid lucky enough to get a hold of a good American strat or Tele. Eric just takes it all to a new level of sophistication only the truly worthy can follow. Eric found the holy grail and is behind the armor all a and the tilted vox ac amp. q

[@JeffDaytonMusic]

He's been one of my lifetime faves since the 90s. Also had the invite to meet him and hang after a show here in Nashville... what a great, humble guy and a kind person. Amazing!

[@alexacosta2140]

This is the gold standard of guitar playing. Knowing you way around chords while being able to shred. Not one or the other.

[@johnspina318]

Eric still one of my all time favorites.Listen to his cds all the time!

[@michaelmorris2243]

This guy is the shit !! I can listen to him all day long

[@giovanniwitjamulia467]

that lamp has a big impact to the guitar tone, i have tried it

[@Daniel18Moura]

giovanni witjamulia lol😂

[@rc121crx]

@@Byrddog17 that 60 cycle

[@taylorlehn4436]

Where can I get that lamp

[@jghuntr]

Hi is THE KING! I've loved him since he was 15!

[@blkjakk]

Beautiful.

[@bobgourley8731]

Very tasteful and accurate guitar work. Could watch and listen all day!

[@Ledprostate]

What a magical world Eric lives and plays in! Tone to die for.

[@ToddPritch]

Half these shredders don't know much about chord voicings or just chords in general. EJs got the best of both worlds

[@TheGreenKingdom]

Wow, so awesome to hear him just "messing around". Could listen for hours...

[@albertdurden4209]

Play Eric...I've always admired your uniqueness - love all of it

[@RileyNagle]

Dat neck. holy crap. One of the best guitar players of all time.

[@nunyabusiness8538]

most beautiful playin i’ve seen on a strat, and probably the most beautiful strat i’ve seen too. the flame on the neck is 🔥

[@patriotsquill]

Now there's a guy who was born to play the guitar!

[@robwatts657]

Yeah Stan I agree with you and I am old hippie been playing since 1971 and listening to people like Eric makes me want to take up harmonica. He is great.

[@dennisking3975]

That clean tone is to die for,,,WOW

[@johnyflorez5397]

There are three guitarists i recognize with the first note Eric johnson, yngwie, santana I have seen most of the best guitar players live since the 70s Evh, gary moore, robben ford, yngwie, satriani, vai, vinnie moore, paul gilbert,santana, jake e lee, etc " Eric is the best of them all "

[@pezi845]

i could listen to this while studying... lovely music

[@Ledprostate]

I want to be this good! This is pure perfect tone and licks

[@Shho13]

EJ puts me in my happy place! This guitarist virtuoso that ever lived hands down.

[@chriswalkerband]

Harp harmonics :) EJ is a master of this dazzling Lenny Breau technique, and has talked about it at length in his instructional videos.

[@jasonstallworth]

One of my favorites!

[@MrPhrygianmaniac]

I can listen to him play like that all day, what a pro!! In one word: dreamy

[@melomaniacify]

For his music, Eric is one of my favorites guitar players of all time... Amazing!

[@skateborg]

WOW. What a treat to find this here. Thanks Eric!

[@zososhep]

I am going to see him on 9/27/12...Cant wait! One of my all time favorite guitar players...he is a complete player.Such incredible tone, feel, phrasing and soul! Thanks for posting! I have watched all of the other vids for the Up Close interviews so this was very nice to see...Thanks! Peace.

[@derekstocker6661]

This is so wonderful, a real master of his art and a real masterpiece as a result.....

[@leadchick]

I could sit and watch you rehearse and create new material for days. Beautiful.

[@danangputranto4697]

can hear this all day

[@jamesm5744]

One of the best ever, a true original and a gent, superb

[@danieljbdj]

best clean I've ever heard in my entire life

[@masterofmuppets86]

Besides all of that, his personality is so appreciable in the sense that he's so humbler besides his incredible playing that can often go to other players' heads

[@ConstantineJajas]

What a beast! You gotta love Eric...such a musical player. The man's got the whole package!

[@charliejamz.]

The King of Improvisation!

[@pauloamw]

Gorgeous strat and the most gorgeous playing there is.

[@anitavassar1]

i love this series of YOU. this is all i have of you.

[@Deliquescentinsight]

Always loved this guy's melodic approach to his playing-sounds almost Celtic to me in places, lots of influences there, but he is a great example of a musical Guitar player

[@kelesays]

Jaw dropped. Improvisation top level.

[@nazmoking3171]

Now that is one thin dude!! Also a mighty fine guitar player to boot! I love his different pedals and tones - very beautiful.

[@dieselyeti]

Probably my fav guitar player today, I could listen to his noodling for hours. I don't recognize anything he's playing other than that triad from Cliffs of Dover's intro. I guess the rest is just straight improvisation? Wish I had a fraction of his chops. I love that chimey tone @ 9:22

[@rafaval1162]

pure magic, my #1 fav guitarrist

[@dsbobst50]

The man needs to make another album

[@billc6087]

So glad I saw him once in a little club in Davis, CA. Amazing.

[@wariorundead]

You sir, are awesome. Thanks man

[@JamesJLaRue]

Could listen to Eric free-flow jamming all day

[@Janine.Najarian]

So soothing

[@MClancer18]

I could listen to this everyday =)

[@MrHugosantos1982]

His tone is always very soft and mellow, even when he's using the brightest pickup selections. This distinguises him immediately from the majority of guitar players, that seem to have so much hearing loss that they have to over-compensate for the fact that they can't hear the highest frequencies.

[@eddievhfan1984]

Ironically, he's actually a tinnitus sufferer, and had to use headphones during a G3 tour as a result.

[@cgdoublezerorc]

@@eddievhfan1984 I work near this studio. I can tell you that it's damn loud inside. I can hear him when I walk by the building.

[@RickyLandi]

4:38 that E major chord played in that way it’s almost ipnotic

[@drums2go615]

I don't play guitar I'm a drummer but I've been following Eric Johnson for years and if I ever got the chance to set in and play one song just one song with him I think life would be complete at that point I just think he's great

[@giu.c.5080]

Eric Johnson: un grande chitarrista!

[@renzogo6747]

6:56 what a great tone

[@codjh9]

He might as well put this on his next album. Just call it "Random Shit', and I don't mean that negatively. It sounds great... probably would sound even better with repeated listens.

[@valve84]

The first minute of this sounds to me like what Jimi would've gone on to sound like if he were still with us.

[@williamwirt5609]

Jimi was overrated...stop cupping his balls.

[@LUckybones25]

Jimmy was nowhere near EJ’s level.

[@valve84]

@@LUckybones25 Cookies-n-Beer

[@pete540Z]

Love the clean tone and reverb at 3:48

[@tomjackson5815]

Beautiful

[@drkaplin98]

Look at how low his action is and how it doesn't affect his tone. It just shows what kind of magic a great tech and luthier can produce. I've played some "legend's" guitars and some suck, but most play amazingly.

[@kennyroadknight1771]

Incredible

[@robertphillips597]

Eric Johnson is an amazing guitarist!

[@m00nchildblues]

Thanks Eric for making me miss my mint 1967 Fender Deluxe Reverb..😫😫😫

[@abatarr]

Thanks for the upload!

[@gyabki]

Best movie to learn his brilliant licks.

[@carlosaureliocarvalhosouza1647]

so magic, man!!!

[@massimilianomaldini2238]

Phenomenal Eric

[@4444jcm]

Great Interview Good Questions EJ is So Humble Yet Such a Legend : )