The Eric Clapton Cream Lick You MUST Know | Clapton Cream Guitar Lesson

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#Guitar #bluesguitar #rockguitar

[@tbone2451]

Nice lesson Mark, anyone thinking Clapton sucks should find another instrument to play, possibly the triangle.

[@MarkZabel]

LOL! That's pretty funny.

[@glenkepic3208]

I went thru krap defending Clapton. For all we know The Marshall tone as we know it might not be here if not for EC. Heck, Jimi was promised to meet him, Even He was a fan.

[@DMSProduktions]

PRIMUS fans!

[@CHill-uh1fg]

Don't forget, Claptons firebird 😎,but what ever he played it was all about the feel, something a lot of players never learn. You did a great job teaching it,👍

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks! And you're so right about the fingers producing the majority of the tone.

[@krisstieghorst7415]

Clapton's style brilliant and definitely influenced alot of guitar players. Thanks Mark! Love Kris IL

[@MarkZabel]

My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@stephencowan139]

As far as technique goes we all know there are countless guitarists who can out perform him, however, many folks forget just what a brilliant songwriter he was, whether it was in his cream era, Derek and the Dominos or as a solo artist. Listen to You Were There or Layla and you'll see what I mean! Cheers Stephen (Scotland)

[@MarkZabel]

Hi Stephen. You're so right about his songwriting. And to me his guitar ideas and tone still hold up. I do think his overall best period was 1966 to 1970 (Beano to Layla). As far as technique goes, well, it's a "thing" people talk about. And it matters, but IMHO people seriously over-consider it. And it's usually "look how fast so and so can play." But overall there's so much more than speed. Surely top classical guitarists are the pinnacle of technique. And I like classical guitar, but I think few of the "Clapton sucks" brigade are comparing him to John Williams or Julian Bream! Thanks for your comment and thanks for listening!

[@jamesdickinson4186]

Great lesson Mark. Oh , Mark you’re such as a fashionista, and Mark I completely agree with you ,Clapton is the man

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks and LOL! Yeah, you really have to drag me kicking and screaming to use my Strat. I really have to change out the neck, because it just doesn't work for me. I like the sound of it though. Clapton? Yes, people rave about Joe B and that's fine. But really, listen to Clapton's work in the 1960s and it's still fresh even though 1,000,000's of people have copied it. And Joe would no doubt say he got a lot directly from Clapton too. (And Eric Johnson and Jeff Beck) Anyway, Joe B is great too, but where would so many players have been without Clapton?

[@colinmcnab6145]

Clapton on the Beano album with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers was responsible for all the interest in the Les Paul Standard. Up until that album nobody was intrested in the single cut Les Paul Standard it was regarded as anold jazzers guitar. As soon as the Beano album was realised everyone wanted one over here and in America. Clapton also kick started the sales of Marshall amps with the Fender Bassman knock off the JTM45 later to become the Bluesbreaker.

[@davidp7833]

I love.Claptons playing from cream on. Was that Blind Faith he did with steve winwood? That was good. All smiles. Good lesson, triplets are fun

[@MarkZabel]

Yes, Blind Faith was with Steve Winwood. Thanks David! Hope you're well.

[@MarkZabel]

All tabs and backing tracks are available to members here: mark-z-guitar-school.teachable.com/p/member-level2-bar-band A sample of FREE tabs is here: tinyurl.com/ybpzjuwm Find All of my courses here: mark-z-guitar-school.teachable.com Sign up as a Rockstar Member (ALL courses, tabs, and backing tracks): mark-z-guitar-school.teachable.com/p/mark-z-guitar-members-rockstar

[@rajeshgumber363]

Thanks Mark for this, I'm just going to have to learn this now, another nice challenge.

[@MarkZabel]

Awesome! You can do it!

[@GoodVibeTribe]

Mark your lessons are fantastic.

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks so much Phil!

[@RobHollanderMusic]

You're an excellent teacher.

[@MarkZabel]

Thank you Rob!

[@toddknaster9731]

Clapton is a great musician. Not sure any of us are qualified to judge him. Mark, your lessons are always great and your tone always sounds good, no matter what guitar you are playing. Please don’t let anyone discourage you from doing more Clapton lessons!! Especially if it’s why does love got to be so sad.

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks so much Todd! I think Clapton would've sounded amazing on whatever guitar he played in the Cream days. Don't worry, I'm not getting discouraged at all. Just having a little fun, more or less.

[@imannonymous7707]

Couldnt say it better myself...agreed 110 %

[@mraggrovator]

Great lesson and super lick thanks.

[@MarkZabel]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks!!

[@greatwhite3676]

The Beano record alone is years ahead of its time. NOBODY was plugging les pauls in to Marshalls and turning them all the way up before that!!!! That was 1966. That record did more for rock n roll than people know. Add Cream, and my personal favorite Derek and the Dominos and that makes him a legend in my book.

[@MarkZabel]

Exactly. Everything has to be put into it's time and context. And the amount of great material from Clapton from 1966 to 1970 is more than enough.

[@jimmuller]

I've always been amazed by Clapton's playing. Someone posted a lesson on Clapton's SG lesson ( see your title block) and it was definitely not for beginners.

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks Jack. I'm sorry, do you mean the thumbnail by "title block"? I've seen that footage of Clapton giving an interview about his play at the time. Pretty cool for sure!

[@bobbydazzler8684]

...or a FIrebird or even a Danelectro. Clapton and Gibson guitars is a match made in heaven! I loved his playing during the From the Cradle period with the ES335! Cool lesson, by the way!

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks Bobby! Yes, Clapton played a Strat, but ... so many others, and the early period is primarily Gibson as you point out. Thanks for watching!

[@stephencowan139]

Hi Mark, Cheers for the reply. At the end of the day the guitar is there to enhance a good song, no amount of technique will help if the bare bones isn't there! We'll still be listening to EC decades into the future, that's the true mark of a good musician All the best and keep up the great work! Stephen

[@MarkZabel]

Spot on!

[@michaeld.mahoney9106]

Well done , thank you so much. I agree totally about you comments about Eric's playing abilities. Listen to the Blusbreaker's Beno album. When he was a kid. If he only made this one album he would be a legend.

[@MarkZabel]

Agree. His playing on that album is amazing and groundbreaking!

[@DLawrenceMarketing]

I agree that Clapton had a huge influence on rock guitar. Back in the days of Cream I don't remember him using a Strat, he definitely played an SG and LP.

[@MarkZabel]

Yep. LP for John Mayall and the Blues Breakers, SG and 335 for Cream. Started playing the Strat with Blind Faith and then full bore with Derek & the Dominoes. Love his tone from the earliest days!

[@martinmcevoy4376]

Hi Mark, You are spot on with your chronological identification of Clapton’s guitar choices throughout his career. As far as his playing, people may not care for his playing, or opine that he hasn’t really grown much as a player in several decades, but to say he “sucks” is ridiculous. And I agree he is a very important guitar figure historically. Here’s an idea for your wonderful channel I got while watching this: what if you compared and contrasted Page’s and Clapton’s approaches to soloing? You would do a great job as you do with features like “what if Hendrix played Harrison?” Perhaps play a Page solo as if Clapton played it and vice versa. Finally, I must tell you your lessons and playing has grown exponentially over the years. Keep it up and good luck!

[@MarkZabel]

Hi Martin! Thank you for the kind words. I love your idea, and believe it or not, that video topic (precisely) is on my list of near-term videos! I've found people are interested in topics like that. (I recently did a "What if Hendrix played ..." video.) So yes! Comparing and contrasting those 2 great contemporaries would be fun! I really do appreciate the support!

[@artamussumatra6286]

I’m a pretty hard core Fender fan, but I’ll admit I think his best work was done on Gibsons. Cream is amazing, to me, they’re The Beatles of Psychedelic Blues!

[@MarkZabel]

Yes, I think so too, although his Layla period was pretty darn great too. But the Beano album and then Cream to me is Clapton at his best. I really don't think it was the guitar! That's why I find the comments about having to use this guitar or that pedal or whatever to be counter-productive. But it's fine for a conversation!

[@artamussumatra6286]

@@MarkZabel I love his early post Cream stuff too, but not so much the later “Adult Contemporary” and movie ballads. He’s a freakin’ Legend tho, no matter what guitar he plays, an all time fave of mine for sure! 😁👍

[@RobHollanderMusic]

@@artamussumatra6286 I'd throw Jimi in the "Beatles of blues-rock" category as well.

[@TweedSuit]

You could argue that Clapton: - Pioneered modern rock guitar soloing. - Kick started vintage guitar collecting/reissuing - Invented the Marshall > Gibson high gain sound combination.

[@MarkZabel]

Makes sense.

[@57RickH]

Wow, nice playin’...I need to see if I can learn it well enough to play it that fast (and smooth) 😆

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks!! You can do it!

[@psychicgregorytheloveguru7123]

Clapton did'nt want to be known as just a guitar God he left that behind in the sixties.

[@MarkZabel]

Yep. Here's what he said about it in a 1987 interview. You can read the whole thing here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clapton_is_God "I never accepted that I was the greatest guitar player in the world. I always wanted to be the greatest guitar player in the world, but that's an ideal, and I accept it as an ideal."

[@garycstube]

My favorite Clapton was Cream. He has never sucked, anyone that thinks he sucks has no clue re music from the last 60 years.

[@jimkidwell4855]

Mr. Zabel, would you consider teaching two songs. Number one would be a Cream song called Spoonful. This studio version of the song from the album Fresh Cream around the 2:50 mark has the most amazing riff in it about half way through. The next song would be one by Crosby, Stills, and Nash entitled Wooden Ships. Include the rhythm by David Crosby and the lead by Stephen Stills.

[@MarkZabel]

Hi Jim. I can add that part of Spoonful somehow. (It's not well-known, so tough to do as a song on KZbin. But I can probably put it into "Eric Clapton Goes Old-School Beast Mode" or something with a snappy title for the kids! LOL!) Wooden Ships is a bit tougher to teach. Quite a bit. So much of that is mood, sound, rhythm and interplay of the instruments and voices. I love the intro most, so what do you think about starting with that? (Stills' riff, neat little solo and whoever is playing behind him during the mini solo before he hits that odd-but-perfect note of ".... smiiiiiiiiillle ... " Let me know what you think.

[@jimkidwell4855]

@@MarkZabel Mark, that sounds good for the Eric Clapton riff in Spoonful. I know the CSN version of Wooden Ships is a tough one. Stills solo and Crosby rhythm are not easy to pick out that is why I am asking a good player like you to give it a try. If you find it too difficult that is ok.

[@azdh85224]

I remember hearing crossroads for the first time. I could not believe it was just a trio. Clapton’s guitar playing on that is some of the best ever. But, I wish he had never given up on the humbuckers. Would it kill him to pick up a SG or LP once in a while? On the Cream reunion at Albert Hall, if he would’ve walked out with an SG to play sunshine of your love, the roof might’ve blown off that place.

[@MarkZabel]

100% spot on comments!

[@robertgoodwinr6523]

This is Excellent, Mark! Great playing and Thank you for posting. I'm a huge Clapton fan and started Crossroads 68 Cream live version last June along with all the other stuff i'm doing and finallyyyy almost have it completed. He's Great!

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks Robert! Glad you enjoyed it. I'm a huge fan of Clapton's work in the early days as well. Later was fine too, but especially the early days.

[@robertgoodwinr6523]

@@MarkZabel You're very welcome Mark. Hope you are well. Early days we're his greatest!! He's incredible he doesn't think much of his soloing (via an interview i saw) because he's says it's like singing to him and it's not that technical. but that's what makes him Great! It's that inner soul voice and creativity along with Jimmy P. Motherless Daughter is another great tune.

[@MarkZabel]

@@robertgoodwinr6523 Yes, exactly right. "Like singing" is, IMHO, the goal. Scales and that sort of thing don't matter. It's the music produced. I'm thinking about George Benson too. The better the player, the simpler it is.

[@robertgoodwinr6523]

@@MarkZabel For sure, agreed. it has to come from the inner soul as I am feeling it and if it makes me cry or laugh or feel that rhythm i'm really digging it.George Benson, thanks i totally forgot about him and I am working on lots of rhythm songs. Here's a good early one, Mark. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3Sli6ODbr53b8k

[@MarkZabel]

@@robertgoodwinr6523 Oh my! Chaka!!

[@tonyknightsecreto8338]

Thanks Mark great lesson on tri ads and the other things that your teaching us !I never think that I've reached the end of my learning 😜🎻 for me it can just take a little 'longer 🐰😅I learned the first triad from JUSTIN He's a great instructor it took me about 3 month's to learn it. And few other things along with thank you for your time,looking forward to other lesson s tk.com

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks Tony! I agree that Justin is a great instructor!

[@tonyknightsecreto8338]

@@MarkZabel thanks again sir

[@MarkZabel]

@@tonyknightsecreto8338 My pleasure!

[@glenkepic3208]

Nice opener ! EC fan since Cream in '68, Wheels Of Fire. edit,,,First bought DG was later .. Its been said EC got into Strats thru Steve Winwood,,,,or Robbie Robertson. Those guys would say it was a bad thing. Me, i jammed with "Wonderful Tonight" on a first go. Wife, "That sounds good". Before seeing EC in '05, AS73 and Blues Jr for 'Sitting On Top Of The World". Goodbye style. Yeah, i prefer the Cream style but could dig whatever. Its Clapton !!!

[@MarkZabel]

Sounds like you had fun!

[@glenkepic3208]

Thanks, Actually i saw EC in '07, 50th BD gift. Last with Derek Trucks in the band (HP P before joining The ABB in Sacto). He was doing the Cream RAH stand in '05 (May 2 3 5 6, i have the poster). This was also reunion for my old band from the early '80s. Brain goes to that year alot. Rock on !

[@autocrow]

Nice lick! Give me ideas for other licks.

[@MarkZabel]

Awesome. That's the idea!

[@Edward-MTBKR]

Clapton was a fine guitarist, but I hesitate to say truly memorable. My favorite performance from him was "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", a magnificent exercise in tension.

[@MarkZabel]

Interesting. Thanks for your well-thought out opinion. I love "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and find many more of his compositions, sounds, and performances memorable. Certainly he was widely copied and his styles were incorporated into others' playing.

[@RobHollanderMusic]

@@MarkZabel What Edward I believe doesn't get is that Clapton invented many of those licks that subsequently were taken as a given, and was the pioneer (I think anyway) to incorporate blues-rock playing into romantic, melodic songs completely outside of the I, IV, V, which peaked with Derek and the Dominoes.

[@anthonydavella8350]

I think that people calling Clapton "God" is why some people put him down. I've grown to appreciate him more thru the years. Thanks for the lesson

[@MarkZabel]

Yes, that could be. I think more often it's from the same people who say Hendrix sucks. The idea that guitar is basically an exercise in technique; how fast you can play. But no doubt what you say has some bearing!

[@awittypilot8961]

Great vid Mark. I like it a lot. I'm improving (so sez the band) so they're throwing more lead licks my way. Clapton was a GREAT influence on all of us. He's living proof you don't need to shred to play tasty lead licks. I'll never be able to shred....but look at the Ron Fishers and Neil Shons....they didn't blast you with dirt all the time and some of their best were more slow and believable musically. I just flat don't have the manual dexterity I used to have. I can do this lick and people think I'm awesome! And i AM awesome! hehe Thanks for another great!

[@MarkZabel]

Ha ha! Love it. Thanks!!

[@Ronholtmusic]

Thanks i was missing that

[@MarkZabel]

Glad to help!

[@justinkase9483]

People who say Clapton sucks only think so because he doesn't play the guitar behind his head, he doesn't do the "duck walk" thing, he doesn't run back and forth on stage, he doesn't play a thousand notes per measure, and blah blah blah. These people don't know how damn good he is with phrasing/note choices, his impeccable timing, his dynamics, his ability to release his emotions through the guitar; you can actually understand the subject matter if you pay attention to all of the above. It's very naive and just flat-out ignorant to say Clapton sucks.

[@MarkZabel]

Yes, absolutely. It generally shows youth, ignorance or worshiping of technique (which is usually an indication of at least one of the two previous categories).

[@StrangeDevice]

Rant on!...Rant off! Another great video. Really informative. Thanks, Mark!

[@MarkZabel]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ieldepiel]

Clapton is god❤️

[@MarkZabel]

LOL! I think that's why he gets the shade! Hope you enjoyed the lick.

[@ieldepiel]

@@MarkZabel known this one, did reconcider baby a while ago

[@walterredaelli7507]

Great lesson ! Thanks 👍🏻. PS Clapton Is God but Gilmour is the Holy Ghost. When do we see you cracking some D.G. licks ? Ciao

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks!! I've done a few Gilmour lessons, but yes, I'll definitely do a few more soon. Thanks for the reminder!

[@joedavis8481]

CLAPTON IS GOD .....read that somewhere 🤣 Gallagher Hendrix Gilmour Clapton SRV Just my top five , doesn't have to be yours 🎸🤟🍻 Thanks for the video Mark

[@MarkZabel]

LOL! Yeah, that may have something to do with people saying he's not that good. He's way up at the top for me too! 🤘🎸

[@cryptoskywalker1714]

"Come on, Clapton didn't suck."

[@MarkZabel]

LOL! Glad you enjoyed that!

[@rickreeder1698]

Clapton sucked !!?? Listen to Cream's live version of Sleepy Time Time ... Totally improvised and so tasty .. Also the lead he played on Harrison's While My Guitar Gently Weeps .. Came into the studio never hearing the song before and again , nailed a beautiful , iconic lead for the song .. I prefer his playing from John Mayall thru the Domino's when he had the fires burning so we all have our preferences .. lighten up and be able to give credit where it's due . Reminds me of people that I have talked with about The Beatles and some people made the comment that Ringo sucked as a drummer .. we all are entitled to our opinions which makes life a bit more interesting.. many of the top drummers praise Ringo for his feel and playing for the song , not getting in the way of the singers , etc ... He's not a Bonzo or a Ginger , he was never a flash blow me up drummer because it would never have fit in The Beatles .. he played what was needed for every song recorded by The Beatles and did it perfectly.. you can't ask for more than that .. oh , and dito on Clapton playing his Firebird one and don't forget his late 50's Les Paul Custom

[@TheseusTitan]

What song did he use that lick on?

[@MarkZabel]

The front end of the lick he used all over the place. You'll hear that sort of thing in Crossroads quite a bit. A good example of his 1 and 1/2 step bending is on Badge.

[@TheseusTitan]

@@MarkZabel Thank you!

[@MarkZabel]

@@TheseusTitan my pleasure.

[@mikeaaron2819]

People saying Clapton isn’t as good as his fame implies are right because there are plenty of virtuoso guitarists but they’re just jealous that they and the guitarists they like aren’t as famous.

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks for your comment Mike! Yes, I understand the argument, but I don't buy into it. There are plenty of people today who can paint the Mona Lisa and are better technically --> therefore Leonardo da Vinci sucks?!?!? Clapton is not da Vinci of course, but his body of guitar work from 1966 to 1970 is quite excellent. It's extremely uncommon to create something groundbreaking for its time and accessible for a large portion of the public. Anyway, I'm not trying to make the argument that he's "the best ever" or even that he's "awesome" or "great" or even "good". Just that he doesn't suck.

[@waxman9550]

It says free tabs on the Website but I have to enroll in course to unlock?? Enroll in course then it says Lecture Content Locked. Oh well. Guess you have to pay.

[@MarkZabel]

*The course is FREE. You don't have to pay. You DO have to enroll and log in.*

[@waxman9550]

@@MarkZabel Thanks Mark - I did login several times still get that message and can't see the tab. Maybe it's Chrome.....

[@MarkZabel]

@@waxman9550 It could be chrome. When you get to the linked page, click on the login on the upper right instead of scrolling down and clicking on the course previews..That should allow you to enter the course. All the tabs are there. I think I need to remove the previews because they work for some people, and for some they don't. Not your fault. I'm looking for a better way to do this.

[@waxman9550]

@@MarkZabel That's cool I'll try it. Thanks for the reply. It helps your not your trying just get us to join up.

[@bradleybt]

Nice. Slow it down..

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@MrPhins]

"Let me play it slowly and then we'll break it down." Me: 😩

[@MarkZabel]

Sorry, I'm not following. Do you want me to skip playing it slowly and just go to the breakdown? Or is this an indication that "slow" was not slow enough for you?

[@MrPhins]

@@MarkZabel No, I was joking that what you think is slow is lightning fast to me 😂

[@MrPhins]

@@MarkZabel It means you're very good lol.

[@MarkZabel]

@@MrPhins Okay, thanks. I'll try to remember to slow down a bit more. Thanks for clarifying!

[@yrulooknatme]

I'm always tickled how these punks think. They are so outa touch with reality. They are clueless on how guitarist and rock music evolved. Like the men who built the the interstate system in this country. or suspension bridges. (what a comparison huh? LOL!) punks take it all for granted. Hell they where just barely making electric guitars back then. Clapton is a genius. Those chumps that think clapton wasn't a great musician couldn't carry his lunch pail to a gig.

[@Ones_Complement]

"Clapton wasn't good." Lol

[@MarkZabel]

LOL!

[@BedeLaplume]

I think many of the overrated comments about Clapton are in reference to the ''God'' epithet guitar hero status he received.. That is overrated indeed..I mean he was good but common, even the pissing dog on the picture agreed lol.. I really love his early days with the Blues Breakers and Cream.. He turned out to be a great underrated singer as well.. His main merit and contribution was along with Hendrix to pioneer blues music into the popular music scene..

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks for your input. I think the "Clapton is God" comment is part of it, but not all. In 1965 to early 1967, IMHO he was head and shoulders above other players in the genre in creating popular music that was truly blues influenced, but accessible as well. Plus, he totally created the guitar sound that was to be emulated and refined for the next 40 years. Guys like Peter Green, Page, Duane Allman, and of course Hendrix flourished later. And his work still stands out as memorable IMHO. I think the other part of the comment of "Clapton sucks" is related to "guitar as technique" arguments, which I understand. But I don't accept those arguments at all, and often think really boil down to, "yes, but he really can't play super-fast" - which of course is not all there is to guitar or music. Speaking of which, yes, his singing is quite good! Definitely a big part of his longevity.

[@timculp4126]

@@MarkZabel Well put. Agree 100%.

[@BedeLaplume]

@@MarkZabel I think those who say he sucks are likely to be guys who like super fast legato and arpeggio metal shredders.. I personally refer to many of them as neck wankers. He's not in that league what so ever like Gilmour he has a slow hand full of feel in the Blues tradition.. As far as his sound it's just a cranked up Marshall like many in those days.. However I like his women tone invention.. It must have influenced Robert Fripp and the prog rock to get that sustain and Oboe type of round sound..

[@kenlelon369]

All you Clapton haters got to get your head right if you're going to advance in guitar. You'd be cheating yourself if you don't.

[@MarkZabel]

Amen

[@michaelhughes7267]

The only people I hear say Clapton sucks are those who think shredders are great and that soul/feel is unimportant. Let the ignorant be ignorant!