Three Essential Clapton Licks - Cream Era

[@ae3898]

After 35 years of noodling, I have accepted and embraced the fact that Clapton was my first and biggest influence on guitar. I could spend the rest of my life studying his Cream-era playing and still be just a beginner when I put down my guitar for the last time.

[@JeffMcErlain]

He is definitely not overrated!

[@ae3898]

Nope. And if anyone in my general vicinity ever says he is, I will invite that mistaken individual to either voluntarily retract the statement or step outside and be compelled to do so. I shall not suffer Clapton’s honor to be besmirched. ;)

[@JeffMcErlain]

@@ae3898 ha!

[@philjones8693]

Ah lick #2, I use that one all the time - sounds great and you can repeat it over a few times while you think about what to play next 😂

[@JeffMcErlain]

We love those.

[@cmonsterz]

Excellent video, Jeff! Really hit the spot for me. Big Disraeli Gears fan…well…and Wheels of Fire. Hearing that era of Clapton changed how I hear guitar.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Me too!

[@derekclacton]

A fantastic Clapton breakdown, Jeff - from the days before boost pedals, when Eric kicked in a second Marshall stack for his solos! Love your Firebird, btw 🙂👍

[@TheSoundofForgetting]

The minute you said your British Blues Rock course is on sale I signed in and bought it and can’t wait🤘love your courses and how you teach and have many of them through TrueFire & your site.. so now excited to go through this one finally! Thanks Jeff and keep rocking 🤘🎸🤘at least you waited till after I just bought my 65 Fender Deluxe reverb reissue 🤘😂 be running this course through mostly my Marshall Plexi & Marshall Studio JTM combo 🤘

[@bazilbrushrocks]

Jeff, I'm quite confident that if Clapton hadn't come up with these then you would have! I'll add the three to my repertoire.

[@DistrictSoundLab]

Love that first lick. One thing I struggle with is listening as a guitar player while playing vs listening as a music lover while just hearing the music, if that makes sense. While playing I’m over analyzing and thinking too much about whether it’s good or complex enough etc , but while listening I can be impressed / touched by something that could be simple but just sounds and feels great

[@JeffMcErlain]

Oh I understand these thoughts. Melody is king. Feel, vibe, etc. That is everything to me really but it’s not always easy to remember that.

[@DistrictSoundLab]

@@JeffMcErlain totally. Takes practice like anything else I guess

[@azbluesdog]

I also remember reading the Guitar Player interview with EVH in which he praised Clapton’s work with Cream. So when I saw the Beano album in a department store discount bin, I figured it might be worth a listen. That was 40 years ago!

[@AmDsus2Fmaj7Am]

wow ... keep them coming; that's some of the best guitar playing

[@darrenc8776]

It's so amazing how Clapton is so ingrained in my playing. I know a lot of these licks, Clapton 'borrowed' from the old blues guys. But I wouldn't say I'm a huge Clapton fan. I listened to live cream back when I was a kid. My Dads collection helped out. But like Hendrix, Eddie Van halen, he really is guitar music bible.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Yup. Everyone borrowed but he like the other you mentioned made it their own. You know it’s him right away.

[@david25876]

The UAFX pedals and modelers are stellar imo. I would never be able to afford three vintage amps like this so I love their product line.

[@JeffMcErlain]

They have done a great job!

[@ItsJustRyan89]

Brilliant timing. Just got a new guitar!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Enjoy!!

[@jamescarlucci9867]

Great video!!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks!!

[@victorbeebe8372]

Jeff these lick posted in time for me to check out with a Germino. The head is due to arrive next Wednesdsy. Mahalo Jeff.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Heck yeah!!

[@david25876]

Sweet firebird!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks!!

[@urago69]

Great licks from Cream's Spoonful which featured one of Clapton's all time finest extended solos. Thanks Jeff for helping us guitar plinking wanabees get our fingers wrapped around those terrific pentatonic based licks to add to our repertoires. And as always, practice makes perfect.

[@JeffMcErlain]

My pleasure and thanks for being here!!

[@newsense2435]

jeff awesome as always cheers

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you!!

[@newsense2435]

@@JeffMcErlain let's get you, rick beata,(sp) and rhett shall(sp) in a room together and do something musical ;9)

[@newsense2435]

please

[@JeffMcErlain]

I am friends with the both of them!

[@newsense2435]

@@JeffMcErlain done deal ;9)

[@larsfocken3456]

Check Out Buddy Guy's Version of Sweet Home Chicago, Montreux Jazz Festival 1992. At 0:15 he plays Lick #2 over the V chord, in this case B7. Great stuff. Thanks Jeff!

[@JeffMcErlain]

🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@ScottfromBaltimore]

That move from the b string to the g string in lick #1 is difficult for me. It seems like there are parts of riffs that sound easy that are difficult to play, and parts that sound difficult that are easy to play.

[@JeffMcErlain]

For sure!! It’s deceptively difficult and to play it smoothly!

[@spideymarino]

Great lesson. Thanks! For tones Fresh Cream is my favourite Cream album. Sleepy Time Time is the pinnacle for me. Btw your tone here is stunning Jeff. Do those pedals ‘feel’ like you’re playing through a real amp?

[@JeffMcErlain]

Hey! It’s funny I started filming the video with my super lead into the ox. The Lion came in so I plugged that in too and went back and forth. I swear after a while I didn’t know which one I was playing through. So they both felt great. Of course if you are talking real amp in the room I’m assuming the Marshall would be the winner. But for recording and going for a mic’d guitar sound in the digital realm, the lion was shockingly good.

[@spideymarino]

@@JeffMcErlain excellent! I need to try one out. Thanks Jeff. 👍

[@jeffreyreid7036]

Great licks! Just an FYI the "Free Track and Tab" link isn't working.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Oops! Try again! Gotta hit that “publish “ tab. Thanks Jeffrey!!

[@jeffreyreid7036]

@@JeffMcErlain Awesome works now.

[@JeffMcErlain]

@@jeffreyreid7036 thanks for the heads up!!

[@regalite3]

Why copy somebody else? Create your own licks.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Simple, every serious musician artist, writer, etc learned from who came before them, then you make it your own.

[@DistrictSoundLab]

You develop a vocabulary by learning from others then use it to create your own licks