What Makes This Solo Great? BADGE by ERIC CLAPTON and CREAM

[@midrider335]

You did that solo with justice Mark! And yes, one of Clapton’s best for sure!

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks so much!!

[@ttrascal]

One of my favorite Clapton solo's, I'm even hearing Leslie West in there.

[@MarkZabel]

Definitely a great one! Question is ... this was recorded in 1968 ... Do you hear Leslie West in this or is it really Clapton you're hearing in Leslie West? I think they shared a producer, so maybe it's both!

[@ttrascal]

@@MarkZabel I know Pappalardi was working with Cream and I don't think Clapton was trying to cop West's style but I think it was just emotion in the playing of both, that seemed to really shine through at one point of the solo in Badge. I've always loved Leslie West as well as Clapton ( mostly in the Cream days) and realized that in the Mountain stuff it wasn't the actual notes being played as much as a raw feeling of someone wailing or crying through his guitar.

[@cjmadison2397]

Not only is the solo in this amazing, but the arpeggiated section the precedes the solo is equally as amazing. Clapton is a genius, along with George on rhythm. What a great song overall

[@MarkZabel]

Yes, George's rhythm there anticipates what became a common riff in the 1970s.

[@racora14]

What a great Solo and performance. Congrats

[@MarkZabel]

Yes, Clapton's solo in Badge is really a classic!

[@jakethomas3205]

A truly classic solo and wel played Sir as always.

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks Jake!

[@MarkZabel]

More Clapton Lessons: kzbin.info/aero/PLSVfUQKkNUqbB4ud70hVh4k6vkos2_a4D Mark Z’s Guitar School: mark-z-guitar-school.teachable.com/courses Please help support my lessons by donating here: paypal.me/MZabel335 Get TABs here: tinyurl.com/ybpzjuwm Guitar 1965-1985 Membership: mark-z-guitar-school.teachable.com/p/mark-z-guitar-members Classic Rock Bundle: mark-z-guitar-school.teachable.com/p/classic-rock-guitar-bundle Classic R&B Guitar Essentials: mark-z-guitar-school.teachable.com/p/classic-r-b-guitar-essentials Blues for the Absolute Beginner: mark-z-guitar-school.teachable.com/p/electric-blues-for-the-absolute-beginner Guitar Hits from 1970: mark-z-guitar-school.teachable.com/p/guitar-hits-from-1970-volume-1 Classic Rock Lessons: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXbJkGegpqyoe7M

[@tonyscornavacco7087]

I love the way you played the solo you definitely did it justice. I have loved this song since its release and you didn't miss a note.

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks so much Tony! This one's going on the member site at some point certainly.

[@davidheidemann1052]

Absolutely fantastic Mark!!!!

[@MarkZabel]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@klaatubaradanikito1950]

Congrats from Brasil ‼️ Awesome Session ‼️😍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@MarkZabel]

Thank you!! 🎸🎸😀😀👍👍

[@krisstieghorst7415]

Thanks for the lesson Matk! 2 of my favorites, & you nailed it on the showmanship here. As always a pleasure to listen to you play! Love Kris IL 🖤🎸⚡

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks so much Kris!! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@tomhenninger4153]

Just rewatched this videwo. Thanks agin Mark!

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks!

[@lauriecarter8931]

Man you made that solo sound so sweet always a treat watchin and learning from your video's Mark cheers from West oz

[@MarkZabel]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for your kind comment. Rock on!!

[@johnnymcribblestonebreaker5910]

Great cover of a great solo! Love the info and analysis too. Clapton always has beautiful tone, but his Gibson tones from the 60s were just so sweet.

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks! Rock on!

[@LightningDogg]

Great job. I've been such a fan of this solo and the Crossroads solos since they were first released! E.C. is the reason I started playing guitar, and looking at the 3 Kings when I got a bit older. The story I read was that Ringo was hanging around in the studio one day while they were working on the song. He walked up and read "bridge" on the paper (upside down for him) and in a typical Ringo-ism said "Oh its called Badge". I'm pretty sure it was Clapton who related that.

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks! Yes, that's the story. I also read that Ringo was somewhat drunk when he said it, which seems to go with the times for sure. Funny story and kind of makes sense with the nonsensical words of the song - swans, parks, married to Mabel, and so forth. Always laugh at that "Mabel" line.

[@freddysnightmare8391]

hey young man you got that right good job

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks brother!

[@freddysnightmare8391]

question on solo whole lot love are you going 14 12 12 15 12 15 14 12 14 12 14 14

[@cemalcakr5609]

Mr Zabel's friendly talk and clear history about song give me great pleasure and only couple hours to add my guitar 🎸 repartutere repertoire thanks

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video. Thank you for the kind comment!

[@mseabs741]

Nice playing Mark. Also love that guitar painting on the wall. Your daughter's work I believe. I would buy a T-shirt with that! Great stuff.

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks! Actually this one is from a local ironworks artist. I really like it too. Maybe he'd be up for a t-shirt.

[@kram21]

Great playing( performance)

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks!

[@klaatubaradanikito1950]

the sound of the CLAPTON guitar I like best is with humbucking pickups!

[@MarkZabel]

Totally agree. His classic sounds from John Mayall and Cream were the best!

[@stratolestele7611]

I always wondered (and, honestly, was always frustrated) as to why he couldn't bust out an SG or 335 for their reunion shows. I mean, for at least "Sunshine.." if not for the entire show. As it was, "Sunshine..." sounded more like "Cocaine" than anything else. No heaviness to it whatsoever. As for the original solo in "Badge" (as you play so well), I also always wondered why he never played the solo even close to the original, as it was, IMO, his finest solo of all time. It fit "Badge" like a perfectly fit broken-in baseball mitt. The outro was flawless as well. I get that players of the era (along with my heroes, Jimi and Jimmy) rarely played a same solo the same way twice, but at least every once in a while - especially when it's such an epic solo. SRV knew this and was able to pull off anything he recorded, could replicate live. Don't get me started on the vocals. "...times that you drove in my ca-arr." (down in pitch at the end of every verse and two syllables instead of one). Age + high notes? I get it. But that's what his backup singers or other bandmates are for. Sorry for the rant, it's just one of my favorite songs of all time and I always wished Clapton tried harder to do it justice when he performed it live. And thanks for your usual excellent content Mark.

[@bruce1106]

Nailed it, nice job!

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks!

[@paulcooper5748]

Great lesson love the color of the epiphone what color is that its awesome.

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks. I'm not 100% sure, since I bought it used. I think it's "heritage cherry sunburst". Looks about 1/2 way to "tangerine".

[@bobbydazzler8684]

Totally agree - one of Clapton's finest solos from the era. Have to point out one thing though. EC uses a lot of pre-bends. For example, the opening phrase begins with a pre-bend, and it's an idea he repeats often. For me, it's the feature that gives the phrasing its unique quality.

[@MarkZabel]

That's true. I forgot to mention the pre-bends. Thanks for pointing that out!

[@nick326697]

Nice one !

[@MarkZabel]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@LightningDogg]

Maybe you could look at the Let It Rain solo some time... a tasteful exercise in string bending a la Eric Clapton🙂. It was his first solo album and he kind of ditched all the Cream humbucker distortion for the Blackie strat sound.

[@MarkZabel]

Sure. Sounds good. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@gavinfoster9118]

A great guitar presentation Mark would be John Hunter on Lou Reeds Sweet Jane!

[@MarkZabel]

Thanks! Great suggestion!

[@hashmark13]

Where did you get the backing track for this so I can practice? Thanx

[@MarkZabel]

You can use this. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKbVpIaZmZyDnKs

[@hashmark13]

@@MarkZabel Thank you

[@georgee5216]

Where can I get that same guitar art as seen on the wall?

[@MarkZabel]

Glad you like it. You know, I emailed the artist, but didn't get a response! Some of these vids might be good traction for him!

[@georgee5216]

@@MarkZabel Thanks for trying, much appreciated.

[@Henry3Studios]

Guessing you don’t own a 335

[@MarkZabel]

I do. 1982. Last year they made them in Kalamazoo if I'm not mistaken. (They made other Gibsons there until 1984.)

[@Henry3Studios]

@@MarkZabel i was just wondering since you were using a les paul, when eric used a 335 for all the songs on the goodbye album