YES - "Clap" written & performed by Steve Howe

Live at the Rainbow Theatre, London, December 1972
Steve Howe: "It's the first song I ever wrote, and I think it's really a good piece. I wrote it on the 4th of August in 1969, when my oldest son, Dylan, was born. The very night that he was born, I finished the song. Originally, it was a dedication to Chet Atkins, but then it became a dedication to Dylan. It combined a lot of things I'd learned or imagined. I always wanted to write music, and when I decided to write solo guitar music, it was earth-shattering inside, because suddenly I was an independent person. I could stand up on stage and play Clap. That meant as much to me as it did to be in Yes."
Taken from the YES live concert film 'YesSongs', available on DVD at Amazon.com
www.amazon.com/...

[@SugarFreeBarry]

This song is very high on the list of things I will miss when I die

[@abcdef-cf2uk]

30 Days Sugar Free How u goin to miss stuff if yuz ded?

[@wobblynoggin]

Maybe you’ll get to hear it for an eternity! 🤷‍♂️

[@marcelovallejos5269]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@hippiecheezburger5457]

I love Steve howes country influences

[@Grizzle38]

When you're dead son, you'll have a lot more to be worried about.

[@florez614]

I watched him perform this in Toronto this past weekend and he has not aged a day on stage and we were all excited when he played this for us! Keep rocking on!!!

[@Siticmon]

It amazes me what some people can do to a guitar

[@banfield1368]

With it, or to it?

[@MusicissuperiorEVHROX316]

@@banfield1368 Often both

[@donbishop1634]

Seriously, who is having more fun - Steve playing or us listening? I think it's a toss-up! :)

[@craigmanning7393]

+Don Bishop Saw Steve 2 weeks ago and to this day he is having more fun then the audience. Well except for maybe me, I had a great time. Haven't had the pleasure in 20 years. Last yes show I saw was Big Generator.

[@veritasvincit2251]

That guitar is having the most fun. Just listen to it enjoying itself!

[@user-qq4zd1xb6p]

To do that finger work on an acoustic is mind boggling! Definitely one of the best guitarists there ever was.

[@MrFrampo56]

Try listening to Django Reinhardt. With only 2 fingers on his left hand. That is mind boggling.

[@donsimons9810]

or stanley jordan or ted greene, chet akins, michaelangelo batio, pat metheny or any one of a slew of much better guitarists. But this guy had a very fun playing

[@p1nesap]

& strings look like piano wires.

[@michaelhogan6770]

@@donsimons9810 Which one of them can play a lap steel like SH?

[@ManInTheBigHat]

I like how he so frequently introduces classical music themes to his pieces.

[@munter10]

That’ll be because he’s a classical guitarist by training.

[@michaelhogan6770]

@@munter10 he has no training and cannot read music

[@geraldwright1098]

He's simply the best

[@MST-xh5qe]

THE most organic guitar tone and technique in the world. Its right there. An absolute true master of the instrument. And when there were far fewer guitarists of this calibre to boot. Here we are decades later, and how many people do you see pulling this one off? Exactly, he was and is that good.

[@ciliaris2]

The 1953 Martin 0018 helps

[@gfunkk]

personally it looks like his action is a little high and he is struggling with it but what do i know.

[@Wookie8058]

Steve Morse does a GREAT job covering this! kzbin.info/www/bejne/np_ZZoWumLWMntk

[@stevec-b6214]

@@gfunkk i think you know quite a lot

[@gfunkk]

@@stevec-b6214 either way, I still struggle to play this as well as Steve, even on an electric. The man is a true monster.

[@donutkav]

8 years recovering from a hand injury after trying that, its nearly better now

[@superslayerguy]

yes it's not wise for humans to attempt this...

[@Chavez_Soria]

That doesn't sound right

[@exceno7587]

With months of practice and mountains of patience you can do it!! And it's a beautiful feeling hearing this masterpiece coming out of your guitar

[@andreascano8533]

Very hard work to do, but finally I made it through!

[@jababorg4484]

One of the most technical guitar players ever. Wonderful . The most amazing to me is that he was always so humble

[@brucelehmann255]

jaba borg l

[@brucelehmann255]

jaba borg k

[@CrimeVaultUK]

I can play it pretty quick but not in the part where he hammers on and pulls of

[@TheTelo32]

I don't get tired of listening to him. Once he had moved to Asia and I didn't know he he made it and I was just passing by a record store and I heard a guitar solo. I immediately stopped and said to myself: Steve Howe? He had just finished recording with his new band, Asia. There are many guitarists, but his virtuosity and eclecticism are second to none. His solos, melodies, compositions and the way he plays...Wow! THE BEST OF THE BEST.

[@RyneMurray23]

Steve Howe is in my top 5 favorite guitar players of all time. He could go from classical style to country to rock to pop all in the same song without skipping a beat

[@daryllawrick976]

Forgot how much I loved Steve Howe. Always argued he was the best guitarist

[@DatingTV]

This right here is a perfect showcasing of how musicians ALWAYS should enjoy playing music and always have a great time. Steve Howe is the perfect example. Long live.

[@cosmiclust9492]

Oscar Salman Prim . yep, fake hippies think Hendrix is the only greatest guitarist. Go show them how its done Howe!

[@stevemorrison4268]

My all-time favorite version of clap from one of my all-time favorite guitarists.

[@dinocamella8607]

A underrated most magnificent guitar player ever, I love Steve Howes music, simply delightful

[@kimberlyblood46]

It makes no matter what kind of mood I'm in, the moment I turn on YES this world and all it's troubles completely vanish . Beethoven once said it's great art if it has the ability to reach into another's soul and make the them feel what your feeling. YES does that without question, YES music is Iconic and maybe one day will be appreciated as the greatest thing that ever happened in music for in my opinion it is. YES ? Yes!!!!!!!

[@yiipinglou4360]

Pure talent, favourite clip of him playing. I can't stop listening and watching that head bop!

[@hilaryharris5770]

I agree..

[@jawadehud]

What a joyful to listen Howe

[@chriswilliams1740]

I love Steve Howe and always have.

[@Pudransefachosyzurdos]

Wonderful guitarist and wonderful musician

[@AndreySokolovRu]

2:21 never noticed before what Steve's left hand's muscles look like while he performing this song. It takes enormous effort to make a steel strings guitar sound like this, yet he doesn't smear any single note.

[@disillusionST]

I can’t keep my mouth closed when I play guitar either so seeing Steve clown and move his mouth a lot like I do sure does make me feel better

[@user-xe7uk4ow1p]

steve howe guitar 唯一無二

[@Ciclopea2]

What a joy to watch, so much love put into it, a true musician, love him, and his pants :)

[@WUBZEY]

Ciclopea2 me too

[@gerrevandermeer7500]

Playing this great song on x1.25 makes it even more fun hehe :P What a great song this is!

[@vanillagorilla8236]

He never ever (EVER) make a mistake wile playing live. I have seen them too many times and he is flawless always.

[@freesoul3371]

I'd like to punch the guy who filmed this in the face for not shooting this where we can see his entire guitar playing in one frame where we can see what he is doing with BOTH hands at the same time. The close ups of his face and one hand at a time shots are wasted.... . But it is better than nothing. STEVE HOWE RULES!

[@juana1483]

Me too...show us his fingers..left hand!!!

[@1111enlightened]

Free Soul search you tube for howeES175. videos of Steve playing lots of his songs with camera views of both hands.

[@johnnyfoosball3138]

Most underrated guitarist of the 70's ,I could listen to Howe for hours on end. better than Page on his best day

[@brakemcgaughey5724]

Both page and Howe are amazing, but yes was more advanced. It's like comparing SRV to Alex Lifeson...

[@KingWTFuck]

I feel SRV completely posessed the capability of playing Lifeson's works, but on the other hand I don't think Page could play what Howe plays.

[@GraphiteBlimp27]

Howe, Page, Lifeson are three of my top favorite players! SRV up there too... all talented and could do things others couldn't, but Steve Howe definitely has more things unique to him.

[@markizzi2359]

Sorry. But think that title goes to Bill Nelson of Be Bop Deluxe fame.

[@juancrisjimenez2116]

Is not my favorite guitarrist, but he is one the best of the 70's in rock music with Hendrix and Van Halen, Page was not good at all but he innovated a lot (bad english, sorry)

[@kenw.1112]

Steve Howe is simply, Out of this world . Great guitar player. The best guitar players use the pinky finger a lot. A professional jazz guitar player I met told me this .

[@TylerDurden-oy2hm]

first time seeing Steve play...i dont think ive seen ANYONE rock an acoustic like that.that was virtuosic

[@MrFrancisMahe]

You should look up Tommy Emmanuel

[@munter10]

Mind blowing. . . From a technical point of view no mistakes. Beautiful arrangement of parts that are each and every one exciting and breath taking. I so hope Dylan (who is now 55 years old) appreciates it and listens to his dear old Dad performing it on a constant basis. 😊

[@Kurcudilo]

Maravilhosa interpretação ! Não me canso de a ouvir! Steve Howe é o MAIOR !!

[@raymondanthony8651]

Love these guys, saw them many times over the years and have never been disappointed. Watching him do his thing on many guitars is an absolute treat. Everyone in this band is a musical genius and master at their craft.

[@JVincentFarron]

bluegrassrockflamenco=The Clap.good luck emulating this.Steve Howe.=Guitar God

[@goldenagenut]

Looks like he's having more fun playing than we have listening! :)

[@diegoaranda605]

Momentos inolvidables que nos dió la música !!! Gracias por guardarlos y compartirlos

[@meloland5649]

Master!! Greatness of lord.. why not Sir Steve Howe someday?

[@ciliaris2]

None of the guitar gods could play this like Steve

[@brokewallet9024]

It is one of my biggest goals to learn to play this song. I have been at the guitar for ten years, and probably have another ten to go before I can play it. One of the best songs for guitar ever written.

[@nordbert972]

HAHAHAHA...bragger !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Lemma01]

I just tried to play it. Not a hope - even after thirty years! Good luck! :-)

[@serph2951]

How(e) did it go?

[@mariludiniz]

Happy Birthday Steve!

[@user-ng2hk3fv8g]

ハウが素晴らしいのは、ギター、弦楽器への探求心が尋常では無かった。自らに限界を設けず、ただ愛するギターを弾いていたいから、70歳を超えてもライヴを精力的に行っていると思う。

[@daftdoggo7662]

He has a very American style of playing, I would have never guessed that it was written by such a talented Englishman

[@roguenation]

Indeed, "Clap" was originally intended by Howe to be a tribute to American guitarist Chet Atkins.

[@jwandhistools]

I thought Albert Lee was American for years.

[@mounts655]

He's a blues/jazz lover

[@mounts655]

@@jwandhistools hahaha

[@GraceandWisdom]

Fun fact: A long time ago there was a guitar mag article featuring Mr. Howe, where the opening title read, "Yes, I'm doing fine!"

[@dyannaberroteran4535]

te AMO Steve Howe y siempre te amaré. Simplemente magistral

[@hcgenerator]

I remember sitting in my room dragged down by the most suffocating lot of top 40 junk and then this came on! I fell out my chair with excitement. It then went to a commercial and I never learned who was playing this incredible guitar. It was years later a friend turned me on to YES and there it was. Still my favorite!

[@sombojoe]

At the end of this video I screamed out loud in my car “oh my God how do I like this twice!”

[@turntable7248]

Steve Howe !!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@barbararecek7468]

LOVE IT!

[@michaelbradley1886]

I could watch this guy play his guitar all day long. So much joy and enthusiasm in his playing

[@RaulPrietoConde]

Increible!

[@kajetanchrumps8076]

it's credible, this is Steve Howe!

[@TheAlmightyBassist]

This song always makes me smile from head to toe.

[@chrstnbry]

I saw them in Memphis in about 1972.....awesome then and now this still going on,,,,,,,,

[@briant9130]

What I would give for fingers that long. One of the best ever.

[@denisdennehy4549]

Great technician, brilliant and inventive. Top guitarist made Yes one of the most creative bands ever

[@henriettawight5216]

Saw them do it live at Colt park in New Britain Ct. in 1978. One of the best concerts I ever went to. Yes I’m old.

[@robertocanales1201]

Master Never gets old 50 years later, here we are Listening Listening

[@teronperu5272]

Masterpiece, thanks very much Steve!!!

[@rick.perrigo7858]

I saw the 10 year anniversary concert in long beach and each one of yes played for a half hour each plus together best concert ever.

[@goldenagenut]

Such a fun piece! :)

[@janecarbone1504]

I should have been born 10 years earlier. I studied classical piano when I was 5 6 and 7 brought this to my music teacher she couldn't teach me how to play it when she heard it she was amazed, remember the only technology that then was first generation computers, that IBM made where I went to a field trip in first grade. And being so young to study classical piano give me peace, if I wasn't running around outside with my cousins and my sister and the triplets and my best friend at the time Laura Flynn who played the classical piano with the same teacher as me. We actually both wound up in the National Guild of Piano players, where you had a perform on stage live and do a duet. I remember doing Fur Elise, Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, and Clemente's sonatinas and Rondo's.and Schumann's, "The Merry Farmer".

[@Woodyjims-shack]

I could play this tune badly at one time in my youth. It gave me an appreciation for the mans genius on the guitar. 👍

[@yetivanmarshall1473]

I play this tune badly in my old age.

[@isaaccalvanny9885]

Un monstruo!!! el mejor

[@kevinallison2227]

Steve Howe is an artistic genius. Yes, He is built differently than the average person.

[@yetivanmarshall1473]

Those Gollum fingers of his just stick right on the correct note.

[@luizcruz1000]

My man Steve having a whole lot of fun playing is the best part

[@tomaszpredecki4602]

Most overlooked guitarist all time

[@josebraulioreyes7543]

Mr Howe, a unique acoustic guitar player, I take my hat off for him.

[@bandicoot5412]

Magic, all the way through time, plus time, thanks!

[@jamieshanahan3769]

Steve Howe is awesome - he introduced a classical sound into Rock n' Roll music. The Clap - beautiful!

[@paulnnaoji7506]

Absolutely Incredible!!!

[@5h0t5]

Shouts out Dylan thanks for blessing us with this track bruda. One of the greatest pieces of music of all time. Of course also shouts out my boy Steve for being a legend.

[@jdl7354]

Happy Birthday, Steve! 75 years old today!

[@mentebrillante9131]

GRANDE CAPOOOOOO!!!!!!!

[@pal-of-pals]

Timeless classic

[@abcdef-cf2uk]

He makes it look easy

[@paulinerenshaw5121]

YES WOW.

[@orochimarukishimoto6509]

Brilliant solo from Steve Howe 💯💯💯💯💯

[@ammittei]

Pure genius. My favorite guitarist.

[@resacarat]

I wonder if Chet ever played this piece. I think there might be some Doc Watson influence there as well. Good pickin' Steve!

[@johnshinal6369]

I saw him play this live two nights ago, and he played it with the same joy and swing captured in this video.

[@leecrumpler77]

This was the best part of that whole show, although that isn’t saying much

[@verntoews6937]

Most underrated, Nice to see others that agree

[@shepd1]

STEVE. Good Lord! It's better than the first time I heard it!

[@xapile]

incroyable , une vraie performance , il joue avec tout son être un artiste

[@dogpetdog]

freaking phenomenal

[@real_skye]

For all the people saying he was underrated this is true but it wasn't true in the 1970s. The only magazine on guitars that mattered was called Guitar Player Magazine where five years in a row he won best overall guitarist and was retired into the Hall of Fame. People did recognize his talent It just seems they forgotten.

[@philrierson4683]

Wow-just wow!

[@deanbagdasarian5017]

My sincere condolences to Mr. Steve Howe for the loss of his son ,Dylan. Clap will now be remembered for it's original inspiration.

[@deanbagdasarian5017]

Yes, My apology for the misinformation

[@perromanchado]

wonderful :)

[@kevinmcnamara2082]

Beautiful

[@larryfertel1567]

I saw him play this in 1976 or so, and it was mesmerizing

[@PISSEDOFF-MADABOUTIT60]

If you NEVER got the chance to see the original YES, "IN The ROUND" I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. OBVIOUSLY, WATCHING THIS, YOU missed one of the greatest guitar players the world saw or heard. One of the greatest line ups the world has EVER Witness, true GODS OF ROCK. I MISS MY BANDS FROM THAT TIME.

[@Bertiemarmite1]

Amazing................

[@Thrasher91604]

Those long fingers. Wow!

[@folker412]

The most powerful guitarist in progressive rock!

[@srb99100]

"Dedicating this tune to a little boy Dylan…somewhere”…somewhere??? lol. I guess at home with the babysitter while you are absolutely killing it at this concert, Maestro Steve!

[@Mappy1964]

Keep on Rocking Steve!

[@voice_of_reason5604]

Steve Howe. One of the greats.

[@3dprinterjam263]

Learning this man's solos when I was in HS back in the '70s was as big a thrill as I ever knew: "Mood for a Day", "Relayer" "Close to the Edge," "Heart of the Sunrise", but this one was always beyond me. No way. "Heartbreaker" solo by Jimmy Page? "Hocus Pocus" by Jan Akkerman? No problem. But "The Clap", was just, no way. So so underrated as a guitar master. He was the Keith Emerson of the guitar--probably still is, though I've lost track since he left Yes. But learning to play his guitar pieces is one thing--being able to CREATE them out of your head the way he does, that's another. The difference between a lightning bug and lightning.

[@EHzNow]

No words.

[@johncarlobuenafe6521]

damn the finger style is never missed .