A Brief Synopsis of Clapton’s Career
Jimi Hendrix is often regarded as the iconic rock guitarist and for good reason. Within a three year time frame, 1967 to 1970, Hendrix created a body of work that left an indelible impression on almost every rock guitarist who followed him. At the same time, it is important to keep in mind that the unknown Hendrix agreed to follow his future manager to England on one condition. That condition was that Chandler introduce him to Eric Clapton. Hendrix was familiar with Clapton’s groundbreaking work with John Mayall on the “Beano” album and he was equally impressed Clapton’s new super group, Cream. Cream was a power trio that Clapton had formed with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce. It served as the prototype for the Jimi Hendrix Experience that Hendrix put together with Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell.
Hendrix admired Clapton so much because he recognized a kindred spirit – a young guitarist steeped in the blues who wanted to expand the musical horizon and possibilities of the electric guitar. Clapton’s collaboration with Mayall on the Beano record opened the door for a whole new rock guitar aesthetic. He created his signature sound by plugging a Gibson Les Paul into a Marshall amplifier, turning the volume on the amp all the way to ten, and playing with a very aggressive style that emulated his guitar heroes such as Freddie King and Otis Rush. Clapton took his guitar explorations to the next level when he joined forces with Baker and Bruce. Extended jams, blazing volume, and intricate jazz rhythms provided a new context for Clapton to explore the parameters of his guitar playing. Cream was relatively lived and Clapton left to explore the American roots of his music first with Delaney and Bonnie and then with Derek and the Dominoes. He exchanged his Les Paul and Marshall for a Fender Stratocaster and Fender and Music Man amplifiers, a sound that he continues to use today.
Clapton Guitar Tips and Suggestions
Without a doubt the blues is the cornerstone and foundation of Clapton’s guitar style as was also the case for Hendrix as well. As a young teenager Clapton was heavily influenced by acoustic blues players such as Big Bill Broonzy and Robert Johnson. Clapton often cites Muddy Waters as his greatest influence. Waters is the link between the acoustic blues tradition of the Mississippi Delta and the electric blues that took root and developed in Chicago. John Mayall turned the young Clapton on to Freddie King, Otis Rush and other electric blues guitarists.
(1) Master the Pentatonic Scale.
The pentatonic scale is the bedrock of Clapton’s style as it is for blues guitar in general. It is a five note scale that is easy to learn and to move up and down the fretboard. The scale is divided into several positions on the fretboard. The G pentatonic scale, for example is G-Bb-C-D-F-G. “Bb” and the “F” are considered the “blue notes of the scale. They are a half step lower than the notes in related major scale and they are what gives the pentatonic scale its bluesy sound. The notes of the G major scale are G-A-B-C-D-E-F-G. Blues players often use both the “Bb” from the pentatonic scale and the “B” from the major scale. The easiest way to learn the pentatonic scale is to purchase a guitar book that has diagrams of the scale. Learn the scale in all of its positions up and down the fretboard. Clapton effortlessly moves between the first, second, and third positions of the scale. The primary keys that Clapton plays in are E, A, C and G.
(2) Develop Vibrato and String Bending Techniques
As you can see from the above, the pentatonic scale that Clapton and blues guitarists use has a limited number of notes. Jazz guitarists, on the other hand, add color to their playing by using all sorts of chromatic and passing tones as changing the key several times during the same song. Blues has a much more limited structure guitarists rely on techniques such as vibrato and string-bending to add color and flavor to their playing. Clapton’s guitar playing has always been marked by a strong and firm vibrato. In most cases the vibrato is played with index or ring finger of the left hand. The vibrato is created by pushing the string back and forth while allowing the note to resonate. Listen and emulate Clapton’s recordings to develop your vibrato skills. Clapton often bends strings a whole step to raise the pitch of the note. For example, play the “F” on the 6th fret of the 2nd string with your ring finger. Push the string upwards to raise the pitch to “G.” Another typical Clapton move is to play “C” at the 8th fret of the 1st string with your ring finger. Allow the note to resonate and push the string to raise the pitch to “D.” Follow this by play “Bb” at the 6th fret of the 1st string and then “G” at the 8th fret of the 2nd string.
(3) Concentrate on Tone
Clapton has always been a master of guitar tone. He created his tone in the early days with Gibson guitars – Les Paul, SG, and the 335- that feature humbucking pickups. Clapton switched to Fender Stratocasters in the early 70s. Strats have single coil pickups which produce a somewhat lighter and thinner sound than humbucking pickups. However, it is important to keep in mind that the secret of Clapton’s guitar tone is in his fingers more than the electronics of the guitar. Youtube.com videos are a very useful tool in studying Clapton’s guitar tone. The videos span his whole career from the Yardbirds to the present. Watching the videos allows you to see what type of equipment he is using it also allows you to watch his hands at work as well.