There have been few players as important to the shaping of the sound of blues-rock guitar as Eric Clapton. A true popular music superstar, the multi-Grammy winning Clapton has achieved iconic status, not only as a blues-rock guitar legend, but also as a mainstream artist who has enjoyed worldwide fame for decades, with songs such like the anthemic Layla, Wonderful Tonight, Rule The World, and My Father’s Eyes, as well as with his cover versions of songs including Bob Marley’s I Shot The Sheriff, or JJ Cale’s iconic, Cocaine.
Clapton’s effect on the development of blues-rock guitar is a matter of modern musical folklore. At a time when young blues disciples such as he, Jimmy Page, John Mayall and Keith Richards were discovering and devouring the music of original American blues artists, his subsequent success in bands such as Cream helped bring the sound of British blues to the USA, generating a resurgence of interest in the source music to new generations, as well as introducing his fluid, improvisation-based lead guitar style. Clapton was already a notable player in the UK, from stints in The Yardbirds and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, but as part of the so-called ‘British Invasion’, he was exporting his loud, energy-infused sound to eager new audiences, and by extension, to a legion of new guitar players.
After the breakup of Cream, Clapton embarked on other projects, such as Blind Faith, Delaney And Bonnie, and Derek And The Dominos. His first eponymously titled solo album in 1970 established him as a solo artist, and was the first of many over the ensuing decades to produce classics like Lay Down Sally, Bad Love, and Tears In Heaven, which cemented his status as a legend.
Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av Guitar Techniques.
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Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av Guitar Techniques.
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DOUBLE-STOPS
Playing two notes together is a useful addition to any guitarist’s arsenal. Simon Barnard shows how this can be used in a variety of styles.
BOB DYLAN
This month Stuart Ryan shows how the fleet fingerpicking acoustic style of the protest song legend enriched song accompanient forever.
BRIAN SETZER
For this issue Andy G Jones is looking to unravel the style of rockabilly’s most ardent torchbearer, the stupendous Stray Cat himself.
ALLAN HOLDSWORTH
Experiencing Metal Fatigue? Sinking in quick Sand? Then join Charlie Griffiths as he unlocks the secrets of the master of Wardenclyffe Tower.
RADIQHEAD
Martin Cooper checks out the sound of an era-defining band from Oxford, and guitarists Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, and Ed O’Brien.
MUDDY WATERS
The father of Chicago blues is in the spotlight this month. Join David Gerrish as he examines the man who electrified and defined the genre.
JOSÉ FERRER El Amable (Andante Sostenuto)
This month Declan Zapala explores a hidden gem from 19th-century Spain's heritage of composer-educators of the classical guitar, whose influence is still felt today.
THE CROSSROADS Eric Johnson
This month John Wheatcroft looks at the iconic guitarist from Texas, atrue crossroads’ artist with a 4 phenomenal command of touch, tone and technique.
ULF WAKENIUS Seven Jazz Licks
John Wheatcroft brings you an exclusive lesson from the Swedish ex-Oscar Peterson virtuoso, showcasing his phenomenal technique and incredible jazz lines.
Country-Blues-Rock!
This month Andy Saphir shows how mixing Major and Minor Pentatonic scales, adding extra notes and country guitar articulations, can build you a whole new lickbag.