Guitar Styles Of Eric Clapton

Guitar Styles Of Eric Clapton• Class IV

• Covered tonight– Pentatonic Scales Review– Review Boom Boom – Hear students new

song– Wonderful Tonight– Start of other tunes– Some classic Clapton Riffs – Finish Sunshine of Your Love (time

permitting).• 2nd part of Solo

Announcements

• Have Jim Nichols for next week. Ask Jim to cover some licks that he plays!! For this class he will cover Crossroads.

• Group night is December 8th. I just have too much left that I want cover.

• This could be your final! We will talk.• Jam session same evening after groups.• Reminder that the school will be asking me what

I want to teach for the Summer and for the Fall. What would interest you?

Boom Boom

Clapton did this but the original by John Lee Hooker.

Words

by J ohn Lee Hooker Boom, boom, boom, boom. I 'm gonna shoot you right down, Knock you off of your feet, And take you home with me. Put you in my house. Boom, boom, boom, boom. Boom, boom, boom, boom. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I love to see you strut When you're walking to me. When you're talking to me, That knocks me out. Boom, boom, boom, boom. You know I like it like that, With your baby-talk, Oh and the way that you walk. You know it knocks me right down, Knocks me off of my feet. Boom, boom, boom, boom. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, oh, oh, oh. How, how, how, how. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Now, now, now, now.

This is what we are aiming for.

Whole Thing – 12 bar blues – Notes in E blues Scale

Other Items

• Open mic Dec 8. Groups – try to form out of class

• Open mic – Ron and Lyn – tell of experiences

• Registration has started for next term.

• For Summer I may teach an advanced.

• Other options – camps – lots of choices.

This song is based off of the E blues Scale

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E Minor Pentatonic Scale

This is the basic scale but you will notice that in the introduction or first part that you play up to the 4th fret of the 3rd string (which is the same note as the 2nd string open that is in the scale.Clapton uses both of these scales. He has recorded this song as a cover of the John Lee Hooker version. I will include 2 versions of this in the following pages. There are also variations to these.

Rest on beat one.Slide up from 2nd to 4th fret to start beat 2. Use your middle finger!!!Then back to 3rd string 4th fret slide down to 3rd string 2nd fret

First 2 measures. Note 2nd measure is just an E and A chord after the E note. Choke the last E chord!

This is very cool. Note that I usually slide up to the Bb in the 1st measure.This is the 3rd note in the measure. Again back to E A E at end.

Here it has moved to A. Measure 6 is A D A. Note that the D is a bit different than you might be used to. Index on 2nd fret 3rd string middle 3rd fret 2nd string and 4th fret 4th string with ring finger. See next slide.

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Next 2 are like 3 and 4

Measures 9 and 10 now B to E. See next slide of B fingering.

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This is the end. Really cool timing on the last phrase with the ¼ notes on beat 3 and 4. Then the E A E.

Next slide is putting it all together. I just really like this tune. I have included after this a couple of variations of this. I can honestly say I have heard quite a large number of versions and everyone seems to put their own little signature to it.

Put it all togethere.

This one uses slightly different chord voicings.

Different hook on odd measures.Also harder chords.

Tie in to Clapton

• Eric Clapton listened to and copied many of the blues players from the US.

• Listen closely to this and you will hear lots of his styles.

• The blues scales and minor pentatonic and signatures of Clapton.

• Once you get the swing to this song is sort of plays itself.

Now using the E blues or E Minor Pentatonic

• Let’s hear what you came up with.

• Take one student at a time.

Some Clapton Riffs

Hammer on 9 to 11. Very common 60’s rock riff from the BritishMasters.Triplet riff. Use index on 9th fret and ring finger on 11th fret.Right hand picking should be down on the beat up on the off beat.

Riff 2 is off of A minor Pentatonic.

Count 1 e ( & 2) (& 3) & 4

Starts in the 8th position and then ½ way through the measure goes to the 5th position. Bend the 5th fret of the 3rd string on the & after 2 up but not a full ½ step but a ¼ tone.You will see the rhythmic riff on beat 1 throughout Clapton solo’s.

Spoonful Lick

Very straight but the dotted ¼ note in measure 2 makes this!

Spoonful Part 2

Clapton Licks

Some of Eric Clapton’s most famous licks.

Will do 2 or 3 per night

• At this point will stress the blues and early licks.

• Watch out for timing as that makes it or breaks it.

Lick #1

• Classic Lick in G7 but learn in all keys.• Note the use of a chord at the end.• Rhythm of the last measure is the

“Charleston”, one of the most common rhythmic figures in Jazz, Rock and Blues, even used quite a bit in country.

• Played totally in the 3rd position.• Learn on other keys up and down the

neck.

Count 1 2 3 & 4 e & 1 e & 2 4 4

G7 chord in 3rd position but only playing the 1st 4 strings.

The 1st

5 is a grace note

Pull off 5 to 3

This lick is in the G blues scale. Note that the 1/16th note to 1/8th note lick in the first measure could be a bend release of slide up and down.

Either bend and release this or slide. Either case it is with the ring finger. Here Clapton is using the blues scale – 4 to b5 back to 4 to b3.

Notice this rhythmic figure. 1st note is grace note.

Pull off the first note. Note same basic rhythmic figure. Next notes are all in the blues scale b3, 1 and b7.Really take your time to learn this then try in other keys.

Count 1 2 3 & 4 e & 1 e & 2 4 4

G7 chord in 3rd position but only playing the 1st 4 strings.

The 1st

5 is a grace note

Pull off 5 to 3

This lick is in the G blues scale. Note that the 1/16th note to 1/8th note lick in the first measure could be a bend release of slide up and down.

See how easy it is to move to A. Just up 2 frets. Do also in F, C and D!!

Another Good Lick – Good turnaround in E

First form. Start with3rd finger.

Bb sus4

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Riff forms

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These will be needed for the next riff.

Turnaround

• A turnaround is a devise to turn the tune around and get back to the beginning.

• Many in blues. Most famous is the Robert Johnson Dominant Diminished. Time permitting we will do some of those.

Count 1 2 & a 3 & a 4 & a

1 2 ( & 3 ) 4

Start in 3rd position then ½ way through slide with the middle finger from the 4th fret to the 2nd fret and you will be in 1st position.

Pentatonic ScalesReview

5 basic forms for these.By: F. Markovich

These are the scales that EC mainly used in the early years.

What is a Pentatonic Scale?

• Penta means five. A pentatonic scale is a 5 note scale as it’s simplest definition.

• Unlike 7 tone scales which are called diatonic scales (step – wise). Major scales are diatonic scales. Also the modes are diatonic scales.

• The black keys on a piano are a pentatonic scale. It is hard to play a bad note using the black keys only on a piano.

• Pentatonic scales used properly will produce a consonant line but if over used can be boring. You must go beyond just the scale. Remember to use chord tones also.

Major Pentatonic Scales

• The formula is the 1,2,3,5 and 6 of the major scale. Notice no 4th or 7th degree from the major scale.

• For those who have learned the CAGED system these are all based off of the CAGED major scale forms.

• There is some suggested fingering but it can vary.

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D Major Pentatonic

Note the root is on the 5th

string.

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Here is the D Major Pentatonic based upon the C Major Form of CAGED.Note in Green is the root.

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D Major Scale


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D Major Pentatonic


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See relationship between D major scale and D major Pentatonic.

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C Major Pentatonic


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Here is the C Major Pentatonic scale in the A form.

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C Major Scale


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C Major Pentatonic


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You could also use 1 and 3 as fingering on the 1st 2 strings.

This is the G Major Pentatonic scale (E form of the CAGED). Notice how similar to the A form (C Major pentatonic on the last page.

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G Major Pentatonic


string (E form of CAGED). Thisis the same as the E minor

Pentatonic

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G Major Pentatonic



Pentatonic

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G Major Scale



Pentatonic

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Most players use a modified fingering for the Major pentatonic scale as shown below but a fingering of 2 and 4 on the 2nd string and 2 on the1st string is also common.

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Compare these 2 the E form and the A form.

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A Major Pentatonic

Root is on the 6th string 5th fret.

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A Major Pentatonic – G form of the CAGED

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A Major Pentatonic


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A Major Scale


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Notice the G and C forms of the pentatonic scale are very similar. Key is the tuning of the guitar with the 2nd to 3rd strings being a 3rd rather than a 4th appart.

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E major pentatonic scale theD form of CAGED

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E major scale the D form ofCAGED

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One note on this. I find it easier to do the fingering shown on the E Major Pentatonic and it is different than on the E Major Scale. It affords the player to just move one finger out of the position.

Go through these until perfect

• Practice these every day.

• Next we will see the relationships to the minor pentatonic scales.

• The 6th degree of a major scale is the relative minor. For example: C major has the relative minor of A minor. C D E F G A

Minor Pentatonic Scales

• The formula for these is: 1 b3, 4, 5, b7.

• Key is to see these as related to the major pentatonic scale.

• With the addition on one note they become Blues Scales.

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B Minor Pentatonic


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Here is the first of the minor pentatonic scales. What does it look like in relation tothe major pentatonic scales?

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D Major Pentatonic


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B Minor Pentatonic


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Here you can see the D major and the B minor pentatonic scales.Notice that the form is the same only the starting note is different.

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A Minor Pentatonic


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C Major Pentatonic


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Here is the A Minor pentatonic related to the C major (A form)

Another fingering is shown on the next slide. Either fingering is fine to do.

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A Minor Pentatonic


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C Major Pentatonic


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Here is the A Minor pentatonic related to the C major (A form)

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F# Minor Pentatonic


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A Major Pentatonic


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F# Minor pentatonic related to the A Major (G Form).

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E Minor Pentatonic


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G Major Pentatonic



Pentatonic

E minor pentatonic related to the G major. Here you can see how the relative minor is the 6th note of the major scale (don’t forget the pentatonic is missing the 4th and 7th notes of a major scale.

Again on this you could play 1 and 3 on the 2nd string and 1 on the 1st string.

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C# minor pentatonic scale

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C# minor pentatonic related to the E major pentatonic (D form of CAGED).

Blues Scales From Minor Pentatonic Scales

• All that is added is the b5 of the scale.

• When playing solos this note most often resolves to the 5th or downward to the 4th. While it can do a skip that is less likely.

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B Blues Scale


string. The note on the 1st fretof the 1st string could also be

played on the 2nd string 6th fretwith the pinky

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B Minor Pentatonic


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B blues is like the B minor with just the added b5 of the scale.

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A Blues Scale


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A Minor Pentatonic


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This is an alternatefingering for this scale.

See the added notes. Note the alternate fingering for the AMinor Pentatonic Scale.

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F# Blues Scale


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F# Minor Pentatonic


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E Blues Scale


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E Minor Pentatonic


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C# Blues Scale

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C# minor pentatonic scale

Lots here

• This is just the forms, next you will need to work with them.

• On the minor pentatonic scales the flat 3rd is many times bent up to the major 3rd in Blues licks unless the song is in minor. Learn where the flat 3rd is in each scale.

• It will take some time to master these. Work on them every day.

Some examples

• Any time there is a major chord you can use the major pentatonic scale of the same letter name.

• Any time there is a minor chord you can use the minor pentatonic scale of the same letter name.

• Any 7th or dominant chord you can use the major pentatonic scale. Most of the time you can also use the minor pentatonic scale.

• In Jazz you can be more adventuresome.

Minor Pentatonic Scales In Jazz

Chord 1st choice 2nd choise 3rd choiceC Major A minor pentatonic E minor pentatonic B minor pentatonicC minor C minor pentatonic G minor pentatonic D minor pentatonicC 7 G minor pentatonic C minor pentatonic A minor pentatonic

Try these for yourself

• Play a chord and record it then apply the pentatonic to it.

• Some take a bit of time to get used to it.

• Then try progressions and see if you can find a pentatonic scale that would go against the progression.

Wonderful Tonight

Slow Ballad in Clapton Style

Chords

• Only 5 chords in the song.• We will start in first position. Notice that Clapton plays

chords in 1st position.• He plays bass line up to C from D.• Introduction for most versions is:

4/4 ||: G | D | C | D : || repeated

• Live version #2 is:First a vamp of 4/4 ||: C |D : || then 4/4 ||: G | D | C | D : || repeatedNext we will add in the hook. This is the introduction 2 times and

ending 2 times but also between the verses and going into the last verse from the bridge.

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G D C D G

1 2 3 & 4 1 2 3 & 4 1 2 3& 4 1 2 3 4 1

Introduction to Wonderful Tonight.

This is in tablature format. Each line is a string. The top line is the 1st or theHigh E string. The bottom line is the 6th or Low E string.The numbers indicate which frets to play. For example, the first number is On the 3rd string and is a 4 so you would play the 3rd string 4th fret. TheNext note is on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string then the next is the 5th fret of the4th string (since it is on the 4th line).

Here is the easy version.

You have 3 ways to do this.Suggest beginners do first one,Intermediates 2nd one and Advanced last one.

Now for doing it more like the CD

• Play the root on Beat 1 – arpeggiate the chords – see next slide.

• Try both in 1st position and up the neck.

• Following are 4 examples of doing this.

• Last one is like the video but others will work just fine.

Learn both with fingers and with a pick.Also try with pick and fingers – called “Hybrid” picking.Do with each of the following ones:

Same basic idea using barre chords.G in the E form.D and C in the A form.

Timing is all 1/8th notes until here.

This is more what you want to head for. I would do with pick or hybrid picking but fingerpicking as above works really well.

This one is like what is on the video. Learn with both a pick and with your fingers. Really take your time. Use this pattern throughout the song. Notice how the first not is always the root of the chord. You could also move this up the neck with Barre Chords. On the Video though it is done in 1st position chords.

Wonderful Tonight 4/4 ||:G |D |C |D | It's late in the evening. She's wandering what clothes to wear. G |D |C |D | She'll put on her make-up and brushes her long blond hair. * C |D |G D |Em |C And then she'll ask me - do I look all right and I'll say yes you look D |G |D |C |D : || wonderful tonight.

This is the first verse or part of the song. When there are 2 chords in a measure of 4/4 time each usually gets 2 beats.Strum each chord 2 times. This happens in the 3rd line 3rd measure of the song.See the * for where.

If you do an introduction you would play the first 4 chords.

Wonderful Tonight 4/4 ||:G |D |C |D | It's late in the evening. She's wandering what clothes to wear. G |D |C |D | She'll put on her make-up and brushes her long blond hair. C |D |G D |Em |C And then she'll ask me - do I look all right and I'll say yes you look (2 beats per chord) D |G |D |C |D | wonderful tonight. G |D |C |D |G |D | We go to a party and everyone turns to see. This beautiful lady. C |D |C |D | That's walking around with me and then she'll ask me G D |Em |C |D |G | do you feel all right and I'll say yes I feel wonderful tonight. G |C |D |G D | Em | And I feel wonderful cause I see the love light in your eyes and the (new part – for some the hardest part as the song changes) C |D |C |D |G wonder of it all is that you just don't realize how much I love you. |D |C |D |G |D |C |D | It's time to go home now. And I've got an achen head G |D |C |D | C |D so I give her the car keys. She'll help me to bed and then I tell her G D |Em |C |D |G | as I turn out the light, I say darling you look wonderful tonight.

Wonderful Tonight 4/4 ||:G |D |C |D | It's late in the evening. She's wandering what clothes to wear. G |D |C |D | She'll put on her make-up and brushes her long blond hair. C |D |G D |Em |C And then she'll ask me - do I look all right and I'll say yes you look D |G |D |C |D | wonderful tonight. G |D |C |D |G |D | We go to a party and everyone turns to see. This beautiful lady. C |D |C |D | That's walking around with me and then she'll ask me G D |Em |C |D |G | do you feel all right and I'll say yes I feel wonderful tonight. G |C |D |G D | Em | And I feel wonderful cause I see the love light in your eyes and the C |D |C |D |G wonder of it all is that you just don't realize how much I love you. |D |C |D |G |D |C |D | It's time to go home now. And I've got an achen head G |D |C |D | C |D so I give her the car keys. She'll help me to bed and then I tell her G D |Em |C |D |G | as I turn out the light, I say darling you look wonderful tonight. G | C |D |G |D |C |D |G || Oh my darling you look wonderful tonight.

Soloing

• Most likely a solo would be off of the main chords 4/4 ||: G | D | C | D : ||

• You could use the G major scale but the main notes would have to follow the notes in each chord.

E form -G Major Scale

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The notes in a G major chord are G B and D. Bottom root is in red – others in light blues

The notes in the D major chord are D F# and A. Don’t play the G root of the scale!

G ChordD Chord

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C Chord

Notes in the C major chord are C, E and G.

Practice each of these seperately until you can do them smoothly. Use other notes in the scale as passing notes. Begin and end each line on a chord tone!


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A form C Major Scale

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C form - D Major Scale

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D form - E Major Scale

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G form - A Major Scale

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Below are the 5 forms of the major scale. For this song you can approach in a number of ways. But do G major in all 5 forms as a start. Then find the chord tones in each against the G C and D chords.

To really learn this

• Work out all 5 forms (CAGED forms) and where all of the notes are in each of the scales.

• Work on bending up to notes in the chord and even pre-bends and releases.

• Take your time on this!

The solo section

The solo can be Clapton’s or Yours

• I included the Clapton solo but you may want to do your own solo.

• If you do your own solo (suggested), then start with the first part of Clapton’s.

• He quotes Blue Moon in the opening statement. • This is very common to quote another song in

the solo. Jazz particularly does that.• Lastly, use the book to put the form together.

Guitar Styles Of Eric Clapton

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