Introducing the style of Eric Clapton lesson series. In this series of lessons, Brendan Burns takes an arrangement based look at the life and growth of this prolific guitarist. Starting with the Yardbirds when Clapton was only 18, Brendan moves chronologically though all the major phases of Eric Clapton's playing.
Taught by Brendan Burns in Style of Eric Clapton seriesLength: 5:41Difficulty: 0.5 of 5

Brendan Burns delves in to the stylistic playing of Eric Clapton.
Lesson 1
Introducing the style of Eric Clapton lesson series. In this series of lessons, Brendan Burns takes an arrangement based look at the life and growth of this prolific guitarist. Starting with the Yardbirds...
Length: 5:41 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 2
In this first Style of Eric Clapton lesson, Brendan starts with the beginning of Eric's playing with a look at a tune from The Yardbirds. Here, you'll lay the framework of the blues structure and learn...
Length: 47:25 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 3
Brendan introduces a fast blues and the Bo Diddley beat - important components of Clapton's playing in the Yardbirds. He ends the lesson by breaking down Clapton's early solo work.
Length: 17:23 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 4
In the third Yardbirds lesson, Brendan goes over another tune in the style of this group. He explores how Clapton approaches and structures guitar solos.
Length: 34:48 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 5
Brendan Burns is back with another "in the style of" tune from The Yardbirds. In this lesson, Brendan discusses how Clapton is now starting to incorporate rock elements into a traditional blues sound.
Length: 28:36 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 6
In the 5th lesson in The Yardbirds chunk of material, Brendan discusses the Rock elements that Clapton begins to add to his blues playing.
Length: 19:07 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 7
In this final lesson detailing Eric Clapton's history with the Yardbirds, Brendan discusses additional lead techniques. Specifically, he covers triplet and bending ideas that Clapton has started to employ...
Length: 21:08 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 8
Eric Clapton has now left the Yardbirds and is going back to his core as a solid traditional blues player. He hooks up with John Mayall and continues to add influence from artists like Son House. In this...
Length: 64:04 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 9
In this lesson of epic proportions, Brendan goes over a new "in the style of" tune that really shows off Clapton's true blues playing.
Length: 120:46 Difficulty: 3.5 Members OnlyLesson 10
In lesson 10, Brendan continues to delve into Clapton's playing during his years with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. In this "style of" tune, he takes a look at how Freddie King influenced Clapton....
Length: 35:28 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 11
In the eleventh lesson of the Style of Eric Clapton series, Brendan discusses Otis Rush's influence on Clapton's playing. Again, he provides an "in the style of tune" that covers rhythmic, melodic, and...
Length: 28:49 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 12
In the fifth lesson covering Eric's playing with John Mayall, Brendan takes another look at a Robert Johnson inspired tune.
Length: 38:04 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
About Brendan Burns
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Brendan has been passionate about music since childhood. He began his studies on trumpet, in elementary school, and then moved to guitar as a teenager. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Berklee College of Music, and has studied with Norm Zocher, Joe Stump, Bret Willmott, Bob Pilkington, Jay Weik, Tim Miller, & Charlie Banacos.
While at Berklee, Brendan was a member of the Music Mentoring Program, teaching private lessons to gifted high school students. He is currently teaches, and is chair of the guitar department at Brookline Music School. Brendan also teaches guitar for Tune Foolery & privately at his home in Cambridge, MA.
Along with educating, Brendan plays out often as a Solo Guitarist, performing standards, pop, and classical repertoire. He has recorded and played with the chamber-fusion band Ra Quintent, and as well as Vessela Stoyanova's Eastern Stories Under Western Skies Project. Brendan also performs as a leader, director and sideman for various Boston art-rock projects, and is former member of MIT's Gamelan Galak Tika.
Our acoustic guitar lessons are taught by qualified instructors with various backgrounds with the instrument.
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.YES! I,m new here, the site is more than I could have hoped for. Really looking forward to the Clapton Series.
Can't wait, once again I must say that Jamplay is the greatest site overt here. I just want to add this: anytime I approach a new artist I don't think that sounding excatly like him is the most important think, I want to learn from him and make it my own playing. Thank a lot jamplay
Can't wait I love Brendan's series on the Rolling Stones
When When?
I look forward to much more of this. I think that the approach of " in the style of" is a much more fruitful approach. As an added value, you avoid the copyright stuff.
Reaallly looking forward to this series. Thanks Brendan.
Hi Brendan, My first introduction to Eric Clapton was in the John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Beano Album) when it first came out. Getting hooked on the album prompted me to see Cream at the Fillmore when they came to America back in the late 60’s and a second time not long after at Winterland. My point of all this is that first night I saw him, I was so overwhelmed by his playing, (the only way I can describe it is – a raging blaze) that it inspired me to want to play guitar. It took many years before I got around to doing it, but there is no doubt what has led me up to this point. Thank you for putting this series together, I will enjoy it thoroughly.
@pattyd, you are a very lucky person. Raging blaze indeed.
Wow! That's a teaser...
This is going to be EXCELLENT!! I am so glad Brendan is doing this too...couldn't ask for a better instructor for it!
YES! Thaaank youuuuu!
I am so excited this is up and happening!!!!!
Nice to have you back Brendan.
I'm with you carollb, I'm going to soak this up like a sponge. Thanks Brendan!!
At last! Thanks Brendan!