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Modern Country Guitar

Style of Eric Clapton

Brendan Burns delves in to the stylistic playing of Eric Clapton.

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In this series, Brendan Burns takes an in depth look at the experiences and playing situations that helped form Eric Clapton as a guitarist. Starting with the Yardbirds, Brendan takes an arrangement based look at how Eric Clapton developed his signature sound and playing style.

Lessons in this Series:

Lesson 1

Series Overview

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...

Length: 5:41 Difficulty: 0.5 Member Only
Lesson 2

The Yardbirds #1

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 how Clapton tends to create solos and melodic ideas.

Length: 47:25 Difficulty: 3.0 Free Sample Lesson
Lesson 3

The Yardbirds #2

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 Member Only
Lesson 4

The Yardbirds #3

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 Member Only
Lesson 5

The Yardbirds #4

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 Member Only
Lesson 6

The Yardbirds #5

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 Member Only
Lesson 7

The Yardbirds #6

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 in his playing.

Length: 21:08 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Lesson 8

John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers #1

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 first Bluesbreakers lesson, Brendan discusses and breaks down a traditional blues in 12/8.

Length: 64:04 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Lesson 9

John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers #2

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 Member Only
Lesson 10

John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers #3

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. The use of triplet melodies and the "three over four" idea becomes more prevalent at this...

Length: 35:28 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Lesson 11

John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers #4

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 improvisation ideas.

Length: 28:49 Difficulty: 2.5 Member Only
Lesson 12

John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers #5

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 Member Only
Lesson 13

John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers #6

Brendan Burns is back with a final look at Eric Clapton's work with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. This lesson like the others covers an in the style of tune from this group. However in this tune, Clapton doesn't take a solo.

Length: 8:26 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Lesson 14

Yardbirds and Bluesbreakers Review

Brendan Burns returns to his Style of Eric Clapton lesson series with a review of what has been covered so far. This lesson takes a comprehensive look at all the styles and techniques in Clapton's playing arsenal through his playing with John Mayall. After completing this review, Brendan will...

Length: 98:55 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Lesson 15

Style of Eric Clapton: Cream #1

Brendan Burns has now moved the Style of Eric Clapton series forward in time, and he's bringing you the first lesson on Eric's years in Cream. Departing from a more traditional blues band, Cream is more pop oriented and represents a fairly new sound for Clapton.

Length: 26:02 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Lesson 16

Style of Eric Clapton: Cream #2

Brendan Burns is back and moves deeper into his Eric Clapton series. Lesson 16 starts focuses more on Cream and the pop/blues ideas that Eric Clapton was using at this time.

Length: 20:03 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Lesson 17

Style of Eric Clapton: Cream #3

Delving deeper into Eric Clapton's playing with Cream, Brendan Burns offers up a lesson on incorporating the wah pedal. As with the other lessons, you'll be taking a look at an "in the style of" tune while Brendan talks about Clapton's technique.

Length: 19:52 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Lesson 18

Style of Eric Clapton: Cream #4

Brendan is back with another pop rock style tune from Eric Clapton's playing in the band Cream.

Length: 17:39 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Lesson 19

Style of Eric Clapton: Cream #5

Brendan Burns is back with another style study on Eric Clapton. In this lesson, Brendan takes a look at the influences of George Harrison on Eric Clapton's playing with the band Cream.

Length: 49:21 Difficulty: 3.0 Member Only
Lesson 20

Style of Eric Clapton: Cream #6

Brendan burns is back with the final installment in the Cream section of his style study on Eric Clapton. In this lesson, Brendan takes a look at long form solo ideas that Clapton was using in this period.

Length: 45:31 Difficulty: 3.5 Member Only
Lesson 21

Style of Eric Clapton #21: Series Wrap-up

Brendan provides a final look at the growth of Clapton through his early years. He provides some insight into Clapton's later years as a solo artist and provides some tips on getting the most from this lesson series.

Length: 5:23 Difficulty: 0.0 Member Only
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