Watch a young Eric Clapton demonstrate the elements of his guitar sound
The year is 1968, and 23-year-old Eric Clapton is touring the USA with his group, Cream, as part of their final tour before they are due to split up. Cream had proved to be a roaring success since their formation in 1966. Giants of the blossoming psychedelic rock movement, the band received both critical and commercial success in their short time together.
However, the constant touring, recording and, presumably, drug taking had clearly taken its toll on the band, so on a spring 1968 tour of the US, the decision was made that the group would dissolve after two farewell shows at the Albert Hall in London, the release of a final album, Goodbye, and a farewell tour to boot.
On this final run of dates, a film crew from the BBC asked a young Clapton to talk them through the elements of his guitar playing and how he manages to construct his signature sound. The guitarist talks plainly through methods of creating different sounds on his 1964 Gibson SG, nicknamed ‘The Fool’, and with its own incredible history.
A sound synonymous with the late 1960s psychedelic rock scene is that of a wah-wah pedal, perhaps most famously used by Jimi Hendrix on ‘Voodoo Child’ but also utilised a lot by Cream. The interviewer in this clip asks Clapton to demonstrate this sound, to which he begins to physically kick the pedal in order to start it. From there, he explains how the pedal alters the bass and treble, thereby creating the iconic tone.
The rock star in blue suede trousers goes on to detail how his lead accompaniment style of blues guitar is challenging to master, particularly the finger vibrato, which he demonstrates to the interviewer. Clapton later expanded upon his technique for vibrato in an interview with Guitar Player, explaining: “When I stretch strings, I hook my thumb around the neck of the guitar. The only way I can do it is if I have my whole hand around the neck—actually gripping onto it with my thumb. That somehow gives me more of a rocking action with my hand and wrist”.
Clapton then discusses improvisation, a very important aspect of blues and rock guitar playing, and how he has a bank of various stock riffs that he can use as a basis for improvisation – which he demonstrates brilliantly. He also notes contemporaries, The Who, and how their much more aggressive way of playing the guitar can be likened to Clapton’s sometimes aggressive sound as a means of catharsis: “If a guy likes playing football, that’s what he’ll use to get his angry bits out of him. […] I’ve got the advantage of being able to play that out”.
It is incredible how much valuable insight into the elements of his guitar playing Clapton can fit into a four-and-a-half minute video, a lot of which is still relevant and sound advice for guitar players and musicians on the whole.
