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Cream (Eric Clapton) Style Guitar Lesson – EP119

Description

In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a lead using several of the signature licks that Eric Clapton used when he played in Cream. It’s hard to believe that he was only 21 years old and had only been playing the guitar for 6 years or so. Clapton was (and still is) a bluesman at heart as you’ll hear from these licks, they’re all straight out of the minor pentatonic scale. Crank up your overdrive for this one.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walk-Through - For Premium Members

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

  1. Michael Allen says

    September 25, 2015 at 9:55 pm

    The lessons keep getting better every week. Thanks Brian

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  2. DP2608 says

    September 26, 2015 at 8:33 am

    Fabulous lesson “right on the money” This is one of the many reasons that I love the AM site.
    I only hope I can nail it!

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  3. Manley says

    September 26, 2015 at 9:51 am

    When I watch the video on Facebook I was very intimated, this looked so hard I thought no way I was going be able to play this. Until I went onto member page and watch you play with the video Tab breakdown.
    Just love your lessons my wife and kids was just saying last night how much they have noticed my playing improvements since joining your page.
    Thank You for all that you do for us!!!
    ,

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  4. charleydelta says

    September 26, 2015 at 12:39 pm

    HOORAY! I knew you’d come through for all us Clapton dudes. Best regards, CharleyD., Houston, TX.

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  5. Maradonagol says

    September 26, 2015 at 3:15 pm

    Hello Brian from Italy!! On a vacation trip and caught this new lesson…….I’m a huge Cream fan….and love this one…as well as all your cream style lessons……wish I had my guitar to try this one out!!! Thanks again for a great lesson…..first thing on my list when I get home….

    Roberto

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  6. Kevin D says

    September 27, 2015 at 8:27 am

    Another light bulb turns on. What I get most is an unlocking of how it all interconnects on the fretboard. As I have stated so often to off-line instructors , show me licks , I can figure it out from there. For whatever reason they are unable to comply. Thanks Brian, my noodling has improved to a point that even my has noticed. That right there is a major endorsement for AM. 🙂

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  7. jimbostrat says

    September 27, 2015 at 1:38 pm

    As Roberto alludes in his comment above………..make certain you tackle all of Brian’s excellent Cream/EC lessons and one only truly improves upon guitar when you commence stitching together several series of licks and solos and formulate your own style or interpretation. I’m with Brian here………..Eric was playing with this tone and technic and touch and style…………as a newbie kid on the circuit………..it’s remarkable how gifted a guitar prodigy EC is…………I wish I had some of his genes!!

    Jim C.

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  8. sunburst says

    September 27, 2015 at 5:46 pm

    Enjoy learning any Eric Clapton from Brian too! going to practice this tonight ..agree this slow blues rock style is much important and fun too! thanks for sharing

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  9. Maradonagol says

    September 29, 2015 at 6:32 am

    Just remembered what that main riff sounds like, yes Creamy…….but does anyone remember Cliff Richards’ Devil Woman?

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  10. macullam55 says

    September 29, 2015 at 4:07 pm

    any chance of a quick lesson teaching the rhythm part for this would be a great one for 2 guitars.

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  11. [email protected] says

    September 30, 2015 at 10:19 am

    Just reupped for another full year.!!!!! Enjoying the heck out of this. Loved the last “rockabilly” lesson and the recent Key of G acoustic “pick” blues No. 114.

    About time for another Chuck Berry lesson, don’t you think? Would like to see you circle back to SRV, Hendrix, Garcia as well. Keep up the accoustic traditional blues!!!!

    Thanks, a bucnh

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  12. [email protected] says

    September 30, 2015 at 10:20 am

    Oh and I went back to relearn the original “Carl Perkins” lesson from last year. Amazed how much I’ve improved and it’s so weird how the muscle memory kicks in!!

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  13. puck49 says

    September 30, 2015 at 6:37 pm

    Brian, I just LOVE these Clapton lessons. I can’t seem to get enough of his early Cream style! Thanks, and keep them coming.

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  14. Robotman says

    September 30, 2015 at 11:58 pm

    Damn! I love this lesson too. Another favourite.

    When are you adding a “fav it” button to your site?

    And could you add a rhythm section for this lesson?

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  15. donnwonn says

    October 6, 2015 at 1:07 pm

    so disappointed, thought u were different. when it says free, that’s what it should be. cant even find tabs unless your premium. I would have much more respect if u had just come out and say u want this, u want that, it will cost u this amount. come o brian, your a wonderful player, let that rub off in your business matters of running a website. hope this note will open ypur eyes. god bless u and happy pikn my friend. don

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    • Brian says

      October 6, 2015 at 4:48 pm

      Don, the first video is free – and it’s 23 minutes long. Are you saying that’s not enough? It always amazes me that no matter how much is free, it’s never enough and someone will actually post a complaint about it.

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      • jfn3000 says

        October 6, 2015 at 8:09 pm

        Honestly, your business model is what sold me. I respect the hell out of people who give so freely to their communities. I’ll gladly give you money to keep making free lessons!

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    • jfn3000 says

      October 6, 2015 at 8:03 pm

      23 minutes is about 3x the average free lesson on YouTube. It includes a full-tempo play through right out of the gate, a very detailed breakdown, and explanations of where the different moves come from.

      And right after each intro he says to sign up for the tabs, backing track, and slow-mo walkthrough.

      So, bad manners, bad grammar, and wrong on every count. I’m surprised you were able to figure out how to even post a comment.

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      • khrose777 says

        October 6, 2015 at 9:39 pm

        This has to be one of, if not the best subscription value anywhere. Great variety of styles, well executed. I have been playing electric and acoustic off and on over 40 years and I am picking up new ideas here all the time. There is no doubt a load of work put into this, plus the cost of the tools required for production and hosting. There really is no free lunch, the subscription is more than worth the price in my view. There is no doubt I will be renewing when my first year is up.

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      • Maradonagol says

        October 8, 2015 at 2:09 pm

        Amen!! Totally agree…..

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    • DeepFriedTurkey says

      October 23, 2015 at 8:57 pm

      Brian,

      I am a newish premium member. Thanks for the great site. I hope you do very well in your new venture.

      I have a question for you: do you feel that teaching guitar this way has made you a better player?

      Thank you.

      Eric Gates

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    • DeepFriedTurkey says

      October 23, 2015 at 8:59 pm

      Don,

      You are the same as a person who writes smut on bathroom walls. How does a person feed his family with your naive economic views?

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    • sunjamr says

      October 27, 2015 at 4:17 pm

      Say what? For the cost of a single one-hour lesson in a guitar teachers studio, you can join Brian’s Premium membership for a year. That gives you 52 lessons + the best guitar tabs anywhere + the best jamtracks anywhere + excellent online forums and blogs. This is one of the best bargains of my entire life! And it’s a fulltime job for Brian, so if you like the lessons, sign up for Premium Membership so he can pay his mortgage, feed his family, and keep doing this for the benefit of all of us….

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  16. DeepFriedTurkey says

    October 23, 2015 at 8:56 pm

    Brian,

    I am a newish premium member. Thanks for the great site. I hope you do very well in your new venture.

    I have a question for you: do you feel that teaching guitar this way has made you a better player?

    Thanks you.

    Eric Gates

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    • Brian says

      October 23, 2015 at 10:27 pm

      Sure. One of the best ways to really learn something is to have to teach it.

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  17. Richard S says

    February 22, 2016 at 5:05 pm

    Brian, please don’t expend a single synapse in the comment from Donnwon who in his ignorance fails to recognize the valuable benefit you provide to all of us, premium members included.

    Your lessons are complete, informative, and most importantly pedagogically robust, the icing is that you are a very patient instructor.

    The membership fee is so reasonable I am aghast at any deleterious commentaries from others. I have had so many “guitar teachers” that don’t have the ability to impart knowledge on their students yet charge hefty hourly fees that I became very skeptical on trying new educational sources. Suffice to say that your whole package (including the most helpful forum I’ve attended) is exceptional, and I am a very hard grader (just ask any of my former university students).

    Again, thank you for all you do and please keep up the wonderful work. I would purchase in a heartbeat any additional “products” you might develop, and of course I’ll continue to renew my premium membership yearly.

    Cheers,

    Richard.

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  18. scott d says

    May 16, 2016 at 6:52 pm

    Hey Thank You Brian for this one….That is so cool! I definitely want to learn this one…

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  19. scott d says

    May 16, 2016 at 6:56 pm

    Yea and what Richard S said!

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  20. Craig S says

    September 21, 2016 at 7:14 pm

    Can you post the tab for the rhythm part? I love the whole thing!

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  21. Aussie Cliff says

    December 31, 2016 at 5:41 pm

    Hi Brian,

    Have learnt more in one week on your Active Melody site than I have in the last year. Your lessons are challenging but not overly complex and you have an ability to communicate the concepts in a clear, practical, no nonsense format. An added bonus is the lessons are interesting and fun.

    Thank you for all your effort and dedication in providing Active Melody and doing all this at a very affordable price (quite often free).

    Brilliant…….

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  22. joe b says

    May 31, 2017 at 6:39 pm

    teach how to read all the lines in tab thanks theShaker

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  23. sunburst says

    December 1, 2017 at 6:39 pm

    Loved reading the intro and listening to your intro too Brian! Sure is a treat aside from your incredible gift and sharing it here! Cheers!

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  24. wrightclick says

    April 11, 2018 at 4:21 pm

    Loving this one Brian I suspect you do to being Claptonesque. That is a wicked growl coming from that 335 I think it’s fair to say that is your no1 guitar . Great lesson

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  25. Michele S says

    August 29, 2019 at 2:10 pm

    Hi Brian!

    I am really enjoying this lesson. I have started practicing with the jam track (with lead guitar). I noticed the jam track is slightly different than the tablature on the end of measure 17 and 18. That part is played different, like the beginning. Am I right?

    No worries. This is a great lesson and I am going to keep at it.

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  26. Patrick S says

    January 8, 2021 at 3:54 pm

    Hi , pls the rythme part … Thank you , great work !

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