ERIC CLAPTON
Example 1 Arpeggiated chords
THESE MELODIC CHORDS will have a familiar ring to most Clapton fans. Mixing chord shapes with melodic details and linking lines gives a very self-contained part, further enhanced by the piano-style chording in bars 3 and 4.
Example 2 Clawhammer picking
THIS RHYTHMIC CLAWHAMMER STYLE is fairly simple to execute but gives an effective and complex-sounding result. Basically, the thumb plays the root notes in a crotchet/quarter note ‘pulse’ with the fingers adding top notes in a repetitive pattern that remains almost identical throughout. Start slowly and all will become clear quite quickly.
Example 3 D-tuned slide
USING OPEN D TUNING (low to high: D A D F# A D), this example mixes bottleneck with traditional chording. Again, it’s a very self-contained sound. Though some handling noise from the slide is unavoidable – even desirable – it’s a good habit to mute the strings behind the slide (headstock side) to avoid unwanted notes.
Example 4 Upstroke ‘flick’ technique
PLAYING PALM-MUTED BASS NOTES with the picking hand thumb and using the first finger to ‘flick’ the high strings in an upstroke motion, this example breaks into a mini ‘solo’ in bars 3 and 4. As long as the riff and rhythm are well established, it’s possible to do this for surprisingly extended periods without losing the thread of the piece. Check out the tab but use this idea as a springboard for further improvisation.
Example 5 Boogie-woogie style
VERY REMINISCENT OF A 'BOOGIE-WOOGIE' PIANO PART, this idea uses offbeat bass notes in a shuffle style. Like many of these examples, it can take a while to make it sound 'right'. In this case, play the bass notes is a smooth non-accented fashion, keeping the focus on the moving chord/riff. Also, note the rhythm/riff pattern is intentionally broken from tine to time. Check bars 4.6 and 7.