Crossroads Guitar Lesson

Learn how to play like Eric Clapton!

Probably the most famous of all British electric guitarists, Eric ‘Slowhand’ Clapton is one of the all time greats.

Clapton came to prominence with his phenomenal guitar playing in bands such as ‘The Yardbirds’ and ‘John Mayall and the Bluesbreaker's’.

However, it’s his playing with Cream, specifically their version of the Robert Johnson song ‘Crossroads’, that took him to world fame and that we shall analyze deeper in the Legacy.

Born to a Canadian father and an English mother in Surrey, England, in 1945. Clapton became the leading figure in the British Blues Boom in the 60’s and continued to be one of the most celebrated musicians that has ever lived.

Crossroads Video Guitar Lesson

The riff use an A chord, with a C added on string 5.

C is the minor third in relation to A, but the chord also use a C# on string 2, this means that the riff is a mix between minor and major.

This goes well with the blues since this is common practice in this style.

The D7 chord (chord IV) utilizes some fantastic picking to keep the interest up.

The E chord (V) is in the intro just played as a power chord (no 3rd).

However, during verses, feel free to add the classic rock n roll note of natural 6th on string 5 (fret 4) when the occasion call for it.

The main thing you need to have when playing in Clapton's style is fluidity. Do you know your pentatonic scale shapes?

Blues Legacy e Book