Eric Clapton began learning to play guitar at age 13. He learned from listening to records by blues guitarists such as B.B. King, Otis Rush and Buddy Guy, often playing along with them until he was able to master their techniques. Clapton also had the opportunity to learn directly from one of his early influences, Big Bill Broonzy, who taught him some of the basics of open tuning chords during a brief meeting in London in 1958.
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Eric Clapton’s Early Years
Eric Clapton’s early years were filled with creative exploration and musical discovery. As a young boy, he was highly impressionable, taking in all of the music he heard around him like a sponge. At his primary school, Eric was exposed to classical music, rock ‘n’ roll, and blues. He immersed himself in this eclectic mix of genres, picking up on subtle nuances between them and learning how to create something unique out of it all.
As a teen, Eric already had an appreciation for what he would later call “The Blues”; an amalgamation of jazz, folk and gospel influences that captivated the musician-in-the-making. While still in school, Clapton found himself drawn towards the local clubs which frequently hosted renowned musicians from across England. Here is where his real education began; listening intently to other guitarists playing songs live gave him direct insight into their techniques and approaches to creating melodies as well as experimenting with new sounds through improvisation.
At home however, Eric spent most of his time practicing alone or with friends who played instruments themselves. It was during these formative years that his skillset really developed rapidly; within months he could play some pieces by ear without even referring back to the original recordings. His practice regime only intensified over time until eventually at 17 years old he was accepted into a professional band – The Roosters – which marked his first ever paid gig!
Discovering the Blues
Guitarist Eric Clapton’s interest in the blues began during his formative years as a young music enthusiast. By the time he was 13, he had already begun to explore the genre, which eventually would become his trademark style. He sought out blues records, which were extremely hard to find at that time in England due to them being labelled as “race music” and rarely stocked by retailers. To get ahold of these rare albums and singles, Clapton often had to rely on fanzines or search through second-hand stores around London.
After developing an understanding of the language of blues guitarists like Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy through their recordings, Clapton used every opportunity available to him to hone his craft. He experimented with different tunings and learned by listening closely to other players in pubs around South London or attending live concerts throughout England whenever possible. His early idolizations included Robert Johnson and Big Bill Broonzy; two influential artists who played a major role in shaping Eric’s musical development.
As his skills increased, so did his love for American Blues Music and it became increasingly more difficult for him to play anything else without feeling like something was missing from the equation. Consequently, this led Eric down a path of creating some of the most memorable instrumental work ever produced within popular culture.
The Impact of American Musicians
Eric Clapton was introduced to the power of American music at a young age. Growing up in Surrey, England he first heard jazz through his mother and sister’s records. This exposure allowed him to understand the nuances of the style, such as playing without sheet music. He also began listening to rhythm and blues (R&B) from across the Atlantic Ocean, inspired by artists like Robert Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, Muddy Waters, Little Walter Jacobs and others.
These musicians shaped Clapton’s guitar-playing style significantly as he progressed throughout his career. His use of amplified guitars along with distortion and reverb gave an edge to many classic songs in his catalog – all traits directly influenced by American bluesmen like BB King or Howlin’ Wolf. The techniques used on iconic songs such as “Crossroads” or “Layla” were first popularized during their time and exemplify how they changed rock ‘n roll forevermore.
Clapton is considered one of the most influential guitarists of all time due to mastering several different styles including blues and jazz which can be attributed directly back to American roots music that impacted him so heavily growing up in England. He has won 18 Grammys over his long career with dozens of awards for best blues albums and Best Rock Performance thanks largely due being exposed early on to US sounds – further highlighting just how important early influences were in perfecting his skillset on guitar as well becoming one of rock’s greatest ever players.
Joining The Yardbirds
When Eric Clapton was sixteen he decided to take his musical dreams seriously and pursue a career in music. He made the decision to join a local band, The Roosters, after answering an advertisement they had placed. His time with the Roosters taught him valuable lessons about musicianship and performance etiquette. In 1963, he left the group and joined a rhythm-and-blues band called the Yardbirds.
Clapton spent three years as part of The Yardbirds; during that time he honed his skills as a guitarist, greatly expanding upon what he learned from his previous experiences with The Roosters. He experimented with different effects pedals and developed several signature riffs which are still widely recognized today. From working alongside legends like Keith Relf and Jim McCarty also had a profound effect on him–he learned how to craft arrangements for songs, develop melodies, create harmonies through overdubs, and improvise solos over backing tracks.
During this period Clapton also forged strong relationships with other influential guitarists such as Jeff Beck who was then in charge of lead guitar duties for The Yardbirds while Clapton handled rhythm guitar parts. Both men would become pivotal figures in rock history by revolutionizing blues based rock guitar playing techniques forever changing the way we think about electric guitars today. It is no surprise then that Eric Clapton’s tenure in The Yardbirds helped shape him into one of the greatest rock players of all time.
Forming Cream and Achieving Success
When Eric Clapton first started to play guitar, he was a member of a British blues rock band called Cream. Cream played a unique blend of blues and jazz and their performances often featured intense jamming between the three members. In addition to playing guitar, Clapton also wrote some of the material for Cream and developed his singing abilities as well. During this time, he learned how to craft music that resonated with audiences both live and on record. His success in doing so laid the foundation for an illustrious career.
During his tenure with Cream, Clapton developed an affinity for improvisation which is still apparent today in his solo work. By experimenting within different styles like soul, funk and reggae while still incorporating classic blues elements into his solos, Clapton began creating captivating musical pieces that would stand out from other musicians at the time. It was during this period that he honed in on the techniques required to masterfully bend notes and use vibrato which have since become hallmarks of his style of playing.
The influence Eric Clapton gained through forming Cream allowed him to reach out beyond just hardcore blues fans who were already familiar with many iconic names in the genre such as BB King or Albert King; it opened up new opportunities for audiences everywhere to experience a fresh take on traditional blues music thanks to Claptons’s creativity and experimentation within different genres. This ultimately resulted in him becoming one of the most renowned guitarists ever and achieving global recognition due to his timeless contributions to music history – something that wouldn’t have been possible without him forming cream firstly over half a century ago.
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