Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

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

Only available to premium members.
Register for premium access

Slow Walk-Through - For Premium Members

Only available to premium members.
Register for premium access

Video Tablature Breakdown

Only available to premium members.
Register for premium access
Curious about the benefits of
Premium Membership?
Try it for FREE!
arrow_downYou need to be logged in as a premium member to access the tab, MP3 jam tracks, and other assets. Learn More

Add to "My Favorites"

You need to login or register to bookmark/favorite this content.

Comments

  3. Manley says

    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!!!
    ,

  5. Maradonagol says

    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

  6. Kevin D says

    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. 🙂

  7. jimbostrat says

    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.

  11. doug.balch@gmail.com says

    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

  15. donnwonn says

    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

    • Brian says

      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.

    • jfn3000 says

      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.

      • khrose777 says

        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.

    • DeepFriedTurkey says

      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

    • sunjamr says

      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….

  16. DeepFriedTurkey says

    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

  17. Richard S says

    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.

  21. Aussie Cliff says

    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…….

  25. Michele S says

    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.

Leave a Reply

Recent Lessons

Contact

For all support questions email: support@activemelody.com
For all other inquires email: brian@activemelody.com