Guitar & Bass Tabs
Eric Clapton
Learn Eric Clapton's Guitar & Bass Style
Discover how Eric Clapton developed their signature guitar and bass sound, the techniques you'll encounter in their music, and the best lessons to begin your learning journey.
Eric Clapton's impact on rock guitar spans more than five decades. He emerged in the British blues boom, cut his teeth with the Yardbirds, and then left a mark with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. In Cream (1966–1968) he helped forge the blues-rock sound, delivering blistering riffs and soaring melodies on tracks from Disraeli Gears to Sunshine of Your Love.\n\nHis work with Derek and the Dominos, including Layla, is a landmark in feel and tone, and his enduring solo career has produced iconic tunes like Tears in Heaven and Wonderful Tonight. Clapton's emotive bending, melodic phrasing, and dynamic evolution—along with his willingness to explore pop, blues, and hard rock—have made him one of rock's defining guitar voices. His influence is reflected in generations of players who chase that singable, expressive tone across stages and studios.\n\nOver the years Clapton has earned induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times (Yardbirds, Cream, and solo artist) and has helped advance guitar culture through charity work and the Crossroads Guitar Festival. His legacy lives in the countless players who study his tone, phrasing, and timeless riffs.
🎸 Want to know what gear Eric Clapton used, their playing style, and fun facts? Scroll below the lessons!
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Tears In Heaven
Eric Clapton
I Shot The Sheriff
Eric Clapton
Cocaine
Eric Clapton
I Shot The Sheriff
Eric Clapton
Hideaway
Eric Clapton
Cocaine
Eric Clapton
Little Girl
Eric Clapton
Steppin Out
Eric Clapton
After Midnight
Eric Clapton
Let It Rain
Eric Clapton
Hideaway
Eric Clapton
Motherless Children
Eric Clapton
Willie And The Hand Jive
Eric Clapton
Mainline Florida
Eric Clapton
Wonderful Tonight
Eric Clapton
Layla
Eric Clapton
Tulsa Time
Eric Clapton
She's Waiting
Eric Clapton
Knock On Wood
Eric Clapton
Forever Man
Eric Clapton
It's In The Way That You Use It
Eric Clapton
Playing Style
Clapton's playing blends blues-based phrasing with rock intensity. He relies on blues scale knowledge, careful string bending, and expressive vibrato to turn short ideas into memorable solos. His playing moves from clean, singing tones to roaring overdrive, always placing melody at the heart of the moment. The result is a sound that's immediately recognizable—an emotional voice built on feel more than flash.
🎸 Gear & Equipment
Iconic guitars and gear: Clapton is synonymous with the Fender Stratocaster—the famous Blackie Stratocaster he used for much of his career—and he also carved his tone with Gibson Les Pauls during Cream. His live sound has long been built around Marshall amplifier stacks, delivering the punchy sustain that drives his blues-rock lines. In the studio and on stage he's used wah pedals and analog delay/reverbs to shape solos, while the Stratocaster's bright, glassy character became a signature ingredient of his tone.
Why Learn Eric Clapton Songs?
Learning Clapton's songs helps players develop a solid blues-rock foundation: phrasing, bends, timing, and the art of telling a musical story with limited notes. Many Clapton tunes sit in the beginner-to-intermediate range, with memorable riffs from It's In The Way That You Use It to Layla and Wonderful Tonight that build confidence. These songs cover essential rock skills: blues scales, chord shapes, riffs, and expressive soloing. Working through Clapton's material helps you build tone control and dynamic shading that will translate to countless rock classics.
Did You Know?
- 1Clapton was knighted in 2004, becoming Sir Eric Clapton.
- 2He founded the Crossroads Centre Antigua in 1998 to help people battling addiction.
- 3He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times (with the Yardbirds, Cream, and as a solo artist).
- 4Tears in Heaven, written after the death of his son Conor, won multiple Grammy Awards.
21 Eric Clapton lesson(s) available — Start learning today!
Learn to Play Eric Clapton Guitar
Explore Eric Clapton guitar and bass lessons with a focus on riffs, rhythm parts, classic rock techniques, and practice-friendly video lessons.
Start Here
Begin with the most recognizable riffs and rhythm parts before moving into harder songs.
Techniques
Practice power chords, timing, picking control, bends, vibrato, and classic rock phrasing.
Next Step
Use the lessons below to build a practice path from easier songs to more advanced parts.
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