The other night I was playing Rock Band with my wife and kids… it’s our version of “family time” these days. It’s addictive… and what makes it work for me is I’m a “wannabe” drummer.
I always wanted to play drums as a kid, but I couldn’t because they were “too loud” or something similar. But I love playing guitar and wouldn’t change it for the world.
Still, that nagging drummer inside loves jumping on rock band and tearing it up.
So this article by Dwight Silverman of the Houston Chronicle really caught my attention (because I’m still trying to find something useful to do with my Ipad other than play Angry Birds)
For years, I’ve had this recurring dream: I walk into a room to find a guitar, which I pick up and play with Eric Clapton-like prowess. I am always surprised at my newfound skill.
I can only intermittently carry a tune and have no musical talent whatsoever. But a new program makes it so easy to play, record and even compose music that it almost feels as if my dream has become reality.
What makes this program even more remarkable is that, despite its power, it runs on a nontraditional mobile platform.
It’s GarageBand for iPad, and if you’ve got an original iPad or the new iPad 2, you’ll want to grab this and install it posthaste.
If you use a Macintosh, chances are you’ve seen GarageBand, because it has been included on all of Apple’s traditional computers since the mid-2000s. The Mac OS X version is powerful, but it’s also daunting for non-musicians. Yeah, it’s got some cute-and-friendly features, but for the most part it’s designed for people who want to make music and know how to do it.
The iPad version, however, is a very different beast. While there are plenty of features aimed at those with musical talent, it’s really a product for those of us who can barely hum on key. Even if you can’t play a note, GarageBand for iPad will have you playing and even composing music soon after you first fire it up. It’s an astonishing piece of software, easily the best application I’ve seen so far this year.
Row of instruments
After you download the software from the iTunes App Store and install it on your iPad, launch it and you’ll be presented with a horizontally scrolling row of instruments. There’s the traditional onscreen keyboard found in the Mac version of GarageBand and a drum kit. But what you’ll want to focus on are the Smart Instruments, which do a lot of the musical heavy lifting for you. There’s a Smart Keyboard, Smart Bass, Smart Drum and my favorite, the Smart Guitar.
When you tap on the icon for the Smart Guitar, you’re presented with the sound hole and six strings of an acoustic guitar. Overlaid across these strings are eight strumming panels with the names of chords at the top. You can tap any string to play it, or strum across a set of strings to play the chord. You can also merely tap the name of the chord to play it. Basically, GarageBand does the job of placing your fingers on the fretboard, leaving you to worry about strumming and picking.
Few chords
Musicians may initially be frustrated at how few chords you can access. But the app’s developers have selected chords that sound good together, and you can get to different chords by tapping on the screen’s wrench icon and changing the key. That same settings panel lets you set the tempo just by tapping the screen, setting beats per minute based on your taps.
Would you rather play a different guitar? There are three electric models — Classic Clean, Hard Rock and Roots Rock. And each one of those comes with two onscreen stompboxes that let you change the sound of the instrument.
For example, I like the Roots Rock guitar, and I tap on the Hi-Drive Treble Boost stompbox for a grungy sound. I can do a passable Neil Young imitation this way (though don’t ask me to sing like him).
If you’d rather play lead than rhythm guitar, you can flip a toggle to switch from chords to notes. You can then tap strings and even drag them to bend notes. The accelerometer in the iPad can tell how hard you’re pressing to vary the volume and attack.
The Smart Keyboard and Smart Bass work similarly, but the Smart Drums takes a completely different approach. You’re presented with a grid, along with a set of drum kit components. Where you place a drum’s snare, tom-tom, high-hat, cymbals or even cowbell on the grid determines the complexity and speed of the rhythm. You can choose from different drum kits and even electronic drums.
You can even record any sound using the Sampler, which then lets you play that sound on a keyboard.
Create a song
You can record your work on any of these instruments as tracks, then mix them together to create a song, which can then be added to your iTunes library, emailed to a friend or exported to the Mac version of GarageBand for more advanced tweaking. With the right adapter, you can even plug a real guitar into the iPad, change how it sounds by running it through virtual amps, then add that as a track.
There’s a lot more to GarageBand for iPad than I’ve detailed here. It’s a rich app with many layers of features. If you spring for it, do so when you have a couple of hours to kill. It’s that compelling.
So while I haven’t tried this yet (I’ll keep you posted on that one…) I do think the closet drummer in me will be pleased by the results 🙂 And who knows, maybe having it so accessible I’ll finally get around to that new CD everyone keeps asking me for.
72 replies to "Play Like Clapton – No Talent Required"
You’re not the only one! I also have recurring dreams of playing so awesome. I guess because we think music and guitar playing constantly. And I also have an inner drummer in me. I love watching drummers and can apprciate the effort that goes into drumming.
sad to hear of old ‘Pinetops’ departure, but I loved your videos of him and quite a few of the other ‘Boogie’ talents. That’s where I took a liking for the ‘Blues’ back in 1952 listening to a radio show put out for forces in BAOR. I loved to listen to Josh White but never ever saw him in action until you released this video of him plus Mede Lux Lewis, Allbert Ammonds and Pete Johnson playing Boogie? That’s were ‘Blues’ really started and I’ve loved it ever since………..I’m now 81 and love your video intro’s to great numbers played by fantastic players ? You have very good talents too,and I wish I were younger to keep up with you on your ‘riffs’ etc. Keep up the good work! at least one ‘old fart’ enjoys listening to you and even tho’ I can’t play much any more, I love it and it keeps me young!
Griff,
You are the only one who I seem to learn a few guitar riffs from. Thank you.
I love your approach and would like to emulate it a little for my workshops on “Big Sculpture for Little”.
Do you have a web marketing expert you deal with? Or recommend?
Hey Griff:
Thanks for your stories, comments, and–most of all–the great teaching videos. For what it is worth I can now play like Clapton simply after watching your four note solo video–and I did not even need Garage Band! Unfortunately when I do sound like Clapton it is usually only one note and then not always the same note every time. But I am sure I still sound like Clapton once in a while somewhere in my four note solo.
Thanks again!
hey grif i bought your course chord by chord but they have given me a link to download it yet can you help that is the course from your friend bob .
thanks Art
So do you think that one day they will release this for the Android platform? I have never been an Apple guy, and an Iphone is NOT in my future. Keep up the good work.
Griff,
Since you’ve admitted to playing Rock Band, I’d love to hear your thoughts on Rock Band 3’s Pro Mode and the value of the Rock Band 3 tutorials, particularly the Pro Mode Guitar tutorials of course! Any chance you might put together a course that expands on the Rock Band 3 tutorials?
Honestly I haven’t seen them yet. We have Rock Band 2 and I really don’t have any experience with Rock Band 3 yet.
I do think there is a rhythmic benefit to any of those style of games. While it’s not “music” in the traditional sense, there is a skill to reading the colored dots that go by and hitting them at the right time. That part of it is not different than learning to play “real notes” at the right time.
We lost pinetop last week.thank you griff for keeping this wonderful art form alive.looking forward to working on my skills with you.peace&luv to you & your family.
W
Play Like Eric Clapton No talent requred.
Well that stured up a few comments. My sincere apologies if I have offended all you musos out there.
I agree that Griff is doing a amazing job providing huge amounts of information for everyone to enjoy but being a EC fan I felt that the headline “Play Like Eric Clapton No talent requred” was a bit off. By all means have a laugh at my expense. I am not starved of oxygen because of where my head is parked.
Brian
Great stuff Griff. Don’t take any notice of your detractors – they’re only jealous! Keep up the good work as it must give hope to 1000s who could otherwise ill afford it
I taught high school and middle school band for 40 years. The last 24 years were in a middle school where I also taught 7th and 8th general music. We had an IMac lab with 30 IMacs. I would spend 4 weeks in the lab with Garage Band helping kids create their own songs. It was amazing to see kids who did not play any instrument or sing come up with some of the most amazing songs with Garage Band. They loved it and lover sharing their songs with the class. I can’t wait to get an IPad and the new Garage Band app. Have you seen the videos of guys performing in church with just their IPads plugged into the sound system.
HEY GRIFF THANK FOR ALL OF YOUR EMAILS ON THE BLUES
I WANT TO BUY YOUR LESSON BUT TIMES ARE TOUGH .BUT THERE IS LIGHT COMING
A LITTLE AT A TIME AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. THE NEXT SALE YOU HAVE LIKE THE LAST ONE I HOPE I CAN SWING IT. THANKS AGAIN
JAY. HEY IT NEVER TO LATE TO DO SOMTHING DIFFRENT KEEP ON TRYING THEM DRUMS
Hi Griff
I’ve just bought your course one year on from promising myself that, after 20 years of playing chords, I was going to learn lead. Interesting about the drumming. My daughter started drumming, aged three, and I’ve watched the progress until now, at 22, she’s a professional drummer with UK production house Xenomania – she also writes and sings. I brought her up on Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee and Robert Johnson. What she’s doing now is different, but not bad – check out http://www.florrie.com.
Stan Arnold
Griff, There are many of us out in internet land, that really do appreciate all you do for all of us , and may I say, always in a professional manner, with the love for music in mind . So please don’t let the few that think they are funny, stop you from doing what you do best …..TEACH US MUSIC…….I for one really do love your teaching, playing, and giving …I for one, have learned so much from your examples that you share and look forward to the next one. A BGU THANK-YOU FROM INTERNET LAND. Michael
Before Brian starts having a moan at me about my spelling – wringly should have read ‘wrinkly’ And yes – this side of the pond – Eric is regarded as ‘Old wrinkly’ — This mistake was brought to you by a dyslexic voice recognition program
Brian-the-Uptight…shouldn’t you be worrying about what a dis it is to all the uber-talented musicians with songs on Guitar Hero to have people with little or no musical talent thinking they can play such complex tunes like a pro using a plastic 4-button electronic guitar look-a-like and following the little colored dots?
So … While we’re humping away, dreaming of “Playing Like Griff”, Griff is dreaming of being Ginger Baker? I have a set of Roland digital drums, and the five years I spent on drums, as my first instrument, is still lingering in me. When I sit down to play the drums, guess what’s the first thing I do? I launch right into my ‘Ginger Baker’ imitation.
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I try and imitate Griff, as he is the ONLY guitar player of superior professional skills who has chosen to share his knowledge and technique. I’d like to see Apple “APP” that! Can you imagine downloading BGU or the 4 Note Solo, and being able to play it, with no skills? I can’t, and I don’t think it would be fun, either. I’d rather work for what I get, and, with Griff, you work for EVERYTHING, but you earn it. I guess that ethic is ‘old school’. Maybe they could develop a “Work Ethic” APP !
Hi Griff,
Some people have nothing better to do than find flaw. You are flawless in my book.
I enjoy listening to you play and admire your talent.
Art
Brian!!!! Get a grip, dude…. 🙂 Griff puts in a lot of time to help us ‘novices’ out. He by no means even remotely suggested that anyone could just pick up an instrument and sound like ‘the Master; Slow Hand; ie..Clapton! While it is true that those of us who are more advanced have by now developed our own ‘sound’, Clapton, in his own right has ‘his own sound’ (awesome) And… even you will have to admit that the opening lines in his latest blog were eye catchers. “Use this app and sound like Clapton, right”. Certainly he never implied that someone with no experience could sound like this legend w/o years of practice, etc etc. He was only implying, that with this software/app, you could emulate some of the sounds created by Clapton!!!! As I consistently tell my guys…”play on brothers”! Thanks Griff, for all your hard work, and your desire to help others get started and develop good practice routines!!!!!! You are truly dedicated to your ’cause’. And….keep on playing with your family, dude!!!!!!!!! And lastly (at last) to Mr. Clapton…you are great, mate!
Not being a gamer at all, I cannot comment on the “Garageband” game. However, I would suggest the Brian (1) may be faced with a medical emergency he has his head so far up his rectum that his brain is starving for oxygen. Can someone go to him and help him pull his head out so he can breath and see things from a proper perspective. Keep up the good work Griff I enjoy your stuff! Note: this post was not intended to be hurtful just a wee laughat Brian’s expense. 🙂 Cheeers
Don’t have time for all this BS… need every available minute to practice so I can, in some small way, play like EC.
Keep rockin’….stop squawkin’
Z
lol. Now look at this can of worms you’ve opened, Griff.
So right to the iPad suggestion,that’s great for those spur of the moment ideas.
You could make up something on the spot and play for real later when you’re holding your instrument in your hands.
As for the (Play like Clapton),even coming from a beginner like me,anything is possible. The App,gives you a chance to get an idea started when your not holding your instrument. I listen to something on the Radio, and get motivated ,by things flowing through any Song. We don’t have to immitate just improvise to our own liking and make it our own.
But then again, the average person can’t afford an iPad.
End note,thanks for suggesting that Griff.
“The Life Of Brian ” !! ?
In fact, Paul, old chap, there are loads of soccer apps with Beckham, Thierry Henri, Messi, Kaka [what an unfortunate name that guy has] and other footie aces. Yes, you too can volley one into the top corner from 30 yards from a Beckham cross – jus’ like that! There are also apps which allow you to be Sir Alex ferguson, Jose ‘The Special One’ Morinho, have all the above in your team and rule the world!
And you can mix it with Schumi, Alsonso, Hamilton, Vettel and the rest of the F1 pilots, too.
Everybody seems to have missed that Griff’s headline ended ….. right. If that didn’t put you in smile-mode, you are made of lead.
I’m sure the real Eric Clapton knows hypothetical speech & what honour it is for him to be a protégé for learning guitarists to aspire to. Fact is however, there was a time when he himself would have had no talent…..anyway…… about those pills everone is talking about.
Brian,
Does the phraise, ( i have a dream) mean anything to you????
where would we all be including yourself without dreams????
God Bless the U.S.A.
In God We Trust..
Rick From Florida
I agree with Roy, my first time reading a blog or posting..
Like you I dont think I’ll ‘boyher’ again either Roy What a load of meaningless BS.
and Griff, if this is your interptation of how to play like Mike & the mechs I’ll unsubscribe thanks.. Whats next, soccer players with David Beckham apps running around a field?
Brian, what’s the weather like on your planet? Griff couldn’t offend anyone if he tried – and he doesn’t! If you’re having a bad day and you’re not doing very well with your guitar playing, go and spend more time on BGU – now that would be productive!
I have watched and read Griff’s material for some time now and have to say he is one of better online tutors. I am also a Eric Claption fan and have most of his CD’s and seen him on two occassion in concert. The interesting thing about this apparent ‘Brian’ angle is not that Griff was in the least offensive about Eric but that someone (Brian) should take the time to consider that Griff could be offensive towards Eric or his many follower. the term – get a life – stems to mind. I do not write this lightly, for I have never sprung to the defense of someone before online, it is just that the views expressed by the ‘Brian’s’ of the world are unsubstanciated in this instance.
This is the first time I have read a blog and the first time I have put a comment on one. Just a lot of arguing about nothing like a mob of chooks in a chook pen. I don’t think I will boyher with blogs again
Did YOU EVEN BOTHER to READ his Title TO THE “END”? “BRIAN”
“[BGU BLOG] – Play Like Clapton – No Talent Required.... right”
“RIGHT” is the KEY WORD!
It means “SURE”, ANYBODY CAN PLAY LIKE CLAPTON, “NO TALENT REQUIRED”! Which we ALL know is BS! GET A GRIP!!
Agree with Mossboss, perhaps technology could invent more hours for us to appreciate everything. Enjoyed the article Griff – Cheers
As I stand facing into the western sunset , the ocean before me, sand between my toes – On my Strat I play my version of twelve-bar-blues ‘God Bless America’ with one hand, while saluting with my other – hoards of screaming females come rushing onto the beach – crying “Eric oh Eric” only to be taken aback when they see it’s me. Unpreturbed they settle on their blankets and listen until I pluck that final chord, “Encore encore encore” They scream until I give in and play one more verse. “He’s better looking” “He’s younger” “He plays as good as old wringly” I hear the verious comments shouted above the applause “Best of all – he’s FREE”
As I wallow in my new found fame, I think to myself
‘Thanks Griff I owe it all to you.’
I have an iMac (bought in November) and I love Garage Band; I loved it from the start and found it relatively easy to get started. I’m now on Logic Pro 9 and it is a real piece of kit !!! I find it quite like Photoshop in some ways. It has what feel like “layers”. Just like Photoshop, Logic is such powerful software that I don’t reckon any one person would master it ALL …. Also …. I’m positive that Griff didn’t mean “play like Clapton, no skill needed” …. haha hahahaha hahahaha (ps I used to regularly see Clapton with John Mayall, amongst others, in London back in the 60’s. I am a very lucky bloke to be 61 and grew up in London.
The illusion exists that no one can play like “Slow Hand”. But, he does play music, ergo…, the notations that he plays can be electronically duplicated. What fun!
Griff, you hammered it! Playing with family! What a Joy! Thanks for your contribution to instructing THIS distant son in the possibilities of playing the blues!
Any one who is willing to put in the hours of practice CAN sound like the Clapton, or the BB King or any one else on the top of the popular heap of blues players legends! The wonderful thing about music is that everyone has their own sound.
Brian…, no one has the soul of the “Slow Hand”, so no one can play ‘AS’ the soul of himself… but the notes are there to hear and play and copy! Get off it! Enjoy the possibilities the Griff was giving you!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think Brian and some of the other folk have missed the important bit of Griff’s comments. In reality, he was only “trying to find something useful to do with my Ipad”. Why not use it as an up-market place mat for the dining table?
Trouble with all this technology is that there ‘aint enough hours in the day.
What do you think Griff? One first post and all hell breaks loose, and so much for what you intended to offer the gang.
Oh well, “Brian’s” saga has become much more interesting. LOL
Jeeeez, It’s amazing how easy it is to side track readers.
Thanks Brian!
Eric who? J.K.!!! Hey…I happen to know a few people, male and female both, that Never took a guitar lesson, Never played with anything like Guitar Hero, or any of that sort of thing, got a guitar, started teaching themselves, and with guidance from friends who play, and from people like Griff, Marty Schwartz, and Justin Sandercoe on youtube, and after about a year or two can just about play as well as Eric Clapton, and a few of them are only in their early teens. They may never hit the “big” time, but…that’s not why they learned to play anyway. But…if they DO happen to hit the “BIG” time…guess who’s getting comp tickets to ALL their concerts??? Right!!! Have a great day. You too Brian. :D)
Brian (not the flaming Brian, the “regards” dry wit crack me up and make me laugh Brian,
Thanks for the chuckle.
Chuckles
Hey John C, Those pills do make you grow 4″ in 3 weeks, haha.
Brian, you love Clapton, on ya mate, Slow Hand.. The way to caress a guitar as well and a woman. You all wofflin about nothin here. The Japs have got it bad though.
Thanks for defending me Brian 😉 Yer’ a good mate.
Brians comment was basically a sales pitch
Mannnnn, All you guys just need to lighten up and chill out. Good lord. Christ already died for our sins so you can take Griff down now. Tell me, where is the love my brothers?? That rubber band is way to tight. Unwind for everyone’s sake.
Anybody that knows Griff knows he would never SLIGHT Eric. He does like to have fun and pass it on to us. So lighten up! By the way Griff does this for us for free!!!
If anyone knows a good alternative on andriod, please let me know!
Really want to use it.
I too will join the “Brian lighten up” brigade. But without being harsh. We all have bad moments. That was yours.
Everybody lighten up or go away!
Griff writes an article that he thinks might be fun and interesting to his readers and Wrestlemania breaks out over a supposed slight to Eric Clapton? Geez Brian get a life!
I’m sure Eric Clapon is secure enough in his talent and experience not to worry about some good natured kidding about how Garage Band can make you sound as good as him with no talent necessary. First of all I’m sure he isn’t even aware of any of this. It seems to me you’re too busy worshiping him from afar! Try practicing your guitar playing and forget about protecting your Gutar Hero!
Poor Brian is going to be scared to ever leave a post again!
Brian, if you are still out there, welcome to the life of a critic. I guess you have discovered that if you dish it out, you had better be able to “take it”!
But, I agree with you on one thing: It is amazing how we assume that Griff or anyone is doing out of the goodness of his heart. He is making a living and we are all jealous that he has found such a large audience to sell his stuff to.
And, it I kind of don’t like that he got to me so easily based on my own laziness of not doing the hard work to sound like Clapton. Caught me!
Nice work Griff. You got me!
I can’t believe there is a comment thread for this! The future of the USA looks grim.
Wow…and people say I take things too seriously. Keep up the good work, Griff.
I think we’re talking irony here folks. Lighten up Francis….Griff is da man!
Very cool i like that you play with your family !!!!!!!!!!!
Brian,
Relax, if you know Griff, then you know that nothing was meant to demean Eric or to suggest that anyone other than Eric can play as well as the master. Dude have a beer or joint or something, Griff posts a lot of information to help everyone and all of us appreciate him and the effort he puts into all this. If you are really that uptight about a title then maybe you should give it a day and if you still feel the same way drop off the mailing list.
Griff – Good Job most mature people on this blog know you had no malcontent intended. No worries keep up the information I for one enjoy receiving your emails and don’t read more into them than your good intentions.
With the greatest respect to everyone’s opinions, mine is this: if you were offended by Griff’s comments about Eric, you may have missed something. My understanding of his point (despite his arguably questionable ethics) is that there’s now no longer, in modern understanding of blues guitar principles, anything which is not amenable to analysis by those principles. It is because of this, that anyone can at least attempt to learn and apply those principles and may succeed. Incidentally, it is Eric’s genius that he was, at least intuitively, in touch with those universal blues guitar principles personally, so young, outclassing most of his peers.
Brian, calm down, im sure its a figure of speech, its like them grow your pecker pills, add 4 in. in 3 weeks (yeah right) its a figure of speech. griff is a great guy giving his time and know how to all of us, and us OLD guys 2.
thanks
Funny, but my initial reaction before scrolling down was, “Lighten up Brian.”
I was amused to see how obvious the thought was to others as well.
No one would who has observed Griff would ever believe he would dis Clapton.
Guess we all get a bit stressed and react poorly at times.
It’s ad with an eye catching promo line. The intent of any add is to get you to capture your attention. There’s nothing misleading about the article when you read it. The contains nothing about guitarist pixie dust, a magic riff pill, etc. Good thing for all of us that we can grumble, fume, etc. and still walk free.
I think we have all been stressed and sometimes say things we may regret later. I also think we all realize the EC never was/is a slouch on the guitar. I was a big Cream fan and then a friend said he had an extra ticket to see Clapton unplugged and I gained a whole new level of respect for him. In closing, we should all forgive and forget and as George said, pick up that guitar and play something.
Brian have you been eating crocodile sandwiches?? because you are really snappy..relax read what griff said ..and pull the stick out…-)
there are better drum and keyboard sampling sites, Itunes is corrupt and slows your machine down
and there are better choices for mp3’s than itunes
also for best music sound of all is SONY atrac 3 and 4, wow, blows mp3 tunes away
only play back on your puter or mini disc
a large difference in sound
from El Salvador,
Viva El Frente
Oh BTW GarageBand for iPad works quite well with the iRig. Highly recomended.
Yeah GarageBand for iPad won’t make you Clapton but it is possible to make some interesting tunes and create some backing tracks so you can practice, practice, practice..
Hey I’m also a ‘Brian’ and I’m offended that another ‘Brian’ could be so offensive and humorless. Brian, you’ve let all ‘Brians’ down. Regards, Brian
Having used GarageBand on my Mac laptop a few years ago, I can attest to how (relatively) easy it is to generate decent-sounding music without having to actually play a real instrument. But in a very partial defense of Brian, Griff’s title here could be misconstrued by some folks as a bit dismissive of true talents like Eric Clapton. In reality, though, it may have been intended to make fun of the kind of ‘over-the-top’ marketing hype that products like GarageBand receive nowadays. In either case, it’s nothing worth getting steamed about. (FYI: I’m pretty sure that Griff would never diss Slowhand’s talent under any circumstances.)
Griff said play11 like not as. We learned wording is very important from a former President. Ha
We do know the intent that Griff intended. I am sure that you are just having a stressful moment. I go pick up my old Gibson when that happens. That is if the wife will let me. Later, George Wideman. Brilliant, Al.
Brian, lighten up.
It is just an article–don’t get so uptight. (I wish I had the last 15 seconds of my life back)
Lighten up, Brian. There are an infinite number of ways to be offensive, and you found one.
to suggest that anyone can play like eric clapton – No talent Required is offensive to all musicians and Slowhand himself.
Putting crap like this on the website makes me want to remove you from my favourites.
Get real Griff
Brian