Clapton Style Lick In The Style Of “Crossroads” From The Cream Era
A lot of people get hung up on a couple of things:
1 – The turnaround in a blues… the chords go by a little faster and it’s nice to have licks that you can just pull out of your bag-of-tricks and not have to think about it.
2 – Playing faster and incorporating hammer-ons and pull-offs with the picked notes.
Today’s lick will help with both. This is a straight feel blues/rock lick in the key of A. It uses mostly A minor pentatonic, but there are a couple of nods to the major 3rd (the 6th fret on the 3rd string) over the I chord.
Plus… it just sounds COOL when you get it down and works great even at slower speeds.
Downloads
This Video (MP4)Mac users should use the MP4 version to download the video
- This Video (WMV)
Windows users should use the WMV version to download this video.
If you need it, here’s the TAB for it. It’s not too tough as you can see… but the speed makes the challenge. If you take it SLOW at first and COUNT OUT LOUD then I promise you can do it. If you don’t do those things… it won’t be so good.
Thanks Griff for teaching a Clapton staple. If you practiced to the Bluesbreakers albums you should know this lick like the back of your hand. Taylor,Clapton,& Green all used that lick. Your the best Griff for keeping Blues alive.Am a huge fan of yours.
Thanks Griff for teaching an old Clapton staple. If you practiced to the Bluesbreakers albums you would know this riff like the back of your hand.Taylor,Clapton,&Green used forms of this lick a lot.Thanks Griff for keeping the Blues alive.
Thanks Griff
Griff, this is another great nugget you’ve provided. Your lessons are inspiring. Keep them coming. Much appreciated.
Thanks Griff for the Clapton lesson, Very Good as usual…a course of Clapton Licks. will be “Excellent” and sure to sell better than hot cakes!
Why is it that you are the only one who takes the time to show AND count out these licks? It is very awe inspiring to be able to play the licks you show us from the greats!
Thank you Griff!
Simple Right? What Clapton fan could live without this lick? I love the Blues and I love Clapton.
Thanks Griff Rock On!
Thanks , I’ve played them similar licks many times and never connected them to EC. Mike
You are The Man
GReat job but why are you counting the 1/16 notes as 1-e-+-a
I thought the same thing (why not). I think Griff does not want to add that extra element (1-e-&-a) in counting so as not to confuse folks who are not comfortable with counting yet.
I meant why are you not counting them that way?
Sounds great😄
Thanks Griff. Is there away to get this video to work on a tablet?
I would assume this is not the beginning of a song, being that you usually advocate to begin a song from the top…I enjoyed this lick and thank you
It actually is part of the opening 12 bars. Bars 11 & 12
I just received my dang Medicare card, and I was wondering how good I might be had I had your materials to learn from when I was young. You are a terrific teacher. I may still play in public someday!
I play Sax in a blues band, but find your stuff inspiring.
Well done.
I remember the first time I heard that turnaround on Wheels of Fire, and I thought, damn that sounds so boss. Thanks for the tab and the lesson.
I know this lick, but I couldn’t get the video to play on my phone ( at work) I usually can, anyone know why? Thanks
Thanks Griff, great turn around. Would it be possible to put the sharps or flats symbols in the music staff indicating what key we’re in?
To the extent that you are in a “key,” it would be A minor so there are no sharps or flats in the key signature (relative minor to C Major).
Thanks for the refresher Griff!
11/9/18
Thanks for the great lesson Griff! It actually reminds me of a lesson you had put out here for us a while back. I love The Blues Breakers and everything else he’s done. Let’s keep the blues alive and kicking!!!
Not sure what’s going on. This is the second time in less than a week that I can’t get the video to play on one of your posts.
Griff, You’re the man. Thank you for this. This is a classic “lick.” I appreciate your generosity. You are a great teacher. God bless you. .
Sincerely, Rudy
The link doesn’t work. Anyone else having problems occasionally?
I’ve had problems with getting the videos to play and found that updating or changing browsers will fix the problem.
Won’t download gruff, send to me again puleassee
Good stuff ,thanks
Hi Griff.Great everything you put out is Great…
That goes on the wall…
As always, good stuff here !
Thanks for explaining where the lick comes from. So very helpful.
Sound cuts out after 5 seconds so had to lip read and guess what you were saying.
Classic lick. Griff, any chance you could do a workshop on Clapton licks?
Thanks. Well explained. Will keep
practicing till I can play it blindfold!
The first seven notes in the 2nd
measure are the same as the riff
in the Beatles Day Tripper!
Thanks again.
man….how does someone figure that stuff out? thanks, love the structure breakdown
Excellent breakdown and the timing is my biggest bugbear but this certainly helped and hey, I think I’ve got it.
As always, so well explained and executed.Thanks Griff
Great lesson
I’d love for you to do a Crossroads lesson similar to your Little Wing one
Thanks Griff for an easy to follow lesson. With my true y iPad set up on my music stand, I could stop, practice then start the video for more of the lick.
Thank you Giff. Great E.C. Crossroad lick to train on.
just great Griff thank you!
Thanks Griff, any idea when you are able to send courses across the border? (Canada). Thanks, in advance….
Thanks. It’s good to learn something new every day.
Thanks, Griff, it’s a good idea to learn something new every day.
Could someone recommend how to get a Clapton-esque type tone in garageband?