When I was learning to solo, there were a lot of licks and solos that I either couldn’t play, or couldn’t figure out by ear (remember, this was before the internet and TABs everywhere…)

But through the process of playing with bands and having to figure out something to play, I discovered that if I could figure out the general sounds and patterns…

I could probably figure out something to play that was pretty close to the original.

I had no idea how useful and important this skill was until much later, so I try to help my students develop it early on.

Which brings me to today’s video…

There’s a great video of Eric Clapton playing, “Further On Up The Road,” with The Band at their final concert (The Last Waltz)…

At the top of the tune, Clapton takes a 24 bar solo in G, and it’s a solid, no-nonsense solo that sounds like Clapton instantly.

But instead of transcribing that for you note for note, I’ve put together a blueprint of how that solo goes together, what the patterns are and what the thought is behind each of the changes.

I encourage you to try and get something together that’s close enough but within your reach. You’ll be far better for the experience.

Click here for my chicken scratch notes in a PDF


    12 replies to "A Clapton Blueprint"

    • Joe

      Great lesson I learn more from you then any private teacher. Thank Grifff!

    • Jim Lynn

      Great lesson. Always good to know “ options” available when soloing and you explained this one very well. Without the option examples one is just memorizing a song or solo and not really learning how certain patterns/ licks may work in other contexts. Always valuable to add new ideas to your “ go to” moves when playing. This really helps. Thanks.
      Jim

    • James T. Lynn

      Great lesson. Always good to know “ options” available when soloing and you explained this one very well. Without the option examples one is just memorizing a song or solo and not really learning how certain patterns/ licks may work in other contexts. Always valuable to add new ideas to your “ go to” moves when playing. This really helps. Thanks.
      Jim

    • J. Jacobs

      Hi Griff. I’m a long time fan of your guitar instruction. I have all the Blues Guitar Unleashed dvd’s. Griff, I even have your Little Wing dvd and workbook. It’s awesome! Are you going to put together any more Hendrix packages like the little wing package? How about a package deal for Blue Oyster Cult’s “ Don’t Fear The Reaper song. Perhaps another full package like the Little Wing one. It would be awesome and I would be the first to buy it. We’ll Griff take care and say hi to your family for me. And keep on rocking. If you can, write me back please so that I know your response.
      Warm regards, Joe

    • Chris Adams

      Great blueprint.
      I used to think fantastic players like Clapton would be playing note for note, now, thanks to you I see they are playing a mixture of boxes, major & minor and the house pattern.
      Thank you.

      Aussie Chris

    • Werner Lesar

      Really well done, (I’m sure)…for the pro (a.k.a. band performer). Your blueprint relies totally on one’s ability to note / hear the chords, changes and patterns. (how did you know it was 24 bars??) Being 70+, I appreciate “old school” so I’d love to know how to “transcribe” in the first place. For those of us non-performers trying to figure out a song, I’d like to see a blueprint that lays out how to find the key, the boxes, the chords, the solos. I’m just beginning to “hear” (identify) the notes of the riff/licks. And of course, there’s the age-old issue of the “sound”….. My guitar doesn’t sound like THEIR guitar (with all their support “gear”).

      • Griff

        Much of what you’re referring to comes with some experience. As you learn from the beginning, you’ll learn what the I, IV, and V are, and you’ll get familiar with their sound. Also those other skills come with other lessons on those various patterns… but if you don’t know them, do a search and I bet they’ll come up for you (or they are in your course material.)

    • Jerry G Persall

      Nice explanation!

    • Rick Russell

      Thanks, Griff! That blueprint helped a lot!

    • Vince D

      Magnificent explanation. Where were you 40 years ago?

    • Gail Vaubel

      Perfect! I get it!

    • Gregory

      Love it!

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