Clapton overrated?

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OLDERBUDWISER

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I have been trying to play this stuff from "overrated" Slowhand. Am I that bad? Those bends on Badge, major seventh to the root like that. Frickin so much control, maybe I am just that bad? Half step bend mastery, PRICELESS. I have a looper, youtube on 75% speed. Really helping my intonation and vibrato. Wish I was better, but I will damn well keep at it!! Thats why I like to learn from the masters, because they were frickin awesome. Then steal em and make em mine LOL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I2xgycoWd4
 
Re: Clapton overrated?

Of all the stuff he gets flak about, he is really good at that stuff.
 
Re: Clapton overrated?

Speaking of which, my son plays pretty well. He wants to play his own stuff, down down pick so fast, metal head. He doesnt want to learn others music, and I thought of you with the young lady student. My son doesnt want to put in the work IMO, he plays "shapes", he thinks an arpeggio is an italian pasta. Those bends from Clapton, how many would just play that? Or the way some guys move up and down the neck. Thats why I personally think there are a few solos that should be taught and learned just like a piano kid learns Fur Elise. But all that is a vehicle to sound like YOU someday
 
Re: Clapton overrated?

Well, if he is having fun, I'd say let him have fun. If he decides to take it further, I'd say he has to make a commitment to learning. But right now, whatever drives him to pick it up might be enough.
 
Re: Clapton overrated?

The Clapton 'overrated' crap always annoys the living S out of me.

You're not a Cliché when the cliché was in fact based on your output.
Pioneer that gives proper respect to those that came before.
EC is fabulous. He's just more about the song than the 'impress you with solo' crap now.
 
Re: Clapton overrated?

i love the badge solo. his timing and phrasing is terrific and his vibrato is damn fine too. saw what ya want but hes 70, still sells out every show, and puts on a great concert. are his chops as fiery as when he was 20? of course not.
 
Re: Clapton overrated?

Big Mike Blues said:
The Clapton 'overrated' crap always annoys the living S out of me.

You're not a Cliché when the cliché was in fact based on your output.
Pioneer that gives proper respect to those that came before.
EC is fabulous. He's just more about the song than the 'impress you with solo' crap now.
Click to expand...

This is how I see him as well. Early in his career his guitar playing was fire. It was new and exciting. As he got older he became more of a songwriter and the playing took a back seat to the song.
Nothing wrong with that.
I do prefer his earlier work though.
 
Re: Clapton overrated?

If he would have joined the 27 club no one would ever say any of this overrated stuff about him

and yet he mocks us and persisted to over come many of his addictions and self indulgences, into a more than average old man trying to have a family and be a better person and give back a little

-how dare him... :lmao:
 
Re: Clapton overrated?

I saw Clapton in a high school in Bristol (TN or VA, don't remember which side of the line it was on) in ~80/81, I think it was after one of his rehabs. He was amazing. The Fabulous Thunderbirds opened and Clapton had some guy named Albert Lee on 2nd guitar in his band.

Sad thing is that the place wasn't even 1/2 full, some band called Loverboy was playing the Civic Center the same night (not sure how much that mattered).
 
Re: Clapton overrated?

devastone said:
I saw Clapton in a high school in Bristol (TN or VA, don't remember which side of the line it was on) in ~80/81, I think it was after one of his rehabs. He was amazing. The Fabulous Thunderbirds opened and Clapton had some guy named Albert Lee on 2nd guitar in his band.

Sad thing is that the place wasn't even 1/2 full, some band called Loverboy was playing the Civic Center the same night (not sure how much that mattered).
Click to expand...

Albert Lee is a ridiculous player. love that dude. I think John 5 sometimes seems like the Goth Metal version of him :lmao:
 
Re: Clapton overrated?

Albert Lee is a nice guy, too. And a better overall player than Clapton. And I like Clapton (except that Tears in Heaven crap).
 
Re: Clapton overrated?

At this point in my life, I think that all the guitar "gods" are overated to a point. Just because their persona's and images were completely overblown for publicities sake. Which isn't to say that any of them couldn't play circles around me. While drinking a beverage and possibly eating a sandwich.
But one of the laws of nature is that there will always be someone new who is faster, smarter, and hungrier. Always.
The King is Dead, Long live the King.
 
Re: Clapton overrated?

Well, overrating is bad if you do it do something that you hope will be good for you. Underrating is always bad when you do it to something that might be bad for you.
 
Re: Clapton overrated?

IMO:

He was really great with Cream, in the studio (Live Cream sucks IMO).

I dug Blind Faith.

After that, I am into nothing he ever did. I suppose the last part of "Layla" is a decent listen, in terms of radio pop-rock.

He is indeed one of the most overrated guitarists ever. "Overrated" does not mean bad, however.

I respect his technical ability. I just don't like anything he did after Blind Faith. I think Jack Bruce was really the heavy lifter and the genius in Cream. Clapton was essential, and talented...but the genius was Bruce.
 
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Re: Clapton overrated?

Not for his time & compared to his peers.

I do like some Cream stuff...& his blues playing is great.
 
Re: Clapton overrated?

Big Mike Blues said:
The Clapton 'overrated' crap always annoys the living S out of me.

You're not a Cliché when the cliché was in fact based on your output.
Pioneer that gives proper respect to those that came before.
EC is fabulous. He's just more about the song than the 'impress you with solo' crap now.
Click to expand...

My point was in jest, overrated? Yea, how about a frickin goat(not THEE)
 
Re: Clapton overrated?

ItsaBass said:
IMO:

He was really great with Cream, in the studio (Live Cream sucks IMO).

I dug Blind Faith.

After that, I am into nothing he ever did. I suppose the last part of "Layla" is a decent listen, in terms of radio pop-rock.

He is indeed one of the most overrated guitarists ever. "Overrated" does not mean bad, however.

I respect his technical ability. I just don't like anything he did after Blind Faith. I think Jack Bruce was really the heavy lifter and the genius in Cream. Clapton was essential, and talented...but the genius was Bruce.
Click to expand...

Live Cream sucks? Crossroads is one of those solos that every guitar player should learn IMO.
 
Re: Clapton overrated?

I know everyone loves his early playing with Cream and Mayall . . . but I remember being blown away with his From the Cradle album. Spent a whole summer listening to that in highschool.
 
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