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I don't "get" Eric Clapton

#101
OK, folks. Define Greatest?
What are the criteria? Until you define the criteria and evalutate each guitarist using those criteria, Great is just a subjective opinion that seems to only start arguments.
I would suggest "MY favorite is" or "I really Like" or "If I could play a set with any guitarist I want, it would be..."
 
#102
volker said:
Oooh, there are some dodgy ones in 'Layla'! (Unless someone else played the slide bits, of course.) In fact, I think it would be a much better song without all those squealy solo bits! A rather bad EC moment for me.

A great Clapton memory: I remember him joining Dire Straits for a performance at the 'Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute' in London in 1988, and he played a terrific, heartfelt solo in 'Money For Nothing'.

I like him enough to have bought his bio, which I'll read as soon as I'm finished with Bowie's.

Cheers
V :)
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Duane Allman played the slide parts.
 
#103
Classic69 said:
Never thought that "Slowhand" would be so polarizing!

I wonder if it's a bass-player thing?? I say that because most guitarists I've worked with, even hard-core Jazz/Fusion/Funk players, have a great deal of props for what Clapton does.
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+1

My two guitar players basically threw a fit when I said I'm not a fan of Clapton. I said no more EC covers, 3 is enough. That was a year ago and they still bring it up routinely
 
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#104
Gravedigger Dav said:
OK, folks. Define Greatest?
What are the criteria? Until you define the criteria and evalutate each guitarist using those criteria, Great is just a subjective opinion that seems to only start arguments.
I would suggest "MY favorite is" or "I really Like" or "If I could play a set with any guitarist I want, it would be..."
Click to expand...

I'm going to reiterate that this thread is not whether Clapton is a "great" guitarist - it is that "I don't GET Clapton". In other words...what all the fuss is about. Granted, people "get" a great guitarist...at least some do.
I find his playing rather textbook-y, sterile, and without any feeling. I have heard guitarists play that literally brought out emotion in me. That's a player (especially in blues) that knows their trade. Clapton has never done this.
 
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#106
It doesn't matter if we get him or not, or his output was better with Cream or not, it doesn't matter if anyone thinks he is or is not the best guitarist or songwriter. What does matter is what emotions in a person "he tap dances on" when someone listens to his music. He plays what he enjoys and at this point if the records sell, the record company isn't telling him what to play. In the end it's like watching television, if you do not like what your watching (or listening to in this case), turn the channel to something YOU enjoy.
 
#109
Worldeeeter said:
I'm going to reiterate that this thread is not whether Clapton is a "great" guitarist - it is that "I don't GET Clapton". In other words...what all the fuss is about. Granted, people "get" a great guitarist...at least some do.
I find his playing rather textbook-y, sterile, and without any feeling. I have heard guitarists play that literally brought out emotion in me. That's a player (especially in blues) that knows their trade. Clapton has never done this.
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Why do folks feel the need to declare thier dislike or "not getting" an artist, musical style or playing style??? I just "don't get" these types of threads. Hey wait, there's my 'declaration'!! Carry on! The negativity here is bad for my health! Peace!
 
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#110
Worldeeeter said:
I'm going to reiterate that this thread is not whether Clapton is a "great" guitarist - it is that "I don't GET Clapton". In other words...what all the fuss is about. Granted, people "get" a great guitarist...at least some do.
I find his playing rather textbook-y, sterile, and without any feeling. I have heard guitarists play that literally brought out emotion in me. That's a player (especially in blues) that knows their trade. Clapton has never done this.
Click to expand...

I got it. But subsequent posts have gone in that direction. So you don't get Clapton. That is okay. I happen to like him and think that one of his strengths is the emotion in his music. I can't listen to Holy Mother without a tear. I hear a man in agony. But, if we all liked the same thing, there would be only one band and they would play the gear we think is the best. Love the diversity.
 
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#112
Andy D said:
Embellisher, You and I are in complete agreement on this one. Cream was far and away the best thing Clapton's ever done. His solo work leaves me cold. I find in incomprehensible that Clapton is celebrated in the U.S. while Rory Gallagher is practically unheard of. And while we're on that subject a big shoutout to Gerry McAvoy of Rory's band, who's one of my bass heroes!
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+1 Yes!!
 
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#116
Worldeeeter said:
OK, the trolls are now taking over with their self-righteous BS. I think that anyone is allowed to have an opinion, regardless of their skill level. I don't recall the OP saying he was BETTER than Clapton.
Time to unsubscribe from this thread. Clapton is the worst.
OPINIONS!
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Remember in today's world....no one is allowed to have an opinion on ANYTHING unless it is the same exact opinion as everyone else :rollno:
 
#117
To be hugely popular one needn't be the best at what they are doing. EC is a prime example of this. He is good enough (barely imo) and in his case that's what the masses want. The problem I find with his playing is that it all sounds the same, like he never learned past a certain point. He learned what he learned to get good enough to be popular, then his learning stopped.

Being popular is more about being at the right place at the right time, hanging out with the right people, having the right look etc. Plus having the ability to produce what the masses want. Kevin Costner is another example of just barely being good enough. Is he a great actor? No. Can he show up, look good and say the lines? Yes.

I have literally heard dozens of local bar band guitar players totally smoke anything Clapton has ever played, yet Clapton is famous for doing less. poopie happens.
 
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#118
Classic69 said:
Never thought that "Slowhand" would be so polarizing!

I wonder if it's a bass-player thing?? I say that because most guitarists I've worked with, even hard-core Jazz/Fusion/Funk players, have a great deal of props for what Clapton does.
Click to expand...

In my experience it's a "musician that was around in the early 90s" thing. He was really pitched as a "living legend" guitarist in the 90s.

Those of us that leaned to play early in that decade were almost forced to learn the acoustic Layla or Tears. Our parents friends would ask "oh you play guitar, what do you think about Clapton."

He was honestly the sole recognizable guitarist if you were over 40 and casually listened to music. He was on the radio and MTV constantly, every interview was "master of the guitar Eric Clapton".

Then I'd try to learn a Clapton song and would get it in a half hour session. Hendrix songs would take weeks for just the rhythm parts.

That's what made me start to believe he was overrated. Everyone said he was amazing, but it was generally easier to imitate him than anyone else. It was also more boring to imitate him than say Hendrix.

To be honest a lot of the musicians my age, that I've encountered, feel he's overrated. He was really rammed down everyone's throat that decade and that, ultimately, creates resentment.
 
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#120
Worldeeeter said:
OK, the trolls are now taking over with their self-righteous BS. I think that anyone is allowed to have an opinion, regardless of their skill level. I don't recall the OP saying he was BETTER than Clapton.
Time to unsubscribe from this thread. Clapton is the worst.
OPINIONS!
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ironic+cemetary.png
 

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