Cocaine by Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton's iconic rendition of "Cocaine", originally written by J.J. Cale, is a staple in blues-rock guitar playing. This song is famous for its driving riff, powerful chord progression, and emotive solos, making it an excellent piece for guitarists who want to dive deep into essential rock and blues techniques. In this guitar lesson from Licklibrary, you’ll learn the song note for note, focusing on the distinctive elements that make the song a standout in Clapton's repertoire.
This lesson is designed to enhance your understanding of foundational and advanced guitar techniques while giving you the opportunity to master the unique sound that Clapton delivers. Whether you're aiming to perform live, improve your improvisation, or simply want to expand your technique toolbox, this tutorial will provide everything you need to nail the tone and feel of "Cocaine." Richard Barrett breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library tutorial.
Techniques Covered in the Lesson
String Bending
One of the hallmarks of Clapton’s playing is his expressive use of string bending. In “Cocaine,” Clapton’s solo work heavily relies on subtle and precise bends to add emotion and dynamic tension to his phrases. String bending not only allows you to hit notes between frets but also helps to shape your sound, giving it a vocal-like quality. In this lesson, you will learn how to control your bends to match Clapton’s unique phrasing and feel.
Benefits: Mastering string bending will help you develop better pitch control and emotional expression, which is crucial for any lead guitarist looking to enhance their solos.
Bluesy Bends
This technique is at the core of Clapton's signature "woman tone." Bluesy bends involve bending the string to achieve microtonal intervals, giving the guitar a soulful, almost vocal-like sound. You’ll find Clapton employing this technique in both the main riff and the solo sections of "Cocaine."
Benefits: Learning bluesy bends sharpens your ability to execute subtle, soulful bends that give your playing a more human quality, an essential skill for playing authentic blues or blues-rock.
Vibrato
Clapton’s vibrato technique adds depth and richness to his sustained notes. His vibrato is slow, controlled, and wide, often applied after a bend, creating a singing, emotive quality. In this lesson, you’ll study Clapton’s use of vibrato, ensuring you can recreate the sustain and dynamic expression he’s known for.
Benefits: Developing a good vibrato helps in sustaining notes with control and adding emotion to your solos. It's a crucial tool for creating long, singing notes that stand out in a song.
Power Chords
The main riff of "Cocaine" prominently uses power chords, a staple in rock guitar. Power chords provide the song’s driving force, giving it that chunky, rhythmic feel that makes the track so instantly recognisable. In this lesson, you'll break down the riff, paying attention to how Clapton uses these chords to create energy and movement.
Benefits: Mastering power chords will give you more control over your rhythm playing, which is essential for any rock or blues musician. They also help in solidifying your understanding of the fretboard and chord voicings.
Double Stops
Clapton also incorporates double stops in his solos, which involve playing two notes simultaneously. This technique adds a fuller, richer sound to the solo sections of the song. In "Cocaine," double stops are used for both rhythmic accents and melodic embellishments.
Benefits: Learning double stops improves your ability to harmonise notes within a solo and add depth to your playing. They are also a great way to add rhythmic diversity and dynamics to your lead work.
Slides
Slides are used throughout "Cocaine" to move between notes smoothly, giving the riff and solo lines a more fluid feel. Whether used in the context of single notes or double stops, slides add to the seamless, flowing quality of Clapton's lead work.
Benefits: Slides help improve your finger dexterity and your ability to move efficiently across the fretboard. They also provide a smoother transition between notes, making your solos sound more polished.
Palm Muting
To add a rhythmic, percussive element to his playing, Clapton often uses palm muting during the verses of "Cocaine." This technique adds a staccato quality to the riffs, controlling the dynamics and allowing certain notes to stand out.
Benefits: Palm muting is an essential technique for creating contrast in your playing. It gives you control over dynamics and helps to tighten up your rhythm sections.
About Eric Clapton and His Influence
Eric Clapton is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. His work spans blues, rock, and pop genres, with his signature style deeply rooted in the blues. Clapton’s rendition of "Cocaine" is a tribute to J.J. Cale's original composition, but he adds his unmistakable touch, characterised by fluid solos, smooth string bending, and soulful vibrato. His influence on the world of guitar is immeasurable, inspiring generations of players with his emotional expressiveness and technical proficiency. Clapton's ability to blend bluesy phrasing with rock energy makes "Cocaine" a perfect study piece for guitarists looking to capture the essence of both genres.
Guitar Techniques in "Cocaine"
By mastering these techniques, you'll not only be able to play "Cocaine" accurately but also expand your ability to tackle a wide range of rock and blues songs. Dive into the lesson, and enjoy learning how to play this classic song note for note!
