"Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight" is a timeless ballad, known for its emotive lyrics and signature guitar work. In this note-for-note guitar lesson, you'll learn every nuance of Clapton's playing style in the song, which incorporates a range of essential techniques. These lessons will not only help you master this specific track but will also give you valuable tools to apply across your guitar playing, whether you’re playing other Clapton tunes or expanding your repertoire into similar styles. Richard Barrett breaks down this iconic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.
The Guitar Techniques in "Wonderful Tonight"
"Wonderful Tonight" is a perfect blend of slow, melodic playing that showcases Clapton's mastery of technique. The song may appear simple, but the subtle techniques used throughout make it a fantastic learning opportunity for players of all levels. Our guitar lesson focuses on the following key techniques:
String Bending
String bending is at the heart of Clapton's expressive guitar style in "Wonderful Tonight." In the song’s intro and solo sections, Clapton uses gentle, controlled bends to give the notes a vocal-like quality. Learning this technique helps develop finger strength and enhances your ability to add emotion to your playing. Mastering string bending allows you to play with precision while maintaining smooth transitions between notes.
Vibrato
Vibrato is another key technique found throughout Clapton’s playing in "Wonderful Tonight." This subtle wavering of pitch adds depth and sustain to the notes, making them sound richer and more emotional. Clapton’s vibrato is slow and wide, giving his notes a singing quality. Learning vibrato will improve your overall control and make your playing sound more professional and polished.
Slides
Slides are prominently featured in the transitions between different notes and phrases in the song. Clapton's smooth slides create fluidity between chords and melodies, allowing for seamless movements up and down the fretboard. Learning to execute clean slides will improve your ability to connect different parts of a solo or chord progression, giving your playing a smooth and polished feel.
Hammer-ons and Pull-offs
"Wonderful Tonight" includes the use of hammer-ons and pull-offs, particularly in the solo. These legato techniques allow Clapton to play notes quickly and fluidly without having to pick every single note. Mastering these techniques will help you increase your speed and dexterity, making your playing sound more fluid and less mechanical.
Barre Chords
Barre chords form the foundation of many of the song's rhythm parts. By barring across the fretboard, Clapton creates rich, full-sounding chords that are essential for the harmony in "Wonderful Tonight." Learning to play barre chords is vital for any guitarist as it opens up new chord shapes and possibilities across the fretboard, expanding your ability to play in different keys and positions.
Sustain
Sustain plays a significant role in creating the song’s dreamy atmosphere. Clapton uses sustain to hold notes and let them linger, which complements the slow tempo and emotional feel of "Wonderful Tonight." By working on sustain, you’ll improve your control over how long notes last, which is crucial for creating atmosphere in slower songs.
About the Guitarist - Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton, often referred to as "Slowhand," is one of the most influential guitarists of all time. His playing style blends blues, rock, and pop, creating a distinctive and emotional sound. Clapton's ability to convey deep emotion through his guitar has influenced countless guitarists over the decades. His work with bands like Cream, The Yardbirds, and Derek and the Dominos, as well as his prolific solo career, showcases his diverse talent.
In "Wonderful Tonight," Clapton demonstrates the softer, more melodic side of his playing. The song became an iconic part of his repertoire, highlighting his ability to use space, dynamics, and simple but effective guitar lines to captivate listeners. Learning this song will not only help you master Clapton’s techniques but also give you insight into his approach to music and emotion.
Why Learn "Wonderful Tonight"?
"Wonderful Tonight" is a perfect song for guitarists looking to enhance their phrasing, vibrato, and overall expressiveness. By breaking down each part of the song, this lesson will help you develop essential techniques like bending, vibrato, and legato playing. These are critical skills for any guitarist, and they translate well into other genres, particularly blues, rock, and ballads.
Whether you're a beginner or an intermediate player, this song offers valuable lessons. Beginners can work on their technique and timing, while intermediate players can focus on honing their expressive playing. Best of all, it's a song that sounds great even at slower tempos, so it's an ideal track to practice when you're developing these skills.
List of Guitar Techniques Used in These Lessons
Here is a list of guitar techniques used in the "Wonderful Tonight" lesson:
By learning "Wonderful Tonight," you'll not only master an iconic Clapton track, but you'll also develop a range of techniques that will serve you in many other songs and styles. Each lesson is designed to break down the key aspects of Clapton’s playing, giving you the tools to expand your skills and improve your overall musicianship.
