A persons gotta wonder though when playing with him, if he he feels/thinks- "man, this guy`s stealing my licks" or "wants to know my playing note for note?"- heh. Yngwie would say "play your own way, don`t copy me". But then again that`s Yngwies attitude and pompousness.
I saw the guitar masters tour last october in phonexvillle pa, with EJ, Andy McKee, Peppino D'agostino. It was such an amazing show. Afterwards the 3 of them sat in the lobby and met with everyone who waited in line. They were really cool, easy to talk to, and would sign anything and everything people would put in front of them. They didn't charge a dime for any autographs, not like these BS vip packages the big stars charge. Ive been an Ej fan since 1990 and meeting him was AWESOME! Great Guy
Nobody even comes close to this guy....and he is the NICEST PERSON you will ever meet when you actually talk to him. He has a genuine Humility that he practices at all time with others. He made me feel like I was the Best Guitarist around when I played for him once. Dennis Dullea
how the heck can any1 dislike this ????, and im just saying it with no bullshit like omg the dislike button is broke or anything cuz that sucks as much as the ppl who press dislike. Eric Johnson ftw
I always play with my thumb. People say it's bad, think about Jimi Hendrix? He played with his thumb, and John Mayer plays with his thumb as well? Jimi is one of the greatest who ever lived and Mayer is getting up there, and they play/played "Improper"
@llZeroDeathWishll People who tell you it's wrong are completely ignorant, however I do suggest that you use all of your fingers(perhaps not the pinky) for picking instead of just your thumb.
@qwertyuiop46853 its not wrong, he just probably can't remember the exact way he played it in the album, it was from 1991, however the album has a little slide part on the first part of this clip on the album part, second string b notes d to e, then he goes into his first decending 5 note riff, listen closely, its hard to hear at first, but its there, and nobody on here has bothered to figure this in thier cover
I always played thumb behind the neck like my instructor wanted me too, then when I started with Jazz guitar I began using thumbed chords and my guitar instructor asked me, "Why are you playing them like that?" I told him it was to free up other fingers to play more complex chords and phrases... He replied "Well whatever works for you man!"
Every guitar teacher I've ever had or seen always has this huge thing with keeping my thumb BEHIND the neck of the guitar... It's "Improper" to have it over or around the neck.
But look, Eric freaking Johnson has his thumb well above the neck..
@zxxkcxxz Haha, you are totally right. I used to have this shitty little teacher who told me "thumb behind the neck, just like me". Then I watched guys like Eric Johnson play, and I thought, I'd really rather play like him(EJ) then you(shitty little teacher).
EJ is seriously talented and, as important, a nice approachable humble person. Too bad he does not get huge commercial exposure, he deserves it.
On the other hand, there is another guitar god, EVH, but good luck even getting an autograph from him, much less a lesson. And I am a serious Van Halen fan, I guess Eddie is not a "people" person.
kinda silly because EJ never plays it the same. Other than the main outline / parts of the song, it never sounds the same live. EL's probably thinking "it's a run...who cares if there's an open string in there or not?"
@clam454 this store was on State St. In Madison and was called Dave's Guitars or guitar shop?? I was young and dumb going through my Vinnie Moore phase. He told me EJ was worlds better. Of course I didn't listen! Lol with age comes wisdom I guess!
Haha i like the way Eric seems half asleep and thinks their talking about another song off Alien Love Child. Then realises and does that 'Shit i mustve played that lick before' smile!
Naw....Eric is a very humble dude. I knew a store owner guy named Dave from Madison Wi that went to the NAAM show back in the late 80's (sometime after Tones was out) and EJ sat down with him and showed him note for note whatever he wanted to learn. When he came back it was all he could talk about.....a huge highlight in his life. Eric is an awesome person. Very approachable.
@EJsigstrat he is indeed a kind guy..though once put me in a tough spot, I was working for a music store here in Austin around when Avia Muscom came out, and we had a booth at a guitar show, eric was being followed by a crowd of about 50 people, he was trying out some of our guitar's and he asked me to play some rhythm for him ...YIKES, So he asked me to play some of his patented chords and let me tell you my hands were shaking big time!
@EJsigstrat Yeah! I met EJ in a music store in Austin and talked to him for a few minutes. He was with his wife. We talked gear and he was telling me about how he ran wire in his studio. The man is so meticulous, he might be a little nuts. We were all in there for about 40 minutes and before he left, he actually hunted me down and said goodbye. That is one nice dude.
Yeah, lets cut off the video just as he's getting into it. Dunno if this was edited for youtube or just posted, but if it was edited, someone needs to learn how to edit.
u say jonas brothers i say OZZY u say miley cyrus i say black label society u say katy perry i say Van Halen u say high school musical i say Metalica u say rap i say crap u say hip hop i say scorpions u say kanye west i say motley crue u say britney spears i say led zepplen u say flo rida i say dumb 94% of kids prefer rap to other music. if youre one of the awesome 6% that still loves to headbang copy and paste this to three pure rock videos. KEEP THE SPIRIT OF ROCK ALIVE
A few years ago, two parents went out for dinner. A few hours later, the babysitter was calling to ask if she could cover up the clown statue in the kids' room, the father said,"Take the kids and get out of the house. We'll call the police, we don't have a clown statue." The "clown statue" is really a killer that escaped from jail. If you don't post this letter on to 10 videos tonight, the clown will be in your bed at 3:00 am with a chainsaw in his hand;sorry i didnt want that happening to me
You know, you can try it pretty much anytime, just gotta take it slow and really take your time on it. At least that's what I think, it'll take a lot of hours to really get it under your fingers, but a PERFECT play-through is almost a life-long pursuit.
Been playing guitar for nearly 8 months. Practiced the song for about an hour a day, sometimes more and now I can play at about 2/3 of the actual speed. So 5 months with alot of practice goes along way
depends if you have discipline, if you can assure yourself that you will play it every day you can do it yourself otherwise you should go find a teacher
im serious. i play guit since 4 year. 2 hour and more per day and i cannot only do the 1st part at full speed. sorry but stop liing if u cannot do it right...
Dude im not lying and what i said is that i was learning the song for about 2 months now (from end of december) Ill have video up once i finish the song :D
btw if youre playing for 4 years a half hour a day how can you not know anything harder than this?
I knew guitar since about 6 months before i tried the song adn 2 months later i can actually play 2/3 of the song at full speed with a backing. It's not the hardest song ever (except for the sweeps/solos) but i still suggest you try easier songs before you tackle harder ones.
well /1st im specialized with the hard rithme guitar. i can play thing like the solo of the trooper, maybe 2 min and a half of that cannon rock. but seriously this one is really fast and tricky :P.
btw i respect the mannear that u reply me. that was sweet.
Well I still can't do the beggining solo completly (thats what im learning at the moment) but with lots of practice and going at your own speed it's possible. I suggest you try something called guitar pro which can be very useful for tabs instead of reading them off the internet :D (i think you get free demo at first for a couple of months or sumthing)
Can you imagine how frustrating it must be for him to be forever asked about how to play certain pieces? You know how EJ learned other's songs? He listened to the records and learned them cold. He played and listened for hours. That's how you reach Master status. Still, EJ is always polite and helpful as shown here, and always ready to help demystify the instrument and his playing. As if he has not already given us enough by virtue of his glorious music!
Some of you guys are nuts. EJ or most good players ain't going to remember what they did years ago. They're always creating and inspired to play, not memorizing an exact piece. So much of it is improv. I admire that and that's what makes it fun.
He forgets things because he often improvises a lot of the stuff he's doing, especially widdly solo parts. As far as I'm concerned, he deserves twice the respect for it.
I have to agree with pizzafish, EJ is so naturally talented that he processes things differently; hence he can't analyze it verbally. The price of genius I guess. The guy in the vid is trying to correct EJ on his own song lol. "No, that's still cliffs of dover." LOL no shit idiot. You didn't even listen to hime before you cut him off. Good thing EJ has some class, I would have bitch slapped you. Tool.
EJ always tries to reinvent songs he's played for that long. I'm the guy that ended up playing the guitar tracks for Guitar Hero mostly because EJ just doesn't play it like the record anymore. And I totally love him for that. Keeps it fresh. I completely agree with you. He is a naturally gifted genius.
It's cool man. I've been called many things worse than tool. And there are many times I deserve to be called that. All the best, James Santiago.
I am amused... even EJ doesn't know how he plays stuff. Its like playing music is his first language. and we are trying to get him to translate it into lines and dots on paper...
Okay, now that I put it into context it makes more sense. Didn't know you were trying to nail this to record for Guitar Hero..(correct?)...I guess you were excited towards the end of this clip when you were both playing the same stuff at the same time, just sounded like you were walking over him a bit...but as you describe it, it was an informal session but under time constraint, so I take back my biting comment below. Still looks like the secret crotch cam though.
Secret crotch cam? cool little video, but why are you asking Johnson questions about how to play this or that passage, and then when does and starts playing it for you, you play over him? Kind of rude...just sit and observe and give the man some respect
Well, you gotta realize that I already knew Eric on a personal level. And he is one of my favorite people on earth. This is video from a very long session that was never supposed to be viewed outside of transcription purposes. I'm not even sure how this piece got out. But, it's out now, and it's fun to watch him play. (Just try and ignore me in the vid if you can.) ;)
is there any way i could get a copy of that vid? i have the transcription of Cliff Of Dover from guitarist magazine nearly 4 yrs back doing the Guitar port promo stuff - you absolutely nailed the feel of the song- fantastic stuff mate!
I have always wondered if people who did transcriptions ever actually got direct info from the original artist. You are so lucky man! How cool is he to be so open! And I have to say, does he really not play any open strings, because the way I learned that fast low part, there are pull-offs to the open D & A strings, and an open low E at the end of course....what gives! Obviously you could just fret them on the 5th frets instead but I could swear he plays the pull-offs live....curious to know!
I'm playing open strings too, because I think that sounds better, is easier and it's just overall more sensible :)
But Eric Johnson doesn't do a lot of legato, I think he generally has a habit of picking each note in his fast runs. I try to do that, because it's great practice to learn how to play fast.
hey would anyone know if ej is using economy or strict alternate picking in this intro because ive been having trouble nailing the run between :41-:45
He uses a mix plus econonmy picking in the intro. You have to really study and watch his technique to pick it up. It looks like alternate from the surface but it's not, and when you figure it out, then you can fly like that.
This video is so cool to see Eric playing just clean. It gives a good glimpse into his right hand. When you figure out what he's doing there with the mix of two picking styles, you can blaze through those pentatonics.
varku hes not being taught cod, lol. This guys askin for help, and erics pretty old in the video so his memory is fading. Thus hes lke omg thats cliffs of dover. Right.
is this you? If I wanted a lesson from EJ, I wouldn't get note for note playing, I'd ask about his phrasing and pick technique and so on. Tabs for this can be all over the internet.
You do a very good EJ by the way...
A persons gotta wonder though when playing with him, if he he feels/thinks- "man, this guy`s stealing my licks" or "wants to know my playing note for note?"- heh. Yngwie would say "play your own way, don`t copy me". But then again that`s Yngwies attitude and pompousness.
jesman1 2 months ago
I saw the guitar masters tour last october in phonexvillle pa, with EJ, Andy McKee, Peppino D'agostino. It was such an amazing show. Afterwards the 3 of them sat in the lobby and met with everyone who waited in line. They were really cool, easy to talk to, and would sign anything and everything people would put in front of them. They didn't charge a dime for any autographs, not like these BS vip packages the big stars charge. Ive been an Ej fan since 1990 and meeting him was AWESOME! Great Guy
stratpack05 3 months ago
Nobody even comes close to this guy....and he is the NICEST PERSON you will ever meet when you actually talk to him. He has a genuine Humility that he practices at all time with others. He made me feel like I was the Best Guitarist around when I played for him once. Dennis Dullea
dennisdullea 4 months ago
@dennisdullea Maybe you're a guitar god and just don't realize it, but EJ noticed.
Gregorypeckory 3 months ago
' No I don't think I play an open string '...lol....ok way to funny....yeah it kinda sucks when we rip your guitar parts up huh?
radtone 4 months ago
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if I had even a 100th of this guys talent I could play like a god.
MutantHippie 5 months ago
if I had even a 100th of this guys talent I could play like a god.
MutantHippie 5 months ago
Favorite guitar player - style, note selection, beautiful tone quality, complicated chord shapes, picking techniques - it's all there
Frostylyxxx 5 months ago
Is Eric Johnson dead??
523cookiemonster 6 months ago
@523cookiemonster no :)
AndreasSku93 6 months ago
@523cookiemonster You got my heart stop beatin for a second. No.
philotze 6 months ago
how the heck can any1 dislike this ????, and im just saying it with no bullshit like omg the dislike button is broke or anything cuz that sucks as much as the ppl who press dislike. Eric Johnson ftw
nickdark123 7 months ago
Lucky Guy
thesystemband 7 months ago 3
i think eric johnson looks like the dude from OC California =D !
Guitarqanqsta 8 months ago
I'd like to see a million hours of Eric practice/teachin'
terzolilu 10 months ago
I always play with my thumb. People say it's bad, think about Jimi Hendrix? He played with his thumb, and John Mayer plays with his thumb as well? Jimi is one of the greatest who ever lived and Mayer is getting up there, and they play/played "Improper"
llZeroDeathWishll 1 year ago
@llZeroDeathWishll People who tell you it's wrong are completely ignorant, however I do suggest that you use all of your fingers(perhaps not the pinky) for picking instead of just your thumb.
qwertyuiop46853 10 months ago
@qwertyuiop46853 its not wrong, he just probably can't remember the exact way he played it in the album, it was from 1991, however the album has a little slide part on the first part of this clip on the album part, second string b notes d to e, then he goes into his first decending 5 note riff, listen closely, its hard to hear at first, but its there, and nobody on here has bothered to figure this in thier cover
vox1003 9 months ago
@vox1003 Oh that was just a reply to someone who played fingerstyle. I think you might have missed the context of that reply.
qwertyuiop46853 9 months ago
@qwertyuiop46853 alright, I guess you mean the thumb behind the neck debate lol
vox1003 9 months ago
I always played thumb behind the neck like my instructor wanted me too, then when I started with Jazz guitar I began using thumbed chords and my guitar instructor asked me, "Why are you playing them like that?" I told him it was to free up other fingers to play more complex chords and phrases... He replied "Well whatever works for you man!"
Winklebott 1 year ago
Every guitar teacher I've ever had or seen always has this huge thing with keeping my thumb BEHIND the neck of the guitar... It's "Improper" to have it over or around the neck.
But look, Eric freaking Johnson has his thumb well above the neck..
Smd guitar teachers.. SMD
zxxkcxxz 1 year ago 6
Been playin for 30 years, thumb directly on the back of the neck is a great start.. Keep watchin!!!!
zaigar11 1 year ago
@zxxkcxxz no problem with thumb above and around, except when the guy has a girly little hand.:D
tweedman1975 1 year ago
@zxxkcxxz lmfao i feel your pain XD
bebopbetu2it 1 year ago
@zxxkcxxz Haha, you are totally right. I used to have this shitty little teacher who told me "thumb behind the neck, just like me". Then I watched guys like Eric Johnson play, and I thought, I'd really rather play like him(EJ) then you(shitty little teacher).
yngwieisking 1 year ago 2
@zxxkcxxz Yeah man, and not only eric johnson does it.......
slash112112 1 year ago
This is great- do you have anymore footage from this interview?
ThickDixie 1 year ago
...I wonder where the rest of this interview is?- this is really nice.
ThickDixie 1 year ago
EJ is seriously talented and, as important, a nice approachable humble person. Too bad he does not get huge commercial exposure, he deserves it.
On the other hand, there is another guitar god, EVH, but good luck even getting an autograph from him, much less a lesson. And I am a serious Van Halen fan, I guess Eddie is not a "people" person.
ibanezexplorer 1 year ago
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IF YOU KIDS WANT TO LEARN TO PLAY LIKE THIS FOR REAL THEN GET MY GUITAR TEACHING DVD VIDEO!!!!!YAHOO.... KEVIN HALL GUITAR...
kguitar765 1 year ago
kinda silly because EJ never plays it the same. Other than the main outline / parts of the song, it never sounds the same live. EL's probably thinking "it's a run...who cares if there's an open string in there or not?"
taradead 1 year ago
@taradead thats because this was a totally improvised song.
JDrockerDUDE 1 year ago
@JDrockerDUDE no, he wrote it out. It came to him one day, then he wrote it. "like mozart" as Eric Johnson himself said.
dantheguitarman88 1 year ago
My grandpa knew him when he was only 16... Said he was a really cool person.
zacblade 1 year ago
i like how ppl like EJ (there are many others) are huuuge in terms of skill but not in ego..
gerby90 1 year ago 3
holy shit! give me 5 years and i might be half as good...
PenileFracture 1 year ago
@PenileFracture You think you'd be half as good as Eric Johnson in 5 years?
Progehr34 1 year ago
@Progehr34 Sigh... don't crush my dreams please.
PenileFracture 1 year ago
@PenileFracture lol.
Progehr34 1 year ago
WTH?
MAD8RAD 1 year ago
i would kill for that seat in front of Eric!! hehehe, i want to learn the goodstuffs from the master himself...
inuki69 1 year ago
@clam454 this store was on State St. In Madison and was called Dave's Guitars or guitar shop?? I was young and dumb going through my Vinnie Moore phase. He told me EJ was worlds better. Of course I didn't listen! Lol with age comes wisdom I guess!
EJsigstrat 1 year ago
some mighty perspective to shoot from
GHU535 1 year ago
Haha i like the way Eric seems half asleep and thinks their talking about another song off Alien Love Child. Then realises and does that 'Shit i mustve played that lick before' smile!
Rockybalboacollector 1 year ago
addict.
DxJhAnGxHEAD 2 years ago
Who's teaching who? jks I love EJ
fishqwer 2 years ago
I want to rent an Eric Johnson for me to learn.
germansolares 2 years ago 21
Who wouldn't?
diablo9333 2 years ago 3
How the hell do you convince an artist to show you how to play their tunes?! It's like improbable to the nth degree that this EVER happens
getupanddosomething 2 years ago 8
Naw....Eric is a very humble dude. I knew a store owner guy named Dave from Madison Wi that went to the NAAM show back in the late 80's (sometime after Tones was out) and EJ sat down with him and showed him note for note whatever he wanted to learn. When he came back it was all he could talk about.....a huge highlight in his life. Eric is an awesome person. Very approachable.
EJsigstrat 2 years ago 102
nice mannn thats awesome i bet eric is a fantastic person. oh yeah im also from madison, wi haha
webrokeyourbed 2 years ago
@EJsigstrat he is indeed a kind guy..though once put me in a tough spot, I was working for a music store here in Austin around when Avia Muscom came out, and we had a booth at a guitar show, eric was being followed by a crowd of about 50 people, he was trying out some of our guitar's and he asked me to play some rhythm for him ...YIKES, So he asked me to play some of his patented chords and let me tell you my hands were shaking big time!
guitarspeare 1 year ago 4
@EJsigstrat are you talking about the guitar shop of wisconsin store in madison?
Dang, I've been in that store lots of times. You know if he still works there?
clam454 1 year ago
@EJsigstrat Yeah! I met EJ in a music store in Austin and talked to him for a few minutes. He was with his wife. We talked gear and he was telling me about how he ran wire in his studio. The man is so meticulous, he might be a little nuts. We were all in there for about 40 minutes and before he left, he actually hunted me down and said goodbye. That is one nice dude.
paulhb 1 year ago
@EJsigstrat i seen Eric in public but i was scared to go up to him and say hi.... i didnt want to desturb him... is he a nice guy tho?
cejason 1 year ago
@EJsigstrat Yes he is, I got backstage some years ago and met half of his family =] He is one of the nicest people I've ever met.
sjk254 1 year ago
@EJsigstrat
What store? If you don't mind me asking...I lived in Madison at the time, and frequented most of the stores in town.
sminchk67 9 months ago
maybe a personal association or maybe MUCHO DiNERo!
mariatriw 2 years ago
Can someone teach me how to play guitar? please? Damm. I really wish I could be that guy being taught.
Hardrod2 2 years ago 3
@Hardrod2
R&R music gives decent guitar lessons
Jedidew 2 years ago
It takes years..
minikola95 2 years ago 2
y dont u get guitar lessons, do u have a guitar?
toxicmeteor101 2 years ago
Yeah, lets cut off the video just as he's getting into it. Dunno if this was edited for youtube or just posted, but if it was edited, someone needs to learn how to edit.
VenomStryker 2 years ago
lucky guy
dayuhanspace 2 years ago 6
to the 7th power!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blank8ify 2 years ago
At the austin city limits version, Eric does play open strings in this particular riff. U gotto love his versatility :D
Powerslider 2 years ago 2
MORE!!!!
radicalgarbage02 2 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
The other guitar souds like shit!
relicsun 2 years ago
before guthrie govan their was and always be eric johnson covering all the styles.
Bebisatch 2 years ago
whos the other guy?
Jed9133 2 years ago
James Santiago (Voodoo Lab)
monspons 2 years ago
i don't understund who is theaching )/????
fujosej 2 years ago 2
eric johnson, the guy who made cliffs of dover
kingdomheartsvids 2 years ago 4
the guy with the yellow sunburst guitar.
PikachuOfficial 2 years ago
Comment removed
redslownight 2 years ago
the other guy has an amazing EJ tone.
AraGuitar 2 years ago 8
cuz ej borrow his amp to him xD
thepola360 2 years ago
he's so good he doesn't even remb his own song or knows what he plays. completely instinctive already, that's just unbelievable
alotan2acs 2 years ago 9
Johnson is like, "no, I don't think i play an open string."
hahaha
walterqxy 2 years ago 127
i know right the other dude is all anal about playing it perfect and johnson's like... oh i'm not sure lmao
acdc10133 2 years ago 6
@walterqxy sometimes even the most epic of epics don't know that they are... epic...
KayC2SLO 1 year ago
@walterqxy lol hes not to sure
zacblade 1 year ago
@walterqxy hmmm let me think... do i play it like this or like this... either one kicks raps @ss
F3RALIC 1 year ago
Dude, post more from this session with Eric!
jrocky1 1 year ago 7
who is teachin who?
ubershredder1989 2 years ago
he makes it look so easy
xxguitardude93xx 2 years ago 4
isn't that the guy from line 6?
6gpower 2 years ago
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I love this song.. Please, please take a look my video cover "Clffs of Dover" Thanks :)
oemb89 2 years ago
hahahahah you used bonehead in a serious sentence
willLB03 2 years ago 4
for this you would need hybrid and alternate picking
BLUEGENE13 2 years ago
ur a fucking loser
lolpancakeslol 2 years ago
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your a loser, you have obviously never seen soft porn, nor gotten pussy lol and you probably suck at guitar
jstarang1 2 years ago
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eric johnson and vai guitar sounds like soft porn background music
jstarang1 2 years ago
i thought i was the only one....
what?
guitar23man23 2 years ago
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therockson2 2 years ago 4
holy shit what a god
astropop2 2 years ago
the keys G major and Em are the exact same notes just different main note
swedishfish319 2 years ago 5
Em the same thing dude
swedishfish319 2 years ago
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A few years ago, two parents went out for dinner. A few hours later, the babysitter was calling to ask if she could cover up the clown statue in the kids' room, the father said,"Take the kids and get out of the house. We'll call the police, we don't have a clown statue." The "clown statue" is really a killer that escaped from jail. If you don't post this letter on to 10 videos tonight, the clown will be in your bed at 3:00 am with a chainsaw in his hand;sorry i didnt want that happening to me
guitarmasta911 3 years ago
wtf?
skillzkullz 2 years ago
how long do you need to play guitar before you can start trying this song?
rangerinthehood 3 years ago
You know, you can try it pretty much anytime, just gotta take it slow and really take your time on it. At least that's what I think, it'll take a lot of hours to really get it under your fingers, but a PERFECT play-through is almost a life-long pursuit.
Sjusovaren 3 years ago
ok thanks man!
rangerinthehood 3 years ago
So go and have fun with it! Best of luck. :)
Sjusovaren 3 years ago
Been playing guitar for nearly 8 months. Practiced the song for about an hour a day, sometimes more and now I can play at about 2/3 of the actual speed. So 5 months with alot of practice goes along way
BarbedWireAddict 3 years ago
i bought a guitar 2 months ago but dont know how to play yet is it better to find a teacher first or find out yourself?
rangerinthehood 3 years ago
depends if you have discipline, if you can assure yourself that you will play it every day you can do it yourself otherwise you should go find a teacher
DemonLord133 3 years ago
i play every day half an hour i learned myself how to hammer on and some other things before i saw how to do it.
rangerinthehood 3 years ago
i play every day half an hour LMAO!.
im serious. i play guit since 4 year. 2 hour and more per day and i cannot only do the 1st part at full speed. sorry but stop liing if u cannot do it right...
falconfire666 3 years ago
Dude im not lying and what i said is that i was learning the song for about 2 months now (from end of december) Ill have video up once i finish the song :D
btw if youre playing for 4 years a half hour a day how can you not know anything harder than this?
PutNameHere15 3 years ago
I knew guitar since about 6 months before i tried the song adn 2 months later i can actually play 2/3 of the song at full speed with a backing. It's not the hardest song ever (except for the sweeps/solos) but i still suggest you try easier songs before you tackle harder ones.
PutNameHere15 3 years ago
ok thanks for the advice do you know some easy cool songs?
rangerinthehood 3 years ago
It all depends on personal taste and how experienced you are on the guitar. Easy songs are normally the slower ones
PutNameHere15 3 years ago
well /1st im specialized with the hard rithme guitar. i can play thing like the solo of the trooper, maybe 2 min and a half of that cannon rock. but seriously this one is really fast and tricky :P.
btw i respect the mannear that u reply me. that was sweet.
p.s. i play 2 hour not a half of day :P
falconfire666 3 years ago
Well I still can't do the beggining solo completly (thats what im learning at the moment) but with lots of practice and going at your own speed it's possible. I suggest you try something called guitar pro which can be very useful for tabs instead of reading them off the internet :D (i think you get free demo at first for a couple of months or sumthing)
PutNameHere15 3 years ago
how the fuck do u do the fast 15, 17, 19 repeated bit without, the open strings playing!?
grantburgh1 3 years ago
use hybrid picking
nake25 2 years ago
just hanging out talking chops with eric. that would be stellar!
wgzn 3 years ago 2
just effortlessly amazing
charlie19191 3 years ago
Awesome!
johndenner 3 years ago
guys i have learned two licks of cliffs of dover i am planning to beat this song and learn it full.
i will some day play the whole song.
i wish
rockingrollskater 3 years ago 6
Practice and you will nail it someday :)
Good luck!
pandapawpower 3 years ago 6
Brilliant clip.
Poppypoo1 3 years ago
I wish was the guy on the right learning from EJ. Wait i kinder wish i was the fella on the left too...
veej31 3 years ago 4
i play it with open strings x/
im not as epic as eric is lol
Cowcowgomoo 3 years ago 2
jajaj is very funny he dont remember of to play that part, is like the other guy was tell him..."remember it, you play it like this" jajaja XD
EJ is the best :D
NamretliF 3 years ago
respect
heymaxsup 3 years ago 2
whoa such a warm tone from a bridge pickup...awesome
shitastic31 3 years ago 2
the sound of custom pickups it's probably his signature
megajames3000 3 years ago
his sig guitar has the bottom tone pot wired to the bridge pickup. He probably rolled of some of the tone.
Cyberduk 3 years ago
haha i love how he doesn't even remember his own songs and then just plays the shit out of them!
nitroknocker14 3 years ago 6
whoa it would be a great honor to play with EJ. i really envy that guy
tedhellcaster 3 years ago 4
Can you imagine how frustrating it must be for him to be forever asked about how to play certain pieces? You know how EJ learned other's songs? He listened to the records and learned them cold. He played and listened for hours. That's how you reach Master status. Still, EJ is always polite and helpful as shown here, and always ready to help demystify the instrument and his playing. As if he has not already given us enough by virtue of his glorious music!
karmacannon 3 years ago 3
EJ on left or right?
infinity4life 3 years ago
Left.
tdous 3 years ago
to EJ, is a God xD
DannyVanegas 3 years ago
is that HIM?
funnyvidsource 3 years ago
Some of you guys are nuts. EJ or most good players ain't going to remember what they did years ago. They're always creating and inspired to play, not memorizing an exact piece. So much of it is improv. I admire that and that's what makes it fun.
stratthead 3 years ago
ele eskeceu porq ele tava mto doidao e fuo uns becks antes q nem todo bom guitarrista q se preze
1Stairway1To1Heaven1 3 years ago
He forgets things because he often improvises a lot of the stuff he's doing, especially widdly solo parts. As far as I'm concerned, he deserves twice the respect for it.
yagamei 3 years ago 3
he's a human, humans may forget things, let hi'm live he's a great guitarist and even the greatest had forgotten things in te past
tdlr94 3 years ago
sweet!
cats4ever8980 3 years ago
He forgets how he plays his own stuff as we forget what we said last week. It's that natural to him
jfnd777 3 years ago
I have to agree with pizzafish, EJ is so naturally talented that he processes things differently; hence he can't analyze it verbally. The price of genius I guess. The guy in the vid is trying to correct EJ on his own song lol. "No, that's still cliffs of dover." LOL no shit idiot. You didn't even listen to hime before you cut him off. Good thing EJ has some class, I would have bitch slapped you. Tool.
nytranspl8nt 3 years ago
EJ always tries to reinvent songs he's played for that long. I'm the guy that ended up playing the guitar tracks for Guitar Hero mostly because EJ just doesn't play it like the record anymore. And I totally love him for that. Keeps it fresh. I completely agree with you. He is a naturally gifted genius.
It's cool man. I've been called many things worse than tool. And there are many times I deserve to be called that. All the best, James Santiago.
voodoolabvid 3 years ago 4
I am amused... even EJ doesn't know how he plays stuff. Its like playing music is his first language. and we are trying to get him to translate it into lines and dots on paper...
giantpizzafish 3 years ago 3
Okay, now that I put it into context it makes more sense. Didn't know you were trying to nail this to record for Guitar Hero..(correct?)...I guess you were excited towards the end of this clip when you were both playing the same stuff at the same time, just sounded like you were walking over him a bit...but as you describe it, it was an informal session but under time constraint, so I take back my biting comment below. Still looks like the secret crotch cam though.
glueforall 3 years ago
Secret crotch cam? cool little video, but why are you asking Johnson questions about how to play this or that passage, and then when does and starts playing it for you, you play over him? Kind of rude...just sit and observe and give the man some respect
glueforall 3 years ago
(ED NOTE: I'm the dude on the right)
Well, you gotta realize that I already knew Eric on a personal level. And he is one of my favorite people on earth. This is video from a very long session that was never supposed to be viewed outside of transcription purposes. I'm not even sure how this piece got out. But, it's out now, and it's fun to watch him play. (Just try and ignore me in the vid if you can.) ;)
voodoolabvid 3 years ago 2
is there any way i could get a copy of that vid? i have the transcription of Cliff Of Dover from guitarist magazine nearly 4 yrs back doing the Guitar port promo stuff - you absolutely nailed the feel of the song- fantastic stuff mate!
cmcculloch1 3 years ago
I have always wondered if people who did transcriptions ever actually got direct info from the original artist. You are so lucky man! How cool is he to be so open! And I have to say, does he really not play any open strings, because the way I learned that fast low part, there are pull-offs to the open D & A strings, and an open low E at the end of course....what gives! Obviously you could just fret them on the 5th frets instead but I could swear he plays the pull-offs live....curious to know!
ElSteve5150 2 years ago 2
I have the GH3 official transcription.
Pull offs from the 5th and 2nd frets, in which case you could play the open strings.
redslownight 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Guitar hero sucks
CrazyPiker 2 years ago
dont you want to give it to me? =)
brunocortina 2 years ago
I'm playing open strings too, because I think that sounds better, is easier and it's just overall more sensible :)
But Eric Johnson doesn't do a lot of legato, I think he generally has a habit of picking each note in his fast runs. I try to do that, because it's great practice to learn how to play fast.
Torfinnmadssen 2 years ago
i played em open too. damn now i gotta go try to figure it out again.
kodyherring 2 years ago
thanks stratthead i appreciate it
nykforlife 3 years ago
woah his fingers are like fast as lightning mine are all slow =[
ohlookadollar 3 years ago
hey would anyone know if ej is using economy or strict alternate picking in this intro because ive been having trouble nailing the run between :41-:45
nykforlife 3 years ago
He uses a mix plus econonmy picking in the intro. You have to really study and watch his technique to pick it up. It looks like alternate from the surface but it's not, and when you figure it out, then you can fly like that.
stratthead 3 years ago
edit:I meant a mix of alt/econ plus hybrid picking.
stratthead 3 years ago
This video is so cool to see Eric playing just clean. It gives a good glimpse into his right hand. When you figure out what he's doing there with the mix of two picking styles, you can blaze through those pentatonics.
buddastrat 3 years ago
weird...........
kroftkarl 3 years ago
varku hes not being taught cod, lol. This guys askin for help, and erics pretty old in the video so his memory is fading. Thus hes lke omg thats cliffs of dover. Right.
mark7137 3 years ago
why is he being taught cliffs of dover?
varkunus 3 years ago
I. Approx what tempo is the free-time intro? I clocked it at 1/4 note=152bpm.
II. Do you have more of this?
boobtuber06 3 years ago
you like eric jonson?
lalaosd 3 years ago
its his fucking tone dude thats what want!!!
brostomper 3 years ago 2
is this you? If I wanted a lesson from EJ, I wouldn't get note for note playing, I'd ask about his phrasing and pick technique and so on. Tabs for this can be all over the internet.
blahman178 3 years ago 6
Agreed. But, this was done in conjunction with me doing the version that I recorded for Guitar Hero II