The Music Court

Hey guys,

Ok, so first off…Eric Clapton is God. I will start off by saying that Hendrix is an amazing guitarist, and he is by far the best guitarist in manipulation of guitar distortion. However, when it comes to true mastery of the guitar, I have to say that Eric Clapton takes the cake to the bakery to see the other cakes. When I judge a guitarist, I keep in mind several categories: technical proficiency, emotion, phrasing, manipulation of the guitar, and skillful use of music. Eric Clapton is a true master in every category. His phrasing is always impeccable, and his technical proficiency is rivaled by very few. However, Clapton is the only guitarist that truly makes it “look easy.” Clapton makes playing the guitar look so easy, that you lose none of the performance in wild, perhaps desperate movements that some guitarists make to properly place their fingers on the strings that hover so gracefully above the guitar neck. Therefore, the technical proficiency category is taken care of.

One cannot speak of phrasing without skillful use of music. Eric Clapton not only squeezes a painful weeps and moans from his guitar, but he also calls upon anguish-filled cries from silence. When Hendrix plays, some of the emotion and music can get lost in the distortion that can cloud the performance. Clapton’s use of silence in his music and soloing help him soar far over any other guitarist, when combined with his other talents. The emotion with which Clapton plays is due to his skillful manipulation of the guitar and his ability to pour his heart out into his playing. If you take a look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNBEiyGwGRc, you will see an example of Clapton’s amazing playing. Clapton depends on nothing except his experience, emotion, and guitar in order to send waves conveying anguish in every conceivable direction. Clapton does not use distortion to cover potential mistakes. Part of the reason why he is so amazing is because he leaves his playing completely exposed, leaving nothing but raw emotion emanating from his guitar.  I’m not saying that Hendrix isn’t amazing, but small errors are easily hidden in distortion. I am a guitar player myself, and I know that distortion can help cover minor inaccuracies. Clapton always uses pinpoint precision and accuracy in his playing, which results in a raw, melodic, beautiful, yet painful melody. Furthermore, I can listen to Clapton all day. I can only take so much of Hendrix. Lastly, Eric Clapton is so good at guitar, that Chuck Norris himself bows down in amazement, and I think that is evidence enough.