Cream Style Jam Track

This style study captures the essence of Cream-era Eric Clapton's playing using the techniques covered in this level. The lick has been simplified to focus specifically on hammer-ons between strings, whole-step bends, and moving fluidly between box positions.

What You'll Learn:

• Classic Cream-era Eric Clapton phrasing style

• Hammer-ons between frets 8 and 10

• How to move quickly between string one and string two

• Combining pick, hammer-on, and up-down pick patterns

• Whole-step bends in the blues-rock style

• How to move between box two and box one seamlessly

• The importance of note length in phrasing

• When to let notes ring out vs cutting them short

• How to test your overall phrasing technique proficiency

• Applying all Level 2 techniques in one musical context

The Hammer-On Pattern

The core lick uses hammer-ons between frets 8 and 10, with the picking pattern going: pick, hammer-on, up-pick, down-pick. This pattern helps you move quickly between the first and second strings, which is essential for fluid lead playing in the blues-rock style.

Position Shifts

After establishing the lick in box two (the higher position), the line moves back down to box one at the 5th fret. These position shifts need to be seamless - no hesitation or searching for notes. The connection between boxes is what allows you to cover more of the fretboard without getting stuck in one position.

Note Length Matters

Not every note should ring out for the same length. Some notes need to sustain and sing, while others should be clipped short. This rhythmic variation in note length is a crucial part of phrasing. Playing every note the same length sounds mechanical, while varying the note durations adds a human, musical quality.

Testing Your Technique

This lick serves as a test of all the phrasing techniques covered in Level 2. If you can play it smoothly with good tone, clean hammer-ons, accurate bends, and proper note lengths, you've successfully absorbed the technical material. The interactive tab provides the exact fingerings and timing to work from.