Quick Licks - In The Style of Eric Clapton

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Michael Casswell Tutor, Professional Guitarist

Course Content Overview

This course delivers blues guitar licks in the style of Eric Clapton, each broken down by Michael Casswell with clear, step-by-step instruction. Every lick is rooted in the techniques and musical vocabulary that define Clapton’s iconic sound — from the soulful expressiveness of his Cream era to the refined, lyrical phrasing of his later work. A high-quality Eric Clapton style blues guitar backing track is included, giving you the opportunity to put every technique into musical context from day one.

The techniques covered in this course include:

• String Bending — Arguably the most personal element of Clapton’s playing, his string bends carry an emotional weight that is immediately recognisable. You will learn how to control pitch, pressure, and intonation to produce bends that sing with the same vocal quality that earned Clapton his legendary status. From subtle half-step bends to full, soaring whole-step bends, this is the foundation of authentic blues guitar expression.
• Blues Licks — Clapton’s blues vocabulary draws on a rich tradition stretching from Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters through to B.B. King and Freddie King, filtered through a distinctly British sensibility. You will learn how to construct and deliver blues licks with the same combination of restraint and intensity that made Clapton’s playing so compelling, developing an understanding of phrasing, dynamics, and musical space.
• Vibrato — Clapton’s vibrato is one of the most studied and imitated in rock and blues guitar. Smooth, controlled, and deeply expressive, it gives sustained notes a singing quality that keeps listeners hooked. This course teaches you how to develop your own consistent vibrato technique, modulating speed and width to add genuine emotion to every note you hold.
• Slides — Used throughout Clapton’s playing to connect phrases and add a fluid, legato feel to his solos, slides are an essential part of the blues-rock guitarist’s toolkit. You will learn how to integrate slides naturally into your playing, using them to move between positions, link licks, and create the kind of effortless, flowing lines that characterise Clapton’s fretboard approach.
• Alternate Picking, Double Stop Bends, Unison Bends, Hammer-ons, Pull-offs, and Pre-Bends — Beyond the headline techniques, this course also covers a full range of supporting skills that complete the picture of Clapton’s style, giving you a comprehensive and well-rounded blues guitar education.

This Course is Ideal for Players Who...

This course is the ideal choice for guitarists who want to:

• Learn authentic blues guitar licks and techniques in the style of Eric Clapton
• Develop a deeper understanding of blues-rock guitar soloing and improvisation
• Build expressive string bending and vibrato skills rooted in the British blues tradition
• Improve their overall phrasing, dynamics, and musical vocabulary
• Study with a professional instructor who delivers clear, practical, and musically intelligent tuition
• Access a structured online guitar course they can follow at their own pace, from home
• Practise in a real musical context using an included blues guitar backing track

What will I achieve from completing this course?

Quick Licks - In the Style of Eric Clapton works because it goes beyond surface imitation. Rather than simply showing you where to put your fingers, Michael Casswell explains the why behind each lick — the musical thinking, the technical choices, and the expressive intent that make Clapton’s playing so distinctive. This approach gives you not just a set of licks to memorise, but a genuine insight into how one of the world’s greatest blues guitarists thinks and feels his way through music.

The course is built around a focused, practical methodology that has made Licklibrary.com one of the most trusted names in online guitar tuition. By concentrating on a carefully chosen set of licks that collectively cover the full breadth of Clapton’s technique, you will build a solid, transferable blues guitar vocabulary that you can apply in your own playing, your own improvisations, and your own musical context. The inclusion of a dedicated backing track means that from your very first session, you are playing music — not just running exercises — and that makes all the difference to how quickly and how deeply these techniques become part of your playing.

Whether you are drawn to the raw, overdriven energy of Clapton’s work with Cream, the warm, lyrical blues of his Derek and the Dominos period, or the polished, soulful phrasing of his acoustic and later electric recordings, this course gives you the tools to explore and capture all of it. Licklibrary.com’s flexible, on-demand format means you can revisit any lesson as many times as you need, working through the material at a pace that suits your schedule and your ambitions as a guitarist.