Strange Brew by Cream

Learn to play Strange Brew by Cream with this comprehensive, note-for-note guitar lesson from Lick Library. Featuring the unmistakable blues-rock guitar playing of Eric Clapton, this 1967 classic combines infectious riffs, expressive lead guitar phrasing, and a laid-back groove that helped establish Cream as one of the most influential bands of the psychedelic rock era.

Originally released on Cream's Disraeli Gears album, Strange Brew showcases Clapton's ability to combine traditional blues influences with the emerging sounds of British rock. The song features smooth string bends, tasteful vibrato, blues scale phrasing, and melodic guitar solos, making it an excellent choice for guitarists looking to develop their blues-rock vocabulary.

In this lesson, Richard Shaw breaks down the song's distinctive guitar parts, exploring the techniques and musical ideas that make Strange Brew such an enduring classic. Whether you're looking to improve your blues guitar soloing, develop more expressive phrasing, or master the rhythmic feel of classic rock, this lesson offers plenty of valuable techniques to incorporate into your playing.

The Main Guitar Riff – Classic Blues-Rock Grooves

One of the most recognisable elements of Strange Brew is its infectious main guitar riff. Built around a traditional blues-inspired structure, the riff combines rhythmic precision with melodic movement, creating a relaxed but compelling groove.

The guitar part draws heavily on the blues tradition, incorporating short melodic phrases, chordal accents, and carefully placed notes that complement the rhythm section. Learning this riff helps guitarists understand how relatively simple musical ideas can create memorable and effective rhythm guitar parts.

Double-stops are an important feature of blues guitar playing, allowing two notes to be played simultaneously to create a fuller, harmonically rich sound. Practising these shapes improves fretting-hand accuracy and helps players develop the classic blues vocabulary associated with Clapton and other influential guitarists of the period.

The riff also provides an opportunity to develop a strong sense of timing and rhythmic consistency. By concentrating on note placement, articulation, and dynamics, guitarists can learn how to create a convincing groove without relying on excessive technical complexity.

Verse Guitar Parts – Blues Phrasing and Chord Progressions

The verse sections of Strange Brew demonstrate how Clapton uses economical guitar playing to support the vocal melody while maintaining the song's blues character.

The underlying chord progression reflects the influence of traditional blues, providing a familiar harmonic framework for both rhythm guitar and improvisation. Understanding this progression helps guitarists recognise common blues structures and develop the ability to create their own rhythm parts and lead phrases over similar musical arrangements.

The guitar lines incorporate short melodic fills that respond to the vocals, demonstrating the importance of leaving space within an arrangement. This call-and-response approach is fundamental to blues guitar and teaches players how to make their phrasing sound more conversational.

Slides help connect notes smoothly, adding a vocal-like quality to the guitar parts. Practising slides improves movement between fretboard positions while encouraging more fluid transitions between melodic phrases.

These sections also highlight the importance of controlling note length and dynamics. Learning when to sustain a note and when to leave space is essential for developing mature, expressive guitar playing.

The Guitar Solo – Eric Clapton's Blues-Rock Expression

The guitar solo in Strange Brew is a brilliant example of Eric Clapton's blues-influenced lead guitar style. Rather than relying on speed, Clapton builds his solo around melodic phrasing, expressive bends, and carefully controlled vibrato.

Much of the lead playing draws upon the minor pentatonic and blues scale vocabulary that became synonymous with Clapton's playing during the 1960s. Learning these phrases helps guitarists understand how familiar scale patterns can be transformed into memorable musical statements through articulation, timing, and dynamics.

String bending is central to the solo's expressive character. Clapton uses bends to move between notes in a way that closely resembles the human voice. Practising these bends develops pitch accuracy, finger strength, and the ability to create emotional intensity through controlled movement.

Bluesy bends are particularly effective in this style, incorporating subtle pitch inflections that give individual notes additional character. Mastering these techniques helps players move beyond simply playing scale patterns and begin developing a more authentic blues sound.

Vibrato is another defining feature of Clapton's lead playing. By introducing controlled pitch movement to sustained notes, he adds warmth, intensity, and personality to his phrases. Developing consistent vibrato is one of the most valuable skills for any aspiring blues-rock guitarist, as it can dramatically improve the sound of even the simplest melodies.

The solo also features smooth note transitions and blues-based phrasing that benefit from hammer-ons and pull-offs. These legato techniques allow notes to flow together with fewer pick attacks, creating a more connected and expressive sound.

Learning the solo note for note provides an excellent opportunity to study Clapton's phrasing choices and discover how timing, note selection, and articulation can be more important than technical speed.

Sustain and Dynamics – Creating the Classic Cream Sound

An essential part of the Strange Brew guitar sound is Clapton's ability to produce warm, singing lead tones with plenty of sustain.

Sustain allows notes to ring out naturally, giving bends and vibrato greater expressive impact. Practising sustained notes encourages guitarists to develop better fretting-hand control and understand how picking dynamics, amplification, and note articulation influence the overall sound.

The song also demonstrates the importance of dynamic variation. Clapton frequently moves between softer melodic passages and more assertive lead phrases, creating contrast without dramatically increasing the number of notes being played.

By studying these subtle variations, guitarists can develop greater control over their tone and learn how to communicate emotion through their instrument.

Eric Clapton – Guitar Style and Influence

Eric Clapton is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in rock and blues history. His work with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos, and throughout his solo career helped shape the sound of modern blues-rock guitar.

During his time with Cream, Clapton developed a distinctive approach that combined the phrasing of blues legends such as B.B. King, Freddie King, and Buddy Guy with the power and volume of British rock music.

His playing on Strange Brew demonstrates his exceptional ability to combine melodic simplicity with expressive technique. His controlled bends, wide vibrato, and carefully constructed phrases influenced generations of guitarists, including players working across blues, hard rock, and heavy metal.

Studying Clapton's guitar work provides valuable insight into the foundations of modern lead guitar playing and the importance of developing an individual musical voice.

Why Learn Strange Brew by Cream?

Strange Brew is an excellent song for intermediate guitarists looking to expand their blues-rock vocabulary, although less experienced players can also benefit from studying its main riffs and melodic phrases.

The song combines several essential elements of expressive guitar playing, including blues-inspired rhythm parts, melodic soloing, controlled string bends, and tasteful vibrato.

Learning the complete guitar arrangement helps develop an understanding of how rhythm and lead guitar parts work together within a classic rock song. It also provides practical experience of the phrasing and articulation that defined the British blues explosion of the 1960s.

Most importantly, Strange Brew demonstrates that effective guitar playing is not simply about speed or complexity. Through carefully chosen notes, expressive techniques, and a strong sense of rhythm, Clapton creates guitar parts that remain instantly recognisable decades after their original recording.

With this Lick Library note-for-note guitar lesson, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the techniques behind Strange Brew while developing skills that can be applied to countless other blues and classic rock songs.

Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Vibrato
• String Bending
• Bluesy Bends
• Double-Stops
• Slides
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Legato
• Chord Progressions
• Sustain