John Mayer: Sob Rock and a Pink Silver Sky

Offset

@Aornic "There's another clip on YouTube of Clapton calling Mayer a "master guitarist""...

Well I've never considered Clapton to be a 'master guitarist' either.  Distinctly average at best, although I like a lot of his music and I think he's a great songwriter.

Aidanspaghetti

Fishboy7 said:

I'm not averse to a shell pink strat, but that pink silver sky looks a bit shit. 

Apparently its the correct shade of Johns Bell end* 

(*tm)

PC_Dave

Aidanspaghetti said:

Fishboy7 said:

I'm not averse to a shell pink strat, but that pink silver sky looks a bit shit. 

Apparently its the correct shade of Johns Bell end* 

(*tm)

What colour is your signature PRS?

LPManic

Offset said:

Well I've never considered Clapton to be a 'master guitarist' either.  Distinctly average at best, although I like a lot of his music and I think he's a great songwriter.

I think we've reached peak guitar forum here. I think we can all go home.

Offset

LPManic said:

Offset said:

Well I've never considered Clapton to be a 'master guitarist' either.  Distinctly average at best, although I like a lot of his music and I think he's a great songwriter.

I think we've reached peak guitar forum here. I think we can all go home.

I thought that might get a rise :-)

mikeyrob73

listened to the album this afternoon, gave it a full chance , listened to the whole thing. Wont be listening again, just middle of the road  soft American pish. Suspect the Mrs may like it but its a hard no from me 

imalrightjack

LPManic said:

Offset said:

Well I've never considered Clapton to be a 'master guitarist' either.  Distinctly average at best, although I like a lot of his music and I think he's a great songwriter.

I think we've reached peak guitar forum here. I think we can all go home.

White Room, Layla, While My Guitar Gently Weeps...I'm not a fan of most of his stuff but that list demands respect.

darthed1981

LPManic said:

Offset said:

Well I've never considered Clapton to be a 'master guitarist' either.  Distinctly average at best, although I like a lot of his music and I think he's a great songwriter.

I think we've reached peak guitar forum here. I think we can all go home.

I think we need someone to point out that Hendrix, Clapton, Page etc. were all awful compared to someone we all have to Google, because that makes them look clever.

THEN we can all go home.

Offset

imalrightjack said:

LPManic said:

Offset said:

Well I've never considered Clapton to be a 'master guitarist' either.  Distinctly average at best, although I like a lot of his music and I think he's a great songwriter.

I think we've reached peak guitar forum here. I think we can all go home.

White Room, Layla, While My Guitar Gently Weeps...I'm not a fan of most of his stuff but that list demands respect.

And it has my respect.  The songs, not necessarily the playing.  The great guitar work on Layla came from Duane Allman.

EricTheWeary

Offset said:

imalrightjack said:

LPManic said:

Offset said:

Well I've never considered Clapton to be a 'master guitarist' either.  Distinctly average at best, although I like a lot of his music and I think he's a great songwriter.

I think we've reached peak guitar forum here. I think we can all go home.

White Room, Layla, While My Guitar Gently Weeps...I'm not a fan of most of his stuff but that list demands respect.

And it has my respect.  The songs, not necessarily the playing.  The great guitar work on Layla came from Duane Allman.

Two of those he doesn't get a songwriting credit for and the other one is co-written. His list of songwriting credits isn't huge within the context of his career. 

Offset

EricTheWeary said:

Offset said:

imalrightjack said:

LPManic said:

Offset said:

Well I've never considered Clapton to be a 'master guitarist' either.  Distinctly average at best, although I like a lot of his music and I think he's a great songwriter.

I think we've reached peak guitar forum here. I think we can all go home.

White Room, Layla, While My Guitar Gently Weeps...I'm not a fan of most of his stuff but that list demands respect.

And it has my respect.  The songs, not necessarily the playing.  The great guitar work on Layla came from Duane Allman.

Two of those he doesn't get a songwriting credit for and the other one is co-written. His list of songwriting credits isn't huge within the context of his career. 

Yeah, but he DID write Badge.  Which is a fab song.  Not to mention Sunshine Of Your Love.

mudslide73

I've been through the Mayer album a couple of times and I've got to say I enjoyed it. It's not perfect but it was very pleasant while weaving through the rush hour traffic in 32° heat.

digitalkettle

mudslide73 said:

I've been through the Mayer album a couple of times and I've got to say I enjoyed it. It's not perfect but it was very pleasant while weaving through the rush hour traffic in 32° heat.

So, you're saying you need to be doing something awful whilst listening in order to enjoy it?

mudslide73

digitalkettle said:

mudslide73 said:

I've been through the Mayer album a couple of times and I've got to say I enjoyed it. It's not perfect but it was very pleasant while weaving through the rush hour traffic in 32° heat.

So, you're saying you need to be doing something awful whilst listening in order to enjoy it?

I was trying to evoke the visuals of an 80s movie montage I now have Last Train Home as an earworm so the hook has worked on me at least. Not a bad journey with the aircon on.

TINMAN82

Offset said:

imalrightjack said:

LPManic said:

Offset said:

Well I've never considered Clapton to be a 'master guitarist' either.  Distinctly average at best, although I like a lot of his music and I think he's a great songwriter.

I think we've reached peak guitar forum here. I think we can all go home.

White Room, Layla, While My Guitar Gently Weeps...I'm not a fan of most of his stuff but that list demands respect.

And it has my respect.  The songs, not necessarily the playing.  The great guitar work on Layla came from Duane Allman.

Clapton is one of the all time guitar greats, period. Anyone suggesting otherwise lacks serious insight (and taste)….at the very least insight into the historical context of his contributions. 

What do you think his playing lacks, within the blues-rock genre? 

Perhaps you could post a video of yourself demonstrating the things he should be working on? As you think Clapton is “distinctly average at best” it really shouldn’t be that difficult!

imalrightjack

EricTheWeary said:

Offset said:

imalrightjack said:

LPManic said:

Offset said:

Well I've never considered Clapton to be a 'master guitarist' either.  Distinctly average at best, although I like a lot of his music and I think he's a great songwriter.

I think we've reached peak guitar forum here. I think we can all go home.

White Room, Layla, While My Guitar Gently Weeps...I'm not a fan of most of his stuff but that list demands respect.

And it has my respect.  The songs, not necessarily the playing.  The great guitar work on Layla came from Duane Allman.

Two of those he doesn't get a songwriting credit for and the other one is co-written. His list of songwriting credits isn't huge within the context of his career. 

Who cares? His playing is still great on these tracks. 

Offset

TINMAN82 said:

Offset said:

imalrightjack said:

LPManic said:

Offset said:

Well I've never considered Clapton to be a 'master guitarist' either.  Distinctly average at best, although I like a lot of his music and I think he's a great songwriter.

I think we've reached peak guitar forum here. I think we can all go home.

White Room, Layla, While My Guitar Gently Weeps...I'm not a fan of most of his stuff but that list demands respect.

And it has my respect.  The songs, not necessarily the playing.  The great guitar work on Layla came from Duane Allman.

Clapton is one of the all time guitar greats, period. Anyone suggesting otherwise lacks serious insight (and taste)….at the very least insight into the historical context of his contributions. 

What do you think his playing lacks, within the blues-rock genre? 

Perhaps you could post a video of yourself demonstrating the things he should be working on? As you think Clapton is “distinctly average at best” it really shouldn’t be that difficult!

I lack neither insight nor taste,  but the latter is subjective.  I don't consider Clapton to be a 'great' guitarist, period.  I've played guitar for 45 years, so I do have a definite degree of insight.  What does his playing lack?  Edge, excitement and a bit of technique.  To my ears at least.  As a player?  Over-rated.  As someone who has made a MAJOR contribution to music - possibly under-rated.  I don't have to post a vid of myself 'demonstrating the things he should be working on' because I'm not a pro guitarist and I'm entitled to my opinion, end of.  Let's not fall out badger - that's what I think.

LPManic

Offset said:

I lack neither insight nor taste,  but the latter is subjective.  I don't consider Clapton to be a 'great' guitarist, period.  I've played guitar for 45 years, so I do have a definite degree of insight.  What does his playing lack?  Edge, excitement and a bit of technique.  To my ears at least.  As a player?  Over-rated.  As someone who has made a MAJOR contribution to music - possibly under-rated.  I don't have to post a vid of myself 'demonstrating the things he should be working on' because I'm not a pro guitarist and I'm entitled to my opinion, end of.  Let's not fall out badger - that's what I think.

This has all gone a bit Pete Tong. But in a more seriousness vein, Greg Koch has made the point a few times on his podcast (which is fantastic) that Clapton kind of gave up with advancing his guitar playing as he entered the 70s and whatever his guitar playing was up to then that was it. Greg sometimes wonders what Clapton could have done simply in terms of the guitar if he had pushed that bit more into more complex stuff rather than being happy mixing his majors and minors and focusing on songs (and I imagine making money!)

EricTheWeary

imalrightjack said:

EricTheWeary said:

Offset said:

imalrightjack said:

LPManic said:

Offset said:

Well I've never considered Clapton to be a 'master guitarist' either.  Distinctly average at best, although I like a lot of his music and I think he's a great songwriter.

I think we've reached peak guitar forum here. I think we can all go home.

White Room, Layla, While My Guitar Gently Weeps...I'm not a fan of most of his stuff but that list demands respect.

And it has my respect.  The songs, not necessarily the playing.  The great guitar work on Layla came from Duane Allman.

Two of those he doesn't get a songwriting credit for and the other one is co-written. His list of songwriting credits isn't huge within the context of his career. 

Who cares? His playing is still great on these tracks. 

I meant to add a little addendum - seems perfectly valid to me to for anyone to have had a musical career without ever having written a note but just seemed odd that he was being praised for his songwriting whereas in a career lasting longer than most of us have been alive the notable songs he has written  are a handful whereas he is being criticised here for his playing which is the thing he is usually recognised for.

Anyway, this Discussion is about pointing out our disappointments with John Mayer and not our ones with Eric Clapton.      

TINMAN82

Offset said:

TINMAN82 said:

Offset said:

imalrightjack said:

LPManic said:

Offset said:

Well I've never considered Clapton to be a 'master guitarist' either.  Distinctly average at best, although I like a lot of his music and I think he's a great songwriter.

I think we've reached peak guitar forum here. I think we can all go home.

White Room, Layla, While My Guitar Gently Weeps...I'm not a fan of most of his stuff but that list demands respect.

And it has my respect.  The songs, not necessarily the playing.  The great guitar work on Layla came from Duane Allman.

Clapton is one of the all time guitar greats, period. Anyone suggesting otherwise lacks serious insight (and taste)….at the very least insight into the historical context of his contributions. 

What do you think his playing lacks, within the blues-rock genre? 

Perhaps you could post a video of yourself demonstrating the things he should be working on? As you think Clapton is “distinctly average at best” it really shouldn’t be that difficult!

I lack neither insight nor taste,  but the latter is subjective.  I don't consider Clapton to be a 'great' guitarist, period.  I've played guitar for 45 years, so I do have a definite degree of insight.  What does his playing lack?  Edge, excitement and a bit of technique.  To my ears at least.  As a player?  Over-rated.  As someone who has made a MAJOR contribution to music - possibly under-rated.  I don't have to post a vid of myself 'demonstrating the things he should be working on' because I'm not a pro guitarist and I'm entitled to my opinion, end of.  Let's not fall out badger - that's what I think.

What’s not subjective is use of the word “average”, which implies there are roughly as many guitar players on the planet who are “better” than Clapton as there are worse. Whatever parameters you use to define better I think most people would accept this is unlikely.

Yes his songs, note choice and phrasing are to a degree subjective. But he’s had such a long career with varied “phases” that it’s hard to believe someone who genuinely likes blues-rock music wouldn’t find examples of objectively great playing somewhere. Even if it’s way back in the Cream days, even if it’s only in the context of that “time”…. before people started shredding on pointier axes. He arguably invented overdriven guitar tone by plugging a Les Paul into a Marshall for the first time.

Pointless arguments these. Sigh.