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Hello everybody and welcome to another juicy Guitar Duel! This is a regular feature where I put two guitarists against each other and let the readers decide who is the better guitarist. Last time’s Guitar Duel saw Mark Knopfler take on Brian May in a hard fought battle which Knoplfer first looked like he would win. However, a few days later and May took the lead, resulting in a 10-8 win for May. Thanks for all who voted on this one. Now onto another exciting Duel. This week see’s two of the most notable guitarists in the rock world and more prominently, two guitarists that pretty much started their careers in the same band (albeit not at the same time). The band they were both in was of course the amazing 60′s band, The Yardbirds. And the guitarists that I am talking about are the legendary Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton.
Between them they have 7 songs in Rolling Stones top 100 Guitar songs of All Time. That is spectacular with Hendrix only having three himself. Becks contribution is Over Under Sideways Down (The Yardbirds), Freeway Jam and I Ain’t Superstitious (Both Solo). Whereas Eric’s contribution comes from two Cream songs; Crossroads and White Room. His other two are Layla (Derek And The Dominoes) and While My Guitar Gently Weeps (The Beatles). Both achieving amazing success with the Yardbirds and then thereafter. With both guitarists having built up great solo and collaborative careers.
But what I want to know is… Who is the better guitarist?
Before you decide, let me tell you a little bit about them:
Jeff Beck – Bio
Born: 24 June, 1944
Started Playing: Early Teens
Influences: Les Paul, Chuck Berry, Cliff Gallup, Steve Cropper
Early Work: Session Player
Band That Made Him: The Yardbirds
Other Projects: The Jeff Beck Group, The Honeydrippers, Beck, Bogert and Apple, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Upp, Big Town Playboys
Guitar: Custom Jeff Beck Stratocaster
Best Known For: Becks Bolero – A must hear track! Especially when the heavy part kicks in!
Guitar Accolades: Place at 14th in Rolling Stones top 100 Guitarists. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of fame twice; once for The Yardbirds (1992) and second for his solo work (2009). Has 3 songs in Rolling Stones top 100 Guitar Tracks of all time.
Eric Clapton – Bio
Born: 30 March, 1945
Started Playing: 13 Year Old
Influences: Buddy Guy, Freddie King, B.B King
Early Work: The Roosters, Casey Jones and The Engineers, The Yardbirds, John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers
Band That Made Him: Cream
Other Projects: Blind Faith, Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, The Plastic Ono Band, Solo Career, Derek and The Dominoes, The Dirt Mac, Powerhouse
Guitar: Blackie
Best Known For: Being in the biggest supergroup ever! His riffs; Layla and Sunshine Of Your Love. That legendary sign, Clapton Is God
Guitar Accolades: Placed at 4th in Rolling Stone Magazines top 100 Guitarists of All Time. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame a record three times; The Yardbirds (1992), Cream (1993) and Solo Career (2000). Has 4 songs in Rolling Stones top 100 Guitar Songs of All Time, with two placed in the top ten; Crossroads (Cream) and While My Guitar gently Weeps (The Beatles).
Now you know a little more about them hopefully you can make a choice on who the better guitarist is?
Guitar Duel : Jeff Beck Vs Eric Clapton
- Jeff Beck (75%, 82 Votes)
- Eric Clapton (25%, 28 Votes)
Total Voters: 110
Loading ...So there it is. I’m making you choose between Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. I hope you make the right choice 
Thanks for voting.
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16 Responses to “Guitar Duel! Beck Vs Clapton!”
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Ben,
I saw this particular Guitar Duel live at Madison Square Garden in February. When Beck and Clapton were playing together, it was possibly the most uncomfortable pairing of musical talent I’ve ever witnessed for $300 per ticket! They were both so f***ing polite, taking turns, patting each other on the back…I wanted to puke! I wanted a little rage! Playing separately…
Beck played a mean wammy bar and put on a real “Rock Star” stage show, but he couldn’t compare when it came to playing the basic unadorned GUITAR (and that’s what we are talking about here, right!?! the GUITAR)…that’s what Clapton is known for…well, that and his voice, and maybe, a thing or two more. All by itself, Clapton’s accoustic set was worth the price of admission…no spandex or shiny belt buckles, no stage makeup, no 15 piece orchestra…just a guy, a guitar, a voice and some really great blues.
Plus Beck doesn’t sing (yeah, I know, this is a Guitar Duel, but I’m still gonna mention it) and that makes me wonder how much his playing would suffer, if he did sing. It blew me away how many people sitting near me at this concert didn’t know that Beck is purely instrumental! You know, there’s a very good reason many lead guitarists are not also lead vocalists…not everyone is capable of operating on multiple musical wavelengths at the same time. I noticed Clapton handled that just fine!
So, okay…had my say, now go ahead and blast me, Beck fans. I’m sure I deserve it! Peace Out,
SueB
Twitter: lickthatriff
says:
To be honest Sue, I’m with you on this one. I really thought Clapton was going to walk this poll. But its gone completely the other way.
Sue,
Jeff’s biggest hit “Hi Ho Silver Lining” was a vocal. Yes, he sang it. It’s played in sporting events over there as is Guns and Roses and Queen hits here…I saw David Gilmore sing it with him at RAH and I think Eric may have sang a verse recently too. Jeff Lyon JBAS
I was watching some of the “Together and Apart” London vids on Youtube and yeah, Beck made Clapton do “Hi Ho Silver Lining”. They didn’t do this one in New York…maybe it’s a UK thing, huh?
Sue -your ignorance is raging here, on display for all to see. As Clapton himself notes, Beck is dominant in all musical forms he tackles -Clapton goes on to discuss how his (Becks) incredible right hand technique is simply beyond anything-any other guitarist can do -Clapton speaking-
Becks tone -his harmonic and melodic structures -light years ahead of Claptons pentatonic blue riffing- on another level from what Clapton is capable of. His tone -and the WAY he uses the whammy bar to approximate the human voice transcend even Hendrix. Then there are the records: Claptons entire catalog does not contain the guitar playing of any one side of any of Becks brilliant outings. Ask any serious guitar payer who is better Clapton or Beck -they will laugh at you -its not a contest, in fact its a stupid question. Eric is not in the same league.
Besides, if you listen to Beck -he has continually gotten better. While Clapton has stagnated, never growing, ossified. Jeff Beck, a guitar players guitarist -watch Eric try and stay on the same stage with him on the DVD Live This Week At Ronnie Scott’s -at least Becks good friend -and a far better player than Eric -Jimmy Page has the good sense and healthy sense of preservation to remain an audience member-
Often on these blogs you find the Claptonofiles – fans who are living in a dream -not really listening to what is being played, or, knowing much about it. The argument is always the same: he plays with more ‘feeling’ its ‘pure guitar playing’ blah blah blah…here in Chicago -when Jeff Beck comes to town -every geetar player of note will be in attendance, in awe -Clapton -forget it -no one really cares. Matinee idol vs great instrumentalist.
I can’t believe this score!! A case of American pride, perhaps?? Beck can’t even HOLD Clapton’s guitar, let alone outplay him!! Are some people voting 25 times each??
Twitter: lickthatriff
says:
Gary it does seem like such a landslide. I didn’t think it was going to go this way at all
Gary, its JEFF BECK who is British not the american pop musician Beck that is being referred to here -and no -is quite clear that unlike this thread of idiotic conversation, the people voting actually have a clue!
Its hilarious actually -what, are we going to try and claim I shot The Sheriff or Cocaine played night after night for 20 years until the phrase tired and stale loses its meaning, stacks up to anything on Wired or Blow By Blow? Or perhaps its ‘Tears In Heaven that seals Claptons greatness on guitar……look, there are any number of guitar players up there with Jeff Beck -Marc Ribot -Sonny Landreth -Buddy Miller Mclaughlin -Page- Buddy Guy -Otis Rush -Ronnie Brooks -some of the Nashville studio players…..Eric Clapton is just not one of them.
I’d rather see Eric Johnson over these 2, they’ve been getting away with murder for years.
I know that this is too late to be taken into consideration, but here’s my two cents.
Eric Clapton was phenomenal back in the sixties and early seventies, but he’s gone downhill since then. Jeff Beck, on the other hand, was very good in the sixties (no way near as good as Clapton, mind) but, unlike Clapton, has continued to improve ever since then, helping to pioneer jazz-rock in the mid-seventies and then go on to put out consistently enjoyable, diverse and innovative albums (‘Jeff Beck’s Guitar Shop’ and ‘You Had it Coming’ come to mind here.) His work with Roger Waters on ‘Amused To Death’ is excellent as well.
As a blues and classic rock guitarist, Clapton wins, hands down. ‘Crossroads’, ‘Got To Get Better in a Little While’, ‘White Room’, ‘Sunshine of Your Love’, ‘Strange Brew’, ‘Badge’, ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ – Beck can’t play the blues or psychedelic blues-rock as well as that. However, that being said, Beck did make his mark on blues and classic rock with the Yardbirds and the Jeff Beck Group, plus he went on to great things in the realms of jazz fusion and instrumental rock. He is a great improviser with fantastic technique, control and knowledge of his instrument.
Overall, I’m going to have to give this one to Clapton. He was way ahead of Beck back in his heyday in the sixties and early seventies, and whilst I’d rather see contemporary Jeff Beck than contemporary Eric Clapton, I would rather listen to Cream or Derek and the Dominos than the Jeff Beck Group or his solo instrumental stuff. I think a more interesting comparison would be between Eric Clapton and Duane Allman, who had more similar styles and who played together on the ‘Layla’ album.
Everyone has their opine. I would imagine that all polls that are fan based would give the edge to Clapton. The more knowing guitar enthusiasts would probably give it to Beck.
Some purists still think Hendrix is the greatest guitar player ever.
For me one person hit it spot on with the time sequence analysis – in the heyday of the late Sixties to early Seventies, it was Clapton by leaps and bounds, simply because he had the better material. Once BLOW BY BLOW hit, Eric was left in the right-hand lane. Jeff took the passing lane and left Sussex County in the UK and hit the stratosphere. On the other hand, Jimmy
Page has not found his way since Led Zeppelin’s demise, and Clapton just never progressed beyond Derek and The Dominoes.
Some purists still think Jimi Hendrix is the greatest guitar player ever. The problem with that is his legacy of works was for a 3 year period, and IMHO that is far too brief to remain the greatest forever.
Jeff Beck still forges on with new twists and turns and his constant evolving makes him the guitarist that he is, and in my opinion – the best. During the ARMS concerts Eric Clapton stated something along the line of, ‘I have come to think that Beck is the finest guitarist around’; Page made a comment along the line of, ‘When he is on, there is no one better than Jeff’.
Page -when introducing Beck at his second (for solo work) R&R Hall Of Fame Induction described his old, childhood friend as the greatest soloist of our time. Clapton went to some lengths in deferring to Beck’s greater mastery in the RS article they did together last year. Every critic on every stop of this joint tour in one way or another, described and discussed Becks vastly superior playing -while questioning Claptons dead in the water, lackidaisical to the point of disinterested playing. Listen to ‘I Shot The Sherrif yet again -and just see how that stacks up against Big Block or Led Boots……
Anybody who actually thinks Clapton is in thes ame league as Beck -go buy Jeff Beck LIve This Week At Ronnie Scotts -listen, watch Clapton get his ass handed to him when he shows up on stage for a couple of tunes -and just try to imagine Eric trying to deal with/handle the level of complexity in these songs -try and picture Eric playing this set. It will never happen, he can’t do it.
This is not even close, Beck hands-down is a far more skilled guitarist than Clapton. Yes , Eric has had far more commercial success, but Beck’s skill and broader range of genres (rock, blues, rockabilly, jazz-fusion even classical) makes Jeff a more accomplished musician. Clapton himself has said that Jeff’s style lends him to do things noone else can do. Eric is a great slow blues player, maybe the best. But when stepping out into other things he just doesn’t look comfortable. Jeff on the other hand can pick up his Strat and play anything with anyone, has his career has shown. Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner,Stanley Clarke, B.B. King, Jan Hammer,Les Paul, Wynona Judd, Lucian Pavorotti the list goes on and on and hail praises. Eric is great, Jeff is greater!
The fact of forget the most important Beck influence, Hank Marvin (Apache, is enough?!), is the worst thing of all this duel. SHAME !
That’s why there’s no better guitarrist than Page. Page is God. He played from funk and reggae to hard rock and tapping. From chicken-picking to pintch-harmonics. Page is the most versatile guitarist I’ve ever heard.
Of course, Beck’s right hand is incomparable to these classics, but other guitarists can do that do. Example of Mark Knopfler.
Page is waaaaaaay out of Clapton’s league. To compare with Page you need Beck or Hendrix.
By the way, Hendrix might not be as complex as Beck, but Hendrix got a soul that no other guitarist ever had. Hendrix blown Clapton’s away lots of time. And I still remember that in January ’70 he said that “Led Zeppelin is the best band i’ve ever heard”.
Page is a good friends with Beck so it’s normal that both of them say nice things about each other.
But it actually goes like this.
Page > Hendrix/Beck >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Clapton
Talking about GUITAR PLAYING. Not singing.