Garageband settings for HIDEAWAY

When Eric Clapton picked up his guitar to record what would become the definitive electric blues guitar album in March of 1966 there was no such thing as 'Garageband'.  Instead, he plugged into a 30w Marshall 2x12 combo.  Before that time, he'd been using a half stack, a JTM 45 and matching 4x12 cab, the stuff that amp collectors' dreams are made of.

The engineer struggled to record any usable sound at all from the 30w combo.  Eric played at full volume, throwing a 'hand-grenade' into blues-rock history and forcing the engineers to rewrite the rule books.  The sound levels must have literally been deafening, as anyone who has played through a non-master volume amp with this sort of power can imagine.  But the sound of the electric guitar would never be the same again, and countless guitarists have since sought to emulate that stinging, biting and bluesy, magnificent Beano tone.These days, there are many great amps that will get you in the ball park of that sound without breaking your hearing.  And you can even get a passable and usable approximation directly from your computer.

For the cover version and lessons of 'Hideaway' I have uploaded to YouTube I played a 2010 RO Gibson Les Paul.  I used the bridge pickup with the volume on around 6 and the tone about 2.  I ran it via a curly lead into an iRig interface, straight into the computer and thence to Apple's great recording program, 'Garageband'.  The main setting in Garageband was 'Crunch Guitar' and the sub-setting, 'Heartbroken'.  I have attached here a screenshot of all the settings, so you can see what was on, and what was off, and where the dials were set.

The tone is a little more distorted than is ideal for emulating the Beano sound, but it's hard to get around that problem without compromising the power and sustain that we need in some of the parts, especially the bends in the high register.  In conclusion, it's not perfect, but it's workable.  I am a big fan of Garageband.

Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton

The classic blues album of the British Blues Boom

Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton by John Mayall's Bluesbreakers is essential listening for any electric blues guitarist.  As a visitor to this site you probably have it in your collection already.  If not, it's a must-have and should be added to your collection without delay.

Eric's work on this album was groundbreaking.  Never before had electric blues guitar been been played with such fire, passion and breathtaking ability.  It eclipsed everything that came before it and will never be equalled, let alone surpassed.

Whilst many fine line-ups followed, this was the classic Bluesbreakers team of John Mayall on vocals, keyboard and harmonica, Eric Clapton on the guitar, John McVie on the bass and Hughie Flint on the drums.  It is also notable in that Eric makes his singing debut with 'Ramblin' on My Mind', by his hero, the great Robert Johnson.

The stories of how the recording of the album re-wrote the rule books are legendary.  Eric insisted on playing his Marshall combo at full, deafening volume and the engineers were initially thinking it was unrecordable.  Thankfully, it wasn't and the result was the most amazing recording of electric blues guitar.

This CD includes the twelve tracks in both mono and stereo versions.  If by any chance you have not heard the album before, you are in for a treat.  If you have, you know what to expect.

While working your way through the lessons on the site, keep returning to the CD.  Listen with care to Eric's immaculate phrasing and timing.  Whatever style of guitar you prefer, your technique will benefit.

Tracks:
1.  All Your Love
2.  Hideaway
3.  Little Girl
4.  Another Man
5.  Double Crossing Time
6.  What'd I Say
7.  Key To Love
8.  Parchment Farm
9.  Have You Heard
10. Rambling' On My Mind
11. Steppin' Out
12. It Ain't Right