Eric Johnson - Cliffs Of Dover Pt.3 - Bridge - Guitar Lesson

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Eric Johnson - Cliffs Of Dover Pt.3 - Bridge - Guitar Lesson

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Key G major
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Cliffs Of Dover Pt.3 - Bridge


"Cliffs Of Dover Pt.3 - Bridge" is a section of Eric Johnson's celebrated instrumental "Cliffs Of Dover," widely regarded as a showcase of his refined electric guitar technique. The piece highlights Johnson's signature blend of fluid phrasing, clean tone, and melodic inventiveness. For guitarists, studying this bridge section offers valuable insight into Johnson's nuanced picking style and his ability to craft emotionally resonant passages within a larger instrumental work.

  • Eric Johnson is known for his exceptionally clean picking technique and meticulous attention to tone, both central to this piece.
  • "Cliffs Of Dover" is an instrumental track, making every guitar phrase carry the full melodic and emotional weight of the song.
  • Breaking the song into parts like this bridge section allows guitarists to focus on specific techniques without tackling the full piece at once.
Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Eric Johnson's primary instrument, with vintage single-coils and a rolled-back tone knob that deliver warm, articulate lead tones and dynamic range. His signature model features a 1-meg volume pot preserving high-end clarity, essential for his layered clean and overdriven tones.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Johnson uses original PAF humbuckers on his 1958/1959 model for heavier, mid-rich lead work, providing thicker sustain and compression on songs like 'Cliffs of Dover' when pushed through his Marshall head.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

While not explicitly mentioned in Johnson's primary setup, this model shares PAF humbucker characteristics that would deliver similar thick, creamy lead tones and compressed sustain for heavier passages.

Gibson ES-335
Guitar

Gibson ES-335

Johnson switches to this semi-hollow body for jazzier passages mid-song, its balanced tone bridging his bright Strat clarity and Les Paul warmth for sophisticated, articulate lead work.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

Johnson's core clean and light-crunch amp, run at volumes 5-6 for shimmering clarity and natural reverb that blends with his Marshall's grit to create his signature layered tone.

Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9
Pedal

Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9

Set with low gain and high level as a clean boost, Johnson's TS9 pushes his amps into natural breakup while preserving the dynamic articulation crucial to his playing style.

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