Cream - I Feel Free - Guitar Lesson

Fresh Cream

1966 2:52

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About I Feel Free

Few tracks from 1966 Blues Rock pack as much into a standard tuning as "I Feel Free" by Cream. The riff at the heart of the song sits in D major and has a deceptively simple shape, but getting the right snap and attack out of it is where most players struggle. At 120 BPM the tempo is comfortable, yet the groove demands that you sit just behind the beat rather than rush it, which takes real control. Eric Clapton's guitar part weaves around Jack Bruce's melodic bass lines, so you need to listen carefully and leave space rather than fill every gap. The chord transitions in the verse can catch you off guard the first few times through, so use the Practice Toolbar to loop those bars slowed down until the movement feels automatic. Once the rhythm feel is locked in, focus on the tone: a clean to lightly broken-up sound suits this one far better than heavy gain.

• The guitar part sits in E Standard tuning and the key of D major, so no retuning is needed before you start.
• Clapton's rhythm work here rewards a behind-the-beat feel, practise with a metronome at a reduced BPM to groove confidently before going full speed.
• A light, slightly gritty tone suits the track well, heavy distortion will muddy the interplay between guitar and bass.