Creator Area
Sign in Creator Area

Practice Studio

Eric Johnson - Manhattan - First A Section - Guitar Lesson

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

Not in tune?

Select a Loop

Start of your loop
End of your loop

Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Eric Johnson - Manhattan - First A Section guitar lesson video
Guitar 365
Guitar 365 Top Contributor
YouTube: 1.6Msubs
Creator Page →
PLAY WITH BACKING TRACK
·
–50¢ 0 +50¢
· Tap to start

Your browser will ask for microphone permission.

Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
AI tone preset

AI-selected preset based on genre and era — adjust the knobs to taste.

Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
Listen on Spotify
Eric Johnson Progressive Rock

About Manhattan - First A Section

Few guitarists write melody lines that sit as comfortably under the fingers as Eric Johnson, and the first A section of "Manhattan" is a good example of why. The piece is in E Standard tuning at a steady 120 BPM, which feels relaxed until you try to keep the melodic phrasing clean and even throughout. The challenge here is not raw speed but articulation: every note needs a consistent attack, and any sloppiness in the pick strokes or legato transitions gets exposed quickly at this tempo. Pay close attention to where Johnson chooses to pick versus pull off or hammer on, because the tone of the line depends on those choices. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the A section slowed down and listen for those pick-or-legato decisions before you try to play through at full speed. This kind of Progressive Rock writing rewards patience and a clean left-hand technique far more than any flashy shortcut.

  • Running in E Standard at 120 BPM, the first A section rewards a relaxed picking hand, since tension will immediately blur the melodic line.
  • The key technique challenge is blending picked notes and legato phrases seamlessly so the melody flows as one consistent voice.
  • Isolate short two-bar phrases with the Practice Toolbar looped and slowed down before chaining the full A section together.

How to Play Manhattan - First A Section

Tuning: E Standard · Tempo: 120 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 120 BPM to build it up to tempo.

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.

Recommended for You

Play with Backing Track

Play with Backing Track

Solo (Backing Track)

Solo (Backing Track)