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Christopher Cross - Sailing - Guitar Lesson

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Christopher Cross - Sailing - Guitar Lesson

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Christopher Cross - Sailing guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

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Christopher Cross Rock A major
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Sailing

"Sailing" is a 1979 soft rock song written and recorded by Christopher Cross, released as a single in May 1980 from his debut album. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Arrangement of the Year. For electric guitar players, its clean, understated chord work and smooth melodic phrasing make it a rewarding study in tasteful, restrained playing within a polished studio arrangement.

  • "Sailing" helped Christopher Cross win the Grammy for Best New Artist, making it a landmark debut single in soft rock history.
  • The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on August 30, 1980, staying there for one week.
  • Its Grammy win for Arrangement of the Year highlights the value of studying its carefully crafted, layered instrumental structure.
Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Christopher Cross used the Telecaster Thinline semi-hollow model to achieve his signature clean, articulate tone with natural warmth. The instrument's resonance lets his fingerstyle technique shine without requiring heavy amplification or effects processing.

Gibson ES-335
Guitar

Gibson ES-335

The ES-335's semi-hollow construction provided Cross with sustained, complex overtones essential for his jazz-influenced voicings and smooth playing style. This guitar became his primary choice for delivering the articulate, resonant tone that defined his sophisticated arrangements.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

Cross paired his semi-hollow guitars with the Twin Reverb's clean headroom and natural tube compression, allowing fingerstyle nuances to remain audible at moderate volumes. The amp's built-in spring reverb complemented his minimalist effects philosophy perfectly.

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