Classic Rock - Sunshine of Your Love CREAM
This song goes out to Vic by special request. Cream was awesome! Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker. It is very easy to play (well, maybe not the solo). So crank up the overdrive.
Chords used in this song
----D----C----G5----F5---A5----C----G5-------
e--------------------------------------------
b------------------------------1-------------
g-------------------------2----0----0--------
d--12---10----12---10-----2----2----0--------
a---X----X----10----8-----0----3----X--------
e--10----8--------------------------3--------
Intro- Riff A (Note- Please see Greybeards tab at the end of this song)
e---------------------------------------------
b---------------------------------------------
g-------------------------------10^----------- Play 2X
d—12-12-10-12--------------/12------12--------
a--X--X--X--X----12-11-10---------------------
e—10-10--8-10---------------------------------
e-------------------------------------------------
b-------------------------------------------------
g--11-11--9-11------------------10^--------------- Play 2X
d--12-12-10-12-------------/12-------12-----------
g--X--X---X-X----12-11-10-------------------------
e--10-10--8-10------------------------------------
This song starts off with D and C octaves. They have a hollow sound.
Use your index finger on the 6th string, ring finger on the 4th. Let your index finger lightly touch the 5th string muting it.
Notice that EC adds one note on the second line to the octaves. Use your middle finger on the 3rd string. This creates a bluesy 7th chord sound. This adds color to a riff that might become boring if repeated too often. During the song you will hear Clapton throw this chord in at various times. He also plays this chord staccato, very abrupt, stopped short. Lift your fretting fingers immediately after striking the chord. It is little things like this that make a great riff.
The song opens with Riff A as the intro. This riff continues into the 1st Verse.
Then, Riff B
e-------------------------------------------
b-------------------------------------------
g------------------------------------------- Play 2X
d--12-12-10-12---------------8^-------------
a--10-10--8-10----------/10------10---------
e---------------10-9-8----------------------
This is just moving up a fourth really. It is the same riff, just played in G.
OK, that is the two main riffs. Pretty easy. There is only one part left, and that is the chorus. I used to play this with barre chords until I saw an old video. Eric Clapton was using simple home chords on the chorus. I would call these true power chords. They are played with lots of overdrive and allowed to sustain. You might have to listen to the song to get the right timing. It's very easy though.
Riff C
e-------------------------
b------------1------------
g--2--2-2----0---0-------- Play 3X (at end of song play 4X)
d--2--2-2----2---0--------
a--0--0-0----3---X--------
e----------------3--------
This is played like this; (The dots after a chord mean sustain)
A5......A5A5 C...................G5........
1 e and a 2 e and A 3 e and a 4 e and a 1 e and a 2 e and a 3 e and a
.........
4 e and a
After playing Riff C 3 times (4 times at end of song only), Play this
A5 chord strum in this pattern.
e--------
b--------
g--2-----
d--2-----
a--0-----
e--------
Note- these are all A5 chords below
A5......A A5......A A5......A A5......A A A5.. A A5.. A A5..
1 e and a 2 e and a 3 e and a 4 e and a 1 e and a 2 e and a 3 e and a
A A5..
4 e and a
This looks more difficult than it is. Listen to the recording.
That's it. Here's the lyrics.
Intro- Riff A
(Riff A)It's getting near dawn,
When lights close their tired eyes.
I'll soon be with you my love,
To give you my dawn surprise.
I'll (Riff B)be with you darling soon,
I'll be with you when the stars start falling (Riff A)
(Riff C)I've been waiting so long
To be where I'm going
In the sunshine of your love Play A5 chord strum
Riff A
(Riff A)I'm with you my love,
The light's shining through on you.
Yes, I'm with you my love,
It's the morning and just we two.
I'll (Riff B)stay with you darling now,
I'll stay with you till my seas are dried up (Riff A)
Chorus (Riff C followed by A5 chord strum)
Solo- Play exactly as one complete verse and chorus.
Riff A
Repeat Verse 2
(Riff C)I've been waiting so long
I've been waiting so long
I've been waiting so long
To be where I'm going
In the sunshine of your love Play A5 chord strum out
The solo of this song is played in the D Minor Pentatonic scale 1st and 2nd positions, and the D Major Pentatonic 1st position. Eric Clapton is a master at this.
Bends W= Whole step bend, H= Half step bend, R= Release from bend
/= Slow bend or release
W W~~~ W W~~~
e---------------------------------------
b---------------10--13------10----------
g—12^-12^----12---------12^-----12—12^-- Phrase 1 D Minor Pent.
d--------------------------------------- 1st position
a---------------------------------------
e---------------------------------------
/R W/ ~~~ W/ W/~~~ ~~~
e---------------------------------------------------------------
b-----------------------------------------10---10---------------
g--^9-7h-9--7--9^--7---------------7h--9---9^---9^-----7h—-9--7-
d---------------------------7h--9-------------------------------
a---------------------------------------------------------------
e---------------------------------------------------------------
This was Phrase 2 from the D Major Pentatonic 1st position
W W W W ~~~~ ~~~~~
e-------------------------------------------------
b-------------------------------------------------
g—10^10^10^10^-10-----10-----10h--12-----------10- Phrase 3 D Minor
d-------------------------12----------10h--12----- 1st position
a-------------------------------------------------
e-------------------------------------------------
Bending with the index finger.
H H W W/R ~~~
e----------------------------------------------------------------
b------------------------------------------10--------------------
g--------7h--9—-9^-----------7h--9—-9^--9^--9^---7h—-9-—7h--9--7-
d—7h--9---------------7h--9--------------------------------------
a----------------------------------------------------------------
e----------------------------------------------------------------
All that was from the D Major pentatonic 1st position. Phrase 4
W~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~ * *
e-----------------------------------------------------10-----------
b-13-----------------------------------------------10--------------
g—12^---12------10-------10-----------------10------------10---7--
d-----------12-------10-------12p--10--12--------------------------
a------------------------------------------------------------------
e------------------------------------------------------------------
All but the last note is the D Minor pentatonic 1st position. That *
means stop the note short or staccato. Slide down quick on the last note. That was Phrase 5
W/~~~~ /R ~~ W--- R ~~~~
e---------------------------------------------------------
b-----------13----------------------------13--------------
g—12^-----------^12--10----------10—-12^------^12---10---- Phrase 6
d---------------------------/12---------------------------
a---------------------------------------------------------
e---------------------------------------------------------
W
e---------10--------------------------------------
b-----10------------------------------------------
g—12^---------14--12p--10------10---------------- Phrase 7
d---------------------------12------12------------
a----------------------------------------12-------
e-------------------------------------------------
For the first time EC enters the D Minor pentatonic 2nd position
e----------------------------------------------
b-------------------------10--12--10-----------
g-------------10----------10--12--10----------- Phrase 8
d-10----------12p-10h-12--------------12------
a—12p-10h-12-----------------------------------
e----------------------------------------------
W
e----------------------------------------------------
b-----10-10---13p-10/-13—15p-13----------------------
g—12^---------------------------14-12--10--12--10---
d----------------------------------------------------
a----------------------------------------------------
e----------------------------------------------------
This might be the toughest part of the solo. Starts in the D Minor
pentatonic 1st position, moves into 2nd position and back again. It's
played quick. The slide up is performed with the index finger, the
slide down is performed with the middle finger. Little practice you'll have it. Hang tough the solo is almost over. Phrase 9
W W #
e---------------13------10----13------------------------------------------
b------13-----------13------------15p--13---------------------------------
g-12^------12^-----------------------------14--12--10-----------12p--10--
d-------------------------------------------------------12p--10-----------
a-------------------------------------------------------------------------
e-------------------------------------------------------------------------
W~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ R
e------------------------------------------------------
b------13-13-13-13-13-13-------------------------------
g—12^----------------------^12---10-------------------- Phrase 10
d------------------------------------12---10—-12-------
a------------------------------------------------------
e------------------------------------------------------
Phrase 10 also moves from the D Minor 1st postion to 2nd position and
back again. The # indicates when to move to the 2nd position.
OK, that's it. Vic asked for this tab, so I figured I'd go all out.
EDIT- Greybeard sent me an e-mail. He felt I had tabbed Riff A
incorrectly, so I thought it would be good to include his tab here.
It is essentially the same riff, although the last notes are an octave
lower. I played it, sounded great to me. Better than what I tabbed.
Here it is:
e--------------------------------------------
b--------------------------------------------
g--------------------------------------------
d—12-12-10-12--------------------------------
a--X--X--X--X----12-11-10-------8^-----------
e—10-10--8-10--------------/10-----10--------
I also found some mistakes in Phrase 5 of the solo which
have been corrected
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
Brilliant Wes!!! I'll be wearing out a few sets of strings till I get this down!!!
Thanks a lot mate.......
Vic
:D :D :D :D :D
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
Afterthought - Cream may not have been the first band to have been tagged "heavy" but boy did they set the standards for others to follow! For a three piece, their sound was awesome.......Clapton's guitar has never sounded better to me than in his cream days.......Jack Bruce is quite simply one of the finest Bass players, if not THE best, in the history of recorded music....and there aren't many better drummers than Ginger, I can only think of Bonzo and Moonie who are in the same class.....as rock drummers, anyway...some of the old jazz drummers like Gene Krupa were out of this world.....
Just take a look at the two biggest-selling british bands of the early 70's,
The Who - Daltrey, vocals - Townshend, guitar, - Entwistle, bass - and he was GOOD!......and Moon on drums,,,,
Led Zep - Plant, vocals - Page, guitar - John Paul Jones, bass - and Bonham, drums .....
Notice any similarities?
A further link....JPJ played keyboards and flute for LZ....Entwistle could also play a few brass instruments....Both drummers died early....but, when you get down to the nitty-gritty, they were essentially 3-piece bands with an added vocalist......as good as Plant was, he did go a bit over the top at times with the ooooooooh yeahs and baby baby baby's....has there ever been a better rock singer than Daltrey? That "YEAAAAAAAAH" at the end of "Won't get fooled Again" still sends shivers down my spine more than 30 years on........
Townshend admitted in an interview that " Tommy" was influenced by Clapton's playing with Cream.......and when the film came out, guess who was there? Eric........
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
Oh yeah Vic
Cream invented the power trio. Where do you think Hendrix got the idea?
And though not trios, the simple one guitar, bass, drum, and vocals has been one of the most successful formats in Rock. A few other groups that have used this format are AC/DC, Van Halen, and even Nirvana. And it all started with Cream.
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
Holy Cow! That has to be the most detailed tab I've ever seen. Thanks so much, Wes, for going all out and explaining stuff along the way. Great work!
Thank you very much StormyMonday (great name)
Blame it all on my Dad. He was a great baseball coach for many years (he won 7 State championships in Florida for Little League & Junior League). I think a lot of that has rubbed off on me.
I really enjoy doing these tabs. There's nothing like being able to play a good song in front of others. I try to pick popular songs that most people know. I also try to pick songs easy enough for a beginner, but not too easy. I think a challange makes learning more fun.
I am no great guitar player. I spent a whole week learning this solo, playing it over and over on a cassette player, trying to copy every lick. It is one of those great solos. Plus, it is a great example of moving back and forth between the Major and Minor Pentatonics in a solo. Eric Clapton is great at that. When I tabbed this I did it from memory. So the solo is probably not perfect, but very close.
Anyway, thanks again, I hope you enjoy it.
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
One more thing, when I view this at my computer at work, the spacing is messed up especially on the solo. At home it is perfect. I wonder if others have this problem?
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
Wes- The spacing seems okay, but I'm not sure about the dashes over the tab (is that vibrato?).
Vic- Another one of my favorite bands, The Jam, is also a trio. I really like that format for a rock band. It amazes me how big a sound all of these bands were able to achieve with such a small group of players.
Great tab. I'll give it a whirl!
and...
That "YEAAAAAAAAH" at the end of "Won't get fooled Again" still sends shivers down my spine more than 30 years on........
Amen to that. That scream is epic!
"Now people put you down for the way that you lived
But those people never knew you the way that I did
Don't be ashamed of who you were of how you died
I know you just wanted to find the brighter side..." - OPM
- Matthew
Slothrob
Yes. Now that Vic and others showed me how to use "Code" I found I can put symbols above the tab.
~ = Vibrato
^ = Bend
W= Whole step bend
H = Half step bend
/W= slow bend
W= slow release from bend
/ = Slide up
= Slide Down
---- = Sustain
Other great 3 piece bands were Mountain and Grand Funk Railroad.
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
Wes
Thanks again for another great tab with explantions of how to play it.
Too many years ago I almost wore this album out listening toit over and over.This solo is note for note the most memorable for me.
I liked how you explained the variation on the opening riff adding the note on the 9th fret.Always wondered how he got that sound.
Saw them in 68 ticket price was $4.50 for a center floor seat and still have the ticket .
It was a good era for music especially live.Luckily I got to see Jimi,The Who,Zepplin ,Mountain, Johhny Winter even The Beatles (twice) and many many more.
Keep up the good work
Timbit
Wow Timbit, that is an impressive list. The only one of those I saw was Led Zeppelin.
And yes, that one little added note makes the riff. It is awesome.
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
I've just started to have a close look at Sunshine (again) and have only now discovered the fantastic drumming on the record. Having listened to it a few times today, I realise that a large part of the "atmosphere" of "Sunshine" is the amazing driving beat of the drums.
Thanks again, Wes - the tab is brilliant
I started with nothing - and I've still got most of it left.
Did you know that the word "gullible" is not in any dictionary?
Greybeard's Pages
My Articles & Reviews on GN
This definitely wins the "Best Tab" award at the GNoscars...see opinions and polls......
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
Thanks Vic,
You're making me blush :oops:
What makes GuitarNoise so great is that everyone is so friendly and helpful. There are no big egos. New members are made to feel welcome from their first post, and there are no cliques. Everyone's opinion is respected as well. It is a great site.
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
