Eric JohnsonCliffs Of Dover (4:09)

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About This Track

“Cliffs of Dover” is an instrumental song by guitarist Eric Johnson which appeared on his 1990 Ah Via Musicom album. Composed in the key of G major, the song was recorded on a Gibson ES-335. The song takes its name from the white Cliffs of Dover along the British shoreline. It also features on the video game Guitar Hero III. “Cliffs of Dover” was voted number 17 in Guitar World magazine’s list of 100 Greatest Guitar Solos.

Cliffs of Dover begins the song with an ad-libbed electric guitar solo, using techniques such as string skipping and hybrid picking. In the solo intro, Johnson does not adhere to any distinct time signature. Drums are then added as the song settles into a 4/4 rhythmic shuffle verse accompanied by a very accessible set of melodies that, throughout the song intro, feature variations (octavations for example) on the main chorus. The outro or coda then recalls freestyle mood and timing of the ad-libbed intro.

While he did indeed compose “Cliffs of Dover”, Johnson does not take full credit, saying “I don’t even know if I can take credit for writing ‘Cliffs of Dover’ … it was just there for me one day … literally wrote in five minutes … kind of a gift from a higher place that all of us are eligible for. We just have to listen for it and be available to receive it.”

Guitar World
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Albums featuring this track

  • Ah Via Musicom
    Eric Johnson Play
    Buy
  • House of Blues Live
    Eric Johnson Play
    Buy
  • Live From Austin, TX '84
    Eric Johnson Play
    Buy
  • Moods Series, The
    Various Artists Play
    Buy
See all 5 albums

Shouts

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  • retrowens

    One of the greatest guitar tracks I've ever heard...definitely puts me in a good mood and makes me reminisce about the good old days every time I hear it.

    last week
  • FREESER8

    one of the best songs ever!

    25 days ago
  • rigelthe16th

    :)

    last month
  • dadmompawlyk

    The Live G3 one is also Great

    last month
  • m0r0k1

    This composition is so awesome my speakers can't handle it.

    last month
  • Panecea

    Soaring.

    last month
  • Bladewind

    Pshh. Guitar hero? THIS guy is a guitar hero. The whole game should have been about him.

    last month
  • BIG-D313

    nitehawk868 beat me to it... I was coming here to say that... He does make it sing... so good!!

    March 2012
  • nitehawk868

    The man must of been born with a guitar in hand....he makes that thing sing!!!!

    February 2012
  • plan5878

    Wow Great Sound Always Has A Decent Recording

    February 2012
  • Gomo612

    My dad used to play this all the time when I was young. It reminds me of my childhood, and in general is just awesome. I've heard it on the radio the last few years in New York during the countdown on Q104.3 Classic Rock, which always makes me happy.

    February 2012
  • LWRICH

    One of Eric's very best original songs!! It really is his signature style and sound at its best, IMHO!!!

    January 2012
  • lukasz_pulawski

    purest guitar sound

    December 2011
  • Sikorkaaa

    Guitar Hero III ♥

    December 2011
  • MIKEH3875

    takes me back to greater,simpler and much happier times.......

    December 2011
  • kbomb001

    VVV really?

    December 2011
  • funmrmmmm

    joe sartiani plays the same tune, whats up with that!

    December 2011
  • silversurfer250

    Kids...don't try this at home.

    November 2011
  • lilywildchild

    Fantastic ~ Thanks John!

    November 2011
  • bolobull

    killer

    November 2011
See all 440 shouts

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