How To Play “Had To Cry Today” On Guitar?
Steve Winwood wrote “Had to Cry Today”, when he played with Blind Faith. This is the group that Eric Clapton put together after Cream broke up. He had Ginger Baker on the drums, Steve Winwood singing and playing some guitar and keyboard. We had even Rick Breck, who was in another great band called Family.
The sole studio album by the English ensemble Blind Faith was initially released in 1969 on ATCO Records in America and Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and Europe. It was ranked at No. 40 on the US Soul Albums chart and at the top of the album charts in the US, UK, and Canada. The RIAA awarded it platinum certification.
“Had to Cry Today” is a classic rock song by the band Blind Faith, released in 1969. The song features a memorable guitar riff and solo, making it a fun one to play on guitar. If you’re looking to learn how to play “Had to Cry Today” on guitar, the Deplike will teach you! In addition, there are the steps you can follow while learning how to play the song.
Familiarize yourself with the song
Before you start learning how to play “Had to Cry Today” on guitar, it’s important to listen to the song. In that way, you can get a sense of the structure and arrangement. Pay attention to the guitar parts and identify the main riff and solo sections.
Learn the main riff
The main riff of “Had to Cry Today” is played on the electric guitar and consists of a series of power chords. The riff is played in a fast, driving rhythm and uses a combination of downstrokes and upstrokes. To play the main riff, you’ll need to know how to play power chords and alternate between downstrokes and upstrokes.
Practice the main riff
You’ve learned the main riff. Now, it’s time to start practicing it. Start by playing the riff slowly, and gradually increase the tempo as you get more comfortable with it. Use a metronome to help keep time, and focus on playing the riff cleanly and accurately.
Learn the solo
The solo in “Had to Cry Today” is played on the electric guitar and features a series of fast, bluesy licks. To play the solo, you’ll need to know how to play lead guitar and be familiar with blues scale patterns.
Practice the solo
Like with the main riff, it’s important to practice the solo slowly at first. Then, you can gradually increase the tempo as you get more comfortable with it. Use a metronome to help keep time, and focus on playing the solo cleanly and accurately.
Practice the entire song
Once you’ve learned both the main riff and the solo, it’s time to put everything together and practice the entire song. Start by playing the main riff and solo together, and then add in the verse and chorus sections. Practice the song until you can play it smoothly and accurately.
Perform the song
Once you’ve mastered “Had to Cry Today” on guitar, it’s time to show off your skills! Find a group of friends or fellow musicians to play the song with, or consider performing it at an open mic night or another local event.
Playing “Had to Cry Today” on guitar can be a challenging and rewarding experience. With a bit of practice and dedication, you’ll be able to master this classic rock song and add it to your repertoire. Happy playing!
How To Play “Had To Cry Today” On Guitar? | About “Had To Cry Today”
“Had to Cry Today” is a song by the English rock group Blind Faith, released on their self-titled album in 1969. Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton wrote the son which was the lead single from the album. It is known for its distinctive guitar work, powerful vocals, and memorable opening riff.
The lyrics of “Had to Cry Today” explore themes of love and loss and the difficulties of relationships. The song is characterized by its bluesy, soulful sound and features a prominent organ and guitar interplay between Winwood and Clapton. The song’s lyrics are notable for their honesty and vulnerability as the narrator reflects on pain of a failed relationship and the emotional toll it has taken.
Blind Faith was a short-lived but influential supergroup formed in London in 1969. It was consisting of Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Steve Winwood, and Ric Grech. Although they released only one album, most of the fans remember the group for its impact on the rock music scene of the time, and “Had to Cry Today” remains one of their most enduring and well-known songs.
How To Play “Had To Cry Today” On Guitar? | Who is the Blind Faith?
Blind Faith was an English blues rock supergroup that was active in the late 1960s. The group was composed of some of the most renowned musicians of the time, including Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Steve Winwood, and Rick Grech.
Blind Faith was formed in 1969 following the breakup of the popular rock band Cream, which featured Clapton, Baker, and Jack Bruce. Clapton and Baker decided to continue working together. They recruited Winwood, who was the lead singer and keyboardist for the band Traffic, and Grech, who was a bassist with the group Family.
The group released a self-titled album in 1969, which featured a mix of rock, blues, and soul music. The album included several hit songs, including “Can’t Find My Way Home,” “Presence of the Lord,” and “Sea of Joy.” “Can’t Find My Way Home” became one of Clapton’s most well-known songs and remained a classic of the rock genre.
Even though the album achieved big success, they disbanded the Blind Faith later in 1969. The group’s members went on to have successful solo careers. Blind Faith’s music continues to be highly regarded and influential to this day.
How To Play “Had To Cry Today” On Guitar? – Main Riff
The song is in G minor. So, you start right here on the D string, and the box of joy in the D string in terms of the G minor pentatonic scale would be found right here on the G, D, and A strings at frets three and five. Their riff features this root note, it’s G note. However, it starts on this F behind it which is the third fret and plays with a hammer on to begin; of course, when you work on your hammer-ons, you have to imagine the inside of a piano with those hammers strike very quickly and strong. If you don’t do that, you won’t get a sound because it’s not working pretty strong.
So, the main riff is going to start off with the third to the fifth on the D string. What we’re doing there is we’re kind of bending half bending down on the third of the G. Then, go to the fifth of the D, to the third of the D, and end up on the 8th of the A string.
In the next part, we are hammering on to the first to third on the A string and hitting it again, and get an open D. So, we are going to go such a third of the A, first of the A, and third of the E string. We’re doing there is a kind of bending down slightly on that first of the A string and the third of the E, and getting the power chords of the A sharp to C, and back to the A sharp. And that’s the main riff of the song.
How To Play “Had To Cry Today” On Guitar? – Chords
“Had to Cry Today” is played in the key of C Major. The main guitar riff that opens the song is played with the following chord progression: C, G, F, and C again. All of these chords play for times for each line.
You can repeat this progression throughout the song, with some slight variations. The chord voicings used for these chords will depend on the specific guitar sound and style of the player.
The verse sections of the song feature a similar chord progression but with the addition of some seventh chords for added tension and dissonance: C7, G7, F7, and C7 again.
In addition, the song includes a bridge section with a different chord progression: F, C, G, F, C, G, and C. In this section, each chord plays two times except the C chord at the end of the section.
Again, you can play these chords in a variety of voicings and styles. Furthermore, it is worth noting that the song was recorded with a combination of electric and acoustic guitars, and the specific guitar parts. Tones may vary depending on the specific recording or performance.
How To Play “Had To Cry Today” On Guitar? – Solo
“Had to Cry Today” features a memorable guitar solo that showcases Eric Clapton’s bluesy and expressive style. The solo is played over the same chord progression as the main riff and verse sections of the song.
To play the solo, you will need to use a combination of scales, bends, slides, and vibrato to create the desired phrasing and feel. Here are a few tips for playing the solo:
1. Use the C Mixolydian scale as a starting point.
This scale includes the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, and B and is well-suited to bluesy, rock-style playing.
2. Experiment with bends, slides, and vibrato to add expression to your playing.
Bending the strings allows you to change the pitch of a note, while slides allow you to move smoothly between different pitches. Vibrato is a rapid, subtle pitch variation that can add depth and emotion to your playing.
3. Practice phrasing and dynamics.
The solo in “Had to Cry Today” features a range of phrasing and dynamic variations, from long, sustained notes to shorter, more staccato phrases. Pay attention to the phrasing and dynamics of the original solo, and try to incorporate similar elements into your own playing.
4. Use legato techniques to create smooth transitions between notes.
Legato techniques involve playing notes without picking or plucking the strings, using techniques such as hammer-ons and pull-offs. This can help create a smooth, fluid sound in your playing.
5. Experiment with different guitar tones and effects.
The original solo in “Had to Cry Today” was recorded with a combination of electric and acoustic guitars. It makes use of a range of effects such as reverb, delay, and distortion. Experiment with different tones and effects to find the sound that works best for you.
The key to playing a great solo in “Had to Cry Today” is to practice and experiment and to develop your own voice and style as a guitarist. With time and practice, you will be able to master this iconic blues-rock solo.
How To Play “Had To Cry Today” On Guitar? | Final Thoughts
Playing “Had to Cry Today” on guitar may be both difficult and rewarding. However, in the end, you’ll be able to learn this iconic rock tune. You can even add it to your repertoire with a little practice and devotion. We demonstrated how to play “Had To Cry Today” by Blind Faith on the guitar in this post. It is not too complicated for everyone to understand. We sincerely hope you liked this article and learned how to play “Had To Cry Today” by Blind Faith on the guitar.
The Deplike Learning App allows you to learn a variety of songs, including Blind Faith’s “Had To Cry Today,” which you learned in this post. The Deplike Learning App makes it simpler to learn new songs. You can select a song from the app, learn how to play it. In fact, you can browse the artists and utilizing the active learning approach to learn the chords. Moreover, you can learn many songs, like “Had to Cry Today,” using the Deplike Learning App. In addition, you can learn useful stuff about playing the guitar by reading the Deplike Blog.
