--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As far as actual playing, Clapton - by…" description: "\"As far as actual playing, Clapton - by far - is my biggest influence, and you can tuck Jeff Beck underneath that.\" — Joe Bonamassa" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/joe-bonamassa-6126_biggest-influence_as-far-as-actual-playing-clapton-by-far_1069617.jpg" --- # As far as actual playing, Clapton - by far - is my biggest… ![“As far as actual playing, Clapton - by far - is my biggest influence, and you can tuck Jeff Beck underneath that.” quote by Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/joe-bonamassa-6126_biggest-influence_as-far-as-actual-playing-clapton-by-far_1069617.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/joe-bonamassa-6126_biggest-influence_as-far-as-actual-playing-clapton-by-far_1069617.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/joe-bonamassa-6126_biggest-influence_as-far-as-actual-playing-clapton-by-far_1069617.jpg) > “As far as actual playing, Clapton - by far - is my biggest influence, and you can tuck Jeff Beck underneath that.” [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Clapton’s style is his primary influence, with Jeff Beck’s techniques woven underneath for depth. **In simple terms:** Clapton leads, Beck adds depth. Key Takeaway Blend influences for a unique voice. Themes music influence creativity guitar learning Mood enthusiastic reflective Type musical inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - performance - practice sessions Key Concepts stylistic fusion musical heritage technique layering Questions to Reflect On - Which elements of each influence resonate most with you? - How can you innovate beyond your heroes? A Different Perspective Relying heavily on idols can limit personal originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beck/) [Beck Underneath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beck-underneath-2657602/) [Biggest influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-influence/) [Far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/far/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Jeff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jeff/) [Jeff Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jeff-beck-412111/) [Playing Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-clapton-2657601/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [I decided early on that I wanted to be Michael Bloomfield, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton - not George Harrison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/i-decided-early-on-that-i-wanted-to-be-michael-bloomfield-jeff-beck/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [My personal favourite is Jeff Beck. All the others are wonderful as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-redding/my-personal-favourite-is-jeff-beck-all-the-others-are-wonderful-as/) [Noel Redding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-redding/) > [When we toured... I was hungry to take out people like Jeff Beck in front of us; Fleetwood Mac, just before they hit; Heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kantner/when-we-toured-i-was-hungry-to-take-out-people-like-jeff-beck-in/) [Paul Kantner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kantner/) > [I always loved the Yardbirds when I was a kid, you know; I was always into Jeff Beck and everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-moore/i-always-loved-the-yardbirds-when-i-was-a-kid-you-know-i-was-always/) [Gary Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-moore/) > [Whenever I hear my playing, I can't detach from my influences: there's my Jeff Beck, there's the Clapton bit, the Eric Johnson bit, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/whenever-i-hear-my-playing-i-can-t-detach-from-my-influences-there-s/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I don't put myself on Jeff Beck's level, but I can relate to him when he says he'd rather be working on his car…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritchie-blackmore/i-don-t-put-myself-on-jeff-beck-s-level-but-i-can-relate-to-him-when/) [Ritchie Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritchie-blackmore/) > [I swear that he is an alien. There is something about his phrasing that is so unpredictable and cool. It makes you wonder where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orianthi/i-swear-that-he-is-an-alien-there-is-something-about-his-phrasing/) [Orianthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orianthi/) > [Jeff Beck is one of my heroes and has been since I first picked up a guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-hammett/jeff-beck-is-one-of-my-heroes-and-has-been-since-i-first-picked-up-a/) [Kirk Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-hammett/) > [In 2008, I was in a London park when I came across a fledgling crow that had fallen from the top of an oak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/in-2008-i-was-in-a-london-park-when-i-came-across-a-fledgling-crow/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [I've always been a Jeff Beck fan. Who isn't? He is in a league of his own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rodgers/i-ve-always-been-a-jeff-beck-fan-who-isn-t-he-is-in-a-league-of-his/) [Paul Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rodgers/) > [I saw The Jeff Beck Group at the Marquee Club in 1967, when he was with Rod Stewart, and holy smokes, they were amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rodgers/i-saw-the-jeff-beck-group-at-the-marquee-club-in-1967-when-he-was/) [Paul Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rodgers/) > [I probably owe as much to Jeff Beck as I do to Son House with connections to the blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-gibbons/i-probably-owe-as-much-to-jeff-beck-as-i-do-to-son-house-with/) [Billy Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-gibbons/) > [Every time I listen to Jeff Beck my whole view of guitar changes radically. He's way, way out, doing things you never expect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-may/every-time-i-listen-to-jeff-beck-my-whole-view-of-guitar-changes/) [Brian May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-may/) > [When God plays guitar he uses Jeff Beck's hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/when-god-plays-guitar-he-uses-jeff-beck-s-hands/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) > [Jeff Beck is probably my favorite and biggest influence on the guitar. Touring with him in 2010 was such a milestone. I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hoey/jeff-beck-is-probably-my-favorite-and-biggest-influence-on-the-guitar/) [Gary Hoey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hoey/) ## More by Joe Bonamassa > [That's the thing about the blues: It's one thing to hit a note on a guitar. To make it matter is something else altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/that-s-the-thing-about-the-blues-it-s-one-thing-to-hit-a-note-on-a/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [My first proper 'Here's your guitar, Joseph' was a 1981 Chiquita, one of those Erlewine travel guitars. And it was good for a four-year-old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/my-first-proper-here-s-your-guitar-joseph-was-a-1981-chiquita-one-of/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I collect as many acoustic guitars as I need for a specific purpose. Acoustic guitars are really just tools for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-collect-as-many-acoustic-guitars-as-i-need-for-a-specific-purpose/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [When you're 12 and, you know, slightly overweight and - for lack of a better word - white, and you're playing blues, you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/when-you-re-12-and-you-know-slightly-overweight-and-for-lack-of-a/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [The blues, the way it's interpreted, is always a product of your environment, and so it's almost like food. You know, it's like you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/the-blues-the-way-it-s-interpreted-is-always-a-product-of-your/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [At the end of the day, you really want to make sure that organic music, made by human beings, at least has a voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/at-the-end-of-the-day-you-really-want-to-make-sure-that-organic-music/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [If I'm soloing, I usually try to start with a theme, which will often stem from the blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/if-i-m-soloing-i-usually-try-to-start-with-a-theme-which-will-often/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [Greece was a muse. It inspired creativity in magical ways that I can't even begin to understand or explain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/greece-was-a-muse-it-inspired-creativity-in-magical-ways-that-i-can-t/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [There was a rumour that I was buying Gibson. It circulated around the Internet... And I just go, 'How well off do you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/there-was-a-rumour-that-i-was-buying-gibson-it-circulated-around-the/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [It's not enough to play a song: you have to inhabit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/it-s-not-enough-to-play-a-song-you-have-to-inhabit-it/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I love to collect guitars made in the 1950s. I like preserving and playing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-love-to-collect-guitars-made-in-the-1950s-i-like-preserving-and/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I've always been a big fan of taking old songs and completely turning them on their head. Having no adherence to the fine tradition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-ve-always-been-a-big-fan-of-taking-old-songs-and-completely-turning/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [My first memory of guitar was seeing my father play one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/my-first-memory-of-guitar-was-seeing-my-father-play-one/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [Nothing I'm doing musically is revolutionary in any way, shape, or form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/nothing-i-m-doing-musically-is-revolutionary-in-any-way-shape-or-form/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I dislike all those cookie-cutter Nashville songs. You know the ones: about tight jeans and pick-up trucks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-dislike-all-those-cookie-cutter-nashville-songs-you-know-the-ones/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) [Explore all 100 Joe Bonamassa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) ## More Beck quotes > [Simon had been all lined up and he’d managed to throw away the best girl he’d ever meet. “What a dumbass,” Beck muttered. “No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/simon-had-been-all-lined-up-and-he-d-managed-to-throw-away-the-best/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) > [Beck is obviously a consummate musician. He plays instruments, many instruments. He can make his own record without having a fleet of computer operators…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/beck-is-obviously-a-consummate-musician-he-plays-instruments-many/) [Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/) > [Ya hafta be there for Beck. He only has you." Riley sighed. "I'll get the car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/ya-hafta-be-there-for-beck-he-only-has-you-riley-sighed-i-ll-get-the/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) > [ I didn't get a chance to meet Glen \[Beck\] for this movie. I did meet him a few years ago, coincidentally, before any of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-didn-t-get-a-chance-to-meet-glen-beck-for-this-movie-i-did-meet-him/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [Jeff Beck is probably my favorite and biggest influence on the guitar. Touring with him in 2010 was such a milestone. I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hoey/jeff-beck-is-probably-my-favorite-and-biggest-influence-on-the-guitar/) [Gary Hoey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hoey/) > [I spent a lot of my time, growing up, at the Beck Center. I'd be in plays there, and I'd get there an hour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-o-malley/i-spent-a-lot-of-my-time-growing-up-at-the-beck-center-i-d-be-in/) [Rory O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-o-malley/) > [I'm rarely grabbed by anything the way I was when I was 10 years younger. About the only relatively new artists whose albums I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-egan/i-m-rarely-grabbed-by-anything-the-way-i-was-when-i-was-10-years/) [Greg Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-egan/) > [When God plays guitar he uses Jeff Beck's hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/when-god-plays-guitar-he-uses-jeff-beck-s-hands/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) > [My personal favourite is Jeff Beck. All the others are wonderful as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-redding/my-personal-favourite-is-jeff-beck-all-the-others-are-wonderful-as/) [Noel Redding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-redding/) > [“That night, I fell into a deep, travel-weary sleep, lulled by the familiar sound of the waterfall beyond the window. I dreamed of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-gaynor/that-night-i-fell-into-a-deep-travel-weary-sleep-lulled-by-the/) [Hazel Gaynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-gaynor/) > [We should be happy. We should be enjoying that there is all this bounty. Somebody can take an iPod and have all the world's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-stock/we-should-be-happy-we-should-be-enjoying-that-there-is-all-this/) [Gregory Stock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-stock/) > [On August 28, 2010, Fox News messiah Glenn Beck hosted a 'Restoring Honor' revival meeting featuring sexy guest star Sarah Palin, much as Bob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/on-august-28-2010-fox-news-messiah-glenn-beck-hosted-a-restoring/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [Every time I listen to Jeff Beck my whole view of guitar changes radically. He's way, way out, doing things you never expect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-may/every-time-i-listen-to-jeff-beck-my-whole-view-of-guitar-changes/) [Brian May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-may/) > [When we toured... I was hungry to take out people like Jeff Beck in front of us; Fleetwood Mac, just before they hit; Heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kantner/when-we-toured-i-was-hungry-to-take-out-people-like-jeff-beck-in/) [Paul Kantner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kantner/) > [“When Beck finally comes out of the office for dinner, he takes one look at me, and I know he sees the change, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-sloan/when-beck-finally-comes-out-of-the-office-for-dinner-he-takes-one/) [Harper Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-sloan/) [Browse all 100 Beck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beck/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As far as actual playing, Clapton - by far - is my biggest influence, and you can tuck Jeff Beck underneath that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joe Bonamassa" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/as-far-as-actual-playing-clapton-by-far-is-my-biggest-influence-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beck" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/as-far-as-actual-playing-clapton-by-far-is-my-biggest-influence-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/joe-bonamassa-6126_biggest-influence_as-far-as-actual-playing-clapton-by-far_1069617.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/joe-bonamassa-6126_biggest-influence_as-far-as-actual-playing-clapton-by-far_1069617.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/joe-bonamassa-6126_biggest-influence_as-far-as-actual-playing-clapton-by-far_1069617.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As far as actual playing, Clapton - by far - is my biggest influence, and you can tuck Jeff Beck underneath…” — Joe Bonamassa", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Joe Bonamassa", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As far as actual playing, Clapton...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/as-far-as-actual-playing-clapton-by-far-is-my-biggest-influence-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/as-far-as-actual-playing-clapton-by-far-is-my-biggest-influence-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```