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His guitar tone has been called "the 800 lb violin." I think it's one of the most identifiable, most unique guitar tones ever, and his technique is legendary.

One of the greatest guitar performances ever. This is an absolute classic.

That main riff always gives me goosebumps and makes my eyes all watery. So much heart and soul in this song.

Some guitarists miss some notes while playing live. Eric Johnson plays extra notes, making it sound even better than the original, and he still seems like he's holding back. So much energy in such a calm person.

When people talk about underrated guitarists, THIS is the one, singular person EVERYBODY should be talking about.

This song won a Grammy Award. And it's one of the rare rock guitar instrumentals (speaking of the modern era, at least) to have gotten radio airplay.

Eric Johnson was the opening act for Rush back in 91. Alex loved Eric’s playing so much that he gave him one of his guitars.

Eric Johnson sets himself apart with his tone, extremely clean and fast playing that doesn’t rely on “shredder” cliches and tricks, an incredible sense of melody. He also chooses very interesting notes; notes that are in the key he is playing, but not necessarily part of the chord underneath. This creates all kinds of tension and release in his melodies and phrasing. I love him!

THIS, Ladies and Gentlemen is THE greatest guitar instrumental OF ALL TIME. There are good guitarists, there are great ones, then there are absolute virtuosos. Then there's Eric Johnson.

Eric Johnson has one of the greatest techniques i have ever seen for playing guitar. His harmonics are always perfect, and his hybrid picking is incredible. Not to mention the tone that he gets. Especially in this performance, the guitar tone he uses is perfect and to top it off he uses a little bit of delay

Jamel, Back in the early 1980’s there were 2 young guitarist topping the scene in Austin Texas… Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Johnson… Friends, but competitors with shitloads of talent! Blessed to see them both in the early 80’s.

One of the Eric Johnson has one of the best, and prettiest, guitar tones ever.

EJ is a master. Other guitar players always pay him props. And whenever he comes up in discussion, he's respected and well liked as a good person.

What you've just heard is quite possibly the greatest live guitar tone ever... so clear and warm just amazing

When this hit…. It absolutely changed the game for us guitarists…. Tone…phrasing… melodic…. Technical…. Absolute class act…. If you know you know…. And now you do… His material will be around for years to come…. This was a LEGENDARY LEGENDARY performance…. And yes his vocals are exactly what you would expect after seeing that….. in his own class… one of the best. Period. Take care out there guys!!! 🙏🙏

Jesus Christ, the tone he achieves is unreal. Just amazing how clean and fast but soulful his playing is. Absolute one off. Luv and Peace.

The best part about Cliffs of Dover is every recording of it is like listening to it for the first time again, since the first part of the song is improvised. Eric Johnson is a god of guitar.

Eric Johnson has a nice singing voice, and does sing on his records. What separates him from other guitarists is his guitar tone-as it does for other truly unique players. One other quality that distinguishes him-he is one of the “cleanest” players around, meaning every note comes out perfect.

Guitar Hero introduced me to this masterpiece.

Eric Johnson is undoubtedly one of the best guitar players I have ever seen in person. An incredible musician 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽😊

Eric sings some, but he's known mostly for his brilliant guitar playing. He is scheduled to go on tour next year in the U.S. and I can't wait to see him again!

I think the word you're searching for when talking about Eric Johnson is FOCUS. Like when Neil Peart does a drum solo, he's always focused intently on what he's doing he rarely show's any emotion.

Late 80's early 90's front row next to the stage. He is so smooth. His early music training was classical piano. He does sing. Bristol Shores, Desert Rose are a couple of his vocal tunes. Tommy Taylor is the drummer. Kyle Brock plays bass. They are fun to watch. You'll have to remind yourself to close your mouth. Great reaction. He's still around playing so if you get the chance to see him live, you should. He's one of the best.

I remember this one as I was in college in the early 90s and I remember driving with the radio blasting in my old '73 Chevy Caprice coupe; I was full of dreams and youth...I heard it on the radio and didn't know the name until decades later online. In those days, you couldn't look it up online or Shazam it. When I described it, no one seemed to know what I was talking about. In my opinion, the song seems God-inspired.

Eric Johnson is one of the most underrated guitarists out there

Eric Johnson is too damn smooth, he plays so clean

Glad to see all the nice comments about EJ. We in Houston have known about him since the early 80's at a club called Rockefeller's. Small little place with killer acoustics. Every time he came to town virtually every guitar player in the city would be there (me included). The first time I saw him I was gigging in the Houston area and I was also teaching guitar. A local luthier named Rick Becker told me we had to go see this guy from Austin named Eric Johnson, he was supposed to be amazing. I didn't have a gig that night and it was only $8 so I went with Rick. I was so blown away that night, I decided to go to college and study Engineering. I'm not kidding... This guy was so damn good and I never even heard of the guy!!! What chance did I have? I was good and everything, but NOWHERE near this guy!! Not even in the same hemisphere!!! Take it from me and a thousand other guitar players, if you've never seen EJ in person, go to the show!!! It's WAY, WAY, WAY better than any video you'll see on KZfaq or anywhere else. I promise!!!!

Eric Johnson does a cover of Jimi Hendrix's song "Are You Experienced" from the same Austin City Limits concert that this footage is from and it is outstanding. And yes, he does sing.

I've had the pleasure of seeing Eric Johnson perform 3 times in my life. Most recently right before lockdown started in 2020. It was my oldest daughters first concert and her first time seeing live music that wasn't a symphony or a choir. She was blown away. He is just as amazing now as he was when he filmed that Austin City Limits video you reacted to. An amazing musician. It's foolish to try to describe one guitarist as "the best" or "the GOAT", but he is one of the greatest guitarists living today. I once heard Jeff Beck describe him as "tasty", that's as good a description as any. His playing is just tasty.

This was recorded at Austin City Limits in Austin Texas, my hometown. This is where Eric Johnson is from as well. His guitar playing has been rated top-notch by guitarists such as Billy Gibbons and Joe Satriani just to name a couple

Love him so much. When you hear the wrong notes you see him shake his head. Makes me feel more normal.

I saw this when I went tot he first G3 tour with Eric Johnson, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. That was a lot of talent on one stage, especially when all three were on stage playing together.

Not going to lie, his playing is what he's known for. However he has a gorgeous voice that will rival most pop/boybands type vocals.

The first time I ever heard this, I drove straight to Tower Records and bought the album.

2 words for this song, beautiful masterpiece

I love Eric Johnson’s personality. He’s such a laid back humble guy.

I remember seeing this on Austin City Limits way back when, never having even heard of Eric Johnson before, and being just blown away in awe of his talent. Probably one of the greatest guitarists that very few know of.

Love to watch a guitar player's hands. Such a master with that instrument. Sounds fabulous!

Eric Johnson is one of those artisan guitarists who crafts a blend of styles into his own. Even during this famous performance he would say later on that his playing still isn't where he wanted it to be. He's a perfectionist and a master of his craft. He also wrote this song in about 5 minutes...

Eric Johnson plays such beautiful, clean tones. Playing guitar with a lot of distortion and overdrive can actually hide a lot of mistakes, but playing clean like that is what sets him above many other great players. Love this tune a lot!

As a 46 year old this was amazing to me as a kid and it still holds up! Appreciate you for sharing this 🙏

Eric Johnson is such a great artist!! I met him back in the 80's. He was amazing, and the nicest guy you could ever meet.

You are correct when you say he seems like a very laid back , focused type of guy. I met him after a show , one time, and had him sign my guitar - he was so chill, non self effacing, nice guy. Nearly all the interviews I've seen of him , he's just really calm, cool,collected - but that raging spirit comes out through the guitar and the amps. He is the quintessential musician's musician . I've seen him live several times, never a bad show.

He is one of them most humble and laid back guys ever. I met him twice when he played in Toronto. He's quiet and soft spoken off-stage and on-stage. He lets his fingers do the talkin' for him. He loves to talk guitar, amps, effects and technique. What you see is what you get with Eric. A brilliant player.

Glad to see you enjoying some Eric Johnson! This is definitely deserving of being included in the top live guitar solos list. I saw him 3 years ago and found myself every 30 seconds with my mouth wide open saying “WOW” at how precise and clear his picking is. The man is a superhuman. Check out Desert Rose for his guitar work and singing!

This song gives me shivers down my spine every time I hear it. Did when this album first came out (I wore the tape out). Does now. The album version was quite a bit shorter. All of the solo he did before the rest of the band joined in is "extra".

I've met EJ several times and he is so kind and soft spoken. A very humble virtuoso.

Yes!!! Great guitarist. First heard him on KLBJ in Austin. I'm a huge fan. Thanks for the reaction.

He has some other great instrumentals: trademark, Manhattan, Steve’s Boogie, Emerald eyes, SRV, Venus Isle. Also, check out Joe Satriani, he’s another master with multiple amazing instrumentals.

EJ is a legend. Great vocals on "Desert Rose" (and amazing soloing as well).

I was a beach cop in South Carolina when this came out. Hearing it play in the rock and roll bars of the mid 90’s is something I can never explain. I was king of the world for a brief time. I hope I helped all the humans around me live a better life.

That was awesome Jamel ! Sometimes I can multi-task while listening (open mail, etc....), but THAT stopped me dead in my tracks!! Thanks to you and a Blessed and Merry Christmas to you and family ~ Gin🙏🎵🎶🎸

Yes Jamel aka Jamal!!! Thank you for checking it out! He's an amazing guitarist ...he's played with the best of them. Joe Satriani, Steve Vai. One of my favorites from Eric Johnson.

Now Eric Johnson is my favorite guitar player of all time... I already have purchased my ticket to see him in March of 2023 in Charlotte NC.. I can't wait to see him... Everyone knows what gift God gave him and I'm so glad he is sharing it with everyone else...

I love watching Jamal's reactions because that's me too. This song is so amazing, man.

Christopher Cross sings background vocals on the song, ‘When the sun meets the sky’, a beautiful slower song that showcases Eric’s vocals on his 1996 CD.

Eric Johnson should be endorsed by Parkay because his tone is straight butter. Amazing sound and playing.

@Jamel I’m glad you finally got to hear this. I was blessed to see him do this live opening for Rush Roll the Bones tour. Fantastic sound quality and a beautiful song.

When I was a young guy learning guitar, my teacher put this one in front of me to learn. I absolutely couldn’t play it, and can’t now, but I know how to play the main riff, and that’s enough. This was a ray of sunshine in that era, just joyful music. EJ’s a fantastic player, and the Cliffs of Dover are a beautiful sight to see. Nailed the tone of a place so much. Thanks Jamel!

We were there, absolutely mesmerizing. The tone live was phenomenal.

Jamel, if you want to hear him sing (and also shred on the guitar), check out "Desert Rose" from the same concert as this, or "Bristol Shore" or "Trail of Tears" from his first album, "Tones"

My son has been playing guitar since he was 10 years old. He is really good. He went through his Clapton, Hendrix, Vaughn stages. Then he discovered Eric Johnson. He has been in the Eric Johnson stage for years.

Saw him a couple of years ago at Sellersville theater PA. Small venue my wife really enjoyed the whole show!

One of my favorite guitar solos, EVER.

He does a great live cover version of Jimi Hendrix's ARE YOU EXPERIENCED. I believe it is from this same show.

Okay, I'm new here, and I'm amazed. I'm 78, a life-long rock fan, especially electric guitar players. So, how is it I never even heard of this guy? Really, how can it be? Needless to say, Johnson is GREAT. Right there with the best. Great reaction, too. (Also, I like your shirt.)

I love your reaction videos. Really HAPPY to see you do this one. I first heard this on the radio in 1990. I had to pull over to sit and listen. It affected me so much. The dexterity, and complexity while maintaining a musical & melodic tone was groundbreaking.

Eric Johnson is a guitar God, period. Give us more of his masterful work!

I've seen him play live too many times to count, always a great show. He's such a humble guy too. Check out the video from Fender when he discussed his custom shop Virginia model w/ the Luthier who made it.

I had the pleasure of spending time with Eric Johnson at GearFest 2019. He was all the things it says on your shirt! We talked shop about guitars and he was gracious & let me take a picture with him. We were both interested in the same guitar, but he was playing that night and asked to borrow it for the show, so he won! That picture is still the screensaver on my phone and I still start conversations with other guitarist with "So I was talking to Eric Johnson and...."

The guitar is an instrument, just as much as vocals are. They can convey so much emotion and personality. What makes Eric Johnson such a pleasure to hear is his own unique voice and tone. He has his own sound. He's a sublime player, and from what I've seen in interviews, seems to be a stellar guy. Absolutely love the work he's shared with us

You have to hear/see Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme). So many awesome solos, maybe Flight of the Wounded Bumblebee, Play With Me, or Get the Funk Out (apparently Brian May's favorite) would be a good start. I know you reacted to Extreme, More Than Words (mellow ballad with acoustic guitar), which is a great song. But the ones I mentioned and many others really showcase Nuno's unique skills.

I personally get goosebumps every time I hear trail of tears live at the same event

There is a video on KZfaq called G3 - Live in Concert - Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson. They each play a set and then, at about the 48 minute mark, they all start playing together. The whole show is worth a watch.

One of the greatest single, live guitar performances ever, at least in television. I remember watching this as a teenager, being absolutely floored, thinking I had witnessed a divinely joyful moment. Awesome. Thanks for featuring! 🤙🎸

His tone, and playing his shit with perfection is what separates him.

Such a great rock instrumental! I remember hearing this on the radio and instantly loving it, but I had no idea who it was by. Two lousy albums by another guitarist later, I finally found someone who knew the song and could tell me what it was, at which point I went out and got the right album. (This was before the Internet so there really wasn’t any way to easily find out.)

This reaction was a pleasant surprise to come up on my feed. Thank you for checking out this song. My dad introduced me to this song years ago and every time I hear it I think of him. We almost lost him last year but thankfully he made it, so this just brings good vibes all around. Thank you for your videos and have a blessed new year!

My 15 year old dog is named after this song. Truly a legendary song, glad you finally got to see it.

The second guitar solo in Eric Johnson's "Desert Rose" is amazing, and it needs to be heard realllly loud. It's not flashy but there is a ton of power and emotion in all the controlled Hendrix-y feedback alternating with his melodic soloing approach. It reminds me of a beautiful, powerful, rare, and dangerous thunderstorm you might experience in the desert.

love cliffs of dover first song i ever 100%d in Guitar Hero

Jamel, Guitars are so crazy. You can take 100 players to play the same note on their guitars and the sounds , tones, depths are all different unto themselves. Love that.

This song is, and always will be, a clinic on electric guitar. Fun fact: he opened for Rush back in the day. I live in St. Louis and was at that show (because Rush have been my guys for 45 years). You mentioned his demeanor - the only thing he said that that night that struck me was, “we’ve got a couple more to do, then we’re gonna get out of the way so you guys can see Rush.” He could have played all night to suit me - and I’m saying that while my boys were waiting in the wings! Thanks so much for reacting to this Jamal - freaking LOVE your channel!

This is what todays popstars and rappers need to witness: real talent on a real instrument

Finally got to this...amazing ..love you brother

I heard this on the radio in 1990 and went out and bought the album. He does sing on some of his other songs. Thanks for bringing back the memories!

You cannot simply review Eric Johnson without complete and utter awe , well done that man . Best wishes from the U.K.

Takes me back to heading south out of San Diego down the Baja coast to Ensenada. I realize it's not the Cliffs of Dover but it's an amazing view of hills rolling into the ocean. It's such an amazing highly identifiable sound from Eric Johnson. Great song and amazing live performance by Eric Johnson.

You hit it right on the head. Me and my buddy saw Eric Johnson April 29, 1997 at a bar in Pittsburgh called the Graffiti and Eric hung out afterwards at the bar with us… My buddy forever remembers Eric as being HUMBLE. Check out Rick Beato’s interview with him. One of the truly GREAT guitarists EVER!

Wishing you a safe and happy New Year!!!! Appreciate so very much that you let the actual music play with minimal interjections and then discuss it at the end! You are a true lover of music. Thanks for sharing!

Eric Johnson and Randy Rhoads are my favorite all time guitarists. This song teleports me back in time like nothing else.

I've seen this Eric Johnson video hundreds of times and I still can't breath during the intro solo :D This guy is from another universe.

THAT TONE! My hubs is learning one of his songs in the garage as I watch this. We saw him first on Austin City Limits. Blown away!

I'm so glad you got to this 1. I have this video saved on my favorites. His fingers are so fast, it's amazing.

I'm a HUGE long-time Rush fan and guitarist of 29 years. Alex is also my all-time favorite guitarist, ever. I forget what the Rush song was, but they were in competition with Eric for best instrumental that year. This is one of the only moments of my life where I will gladly acknowledge that there was no shame in Rush taking second place. Ironically, Eric plays a lot of softer music ("adult contemporary" maybe?) but he has some amazing techniques that are incredibly subtle and advanced that you will only ever see in some of the best players out there; cascading harmonics, fingerstyle, hybrid picking, he has just about every tool available to him and knows how to use them all.

Jamel_AKA_Jamal, you are an abundance of positive energy and I love your videos...please keep doing what you are doing❤️

You are my Christmas miracle, Jamel! I've been looking for this song for years, having heard it once in a car ages ago, and never forgot it. I can't say thank you enough for finding it for me on Christmas Eve! XOXO!

Live all the way !!! I always get live stuff when I am getting into a band just to see what they ACTUALLY have vs studio magic. LIVE ALL THE WAY !!!!

Jamel , fun fact : Eric is from Texas & is good friends with Christopher Cross. Eric plays on Chris's song "Sailing". Also Eric is a Jimi Hendrix fan hence the jacket he was wearing , a tribute to Jimi. Eric does sing and while he's not a powerhouse singer , his voice goes with his music perfectly. I couldn't imagine anyone else singing his songs. You're correct in that he is a shy , laid back , humble person. It took me seeing him live 4 times before i was finally able to get an autograph from him. Check out his first album "Tones".