Not Really a "Slow Hand"

Eric Clapton. One of the most acclaimed guitarists of all time. An amazing guitarist in the recording studio or live and outstanding skill playing either electric or acoustic. Even with his fame and his talent there was one thing I never understood before now: Why did people call him "Slow Hand"? What I discovered was absolutely fascinating. When a guitarist plays with such skill as Clapton, it is common for the guitarist to break a string on stage. When this happens, a stage hand will usually give the guitarist a different guitar, take the guitar with the broken string, restring it, re-tune it, and have it ready for the next set. That's not how Clapton did things. Whenever he broke a string he would walk off stage, grab a new string, and restring in front of the audience. They were so impressed by his guitar playing that one time when he broke a string, the audience gave him a slow clap as he restrung his instrument. This became so popular that it's done every time Clapton replaces a string. Clapton came up with the nickname himself coining the words, "slow handclap." Which makes sense because if you've ever heard him play, you know he has anything but a "slow hand." Check him out here with his amazing Acoustic version of Layla: Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.