Wonderful Tonight
Wonderful Tonight is far and away Eric Clapton's most famous song -- and one of the most romantic songs ever written. I've had this arrangement in my back pocket for 20 years. I had been developing and playing it at wedding ceremonies for friends and family. I like how it morphed into an Americana piece, especially when played on a steel string guitar.
He wrote Wonderful Tonight on the evening of September 7th 1976, as he was waiting for Patti Boyd to get ready. The couple were attending Paul and Linda McCartney's annual Buddy Holly party:
"He was sitting round playing his guitar while I was trying on dresses upstairs. I was taking so long and I was panicking about my hair, my clothes, everything, and I came downstairs expecting him to really berate me but he said, 'Listen to this!'" Patti Boyd, The Guardian 2008.
If you're a fan of Eric Clapton, I highly recommend the documentary Life in 12 Bars. He was heavily involved in the documentary, and seems to use it as atonement for his past behavior. The film casts Clapton in a revealing light; a tragic childhood, a full blown narcissist, and overcoming addiction to drugs and alcohol.
You might also like to play...
Gustavo Santaolalla: Dearest (Life in 12 bars) + TAB
Fingerstyle Blues (Clapton Style) + TAB
Jason Isbell: Cover me Up | fingerstyle guitar + TAB
Gear used
For Wonderful Tonight, I used my Taylor GS Mini. I'm an in-home guitar teacher, and it's easier to carry a little guitar as I travel to my client's houses. However, it plays like a normal instrument and sounds great. The short scale makes it very easy to fret chords and play leads.
You can find a current list of my gear here.
How to play Wonderful Tonight | fingerstyle guitar
(Note: this is my premium material.)
The guitar tab for this arrangement is beautifully written across three pages. I recommend this piece for intermediate guitar players and up. I've given you the chord shape above the tablature so you can 1) learn your chord shapes, and 2) better navigate your way through the tab. Enjoy the guitar tab is available below:
