“I practice guitar ferociously”: Creedence Clearwater Revival's John Fogerty deploys Eddie Van Halen-style two-hand tapping on an Ibanez RG in unlikely guitar practice video

John Fogerty during SXSW on March 11, 2025 in Austin, Texas
(Image credit: Griffin Lotz/Rolling Stone via Getty Images)

Being a veteran musician doesn't mean you stop improving – or pushing the boundaries – of your craft. Creedence Clearwater Revival's John Fogerty is proof that you're never too good (or too famous) to stop practicing or incorporating new techniques into your toolkit.

In a video posted to his official social media channels, Fogerty can be seen workingon his two-handed tapping technique à la Eddie Van Halen.

Perhaps his willingness to continue learning stems from the fact that Fogerty never did feel like he was “a virtuoso on guitar.” Instead, during those heady CCR days, he believed his true skill lay in “getting a sound out of my instrument, which was pretty important.”

This mindset has led him to be so disciplined with his practice – a routine, which, as showcased on social media, he still maintains to this day.

“I practice guitar ferociously,” he asserted. “I’m grateful God allowed me to keep going with my love of guitar. It didn’t end when I was 15, and it didn’t end when I became famous. I love being able to see my own progress on the instrument I love. Hopefully, that mindset will be heard throughout the new music I will be making.”

In the same interview, Fogerty also reflected on his favorite CCR-era gear and revealed which amp, in his opinion, is “the best-sounding solid-state amp ever made.”

He’s not the only classic rock hero to be taken by shred-leaning electric guitars. Last year, Pete Townshend got his first Jackson at the age of 78.

Janelle Borg

Janelle is a staff writer at GuitarWorld.com. After a long stint in classical music, Janelle discovered the joys of playing guitar in dingy venues at the age of 13 and has never looked back. Janelle has written extensively about the intersection of music and technology, and how this is shaping the future of the music industry. She also had the pleasure of interviewing Dream Wife, K.Flay, Yīn Yīn, and Black Honey, among others. When she's not writing, you'll find her creating layers of delicious audio lasagna with her art-rock/psych-punk band ĠENN.

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