"Cliffs of Dover" is an instrumental rock composition by the American guitarist, singer and songwriter Eric Johnson, released on his 1990 studio album Ah Via Musicom.
"Cliffs of Dover" begins with an ad-libbed electric guitar solo, using techniques such as string skipping and hybrid picking.
Drums are added as the composition settles into a 44 rhythmic shuffle verse accompanied by a very accessible set of melodies that, throughout the intro, feature variations (octavations for example) on the main chorus.
Halfway through the solo, around 3:03, there is a noticeable change in tone when the guitar switches back to the original Gibson lead track.
In 1992, "Cliffs of Dover" won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, beating the Allman Brothers Band ("Kind of Bird"), Danny Gatton ("Elmira Street Boogie"), Rush ("Where's My Thing?