Song Rig
Little Wing (Live at the Fillmore East)
Duane Allman · Live at the Fillmore East · 1971
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
Duane's extended slide interpretation of Hendrix's Little Wing — nearly 13 minutes of slide guitar improvisation that transforms the original short song into a sprawling blues exploration. The live tone is rawer and more aggressive than the studio recordings, with the Les Paul and Marshall at high volume providing the power for extended slides and feedback.
Signal Chain
- 1Gibson Les Paul Standard (open E, slide on ring finger)
- 2Marshall Super Lead 100W (stage volume, loud)
- 3Coricidin glass slide
Amp Settings
Live stage volume rather than studio restraint — the Fillmore recordings capture Duane with the Marshall cranked to room-filling volume, where the power amp saturation adds a different character to the slide tone than the studio setup.
Technique
How to Play It
Extended slide improvisation without returning to the source melody — Duane takes the initial theme as a departure point and freely improvises over the underlying harmony for 12+ minutes, demonstrating a jazz-influenced approach to blues slide.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Les Paul or SG in open E → glass slide → Marshall at high volume. The key is listening to the recording: Duane's slide placement, muting, and phrase construction are the techniques to study, not the gear.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
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