Song Rig
Layla
Eric Clapton · Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs · 1970
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
Dual-guitar wall of sound — Clapton and Duane Allman each played different parts that weave together. Clapton's riff uses the Stratocaster with a woman-tone-style rolled-off tone, while Allman's slide cuts through on the slide section.
Signal Chain
- 1Fender Stratocaster (neck pickup, tone rolled to 3)
- 2Fender Champ (for recording, cranked small amp)
- 3Gibson SG (for some rhythm tracks)
Amp Settings
Recorded on a small Fender Champ cranked loudly — the warmth and bloom of a small tube amp at saturation. Treble rolled off significantly for the woman-tone quality.
Technique
How to Play It
The famous piano outro was written and played by Jim Gordon, not Clapton — the guitar riff itself uses a repeating motif that sounds complex but is a straightforward pentatonic pattern at a specific tempo.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Strat neck pickup, tone at 3, into any blues amp at clean-to-crunch setting. A Fender-style small combo cranked works best.
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