Guitar Lesson: How to Play Layla

Fun Facts: Layla is one of the most memorable love songs you'll find in rock music. The song was recorded by Eric Clapton along with Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band, and originaly appeared in 1970 as a part of the Derek and the Dominos album, Layla and Other Love Assorted Love Songs. The song was inspired by Clapton's adoration for Pattie Boyd, a beautiful model who was married to Clapton's pal George Harrison at the time. The title of the song was inspired by an Iranian love story called Layla and Majnun, written by the Persian poet Nezami. Although Clapton did eventually marry Boyd after her divorce from Harrison, the couple went their separate ways in 1989. Lyrics: What'll you do when you get lonely And nobody's waiting by your side? You've been running and hiding much too long. You know it's just your foolish pride. Layla, you've got me on my knees. Layla, I'm begging, darling please. Layla, darling won't you ease my worried mind. I tried to give you consolation When your old man had let you down. Like a fool, I fell in love with you, Turned my whole world upside down. Chorus Let's make the best of the situation Before I finally go insane. Please don't say we'll never find a way And tell me all my love's in vain. Chorus Chorus Tabs (solo): --5--5--5-------5----------|-----------------------|-7/8--8-------8--8--8-- --6--6--6-------6----------|-----------------------|-9/10-10-9/10-10-10-10- ------------7-------7--5---|-----------------------|----------------------- -------------------------7-|-6/5/3--5-3-----3------|----------------------- ---------------------------|------------5------5--X|----------------------- ---------------------------|-----------------------|----------------------- ------8--8-------8--8-------8-10-----------|-------------------10-10/12/10- -9/10-10-10-9/10-10-10-9/10----------------|-------------10-13------------- ------------------------------------/---12-|-10----10-12------------------- ----------------------------------12-------|----12------------------------- -------------------------------------------|------------------------------- -------------------------------------------|------------------------------- -----10---|-------------------------------|-------------------------------- --13----13|--10----10-10-10---11--10------|-------------------------------- ----------|-----12---------------------12-|-10-9--7/9-7--5---7------------- ----------|-------------------------------|----------------7--------------- ----------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------- ----------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------- ----------------------------------|------13--10----------------10---------- -5-6-5/6/5------------------------|------------------------13-------------- -----------7--5-------------------|---------------------------------------- -----------------7-6----5-3-5-3---|---------------------------------------- --------------------------------5-|--5------------------------------------- ----------------------------------|---------------------------------------- --12-10/12--10------------------|----10----13---10------------------------- ---------------13----10------10-|-------10-------------13------------------ -------------------------13-----|------------------------------------------ --------------------------------|------------------------------------------ --------------------------------|------------------------------------------ --------------------------------|------------------------------------------ --15/13-15--13--------|--12-13/15--13-15--X--12--13------------------------ -------------------15-|---------------------------------------------------- ----------------14----|---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------|---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------|---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------|---------------------------------------------------- --10--------------------------------|-10----------------------------------- -----13(10)-------13---/-10---------|-10------10----10--------------------- ------------12-10----12-----12-10---|-10---9---9/10 9---9/10--------------- ----------------------------------12|------------------------12------------ ------------------------------------|-------------------------------------- ------------------------------------|-------------------------------------- Layla, -------------------------| -------------------------| --5-----------/----------| -----7-6--5--3-----------| -------------------------| -------------------------|