The ULTIMATE Layla Guitar Lesson (Eric Clapton, Derek Derek And The Dominos)

Here’s an iconic song about an unusual love triangle between music legends Eric Clapton, and the wife of his fellow friend and musician George Harrison of The Beatles.

It’s got searing rock guitar riffs fit for any stadium. And also later became a mellow acoustic version featured on Eric Clapton’s famous Unplugged record.

I’m going to unearth little-known facts about this song, and break down key points to Eric Clapton’s guitar style.

So grab your axe, and let’s get started with this “Layla” guitar lesson.

Who wrote Layla?

"Layla" is a rock song written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon, first released by Derek and the Dominos. Jim Gordon, an American drummer and songwriter, co-wrote the piano ending for "Layla." It’s like almost like a completely new journey after the first part of the song. 

"Layla" was recorded in 1970 at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida. It was produced by Tom Dowd.

The backstory goes…

"Layla" was inspired out of Clapton falling in love with Pattie Boyd, the wife of his friend and fellow musician George Harrison from The Beatles. Clapton was deeply in love, and the song's lyrics reflect the turmoil he was feeling.

He came up with the name Layla after reading the Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi’s "The Story of Layla and Majnun," which tells the story of a young man driven to madness by his love for a woman named Layla. Clapton ended up marrying Layla (Pattie Boyd) and later divorced.

Here’s a timeline of the events: 

• 1966: George Harrison marries Pattie Boyd.
• Late 1960s: Eric Clapton falls in love with Pattie Boyd while she is still married to George Harrison.
• 1970: Clapton writes "Layla," inspired by his unrequited love for Boyd.
• Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs is released by Derek and the Dominos.
• 1974: Pattie Boyd and George Harrison separate.
• 1977: Boyd and Harrison's divorce is finalized.
• 1979: Eric Clapton and Pattie Boyd marry.
• 1988: Clapton and Boyd divorce.

Pattie Boyd later joked in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine…she said she was frustrated she hadn't received any royalties for inspiring the song. She demanded royalties from ex-husband Eric Clapton as part of their divorce settlement. She said: “I asked for that in my divorce and he said, 

‘Are you kidding?’

In the interview, Pattie said, “That’s why I have to write books.”

Tough joke for Clapton huh?

I did some more research on this. But I couldn’t find any actual legal account of her asking for royalties…

Nonetheless…it’s an interesting situation.

Pattie Boyd became an author in 2007 and released her autobiography, Wonderful Today: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me. The book details her life, her marriages to George Harrison and Eric Clapton, and her experiences in the 1960s and 1970s rock and roll scene. 

Initially, the song didn't perform well on the charts but later became a hit, peaking at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972 after its re-release. Clapton's acoustic version of "Layla" from his 1992 album Unplugged won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1993. And, Rolling Stone Magazine: Ranked "Layla" at number 27 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time."

What key is Layla in?

“Layla” is in the key of Dm. But it is an interesting song in that the main instrumental sections and choruses use the chords Dm, C, and Bb. This is a common progression in the key of Dm. Yet when it goes to the verse sections the key changes to C#m/E major. 

It modulates down! This is a cool move. Many songs modulate up, as this lifts the energy and sound, but this one modulates down. Which to me, just helps solidify that bluesy feeling and turmoil Eric Clapton may have been feeling.

To better understand how these chords all relate on the guitar, grab my free fretboard guitar here:

Is Layla easy to play on guitar?

“Layla” is not easy to play on guitar. There are many bar chords, ripping solos, and key changes throughout the song. Then there is even more advanced harmony in the coda piano section co-written with Jim Gordan. If you are a beginner guitarist I would not recommend giving it a go without more skills developed.

Layla Guitar Chords

To play “Layla” you’ll need to know 10 chords Dm, Bb, C, C#m7, G#7, D, E, F#m, B, and A. Some of these chords are played as bar chords and others as open chords. Let’s take a look at some common ways they could be played on guitar. 

Dm is played from the 4th string down like this:

Bb is played as a bar chord with a root on the 5th string like this:

C is played by simply moving up the Bb chord two half steps like this:

C#m7 is the first chord in the verse which changes keys. I play this from the 5th string down like so:

G#7 just brings everything from up (to the sky) one string from C#m7 like this:

D is played from the 4th string down like this:

E is played in open position using all 6 strings like this:

F#m, Clapton would often play this as a “thumb chord”. But it’s a bar chord in 2nd position like so:

B is another bar chord in 2nd position, here we mute the 1st and 6th strings, just like we did for the Bb chord. (It’s just one fret up):

Finally, we have the A major chord which is played from the 5th string down like this:

What tuning is “Layla” played in?

The standard tuning for "Layla" is:

“Layla” is played in standard tuning:

• E (6th string, lowest pitch)
• A (5th string)
• D (4th string)
• G (3rd string)
• B (2nd string)
• E (1st string, highest pitch)

How to play the LEGENDARY Layla riff?

The legendary “Layla” riff is a combination of guitar on the actual recording. Many of the parts are played in multiple octaves giving it a powerful sound. Ironically, Eric Clapton used a tiny little Fender Champ amplifier to record the song "Layla." The Fender Champ is a small, low-wattage tube amplifier. But this is the beauty of the recording studio. 

Often these little amps can sound HUGE! 

The Champ, combined with Clapton’s Fender Stratocaster, played a big part in the signature sound of "Layla."

Layla Acoustic Guitar Lesson

Later Eric Clapton created a new interpretation of “Layla” and included it on his classic Unplugged album released in 1992. This version brought a fresh, acoustic take to the song and introduced it to a new generation of listeners. 

The guitar parts are slightly different, there is no searing high lead riff. Instead, it is traded out for a more mellow acoustic version. 

The acoustic version of "Layla" received widespread acclaim and commercial success, helping the Unplugged album become one of the best-selling live albums of all time. It sold over 26 million copies worldwide.

Conclusion:

"Layla" has a long and winding history. From starting off with an unusual love triangle…to ending up in the history books of rock and roll. This song is a masterclass in blues and rock guitar. 

Keep practicing, and if you want to really start ripping blues leads like Eric Clapton, get your hands on my free blues scale guide at the link below right now:

Jon MacLennan