View Full Version : Layla key
James P
Mar-26-2007, 12:23pm
Messing around over the weekend and Layla fell to hand.
I started with the chorus, basically Watchtower changes in Am. Then, the verse starts C#m/G#7 to an ascending D/D#/E. From there it looks like it's in E (A/B/E/A, etc.) until it returns to the Am chorus/vamp.
What key(s) would this be written in?
Jim Broyles
Mar-26-2007, 1:27pm
Derek and the Dominoes did it thusly:
Intro and chorus: Dm C Bb C Dm (last time C#m to start verse)
Verse: C#m G# C#m A B E F#m B E A F#m B E Am(The Am is over the syllable "Lay" to start the chorus.)
I'd call it Key of E for the verse, Dm for the chorus, and C for the piano/ slide solo.
Jason Kessler
Mar-26-2007, 4:14pm
The piano part was written seperately by the drummer, Jim Gordon, and then tacked on. The story I heard was that Clapton arrived at the studio early one day to find Gordon recording the piano part. Apparently, he was recording his own album on Clapton's (or Clapton's record company's) dime. Clapton then claimed the piece as his property, and whanged it onto the end of "Layla."
jmcgann
Mar-26-2007, 8:31pm
Verse: C#m G# C#m A B E F#m B E A F#m B E Am
Actually, try this:
C#m/G#m/C#m C D/ E/ F#m B/ E C#m/ F#m B /E
James P
Mar-26-2007, 8:32pm
I'd forgotten all about that piano part. It's been years.
Jim Broyles
Mar-26-2007, 8:51pm
Verse: C#m G# C#m A B E F#m B E A F#m B E Am
Actually, try this:
C#m/G#m/C#m C D/ E/ F#m B/ E C#m/ F#m B /E
I should have popped the song on to quote the chords. I played it fast on my guitar and forgot the arrangement, so I came up with the A-B, instead of the correct C-D. My very bad. I think I would have caught the C#m 4th from the end if I had listened again, but I think I always played it as an A. It has been at least 25 years since I played this song. I think I also used a G#major. Oh well.
jmcgann
Mar-27-2007, 8:35am
jb- that's also called arranging- it doesn't always have to be just like the record. Even writers themselves sometimes change things around over time. I saw Bob Mould touring the workbook album, and it was amazing how much he changed things around from the recording- and really well done. Elvis Costello is another great one for that.
I learned Layla back in high school along with bits of the great Allman Bros Live at the Fillmore album (great isn't strong enough- right up there with The Who Live at Leeds for greatest live album IMHO).
It's kind of overexposed on classic rock radio, but what a great tune (and album!)
Allman Bros Live at the Fillmore album (great isn't strong enough
YouTube has some Allman vids from that era, very cool to see (and hear).