Quick Reference

This handy chart tells you what every dot in the ActionTab system means. If you don't understand some of them don't worry - we have video lessons that explain them in the members section.

Fretboard & Capo

The fretboard is the area of your guitar where you play

Some songs require a capo. A capo is just a clamp which you can place on any fret. This effectively moves

the 'nut' of the guitar, allowing you to play 'open' chords higher up the fretboard. In ActionTab the capo is represented by the black bar on the left.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
Space, K	Pause/Play
Home	Rewind
End	Go to End
	Step Forward
	Step Backward
M	Mute/Unmute
F	Fullscreen
H	Toggle Help
S	Save Settings
R	Restore Defaults
O	Toggle Loop
D	Toggle Delay Start
X	Toggle Light Strings
W	Flip Fretboard
C	Fretboard Color
T	Tablature
N	Normal Speed Window
B	Bookmark Position
,	Set Loop Section Start
.	Set Loop Section End
/	Clear Loop Section

Strumming Hand Dots

Fingerpick

Fingertap

Downstroke

Upstroke (Palm muted)

Pinch Harmonic

Color Codes

Applies to both hands

Thumb

1st (index) Finger

2nd Finger

3rd (ring) Finger

4th (little) Finger

Fretboard Hand Dots

Hold finger here

Bend note down

Bend note up

Hammer On

Pull Off

Slide dot this way

Prepare note

Mute note/string

Harmonic

Vibrato

Open string note (no finger)

Song Notes

If you've already read about the Rhythm Guitar ActionTab for Layla, then you'll know there are a lot of guitar layers in the song - up to 5 at once at some points! Fear not, we are condensing the tune to play on 2 guitars - rhythm and lead (this is the Lead), rather than get insanely complicated. This keeps things humanly possible for you to learn, and is still true to the song. We are simply cutting out some of the guitar layers that aren't necessary.

You can hear in this ActionTab how just 2 guitars do fine. That's mainly because all the extra lead guitar parts that Clapton recorded are just harmonies, fills, and solos over the top of other solos. For all of that, there is still one main lead guitar that runs throughout the song. Take it out, and you've got problems. The song won't sound right. That's the main lead guitar part we look at in this ActionTab....

The main lead guitar for Layla closely follows the rhythm guitar. The main lead licks aren't too difficult to learn. They are really just pentatonic licks for D minor (intro and choruses) and C# minor (verses).

There is an exception at the start. The first few bars of the intro also use Am pentatonic. This just at the start of the ActionTab and is one of the harmonies continued through the song by another guitar. It isn't played again using the main lead. From that point on think only D minor and C# minor licks.

The intro / chorus D minor licks are straightforward enough. Just make sure you get the full bends right (bend up by 2 notes / pitches).

However, just like the rhythm guitar we looked at before, there are little twists and frilly bits (during the C#m verses) that can be awkward. A lot of people would rather improvise their own solos during these parts, and that's certainly not a bad thing to do. But if you are set on learning a bit about Clapton's style then stick with the lead shown here. He is famous for his blues playing (amongst other things), and there are some nice licks here to learn and adapt into your own lead style. Be prepared to do a lot of bends!

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Layla - Guitar 2 (Main Lead)

By Eric Clapton

Layla - Guitar 2 (Main Lead)

Actiontab is a virtual fretboard that shows you exactly how to play a song just as if you were watching someone play guitar. Just place your fingers where the colored dots are and strum or pick the strings that light up.

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