Eric Clapton songs have always intrigued me and, well, intimidated me. I haven't really been a lead improv or blues player - but have focused more on rhythm on country and folk music. But, as a gigging musician, I'm being challenged to learn new stuff. So, I'm now working on Layla. 

Individually, the song isn't complicated - chords are pretty straight forward for the chorus and verse. The solo work is based on a Dm pentatonic scale with some diatonic notes added. 

Here's my approach to learning it.

1. I know the song from listening to it, but I still start here. Listening to the original artist (Eric Clapton Unplugged). Then I simply sing along with it until I have the phrasing of the lyrics.

2. Check Youtube to see what covers are out there and if I can find Eric's live version, watch those to see the chord voicings.

3. As a reference, I'll pull the chart from UG or other sites.

4. Start playing along with the video version to cement timing

5. Drop the videos and go it alone until I have it down

For the solo, I don't use tablature - I can normally find a 'how-to' for most of the solos - and for Layla, there are plenty. I'll get the gist from those and then see if I can tackle it. I don't shoot for, "Note for Note"; rather - the feel and the recognizable licks.

Last stop is to work on the Looper timing and 'master' it. The harder the song, the longer before I play it live - this one will take me a month I think.