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The Allman Brothers Band - Whipping Post - Guitar Lesson

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Key E minor
The Allman Brothers Band - Whipping Post guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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The Allman Brothers Band Blues Rock E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About Whipping Post

Few rock songs demand as much from a guitarist as "Whipping Post." The opening riff in 11/4 time is the first real test: most players feel it in a lopsided 3+3+3+2 grouping, and getting that subdivision to sit naturally at 120 BPM takes genuine repetition. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop just those opening bars slowed down until the odd meter stops feeling odd. From there the song moves into a more grounded feel, but the twin-guitar interplay that defines The Allman Brothers Band keeps the arrangement dense. In E minor and E Standard tuning, the song sits in a comfortable register for bends and lead work, but the call-and-response phrasing between the two guitars means a solo player has to choose which voice to follow. The live version stretches the song into extended improvisation, making it a serious workout in Blues Rock phrasing, stamina, and feel over a shifting harmonic center.

  • The opening riff is written in 11/4 time, commonly felt as 3+3+3+2, making it one of the more challenging odd-meter entries in rock guitar repertoire.
  • The song is in E minor and E Standard tuning, which keeps the riff and lead lines in a natural position for string bends and open-string embellishments.
  • The extended live version from At Fillmore East runs over 22 minutes, giving guitarists a full map of how to develop blues-rock improvisation across a long form.

How to Play Whipping Post

Tuning: E Standard · Key: E minor · Tempo: 120 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 120 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Warren Haynes shifted the Allman Brothers sound toward tighter, more saturated leads using Les Paul Standards paired with his Soldano amp. The thick neck profile and PAF-style pickups deliver the singing midrange and harmonic richness essential to his modern take on the band's blues-rock foundation.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

Not a primary Allman Brothers instrument, though the Custom's thicker body and hardware contribute to sustained tone. Its humbuckers and weight would suit heavier lead work, but the band favored Standard and Goldtop models for their classic warmth and pick articulation.

Gibson SG Standard
Guitar

Gibson SG Standard

Duane Allman and Dickey Betts both wielded SG Standards for their lighter body response and bright attack, crucial for slide work that needed articulation and string clarity. The SG's thinner profile allowed dynamic volume control essential to their effects-free approach.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

Duane Allman used the Twin Reverb for cleaner tones and wet/dry setups, while Dickey Betts favored it for its dynamic range and natural breakup. The amp's warm reverb tank and headroom let both players shape tone through pick attack and volume knob rather than pedals.

Soldano SLO-100
Amp

Soldano SLO-100

Warren Haynes brought the Soldano SLO-100 into the Allman Brothers' amp arsenal, tightening the band's lead tone with saturated, harmonically rich breakup and sustain. This modern head replaced Marshall heads for Haynes' more focused, aggressive lead style while maintaining the Southern rock power.

Marshall JTM45
Amp

Marshall JTM45

Duane Allman's signature tone machine, the JTM45 cranked to natural tube breakup created the warm, responsive overdrive fundamental to classic Allman Brothers riffs and solos. With no master volume, Duane achieved legendary sustain and dynamics by pushing the tubes hard and controlling volume at the guitar itself.

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