Creator Area
Sign in Creator Area

Rory Gallagher - Shadow Play - Guitar Tab

Practice Studio

Rory Gallagher - Shadow Play - Guitar Tab

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

Not in tune?

Select a Loop

Start of your loop
End of your loop

Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key E minor
Rory Gallagher - Shadow Play guitar tab video
Steph Le Gratteux
Steph Le Gratteux Top Contributor
YouTube: 62Ksubs 12Kviews
Creator Page →
·
–50¢ 0 +50¢
· Tap to start

Your browser will ask for microphone permission.

Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
AI tone preset

AI-selected preset based on genre and era — adjust the knobs to taste.

Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
Photo Finish (Remastered 2017) album cover
Photo Finish (Remastered 2017)
1978 4:47
Listen on Spotify
Rory Gallagher Blues Rock 1978 E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

Shadow Play

"Shadow Play" is a track by Irish guitar legend Rory Gallagher, featured on his 1978 album Photo Finish. Gallagher was celebrated for his raw, virtuosic approach to electric guitar and his relentless live performances, earning a reputation as one of rock's most dedicated instrumentalists. The song offers guitarists a direct look at his blues-driven style, making it a rewarding study in expressive, stripped-back electric guitar playing.

  • Rory Gallagher is often called 'Ireland's first rock star,' known for his intense, blues-rooted electric guitar technique.
  • Photo Finish was released in 1978, a period when Gallagher was refining a harder, more direct rock sound.
  • Gallagher has been described as 'the greatest guitarist you've never heard of,' making his catalog a rich discovery for players.
Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Rory's worn 1961 Strat with stock alnico V pickups delivered that cutting, nasal snarl essential to his blues-rock attack. The low-output single-coils preserved his dynamic pick work and responded beautifully to volume-knob rolloffs and cranked tube amp saturation.

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Gallagher deployed this 1966 Tele on select recordings to add brighter, more direct bite to his tone palette. Its sharper attack complemented his fingerstyle precision and worked particularly well for punchy, articulate rhythm work.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

This amp's natural headroom and reverb tank gave Gallagher spacious, clean tones when not pushed hard, but cranked it delivered the tube breakup he needed without master volume softening. The twin-reverb became his go-to for studio sessions requiring both clarity and controllable overdrive.

Vox AC30
Amp

Vox AC30

The AC30's legendary natural breakup and midrange bark defined Rory's signature tone when pushed to stage volume. Its top boost control shaped his treble-cut character, transforming his single-coils into that iconic snarl without pedal intervention.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Gallagher used wah sparingly but strategically to add expressive vocal quality to his lead phrases. The pedal's narrow frequency sweep complemented his bridge-pickup snarl, never muddying his tightly wound tone.

Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9
Pedal

Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9

This mid-focused booster pushed his cranked tube amps into heavier overdrive while preserving note clarity and his natural pick dynamics. The TS9 was seasoning on Rory's pedalboard, intensifying existing tone rather than creating it.

Recommended for You