Ramblin' Man

The Allman Brothers Band, 1973, from Brothers and Sisters. Solo by Dickey Betts, Les Dudek.

Betts' country-flavoured leads and the harmonised outro turned the band's biggest hit into a guitar showcase.

Ramblin' Man is the Allman Brothers at their most country-leaning, and Dickey Betts steers the guitar toward open, major-key melody rather than dark blues. His fills and solo break are bright and sweetly phrased, built from scale runs that sound like fiddle lines translated to electric guitar. The long outro is the real treat: harmonised guitars climb and weave over the steady groove, with Les Dudek adding the second voice so the two lines move together like a duet. It became the band's biggest hit and showed how southern rock could carry country melody without losing its drive. Listen for the harmony lines in the fade, which keep rising in intensity as the band slowly disappears.

Ramblin' Man by The Allman Brothers Band is ranked #258 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Dickey Betts, Les Dudek and the song was released in 1973. It appears on 2 lists, placing as high as #64 (Radio Beat).

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Southern Rock Guitar Solos — #10
• Twin Guitars & Harmonies — #19
• The Best The Allman Brothers Band Guitar Solos — #9
• The Best Dickey Betts Guitar Solos — #4

Sources

• Radio Beat: 88 kytarových sól na Beatu — #64
• Digital Dream Door: 250 Greatest Rock Guitar Solos — #71