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lead guitar from “free fallin'” by tom petty | ToneDB

free fallin'

tom petty

lead guitar

90% ai confidence

Tone Profile

Bright, clean, and jangly 12-string electric guitar with heavy compression. Its shimmering, wide character, achieved through double-tracking, defines the song's iconic arpeggiated hook.

Signal Chain

Instrument: Rickenbacker 360/12 Electric Guitar

Amp: Vox AC30 Top Boost

Microphone: Shure SM57 (close-miked)

Processing: Urei 1176 Limiting Amplifier (for compression), EMT 250 Digital Reverb Unit (or similar high-quality studio reverb, likely added during mix)

Other: The guitar part was double-tracked (two separate performances) and panned slightly to the left and right to create a wide, shimmering, and subtly chorused sound. The bridge pickup or a blend favoring the bridge pickup was likely used for extra jangle.

Recording Notes

  • Recorded primarily at Mike Campbell's home studio (M.C. Studios, Van Nuys, California) with some work at A&M Studios and Rumbo Recorders.
  • Produced by Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, and Mike Campbell.
  • Jeff Lynne's production style heavily influenced the polished, layered sound, including the prominent use of compression.
  • The Rickenbacker 12-string part is central to the song's identity and was meticulously recorded.
  • The Sound on Sound 'Classic Tracks' article for 'Full Moon Fever' confirms the Rickenbacker 12-string through a Vox AC30 and compressed with a Urei 1176 for 'Free Fallin''.

Recreation Tips

  • Use a 12-string electric guitar; a Rickenbacker is ideal for authenticity. Select the bridge pickup or a blend of both pickups for maximum jangle.
  • Play through a Vox AC30 or a similar British-voiced Class A amplifier. Aim for a clean tone with just a hint of chime and sustain, not overdrive.
  • Apply significant compression. Use a pedal like an MXR Dyna Comp or Keeley Compressor, and/or a plugin emulation of an 1176 in your DAW. Aim for an even, sustained sound without squashing the transients too much.
  • The key to the width and shimmer is double-tracking. Record the main arpeggiated part twice as accurately as possible and pan these two tracks slightly left and right (e.g., 20-30% L/R).
  • If double-tracking isn't feasible, a subtle stereo chorus pedal (like a Boss CE-2W or Dimension C) can provide a similar, though less authentic, effect.
  • Add a high-quality plate or hall reverb. It should be spacious but not overly wet, blending the guitar into the mix.
  • Use a pick and focus on clean, articulate arpeggios. The picking dynamics are important for the part to sing.
  • The song is in the key of F major, but the guitars are often played with a capo on the 1st fret (playing E shapes) or 3rd fret (playing D shapes) to achieve the specific voicings and open string drones. For 'Free Fallin'', it's typically played with a capo at the 3rd fret, using D, G, and A shape chords (sounding as F, Bb, C).

Sources