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Wednesday, December 21, 2022
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Rock Guitar Lessons How to Play "Stairway to Heaven" Spinditty from spinditty.com
The Legend of Stairway to Heaven
Stairway to Heaven is an iconic song by the British rock band Led Zeppelin, released in 1971. This song became an instant classic and is still popular among music lovers today. The song is known for its beautiful guitar solo and the unique fingerpicking style used by Jimmy Page. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the steps to learn how to play Stairway to Heaven on guitar.
Getting Started
Before we start, make sure you have a guitar in tune and a basic understanding of chords and notes. We recommend using an acoustic guitar for this song as it gives a more natural sound. Also, practice playing the chords and fingerpicking patterns separately before combining them.
Step 1: Chords
The song starts with an arpeggiated chord progression of Am, C, D, F, G, and E. To play these chords, place your fingers on the appropriate frets and strings as shown below: Am: x02210 C: x32010 D: xx0232 F: 133211 G: 320033 E: 022100
Step 2: Fingerpicking
After playing the chords, the song moves to fingerpicking. The fingerpicking pattern used in Stairway to Heaven is known as the "Travis picking" style. This style involves alternating between the bass note and the higher notes of the chord. Here's an example of the pattern used in the song: e|------------------0-----0--| B|--------1-----1-----1-----1| G|------2-----2-----2-----2--| D|----2-----2-----2-----2----| A|--0-----0-----0-----0------| E|----------------------------|
Step 3: Solo
The most memorable part of the song is the guitar solo. The solo is played over the chords Am, G, F, and C. The solo involves bending, sliding, and hammering on the notes. Here's an example of the solo: e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------| G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------| D|-----------5-7-5-------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------5-8-------8-5---------------------------------------------------------| E|-8-8-10-------------10-8-8-10-8-10-8-7-8-7-----------------------------------|
Tips for Playing Stairway to Heaven
- Practice each section of the song separately before combining them. - Use a metronome to keep the tempo steady. - Experiment with different fingerpicking patterns to find the one that suits you. - Listen to the song multiple times to get a feel for the rhythm and timing. - Don't be discouraged if it takes time to master the song. Keep practicing!
Conclusion
Stairway to Heaven is a classic song that every guitarist should learn to play. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial and practicing regularly, you can master the song and impress your friends and family. Remember to have fun while playing and enjoy the journey of learning this iconic song.