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23.04.2025 When Led Zeppelin recorded "Stairway To Heaven" back in 1971, Jimmy Page used three different guitars, an acoustc 6-string, an electric 12-string, and an electric 6-string. AI found out:

"Stairway to Heaven," by Led Zeppelin, is a popular song often played on acoustic guitar, especially the intro with the distinctive fingerpicked arpeggios. The song is known for its diverse sections, including a quiet acoustic intro, a slow electric middle section, a guitar solo, and a hard rock final section. Jimmy Page primarily used a Harmony Sovereign acoustic guitar for the main parts, a Fender Telecaster for the solo, and a Fender Electric XII 12-string guitar for the rhythm sections and harmony parts. Live, he often switched to a Gibson EDS-1275 double-neck guitar to handle the variety of acoustic and electric parts." (according to Gear4music).

Instead of playing a double-neck guitar live on stage, a guest guitarist playing the 12-string guitar in the mid-section of the song, would've been no bad idea to take into consideration !?

The tab below is is a transcription into 5/8 time.
The original picking pattern in the 4/4 time signature. 

INTRO (Three suitable picking patterns.
         Play them alternately to get used to the unfamiliar time signature)

I.
    Am                           E/G#
e-------------5a-------------|-------------7d-------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------5a-------------|-------------5a-------------|  x - a - bc - x - a (2x)
g--------5a-------------5a---|--------5a-------------5a---|
D---7c-------------7c--------|---6b-------------6b--------|
A----------------------------|----------------------------|  < x >
E----------------------------|----------------------------|
    <------------------ full barrés ----------------------

    C/G                          D/F#
e-------------8d-------------|-------------2a-----------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------5a-------------|-------------3b-----------------|  x - a - bc - x - a (2x)
g--------5a-------------5a---|--------2a-------------2a-------|
D---5a-------------5a--------|---4c-------------4c--------\---|
A----------------------------|--------------------------------|  < x >
E----------------------------|--------------------------------|
 -------------------- full barrés -------------------->

    Fmaj7                                 G
e-------------0--------------|---0---------------------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------1a-------------|---1a---/---3a-----------------|  x - a - bc - x - a
g--------2b-------------2b---|---2b---/--------4b------------|  xabc - b - a - x
D---3c-----------------------|---3c---/-------------5c---/---|
A------------------3d--------|-------------------------------|  < x >
E----------------------------|-------------------------------|
                                 2/8
alternative tab

    Am
e-------------5a-------------|--------------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------5a-------------|--------------------|  x - a - bc - x - a
g--------5a-------------5a---|--------------------|  x - x
D---7c-----------------------|--------------------|
A------------------7d--------|---------7d/8d\7d---|  < x >
E----------------------------|---5a---------------|
                                 2/8       3/8
    <---------------- full barré -----------------

II. (Play the same tab again with some slight aberrations)

    Am
e-------------5a-------------|---
b-------------5a-------------|---
g--------5a-------------5a---|---
D------------------7c--------|---
A----------------------------|---
E---5a-----------------------|---
 --------- full barrés ----------

                          ---|---
                          ---|---
                          ---|---
                          ---|---
                          ---|---
                          ---|---

                          ---|---0---------------|  picking pattern:
                          ---|---1a---3dp0-------|  xab - b - a
                          ---|---2b----------0---|
                          ---|---3c--------------|
                          ---|-------------------|
                          ---|-------------------|
                                 2/8    2/8
    Am
e-------------0--------------|--------------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------1a-------------|--------------------|  x - a - bc - x - a
g--------2c-------------2c---|--------------------|  x - x - x
D------------------2b--------|--------------------|
A---0------------------------|---0-------0---2b---|
E----------------------------|--------------------|  info
                                 3/8

III. (Now let's find a fitting tab & picking pattern for the following chord sequence)

||:

    C                            D
e-------------0--------------|-------------2c-------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------1a-------------|-------------3d-------------|  x - a - bc - x - a (2x)
g--------0--------------0----|--------2b-------------2b---|
D------------------2b--------|---0------------------------|
A---3c-----------------------|------------------0---------|
E----------------------------|----------------------------|

    Fmaj7                       Am
e-------------0--------------|-------------0--------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------1a-------------|-------------1a-------------|  x - a - bc - x - a (2x)
g--------2b-------------2b---|--------2c-------------2c---|
D---3d-----------------------|------------------2b--------|
A------------------3c--------|---0------------------------|
E----------------------------|----------------------------|

alternative tab

1.
    C                            G
e-------------0--------------|-------------3d-------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------1a-------------|-------------0--------------|  x - a - bc - x - a (2x)
g--------0--------------0----|--------0--------------0----|
D------------------2b--------|------------------0---------|
A---3d-----------------------|----------------------------|
E----------------------------|---3c-----------------------|

    D
e-------------2c-------------|--------------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------3d-------------|--------------------|  x - a - bc - x - a
g--------2b-------------2b---|--------------------|  x - x - x
D---0------------------------|---0----------------|
A------------------0---------|-----------0---2b---|
E----------------------------|--------------------|
                                 3/8
alternative tab

2.
    C                            D
e-------------0--------------|-------------2c-------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------1a-------------|-------------3d-------------|  x - a - bc - x - a (2x)
g--------0--------------0----|--------2b-------------2b---|
D------------------2b--------|---0------------------------|
A---3c-----------------------|------------------0---------|
E----------------------------|----------------------------|

    F
... There's a ...
e-------------1a-------------|-------------------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------1a-------------|-------------------------|  x - a - bc - x - a 
g--------2b-------------2b---|-------------------------|  X
D---3c-----------------------|-------------/-----------|
A------------------3d--------|-------------------------|
E----------------------------|---1a--------------------|
    <------------ full barré -------------->
                                 5/8
:||

START LYRICS (use the same tabs split up in Roman numerals as shown above)

I.
... lady who's sure all that ...
... glitters is gold and she's ...
... buying a stairway to  ...
... Heaven ... When she  ...

II.
... gets there she knows, if the ...
... stores are all closed With a ...
... word she can get what she ...
... came for ...

III.
... Ooh, ooh, ... 
... ooh, ooh, and she's ...
... buying a stairway to ...
... Heaven ... There's a ...

... sign on the wall, but she ...
... wants to be sure, 'cause you ...
... know sometimes words have two ...
... meanings ... In a ...

I.
... tree by the brook, there's a ...
... songbird who sings, sometimes ...
... all of our thoughts are mis- ...
... given ..

SHORT INSTRUMENTAL VARIATION

    Am                                E/G#
e------------------5a-------------|------------------7d-------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------5a------------------|-------------5a------------------|  x - a - b - c - x - a
g--------5a------------------5a---|--------5a------------------5a---|  (2x)
D-----------------------7c--------|---6b------------------6b--------|
A---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E---5a----------------------------|---------------------------------|  info
         <2/8 Triole>                      <2/8 Triole>
    <----------------------- full barrés ---------------------------

    C/G                               D/F#
e------------------8d-------------|------------------2a-----------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------5a------------------|-------------3b----------------------|
g--------5a------------------5a---|--------2a------------------2a-------|
D---5a------------------5a--------|---4c------------------4c--------\---|
A---------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
E---------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
         <2/8 Triole>                      <2/8 Triole>
 -------------------------- full barrés ------------------------->

    Fmaj7
e------------------0--------------|---------------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------1a------------------|---0-----3cp0--------|  x - a - b - c - x - a
g--------2b------------------2b---|---0------------0----|  xab - b - a
D---3c----------------------------|---0-----------------|
A-----------------------3d--------|---------------------|
E---------------------------------|---------------------|
         <2/8 Triole>

    Am                                   G6/9/E
e-------------0----------------|---------↑0-------|  picking pattern:
b-------------1a---------------|---------↑0-------|  x - a - bc - x - a
g--------2c--------------2c----|---------↑0-------|  x - a~~~
D------------------2b----------|---------↑0-------|
A---0--------------------------|---0-----↑0-------|
E------------------------------|---------↑0-------|  info
                                  3/8     2/8
15.06.26

REFRAIN (enter strummed 12-string guitar)

Some of the following chords are played open or barred.
Strumming chords in 5/4 remain a challenge like all odd numbered strumming patterns will.
I prefer the down - up - up - down - up (↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↓) or
             down - up - down - down - up (↑ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓) strumming patterns for single bars.
The down - up - down - up - down - up - down - up - down - up strumming pattern makes sense for coupled bars.
Find your own way but mind to stay in 5/4 ...


Keep 1a pressed in the green marked part
Keep your index on the b-string in the red marked part

||:

    Am7
... Ooh ...
e------------------0--------|------------------------0----|  picking pattern:
b-------------1a-------1a---|--------------1a--------1a---|  x - a - b - c - b
g--------0------------------|---------0--------------0----|  x - a - b - x - abc
D---------------------------|---2b------------------------|
A---0-----------------------|-------------------0---------|
E---------------------------|-----------------------------|

    D
... ooh ... it makes me ...
e-----------------2c--------|------------------------2c---|  picking pattern:
b------------3d--------3d---|-------------3d---------3d---|  x - a - b - c - b
g-------2b------------------|--------2b--------------2b---|  x - a - b - x - abc
D---0-----------------------|-------------------0---------|
A---------------------------|---0-------------------------|
E---------------------------|-----------------------------|

    Am7
... wonder ...
e------------------0--------|------------------------0--------|  picking pattern:
b-------------1a-------1a---|--------------1a--------1a---/---|  x - a - b - c - b
g--------0------------------|---------0--------------0--------|  x - a - b - x - abc
D---------------------------|---2b----------------------------|
A---0-----------------------|-------------------0-------------|
E---------------------------|---------------------------------|

    Gb/D           D                    C/D           D
1.
e-------------7a-------\---5a---\---|------------5a------------2c---|  picking pattern:
b-------------8b-------\---7d---\---|------------5d--------\---3d---|  x - a - bc - x - abc (2x)
g-------9c-------------\---7c---\---|-------5c-----------------2b---|
D---0--------------0----------------|---0--------------0------------|
A-----------------------------------|-------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------|-------------------------------|

    Gb/D           D                    C/D           D
2.
... There's a ...
e-------------7a-------\---5a---\---|------------5a-----------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------8b-------\---7d---\---|------------5d--------\---3d---|  x - a - bc - x - abc
g-------9c-------------\---7c---\---|-------5c-----------------2b---|  x - a - bc - x - ab
D---0--------------0----------------|---0--------------0------------|
A-----------------------------------|-------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------|-------------------------------|

:||

Chords for the 12string
guitar accompaniment:

Am7 - Am7 - C6/9/A - D

Am7 - Am7 - Gb/D - D - C/D - D

Am7 - Am7 - C6/9/A - D

Am7 - Am7 - Gb/D - D - C/D - D
______

info



23.06.26

RETURN TO LYRICS


Vary your picking pattern in the following sequence at will:

||:

    C                            G6/B
1.... feeling I get ... when I ...
2 ... thoughts I have seen ... rings of ...
e-------------0--------------|-------------0---------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------1a-------------|-------------3d--------------|  x - a - bc - x - a (2x)
g--------0--------------0----|--------0---------------0----|
D------------------2b--------|-------------------0---------|  < x >
A---3c-----------------------|---2b------------------------|
E----------------------------|-----------------------------|

    Am
1 ... look to the West ... and my ...
2 ... smoke through the trees ... and the ...
e-------------0--------------|--------------0--------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------1a-------------|--------------1a-------------|  x - a - bc - x - a
g--------2c-------------2c---|--------2c-------------------|  x - a - bc - x - x
D------------------2b--------|-----------------------------|  < x >
A---0------------------------|---0----------------0---2b---|
E----------------------------|-----------------------------|

    C                            G6/B
1 ...  spirit is crying for ...
2 ... voices of those who stand ...
e-------------0--------------|-------------0---------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------1a-------------|-------------3d--------------|  x - a - bc - x - a (2x)
g--------0--------------0----|--------0---------------0----|
D------------------2b--------|-------------------0---------|  < x >
A---3c-----------------------|---2b------------------------|
E----------------------------|-----------------------------|

    Am
1 ... leaving ... In my ...
2 ... looking ...
e-------------0--------------|--------------0--------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------1a-------------|--------------1a-------------|  x - a - bc - x - a
g--------2c-------------2c---|--------2c-------------------|  x - a - bc - x - x
D------------------2b--------|-----------------------------|  < x >
A---0------------------------|---0----------------0---2b---|
E----------------------------|-----------------------------|

:||

    C                            G6/B
e-------------0--------------|-------------0---------------|  picking pattern:
b-------------1a-------------|-------------3d--------------|  x - a - bc - x - a (2x)
g--------0--------------0----|--------0---------------0----|
D------------------2b--------|-------------------0---------|
A---3c-----------------------|---2b------------------------|
E----------------------------|-----------------------------|

Chords for the 12string
guitar accompaniment:

C6 - G - Am7

C6 - G - Am7

C6 - G - Am7

C6 - G - Am7

C6 - G


THIS SONG IS TOO GODDAM LONG ...

REFRAIN AGAIN (same tab)
Ooh, it makes me wonder
Ooh, really makes me wonder

RETURN TO LYRICS (same tab)
And it's whispered that soon if we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason
And a new day will dawn for those who stand long
And the forests will echo with laughter

REFRAIN AGAIN (same tab)
Oh-oh-oh-oh-whoa

RETURN TO LYRICS (same tab)
If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now
It's just a spring clean for the May queen
Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on

REFRAIN AGAIN (same tab)
And it makes me wonder
Ohh, whoa

RETURN TO LYRICS (same tab ending on a D chord)
Your head is humming, and it won't go, in case you don't know
The piper's calling you to join him
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind?

    C                            G6/B                            D
e-------------0--------------|-------------0---------------|-----↑2c-----|  picking pattern:
b-------------1a-------------|-------------3d--------------|-----↑3d-----|  x - a - bc - x - a (2x)
g--------0--------------0----|--------0---------------0----|-----↑2b-----|  a~~~
D------------------2b--------|-------------------0---------|-----↑0------|
A---3c-----------------------|---2b------------------------|-----↑0------|
E----------------------------|-----------------------------|-------------|

BRIDGE (enter electric guitar, end of acoustic part)


Jimmy Pages legendäre E-Gitarren-Solo hat sich, nach dem mehr oder weniger freiwilligen - weil oftmals erzwungenen - Konsum über die vielen Jahrzehnte hinweg inzwischen dermaßen in die Gehirnwindungen eingefressen, daß es quasi unmöglich ist, ein neues, dem neuen Taktmaß angemessenes Gitarrensolo zu kreiieren. Mein Vorschlag lautet daher, alles so zu lassen, wie es ist, also sich am Original im 4/4 Takt zu orientieren. Daraus ergibt sich wie folgt:

The song continues in 4/4 time

... to be continued ...

Dsus2 - D - Dsus4 ... etc.

e----------------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------|  strumming pattern:
b----------------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------|
g----------------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------|
D----b----b----b-------------|----------------------------|-----------------------|
A----------------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------|
E----------------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------|

GUITAR SOLO (enter drums)

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And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last
When all are one, and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll

And she's buying a stairway to Heaven