Are you a guitar player with a deep love for the iconic rock sound of Led Zeppelin?
Then you’re in luck! In this article, we’re going to dive into the world of this British band and explore some of their easiest and most satisfying songs to play on guitar.
Whether you’re a beginner looking to master your first riffs or an advanced player looking for new challenges, we’ve got you covered.
Led Zeppelin’s music is a timeless fusion of blues, rock, and folk, characterized by Jimmy Page’s amazing guitar work, Robert Plant’s captivating vocals, and the band’s unparalleled chemistry.
From the electrifying energy of Communication Breakdown to the soulful melodies of Going to California, these songs showcase Led Zeppelin’s signature sound and are perfect for sharpening your guitar skills.
Whether you’re strumming along to the acoustic ballads or unleashing your inner rock god on the heavier hits, this article will guide you through the simple yet rewarding guitar parts that make Led Zeppelin’s music so legendary.
So grab your guitar, crank up the volume, and get ready to rock out and channel your inner Jimmy Page as we explore the world of easy Led Zeppelin songs on guitar!
1. Immigrant Song
To begin with, we have one of the most popular songs by this British group.
Released in 1970 as part of the album Led Zeppelin III, this track is perfect to get the hang of the riff-based Zeppelin’s compositions.
The main riff consists of an F#m rhythmic line that uses its octave as a pivot note and is played along with the intro and the verse.
The verse is made up of an E chord that rings and an A strummed once, leading into the main F#m riff.
When you finally reach the chorus, you have to play A, B, and C.
Finally, the outro consists of a variation of the main riff with a Gm chord at the end of each bar and, as you can see, you have a song that you can play straight away.
2. Dazed and Confused
Dazed and Confused is a psychedelic track that leaves room for experimentation.
Released in the 1969 album Led Zeppelin, this song is quite minimalist.
The song begins with some natural harmonics and, like many other Zeppelin compositions, features a riff with bendings that create a descending melody that is the leitmotif of the track.
The chorus simply combines a B5 with a pentatonic lick.
As for the interlude, it is just a few chords: E5/B – D5/A – G5 – E5, but what comes next is the solo.
The solo is perhaps the most difficult part of the song, consisting of pentatonic licks, bendings, and slides.
However, once you’ve memorized the different phrases, it’s not that difficult. It’s just a matter of practice, and as the track is quite experimental, you could even jam along to the solo.
Finally, the post solo plays E – D – A – E – G three times.
Then we have the outro, which repeats the same chord progression as the interlude.
To play this song, pay attention to the different parts and learn their order.
Remember to help yourself with the tabs and practice the licks in the solo.
3. Whole Lotta Love
When it comes to simple guitar tracks, this masterpiece can’t be missed.
Featured in the 1969 album Led Zeppelin II, this song is easier than you may think.
Composed on the Em key, this classic rock tune comprises a main riff played throughout almost the entire song.
The chorus plays a D power chord that goes to an E and maintains the riff while another guitar slides from E backward.
The following section involves atmospheric sounds, vocal games, and drum fills until the solo, where the guitar strums an aggressive E5 twice and plays some pentatonic licks to shape it.
This pattern, the opening E power chord followed by melodic lines, is repeated six times.
What comes next is one more verse and chorus but then we have an E and A chords, both strummed one time.
Those chords lead us to the outro, which plays the main riff again and the song ends with a fade out.
4. Babe I’m Gonna Leave You
Appearing on Led Zeppelin’s debut and self-titled album in 1969, this is a gentle acoustic ballad that showcases the band member’s ability to express deep emotion.
Babe I’m Gonna Leave You consists of the arpeggiated chord progression Am – Am/G – Am/F# – F – E six times, playing F – E – F – E towards the seventh bar and returning to the first progression in the final bar.
This plucked progression is played during the verses and after that, there is a little interlude.
This section plays Am – Am7 – Dm four times and then goes to the next verse, which is exactly the same as the previous one and also has the interlude.
After this, a new section appears which acts as a bridge and plays the chord progression Asus2 – Am7 – Dsus4/A – Dm/A four times.
Finally, we arrive at the chorus, a strummed section that plays Am – Dm – D – F – E four times, F – E twice, and then Am – Am7 – Dm four times.
These are all the parts in the song, you just have to remember their order to play it.
Although it may seem overwhelming because some of the chords look difficult, the arpeggio is not that hard and I guarantee you will master it after some time of playing.
5. Communication Breakdown
Taken from their 1969 self-titled debut album, this track will take your guitar playing to the next level.
Start with a palm muted open low E string, then D, A, and D chords, which is the intro and also the verses.
For the chorus, you need two chords, A7 and B7.
Play these chords, add a chopped 6th with a rock n roll groove and you have this section.
Let’s not forget the guitar solo, which is the most challenging part of the song.
Like many of Jimmy Page’s solos, this one involves bending, pentatonic lines, and fast licks, so check the tabs and put your fingers to work!
6. Living Loving Maid (She’s Just a Woman)
7. The Girl I Love (She Got Long Black Wavy Hair)
8. The Ocean
9. How Many More Times
10. Houses Of The Holy
11. Going to California
Hello there, my name is Ramiro and I’ve been playing guitar for almost 20 years. I’m obsessed with everything gear-related and I thought it might be worth sharing it. From guitars, pedals, amps, and synths to studio gear and production tips, I hope you find what I post here useful, and I’ll try my best to keep it entertaining also.
