Deconstructing Led Zeppelin Riffs

[@mas_3330]

Led Zeppelin is one of the greatest achievements of human kind.

[@seandaniel23]

Agreed!

[@alexander-germain]

Sam _ after chocolate

[@Inaluogh]

Nope. Led Zeppelin beats chocolate.

[@KOLDBLU3ST33L]

👏👏👏well said🤘

[@I_scooter_fast]

Yeah!!! I'm agreed

[@priiimmrose]

There are two types of people in this world, those who like Led Zeppelin, and those who haven't heard them

[@seandaniel23]

Right on!

[@goodknight37]

Those who like Led Zeppelin, and dead people🤷🏻‍♂️

[@crawshbonte211]

It's actually those who like Led Zeppelin, and those who are wrong lol

[@netron896]

you guys can teach theory Like nobody else

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much!

[@stratocasterblitz5179]

Sean Daniel you guys should briefly go over everything you could use from music theory to make a song. I've been trying to figure it out myself and theres so much crap I've never heard of that i have to really dig to find. Just shedding light on topics would be very helpful.

[@davedavid7061]

nobody hears a single word you say, but you keep on teaching till your dying day

[@soullessSiIence]

Holy shit, I needed this KZbin channel in my life.

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much Esteban!

[@jasoncavitt2043]

Fellow mode nerds! Automatic thumbs up! Fun and substantive demonstration, gentlemen.

[@soullessSiIence]

Now imagine a Deconstructing Mastodon, or Opeth...

[@apexwindowcleaningservices4457]

Esteban Aguayo Anybody learning the guitar does.

[@dougp2917]

Ditto that! No one else bridging theory and application on the web with THIS MUCH fun, spontaneity, and relevance.

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much Doug!

[@Ryan_Thompson_Guitarist]

The first riff I ever learned (Although I learned it wrong) was Heartbreaker

[@seandaniel23]

Such a great riff.

[@ignatiusjackson235]

Did you end on the Minor 3rd instead of the Minor 7th? I did that for years before I realized it, lol.

[@ohyeah6729]

You guys rock. Too many of the other KZbin guitar guys just say things like "third string, fifth fret" without getting into the theory at all.

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much! Always a fun time with my dude Ian!

[@dr.weeniehutjr]

You should do a video for every Led Zeppelin riff like this, honestly. Make a whole series. They were the first band that ever got me into music, and holy shit I never looked into the theory behind the riffs like you have here. This is some fucking quality content. My mind is blown. You've got a new sub.

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much man! We'll have more coming!

[@KGSoloman2000]

Your worshipping Zeppelin gave me goosebumps. Soulmates, guys, soulmates...!

[@xandrewbrown]

Good Times Bad Times has been my warm up/soundcheck jam for ever. Gets you in the mood, is easy, and sounds great just on the guitar with the scratching in between.

[@seandaniel23]

Right on Andrew!

[@williamtimberlake3846]

I think ur channel is my favourite on KZbin always makes sense when u teach and u both work very well together and have genuine charisma

[@seandaniel23]

Man thank you so much!

[@garrettallman3832]

You guys REALLY have helped me learn and understand music theory. Ive been playing for about 3 years and play stuff like mastodon and ISIS and a little bit of Baroness. I kinda learned it backwards by learning how to sweep and then looking up what arpeggios and scales were after the fact. Now i have a decent understanding of scales and how they play together with chords and i can now play along and "talk" music with my more experienced friends. I have never had a guitar teacher or any kind of lessons but if i did, I dont think they would be on the level you guys are at. Thank you guys so much! I really appreciate the videos and i hope they keep comin!

[@paliccolo]

i wish to end up on your level someday. but some of this stuff is still over my head

[@seandaniel23]

Man thanks so much for reaching out Garrett. So great to hear!

[@robbalbrecht]

I've been a beginning guitar player for 20+ years (played on and off) and always thought Led Zeppelin's songs were some unobtainable grail reserved for advanced players. You guys are really helping me to get the Led out with these lessons. Can't thank y'all enough. Rock on Stich and Sean \m/

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much Robb! Keep rocking!

[@MichaelYork777]

Some other video I watched the poster was asking what everyone's favorite Led Zeppelin song was, to which I also laughed and had to explain why that was impossible even a top ten list is too limited. I still love playing Over the Hills and Far Away, everytime I pick up my guitar. Black Dog is a good example of subtle picking alterations which enhance the pace and feel of the song, they were masters at this. I am always drawn back to all these riffs like a magnet. Thanks for the analysis, Paige was after all a skilled master studio guitarist. He didn't just stumble upon all this, he knew how music could play with emotions.

[@seandaniel23]

100% agree. So hard to choose.

[@tylerparks147]

Love it dudes!!! been playing for years just recently trying to wrap my head around modal playing and theory in general and these videos are putting them perfect for me to understand! Kudos

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks for reaching out.

[@rynmxy]

The Modes with Friends series has really opened my eyes to the purpose of modes, and this video just solidified that I really understand it now. There's a song on my band's first album that always had a different vibe to it, and now I've discovered that it's because I wrote it in mixolydian (incidentally, of course). The song is much easier to improv over now that I understand what made it different. Thanks so much for this series!

[@seandaniel23]

So great to hear Ryan! Thanks for watching!

[@domenicocusumano]

you guys are great. Been playing zeppelin a while and you guys are really good at making theory fun.

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much man, rock on!

[@apexwindowcleaningservices4457]

Was John Bonham the worlds first metronome?

[@seandaniel23]

Can't disrespect Joe Morello like that!

[@deadpool1901]

Apex Window Cleaning Services No.

[@EnriqueRealtor]

Apex Window Cleaning Services: John Bonham was the HAMMER! Jimmy Page was the GOD!!

[@pappyodanial]

He actually played behind the beat. Problem is most rock drummers ARE metronomes, and they can't groove. So your comment is quote the opposite.

[@tunehenge]

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I might try some Jimmy Page. This is one of my faves of all your videos, and not just because you each picked a massive tune to deconstruct. If you have any interest in making a whole series of LZ deconstructs, I'll be watching every one repeatedly.

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much Joel. We'll talk more Zep for sure!

[@evanwallach2116]

Awesome video! I wonder though, wouldn't it be more fitting to say Four Sticks is in E Dorian? Same notes as A Mixolydian, and the song centers around E much more. Kind of similar logic as Good Times Bad Times being in E Mixolydian; it's this way because E stands as the song's "tonic" center.

[@seandaniel23]

You wouldn't be wrong :)

[@rogerweafer2179]

Jimmy was heavy into the eastern vibe, how about G harmonic minor!

[@seandaniel23]

Oh that's coming!

[@timothyjrosser1]

This is absolutely my dream guitar lesson, making the theory really concrete with amazing examples! Can we have 2, 3 & 4 of this? And a special on the rain song obviously!

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks tim!

[@Brembelia]

Wow. This is WAY kewl and I love the Zep! Keep it coming, guys :D

[@seandaniel23]

will do! Zep forever!

[@BRT01994]

Keep doing this deconstructing thing! It's interesting and really helpful!!

[@seandaniel23]

We'll keep it up!

[@OutOnTheTiles]

Thanks guys this is great. Zeppelin live is where the band really shine! ✌️🎸❤️

[@MichaelThomastheOne]

Loved this!! You guys should totally make this a series where you explain famous songs and the theory behind them. Start with Knights of Cydonia!!!!

[@seandaniel23]

Man I might have to! Best song ever!

[@TMNigel]

Great stuff guys. Breaking the Grimoire code of Led Zep is a joy to behold!

[@seandaniel23]

Right on man, thanks for watching!

[@exxekhan]

When I watch your videos, I'm giggling like a schoolgirl. I

[@seandaniel23]

Haha, thanks so much, we'll keep it up!

[@theknightsofren358]

Good times bad times is the best Zeppelin song ever. It's amazing. i learned all three instruments from that song

[@seandaniel23]

I love that it's their very first song.

[@bensnived5875]

The Knights Of Ren first song ive ever heard on vinyl. Never heard the song before but i saw that Communication Breakdown was the A Side of the single but i accidentally put on Good Times Bad Times first. It started with those powerful chords at first and i was like "what in hell is this?" (in excitement) and i listened over and over

[@MrZigzou]

One year later, we need an episode 2 of Deconstructing Led Zeppelin... :)

[@seandaniel23]

I'm down.

[@Faffabucco]

I got a lot of guitar skills by learning led zeppelin songs like in my time of dying or heartbreaker, thank you jimmy!

[@seandaniel23]

Such a great way to learn.

[@Faffabucco]

@@seandaniel23 absolutely

[@rcolang1]

The practical way you teach is outstanding!!

[@seandaniel23]

Thank you :)

[@_sudipidus_]

I miss having a buddy like this to hold guitars and analyze the favorite songs

[@seandaniel23]

We gotchu :)

[@EnriqueRealtor]

I got chills at the 2:18 mark. You said, "Here come Led Zeppelin" and I was THERE!!! I had advanced reserve tickets in the summer of 1980 only to be crushed that September 25th...

[@seandaniel23]

Man so cool you got to experience it but what a bummer about those tickets!

[@gerrygreen4923]

Great video guys. This approach to learning songs is what I've been looking for. I know theory but having you guys break down songs like this saves me tons of time and helps me really understand what I'm doing so I can do sane improv more quickly. Also, Led Zepplin is the greatest band of all time FYI. But you knew that already.

[@seandaniel23]

Thank you for watching! You are right, I already did :)

[@Braglemaster123]

On that GTBT riff you improvised, that’s kept for the bass line.

[@seandaniel23]

JPJ for the win!

[@I_scooter_fast]

Get ready planet Earth!! Hahaha this is so amazing. Zep is still my all time fave if I'm honest and this video really took things up a notch for me. Thanks guys!!!

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks for watching Kimberly! Long live Zep!

[@TomatoFettuccini]

It's funny you mention Zeppelin. I've been playing Zep for about 15 years. I don't like all of their songs, but you're right about what can be learned from them. Jimmy Page still takes me to school every time I listen to them. Kudos for featuring them. I think you should do more videos on Zep.

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks for reaching out man, we'll have more soon!

[@JCloyd-ys1fm]

Scales are just so damn fun. I can't see why people get bored by them. Arpeggios are a bit of a choir though. Thanks for breaking down those riffs.

[@seandaniel23]

Right! Scales for the win!

[@blooeagle5118]

The first Riff I heard from Led Zeppelin was Kashmir, and I heard it in an ad for some movie (I forget the name) But I heard it and it absolutely blew me away. I didn't know music could sound like that. And after about a week of searching, I find the name of the band and I was immediately hooked. Led Zeppelin inspired me to play Guitar, and 4 years later I'm starting to make my own riffs after studying under LZ.

[@seandaniel23]

What a great song! They're the best.

[@lancelotlink6545]

You guys should do a vid on Zep time signatures. I find the mix of signatures one of the more interesting and challenging aspects of playing a Zeppelin song. Would love to hear your breakdown on that!

[@seandaniel23]

Great idea!

[@ArturoIbarra]

Guys! This video is so freaking awesome! Couple friends having a good time analyzing the best band of the world! Kudos and keep this type of vids coming. Just subscribed.

[@seanenglish3002]

Great Lesson. Today is Led Zeppelin day at my house. I can't believe you two teach in the same studio. I have never wanted to live in Florida more in my life.

[@tomjones9441]

I'm enamored with Jimmy Page's writing and playing style, and I just found this video. Needless to say, I'm a very happy man right now. Thanks for the insightful discussion, guys!

[@seandaniel23]

So happy to help Tom!

[@jpc_337]

Just had an explosion in my mind, and so much more makes sense now due to this video. Love learning applicable theory, especially from Zeppelin! Thank you guys!

[@seandaniel23]

Happy to help Jared!

[@PetersRockinTheWorld]

The second song is basically E Dorian, I think. To me it sounds like the E chord would be the resolution.

[@seandaniel23]

It's all up for debate!

[@matthewlebish6787]

I love Led Zeppelin! It'd be really awesome if you guys would keep making Zeppelin stuff and maybe see some Clapton and Black Sabbath (Tony Iommi) styles.

[@seandaniel23]

Will do my man!

[@DannyWerner]

This was part 1 of a 24 part series, yes? Please? Those first sounds ... :-) You do an excellent job of sharing great stuff.

[@seandaniel23]

We'll see what we can do Danny! Thanks for watching!

[@patrikkozjak-lesicki8669]

these guys are such geeks, I didn't understand a word but I loved it xD

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks for watching!

[@patrikkozjak-lesicki8669]

Sean Daniel I usually watch your videos cause you're a great guitar player and seem like a very chill guy to hang out with, but if Led Zeppelin is in the title you got me 100%!

[@stratocasterblitz5179]

Patrik Kozjak-Lesički hey tame impala

[@johnbrown9183]

Good stuff to get the Led out I find them heavy and yet spiritual in the intensity and musicianship. The bass and percussion with that piercing vocal. Page well Jimmy adds something making them well-rounded and in a class all their own

[@seandaniel23]

So good!

[@bottleneck1100]

best video I've watched since forever.

[@Ubermensch1972]

I was born in '72, and I knew of LZ when I was growing up, but it wasn't until one night in 1986, when I decided to watch "The Song Remains the Same," on A&E, that I was hooked; they've been my favorite band, ever since.

[@seandaniel23]

I've got that DVD actually, so good.

[@rockindavebyron3960]

Great video guys, love the explanation, plus Zeppelin is without a doubt THEE Greatest Rick band of all time, so versatile!!! Hey Sean, I use to own that same model of Breedlove with a ceder top, great guitar! I traded it for the Yamaha NTX 700 nylon strings because I was playing at the Brisol Renaissance Fair in Wisconsin, but still have my Breedlove Passport, great guitars they!!! You guys ROCK!!! Stay safe my friends, Rock On & God Bless!!!

[@seandaniel23]

Rock on Dave!

[@Mauruud]

My first Led Zeppelin song i learnt on guitar was Babe im gonna leave you! Awsome acustic guitar song!

[@seandaniel23]

Classic!

[@rayross997]

YES! Good Times Bad Times, sooooo... sweet.

[@seandaniel23]

The best!

[@evetsnitram8866]

The first four notes of Four Sticks are also the first four notes of George Harrison's Within You and Without You. Also the main riff in Dancing Days is in G lydian.

[@seandaniel23]

Mind blown.

[@himaloykhan1457]

these is the best channel i saw so far

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks!

[@chrissoares23]

Great episode. Please do more of this kinda thing. "Hey you know that awesome Muse song, fully Locrian mode!"

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks Chris! We'll keep em coming!

[@drewfields3975]

Great video, guys. Love this kind of analysis. My outlook on the Four Sticks riff is a little different, though. The fact that the riff rides on the open E string implies to me that they want your attention on E. That coupled with the fact that Plant's opening vocal lines kind of center around E as well, makes me look at four sticks as E Dorian, instead of A Mixolydian. The resolution of the phrase, to me, seems to be when they get back to their "perpetual motion" riff. When they land on that A, and then the quick G, it seems to be pulling your ear back to the E, or the II of the key. That's how I've always thought of that riff. :)

[@franklinreid]

Y’all are great teachers. Nice job

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much! We'll keep em coming!

[@garybrooks1194]

My favorite band

[@seandaniel23]

The greatest.

[@jonathonturel2480]

Eye opening. Thanks!

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks for watching!

[@brianmcawesome]

Just so you guys know that riff was actually written by John Paul Jones, as were many of the difficult notey riffs in Zeppelin such as Black Dog, Out on the Tiles and of course Good Times Bad Times.

[@seandaniel23]

You're blowing my mind right now.

[@brianmcawesome]

You're welcome! I was shocked when I first heard too. JPJ was such an essential part of Zeppelin.

[@officergregorystevens5765]

So part of what makes Good Times Bad Times be Mixolydian is that Mixolydian has a flattened 7th, making the default 7th be the "dominant 7"... so C D E F G A Bb (C) for C Mixolydian... and since it's in E Mixolydian, that explains the riff's walking up in half steps to the E to D to E kind of main riff of the beginning of the verse that you played there, drops down to the C# giving you a nice 3 half steps to walk back up to the E.. pretty cool. Is the melody in Mixolydian mode?

[@seandaniel23]

I personally wouldn't think of the melody as being modal to my ear, but if you really dissect it you can see it following the chords and make that argument.

[@facubozzi7395]

more of theseeeeeee!!!!

[@seandaniel23]

Will do!

[@MrBBaron]

Zeppelin was fantasic and so was Jimi Hendrix. Those are the ones most beginner guitarist want to learn how to play their riffs and solos. They were my prime guitar objectives to learn eons ago.

[@seandaniel23]

You and me both!

[@aowang6166]

Love you guys!

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@ieldepiel]

WE WANT MORE!!!;)

[@seandaniel23]

You got it!

[@jeremywanner4526]

Zeppelin is the soul reason I picked up the guitar when I was a kid, I could wait to learn Heartbreaker and Blackdog.

[@xXLEGOdragonXx]

John Paul Jones wrote the riff good times bad times. He wrote many of thr led zeppelin riffs actually, most notably black dog. He said if a riff has a lot of notes, he probably wrote it, but jimmy wrote the ones with chords

[@seandaniel23]

I love it.

[@artemisnite]

Dudes... MORE! This needed to be a ten hour video.

[@Kianquenseda]

Great Show !! Would you talk a little about "How many more times " they take lyrics of other songs ie "they call me the hunter" that was a separate and completely different song of the blues (Albert King perhaps). To create that song from other songs is genius, no ?

[@seandaniel23]

I'l have to! Love that song!

[@crawshbonte211]

I need to hang out with people like you guys! I dont have any HUGE Zepplin fans around me lol. You guys are friggin awesome!

[@MrDtaylor099]

Together! ha! I dig both of your channels!

[@seandaniel23]

BFFs

[@tombryant52jumpscoach]

I think at 4:26 I heard the beginning of Bob Marley's Redemption Song (accident. I know). Notes, Major 3rd, keys. The only key I know is house and car. This is way over my head. But what the hell, I listened anyway cause it was fun.

[@seandaniel23]

So cool to hear Thomas! keep it up and it'll all click soon!

[@MouriMare]

I've seen a couple of videos about modes, but I still don't understand how to use them in my own songwriting process. It just doesn't want to stick in my head... As a LZ fan and guitar player I'm getting really frustrated, because I want to write song with more than just chord strumming :O Thanks for this video :). I would love to see a second part.

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much! We'll do another :)

[@joeyride58]

i make the "Attempt" , to decipher , ...(with limited knowledge)... and you 2 give me hope and inspiration with your way of explaining what you both know so well... on another note... Sean, is that a Breedlove, & if so, which one ? thanx!!!

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks for watching! It's a Breedlove Passport C250. You can get them used really reasonably priced.

[@danielweissel2366]

Friends, fan from Aus here, you guys are expanding my knowledge tenfold. Absolute legends for doing what you do. I was trying to figure out my own example, I had a question of my own in regards to Zep... Ramble On in particular!! I had some trouble figuring it out, but is it in E mixolydian? In the key of A major? If it is, the A (the root) is used to end the riff, with like a suspended 4th hammered on (i think), but as you guys were saying, using the root in the chord progression, doesn't really make the riff fully modal. So how does this song work? Can you guys jump in and give me hand? Cheers!

[@rogerweafer2179]

I replied to the Modes Zeppelin riff video,about a re-Pitch of the tunes; if you're interested listen to Dancing Days go to Roger Weafer on you tube and check out "what did they to to Houses of the Holy".

[@seandaniel23]

Yeah I need to check that out.

[@jamessimpson4577]

I think it would be interesting to hear you guys break form 'Kashmir', which sounds like it never actually resolves to my uneducated ear.

[@seandaniel23]

Great idea!

[@zdsminorz]

Very informative!!! Thanks a bunch.

[@seandaniel23]

No problem! Thanks for watching :)

[@yoloswag6242]

These guys are the best

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much!

[@indiegemsthatjam3986]

That was fun trying to keep up ...

[@seandaniel23]

+INDIE GEMS THAT JAM Thanks for checking it out!

[@deathbykitty1954]

Page used the Mixolydian scale quite often. What Is And What Should Never Be and The Lemon Song just to name a couple more.

[@leebraly3904]

Cool deconstruction!

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks for watching!

[@philipdjoshi7525]

Please do this with "Over The Hills And Far Away". The whole intro. The transition to Bb6 is very overwhelming. I would wanna learn the theory behind it.

[@seandaniel23]

Good video idea!

[@Shrbrt]

In babe I'm gonna leave you. The solo somewhere in the end Jimmy plays a mixolydian run

[@seandaniel23]

+Sherbert The destroyer right on. He does that a lot!

[@owenhu9465]

The G note in the four sticks riff sounds like it was played in unison on the record

[@seandaniel23]

You're probably right.

[@48tomw]

Listen to the Rush tune Xanadu and you'll hear mixolodian all over the place

[@seandaniel23]

Rush is amazing.

[@scottr6752]

Fun breakdown. Cheers!

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much Scott!

[@_drizzle2237]

Awesomeness!

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much!

[@KonradWadenhauer]

And friend of mine and I had to pay drinks for a whole bar once when we played (an awful version of) Stairway to Heaven. It was an Open Stage and there was a sign outside that said "Whoever plays Stairway must pay for the whole Bar" and we felt challenged haha

[@johnbrown9183]

good for you Never hide from a challenge like that Stick your guns out there and charge back at em I say. I remember only once I backed off on free drink if I played there at the walk up bar with my guitar in hand. I paid and walked off.

[@seandaniel23]

Way to be! Rebellion!

[@spk1969]

Great Video fellas. However, you said to stay away from the 1 when going Modal and in the A Mixolydian example of Four Sticks "D" is the 1. You are playing it as a drone note over the other notes in the lick so you didn't technically stay away from it. But I get your point.

[@jackandelman]

OK Sean, you've turned me into a fanboy. I've been playing for about 20 years but never really studied theory and have barely progressed outside of the minor pentatonic box. The few videos of yours that I've seen so far actually kind of make sense to me. A great accessible presentation with a lot of knowledge and some humor sprinkled in. It's gonna take me a while to get through your catalog but if I actually commit the time, I know I'm going to improve as a player. Oh, and Led Zeppelin riffs? How about a few dozen more?! THIS is the video that made me comment!

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much for reaching out Jack! We'll definitely have more Zep talk coming!

[@townbeach3604]

Excellent!

[@abe3775]

the 4 sticks sound is pretty common in older indian compositions. But yeah its sick as fuck

[@seandaniel23]

He's so good.

[@keeelane]

I disagree. I think 'four sticks' is definitely in E dorian/blues pentatonic. I was in a hurry to analyze it tho but I think it's in E. The main riff has a constant E drone below it. The A-G progression is meant to lead back to the E which is underneath the main riff tho the riff itself isn't obviously in E mode. I think this is the best explanation but I'd like to hear someone else's thoughts.

[@seandaniel23]

You definitely could be right!

[@FisVii77]

I sense guilt over your WHY LED ZEPPLIN SUCKS VID LOL, Really enjoy these Mode with friends vids, Great vids and content as always. You two take it easy keep up the great vids.

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much Mike!

[@LimitIsIllusion]

got stoned. clicked video. heard you play four sticks. left video to listen to four sticks. better luck keeping my attention next time guys.

[@seandaniel23]

I'll allow it.

[@timpenfield5]

PAGE=GENIUS

[@seandaniel23]

Agreed.