Stairway To Heaven. The PERFECT Intermediate Guitar Solo. Walkthrough Analysis Tutorial.

a walkthrough, analysis and tutorial on the great solo to Stairway to Heaven.
I hope you find this informative, and interesting, and ultimately a better guitar player.
cheers, Kelly
Paypal tip jar if you're so inclined paypal.me/kellydeanallen?coun...
support for my channel on Patreon is always greatly appreciated as well. / kellydeanallen

[@CAP21]

This is the GREATIST guitar tutorial on the internet, PERIOD!!! Love the explanation of pentatonic scale it's in, why the F's added to the scale, angle of fingers bending notes, etc. Can't say enough good things about your guitar tutorials.👍 BEST ON THE INTERNET😎

[@AlanWinterboy]

Finally, someone on KZbin playing it nearly exactly as it was played in the original. Well done.

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Thanks man!

[@AlanWinterboy]

I'm thinking of getting an electric guitar again so I can learn this from you.

[@JohnSmith-fp8il]

those two big bends add so much character to this solo.

[@jfo3000]

What makes this solo so great is HOW Jimmy played it. It contains some of the greatest "weeping " vibratos ever recorded. Pick attack, overall articulation and timing are excellent. And added articulation from the Tele single coils. Arguably Page at his best. He was able to conjure the magic for their most magical song. A loan from his trip to the crossroads.

[@alexbianchi72]

Great video! Leaving these timestamps for my reference while learning. Lick 1: 5:00 Lick 2: 13:19 Lick 3: 16:09 Lick 4: 18:37 Lick 5: 21:45 Lick 6: 25:40 Lick 7: 27:02 Lick 8: 28:12 Lick 9: 29:40

[@willd2225]

Your guitar instruction is some of the best on KZbin, you’ve been instrumental in helping me, and I imagine many others, learn epic solos like this, stranglehold and My Sharona. Much appreciated!!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Cheers mate, thanks!

[@kertwang]

Couldn't agree more.

[@user-mw6fh5oj2c]

Echoing others, finally someone who explains how it sounds like the way it sounds. I have played this for many years, and never came close to how it sounds like the record, now I can come closer, I can see the light from years in darkness, thank you so very much

[@billwarkentin3630]

I just found your site and subscribed. Your videos, clarity of descriptions, history tidbits, enthusiasm, and teaching style is outstanding! I'm 63 and a home hobbyist (very average guitarist); this is so very useful. Thank-you much!!!!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

My pleasure Bill! Glad you enjoy what I do.

[@Guitaroverkill]

Page is the man. Page plays memorable riffs. That’s why he’s great. Nice work.

[@stratman9449]

Jimmy is and always has been my favorite guitarist and songwriter.....timeless quality.....even after 50+years.....

[@drvee1983]

I would not call it an " intermediate " solo. I've been playing it for 50 years and missed nuances that you sir have explained. Now I'm relearning it. Thank you for posting, and great instructional lesson. Finally broken down into plain fretboard and string work, not just showing off. Brilliant. Bravo.

[@sirwinston2368]

Same here. I am 62 and have been playing since 1974/75. I still don't have this down pat. I'm pretty close and if you're not a guitar player you would say I'm pretty good but... you know the story.

[@drvee1983]

Yes. I do. Sometimes we are own worst critics. The worst crowd to play for are musicians.

[@stanparchaiski5394]

You are a great teacher. I can’t believe I’ve never discovered your channel until today. Where have you been all my life ? Keep up the good work.

[@sbennettyt]

This is one of the best performances I have seen of this solo. Many people get the notes right but very few nail the feel the way you do. Great job sir. Sounds like I'm listening to Jimmy Page.

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Appreciate that mate, thanks!

[@jimmylynch9079]

You helped me cross off a bucket list item. I've always wanted to learn this solo but never actually took the time to figure it out. Your video was very easy to follow and extremely helpful, thank you!!!

[@wbresgen]

Hi, I'm happy that I could find your tutorials here in KZbin. Great teaching skills. Hope I can find more from you. Much appreciated!

[@toddwilliams3224]

Great tutorial, exactly what I needed for this song. You are a great teacher, glad I found you 🤘

[@xavier-jj9mf]

The best slow, patien and clair explanation I've ever seen! Thanks a lot Kelly!! 😊

[@divisonlapse]

I was just starting to learn it like 5 minutes before your video shows up!! Thanks again!

[@austintormasi1429]

So happy I found this video! I thought I already know how to play this solo but wanted to with some more videos to get some other perspectives. Im really glad I found you because of all the little details that really help. Keep up the good work

[@maxwelld1961]

Just awesome my man. Yours is without a doubt the best instruction of all the videos on KZbin. I'm definitely a fan. 😀 Again thanks so much.

[@karstenthurfjell-scholz6065]

Thank you so much for this outstanding tutorial! Playing extra slowly while explaining the parts and explaining even when to do pull-offs was gold for me 🎸

[@fonzario]

Perfectly done. Every nuance is there. Thank you.

[@johnklein4558]

Wow! Your “cover” in the beginning of your video was 1000% spot on dude! Amazing! Sounded great! I hope to one day be able to play this half as good as you did.

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Thanks John! Appreciate that very much.

[@leestenson6573]

Excellent Excellent tutorial. Excellent playing and super breakdown. Fantastic work. Cheers.

[@cristobalin40]

You played it very precisely 👏👌

[@dentondam]

Perfectly played and the perfect tutorial of such a great solo.

[@CraigBall-yj1jr]

You are the best and a excellent guitar player

[@clarkstokes7080]

Thank you so much! I am finally going to get this under my fingers! Great tutorial!

[@williammoore250]

The explanation in this video is phenomenal. I know the pentatonic and the notes it’s made of so that right there made it much less daunting. Marty music is the only one that breaks things down like this . Great job

[@blackie5566]

Thank you Kelly, this is really one of the greatest lessons I know. Thanks a million, thumbs up and subscribed 🙂

[@mohalol6739]

This is amazing, I already learned this solo but this is so fun to watch, it’s not just how to play the solo it’s explaining why everything is the way it is. Great job, subscribed to you and will definitely check out the other tutorials

[@deans.8659]

Great lesson and so helpful! You're a good teacher!! Thank you!

[@raybenjaminkiekel2854]

Kelly you're the hero! I started following your channel when you were working through the Guitar World 100 best solos. This breakdown is just awesome as I started picking up the Stairway solo on a mission to finally polish up my lead playing. Keep doing what you're doing!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Thanks Ray! You've been here a while then. Much appreciated mate.

[@Texman4268]

Just awesome. I've been working on this and finally trying to learn it. Great playing and tone and this video is just perfect. Thanks so much

[@billcosgrove1307]

Thank you so much for your outstanding tutorials. Not only am I learning songs like this Stairway solo which I have wanted to learn forever but I’m gaining confidence in my playing and realizing I’m a better guitarist than I ever gave myself credit for. You are an amazing teacher and a person can’t do anything but learn from you. I will definitely donate a few dollars I’m a disabled vet and on fixed income so I have a couple days until I can swing it but I truly want to because in the world we live in we very seldom get what we pay for and your instructional videos are definitely worth much more than I could afford thank you so much. I’ve been practicing this over and over and I’m finally getting towards the end of the solo then it’s on to some ACDC tutorials 😎 you rock brother

[@Pimp-Master]

Wow, so nice. Glad I found your lesson first. You're really good. Keep goin'

[@mathrohden]

Thanks for your lesson. I'm usually don't comment on youtube videos, but I have to thank you. I've been learning guitar for quite a bit, and still strugling with some tecnhiques such bend, vibratos and pull-off. Love the pace and the tips for some of the licks. Some bends are really hard, maybe I'll change my string to facilitate. But I could get every note, now I just to get clean and speed up. Thanks once again, greets from Brazil

[@PhilFeedback]

Great lesson video! Thanks 👍

[@salvatorevetro1743]

I confess this solo is harder for me than other intermediate-level solos, I thought it was easier. I can play bohemian rhapsody and the unforgiven entirely, no problem, but this also shows how people saying Page was overrated are wrong.

[@kungstu22]

I am to the point where I have the parts down from Sped Spedding and I'm looking for the nuances (micros, vib, pinch harm, etc.). This video is exactly what I needed. Thanks so much! You really are a great, great player with a clear respect for the masters.

[@guilletrovato9226]

You are the only person I have found on the net, that plays it so close. In fact, I would say 99.9% close. I will be learning from you boss.

[@joseluisvargas1088]

Thank you so much for this one! I've been trying to get it right for years, but due to my lack of ability it's been hard! But with your help I can now put this one to work. Not that I nailed it note for note but pretty close! Thanks again and greetings from Mexico 🙋🏻‍♂️🇲🇽🎸

[@mikeoliver198]

Excellent lesson!!!

[@snakething]

Very nice structured lesson. subscribed!

[@markcalvert6402]

Adding to the lesson bin. I've "played" it before, but never really "learned" it like you've explained. Enjoyed the added commentary on the F. I've talked with others over the years how that really makes the solo. I couldn't tell you the mode and all that theory stuff.. its a chord tone an in the scale, so play it over the chord. 😀

[@grah01]

Another great lesson. Thanks!

[@maheranam318]

thank you so much I beg you to make more of these pleaseeee!

[@lewisbell3036]

Really really great lesson. I love the breakdown of the phrasing and the in depth technique discussion. I consider myself an intermediate player. I’ve known the notes to stairway for a long time but it’s never quite sounded right to my ear just due to slight phrasing inaccuracies. Your instruction has really helped things shine for me. Looking forward to digging into more of your videos!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Thanks man, appreciate that very much.

[@stricknine8623]

Superbly presented and instructed !

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Thanks mate !

[@Drumbone71]

I’m tackling this entire solo an intermediate kinda player. This is the lesson I needed with added inspiration. Cool! Thank You…

[@Drumbone71]

I love your channel. All the best music…

[@guitarspacejam]

Love your lessons you are great a Teacher

[@chuckstang]

Man, that was so good. Thank you for this.

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Cheers mate, it's my pleasure. Good luck with it.

[@Ultimagtr650]

Great job

[@UncleWayon]

Love the commentary, as usual.

[@stratman9449]

in your introduction and analysis of this solo you really hit the nail on the head....."stairway" just is so structured and its got it all.....it stands the test of time...and why should it be just difficult or hard to play.....??....it's the musicallity that counts....:-) i feel the same way about the solo (s) of "hotel C".....you can do that nex if you want....should be interesting what YOU make of it.....:-) cheers...

[@shovelheadseven]

Love the Gilmour Strat hanging on your wall!

[@sebastionhawk5565]

BRAVO!!!!!!!!

[@dirkpost3048]

Thank You!!!!!! Your awesome!!!!!! God Bless!!!!!

[@witoldwitoszekrecords3253]

This is probably one of the best performances of that solo I've seen on KZbin so far, it's almost perfect. Everything is spot on except for bending in 0:46.

[@TheStereoField]

Yeah I’ve been working on this solo for like 2 months and I still can’t get that second bend-vibrato to sound right. The struggle is real…

[@AlanWinterboy]

There's a few added hammer-ons, too, like at :15 and :20.

[@johnwilson7809]

Let's hear you do it better.

[@AlanWinterboy]

@@johnwilson7809 ??? Oh, I get it. Only fawning praise allowed, not a discussion. My bad. I'll remove the comment.

[@johnwilson7809]

@@AlanWinterboy It's still there.

[@markdavis5970]

You have a super good DJ voice.And the guitar playing Is just amazing man.

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Thanks Mark! On both accounts.

[@OutOnTheTiles]

Greatest solo ever. Will be studied for years. Jimmy was the best.

[@kensalazar5066]

Achilles last stand

[@sergebraida5622]

Great video Kelly! I don't know when you're going to get back to the unknown/underrated/under appreciated solos list, but I hope Timeless by Badfinger is on there somewhere.

[@donsterattonysmuzik1342]

Nice.. very good on tbe finer points. We all improvise, after achieving a certain level and understanding of modes & keys some solos are well.. "EARMARKABLE", because everyone has heard them 1000 + times. A note for note solo can be appreciated, by everyone listening, whether beginner, intermediate, or highly advanced. Very nice breakdown of phrasing and techniques. Thank you, from one teacher to another. Donster 😎🎸🔊🎵

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Thanks Donster! Appreciate that very much.

[@donsterattonysmuzik1342]

Sorry for typos. I was in a hurry. I'll edit. You are more than welcome Kelly. Search Donster on Apple Music or Spotify if you want to hear my 7 song EP, Roads of Life. Former theory student liked the stuff I had on reverbnation do he did a little boosting by remastering then did an Album cover as a thank you, surprise and gift, for me. He signed up, on Distrokid, after writing his 11 new songs, got teo artist slots and offered me one. I did all the writing, recirding, mixing, on my Zoom 1944 and mastered those those using Wavepad, in a laptop specifically, for the internet, in 2007. Anyway, shameless self promotion.. lol.. not really. Just want to share with you Kelly. Have a blessed day. Thanks for reply. Sometimes all we get is a little appreciation for our efforts.

[@Cigar65]

I do not know or understand lead guitar. I am just an acoustic chord strummer but now the time has come to try and learn this on my Les Paul. A completely different guitar style. I have found on You Tube over the last 2 years since I started playing again after taking 30 years off, that the better the guitar player the worse the teacher. Why? They simply go too fast. Too fast and don't explain things.They teach at their level and I don't think they do this intentionally they just go with their experience. I am now going to watch this video which is just starting. This should be the one I am looking for. I just caught something here that you teach where as another teacher puts something in there that is harder to play with the pull offs. Easy to just pick their note when needed.

[@recandplayagain]

Now we kwow what we want for christmas... since i ve been loving you solo!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Grand idea!

[@robertclarkguitar]

This is going in my lessons video.

[@robertclarkguitar]

Save for lessons playlist that is. Hahaha.

[@CraigBall-yj1jr]

Thanks

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Your awesome Craig! Thanks very much mate.

[@ShawnGreenspun-xk9rr]

Yes perfect

[@klav5930]

I listen to this at least 5x a night play rewind so on as it’s the best version I have ever heard and I’ll say even better than the original!!!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

You're too kind, thanks mate!

[@highridgegraphics2816]

Wow, that tele is screaming- nice

[@peetsnort]

The human hand is amazing. Years and years practice. I have been sharpening knives for years freehand .only occasionally do i get the edge just perfect for shaving. It looks easy. But your muscle memory must stay in practice....CONSTANTLY Same applies to hard tipped fingers playing instruments

[@wrawrer]

This is an amazing walkthrough, goes without saying that I am going to really work on it with this as guide. Something I am wondering beyond the actual solo: that tone, holy heck. Bridge pickup? What amp settings are you utilizing? I've a Strat and a LP and wonder which I can get that close to the original sound. Again, amazing video.

[@wrawrer]

Just now noticed... is that a penny pick?

[@Echidira]

When I will be able to play it well I’lo jump ti another dimension! And I‘ll do! 🙂

[@archit8892]

Great video! If I may ask, which Amp are you using. Is it the blackstar fly 3 Mini

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Just my little 20 watt Blackstar ID Core

[@AlanWinterboy]

P.S. Have you ever considered a tutorial on the first howevermany bars of Clapton's solo in the middle of Have You Ever Loved a Woman? That, and Stairway to Heaven, are the reasons I ever picked up a guitar in the first place (tho now I'm a visual artist, lol, but not much on KZbin).

[@cyberghost4043]

can I just slide at he start of the solo Sir?😀😊

[@james-he7xv]

Not an intermediate solo actually, it has in one solo so many all time great riffs, more than any one solo I can think of. Nicely played btw

[@TheStereoField]

Well I’ve got it about 95% mastered and I’m the definition of intermediate!

[@james-he7xv]

@@TheStereoField mastered in your opinion .

[@escan1250]

Nice guitar! What kind of Tele is that?

[@tvs3497]

Page didn't write that solo, he conjured it up from another dimension.

[@StephenGrainger-x9p]

How do you get the right tone

[@bryantobin2]

finally found someone who takes the time to really instruct how to do a proper bend....that said, when I do this on my very old and busted guitar, the strings above the string I'm bending slip off the nut. Am I doing this wrong, or am I just using an old guitar with a worn down nut?

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Yeah, that shouldn't happen. Nut is likely worn down

[@bryantobin2]

@@KellyDeanAllenGuitar dang, I was worried about that. Haven't played since college and the old girl seems to be in bad shape. Thanks for the reply though! Your teaching style is perfect for a guy like me who used to play as a kid and now trying to get back into it as an adult.

[@thesmuler5627]

I saw another video with tab but seem to make the lick harder to play and not very accurate

[@FrancoM7747]

Great lesson as always. At 28:05 I hear a bend rather than a slide.

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

I shall re-listen. Completely learned it by ear. No tab or tutorials, so I may have misheard a thing or two

[@FrancoM7747]

@@KellyDeanAllenGuitar Roger that.

[@johnmcaleese8459]

@@KellyDeanAllenGuitar Baffles me. You breakdown an entire solo note for note and someone has to tell you that they heard something other than what you took the time to show anyone that basically is neither here nor there. Bend- slide, slide- bend. Well, I just want to say thank you for the work and patience you showed during this vid. Really enjoyed it. I played back in the early 80's in garage bands and life kinda happened. Recently became Disabled from a work accident which put me into early retirement (57). So decided to grab myself some fresh new gear and get back into it. Again, thanks for the killer instruction. PEACE from Philadelphia. Had to subscribe!!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

@@johnmcaleese8459 thanks John! Learning by ear, isn't a perfect art, but it's close. Don't really mind the criticism all that much.

[@johnmcaleese8459]

@@KellyDeanAllenGuitar You're a better man than I ! Just proves, you're one cool cat ! Be watching.✌

[@dalmac5978]

Not a guitar player, but that was great! Sure doesn’t seem intermediate to me, though.

[@user-ys9to2ie7k]

I wonder, if Lynyrd skynyrd's That Smell also utilizes that F note in the lead. It wasn't until you showed that , I thought maybe, it can apply it to That Smell ¿`_

[@psychedelicguitarartbyjima3850]

Thanks for another great lesson. I play a lot of it at half speed and it sounds like we've been drinking together all night.🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🙀🙀🙀🙀🙀

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Cheers Jim! Thanks

[@johnklein4558]

I’m confused. If we’re soloing over F maj isn’t the relative minor D minor ? Why are we using A minor instead of D minor ?

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

We're soloing over an F major chord, but the tonal center of the solo is still A minor. The F notes he hits just add flavor to the solo. He theoretically could have played this whole solo without them and stuck strictly to the A minor pentatonic, and it would have sounded fine, if not a bit weird considering that we know it so well the way it is.

[@groundleaf865]

I cannot bend like that, my fingers got blisters all over, still can’t bend.

[@stinkystubin]

Try 008 strings

[@davyhendrix]

Yea vol comadon I can't even come close to playing it

[@elliotsmith5440]

16:27

[@guilletrovato9226]

Stp. Paper cup. Beautiful original solo. But it doesn't make as hard as this solo. I don't know . There may never be a better and more beautiful one

[@feldwebel7734]

agreed. you would be hard pressed to find a better example...i do find it interesting to dick around here on u-tube and listen to some of the live "stairway" solo's...jimmy will pull a rabbit out of the hat fer sure!

[@joesaave]

Seams like key of Dm in the 4th position ………..

[@thedude-jb7wx]

Funny how technically its intermediate but NO shredder can play it right. Blues is a mastery or a natural feel that one has or has to work hard at getting . Like Gilmour to some with good sets of ears hear the difference between every note. YOU played it well but you had too much distortion and it didnt have a really bluesy tone and feel even though only picky blues ears would ever know this. I can tell you respect all styles and are a master musician but to nail Jimmy is very rare. What i wish Vai would do was really work harder at tones and feel and work more Page or Gilmour into his style. One like David Grissom said it takes 30 years to kinda have every style down. A metal play that shreds every scale thinks he can nail Page and Angus lol THEY CANNOT.

[@OrionsVantage]

TD;DR Shredders can't boomer bend. Thanks

[@thedude-jb7wx]

@@OrionsVantage OR HAVE GOOD TIME FEEL OR MANY OTHER THINGS THANKS :)

[@johnmcaleese8459]

@@thedude-jb7wx I'd rather hear 5 great notes than 50 good ones. Teacher once said "It's not the quantity of notes it's the quality." That was back in '82 and I never forgot it.

[@BillDeclinton]

Analize this

[@syedashraf9115]

Dip into “Aiolian” mode…like a true mayo based mode 🫲😂🫱

[@edb1913]

It’s not technique that makes the greats great. It’s the music they compose. There are a lot of guys that play faster than Eddie Van Halen, but are they the import figure that Eddie is?

[@Joe1qz]

The most bent note in the history... LOL... totally agree!

[@guilletrovato9226]

Man, I'm sorry. But there is NO greater solo than this. Can't find it, and probably won't, ever.

[@philipdean1614]

Stargazer solo

[@garyarnold3141]

Good, but no one sounds like Jimmy Page.

[@rohankshetrimayum1049]

No one actually sounds like anybody.....what's your point here in this tutorial video?

[@chyangphurbasherpa1999]

Very annoying you talk too much SIR. But your lessons was awesome.🤘