Stairway To Heaven Song Analysis

Instrument Identification analysis

1. STAIRWAY TO
HEAVEN – LED
ZEPPLIN
Identifying Musical Instruments
Nova Granite
Project & Portfolio IV: Music Business

2. ‘Stairway to Heaven’ by Led Zeppelin was released in 1971, and it is said to be one of the most
iconic rock songs ever written. ‘Stairway to Heaven’ is a captivating song in musical
arrangement alone, one that “breaks the rules of what we consider ‘pop song’ form” as observed
by Bobby Owsinski. (Owsinski, 1970) In the key of A minor, this form consists of Jimmy Page,
Guitarist, with an acoustic guitar intro, followed by John Paul Jones, bassist and keys, on
wooden recorders and a mellotron keyboard, as well as a Fender Rhodes electric piano to hold
down the bass, then Robert Plant, lead singer, kicks off the first verse with his vocals followed
by an pause to introduce John Paul Jones moving to the bass, continuing to play as Plant coo’s
the chorus. Beginning the second verse, Jimmy Page on the acoustic guitar continues but it’s
double tracked by an electric guitar, a Fender Telacaster, which was given to Jimmy Page by
friend and fellow musician Jeff Beck which he played on Zepplin’s self-titled debut album,
followed by another interlude. Another electric guitar used in this song is a double neck Gibson
EDS-1275.

Towards the end of the song, John Bonham finally joins in on the drums as a dynamic shift going
into the fourth verse occurs, ending it with a dramatically strummed open D to lead into the
guitar solo by Page. This solo is particularly interesting as the final note is an F, which occurs
outside of the A minor scale of A, C, D, E, and G. In a breakdown analysis of “Stairway to
Heaven” done by Ed Mitchell, he informs that “the tonal palette on the solo is completed with
the modified 1959 Supro 1690T Cornonado model amp he loaned to the Rock’n’Roll Hall of
Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.” (Mitchell, 2016) The amp originally came with two ten-inch
speakers, but Jimmy replaced them with a single 12-inch speaker. With high energy, Robert

3. Plants vocals return for the bridge, leading into a decrescendo as Plant softly sings the final
words for the song, with the instruments fading away.

When the song starts off with a monophonic introduction with a finger-picked acoustic guitar
chromatic descending chord progression of A-G#-G-F#-F it sets a very mysterious and dark
mood for the song. This can take the listeners questioning the song. I think this song is well set
apart from other rock songs of its time. The soft acoustic introduction is followed by
homophonic textures throughout the rest of the song. When John Paul Jones enters with his
wooden recorders, it produces a homophonic texture, as well as induces a wobbly “rustic”
atmosphere by sounding almost like an organ in a church, soulful and heartfelt, which can be
connected to the spirituality discussed in the song. “To the Christian, it speaks of the hope of the
Second Advent. To people of other faiths, it allows them to see their vision for the future open
the same doors, where all will be explained, where tears will be vanquished, where hope will be
restored, and all will be new, where brotherhood will prevail, where all will be one and one for
all. In the heart, imagination, and the ear of every listener, there is an archetypal spiritual
narrative, that enables them to visualize a magnificent journey.” (Genius)

Plants vocals are different from his usual vocals, they are soft yet confident, complimenting the
simplicity of the acoustic guitar and recorders, until the chorus comes around and another guitar
comes into the mix, adding a layer and slightly drowning out the vocals. As the song progresses,
it becomes more and more layered, building the songs texture to create a contrast between the
consonance of the introduction and the dissonance of the coda. Towards the end of the song, his

4. vocals have built up, reaching ranges familiar with other popular Led Zeppelin songs. There is a
change in timbre when the electric guitar is introduced, from a more mellow vibe into something
heavier, as compared to the cleaner sound of the acoustic guitar. The guitar solo, orchestrated by
Jimmy Page, opens with “a fairly unremarkable blues lick based around the A minor pentatonic
scale which establishes the theme for the rest of the solo.” (Mitchell, 2016) Page responds to his
opening lick with hammer-ons and quick bends, giving the sequences a “bouncy Celtic vibe that
fits with the song’s medieval maidens and bustling hedgerows feel.” (Mitchell, 2016)

Throughout this song, the listener experiences a crescendo, and with the increasing volume
comes a key change from A minor to C major, going from dark and mysterious to more strident
and brighter, much like climbing a stairway to heaven. While the bridge contains the D major
key which revokes the melancholic feel. Jimmy Page has stated that “the song speeds up like an
adrenaline flow.” This is challenged by a time change right before the guitar solo, from 4/4 time
to 7/8 time as the solo leads into the bridge. But then, the song transfers back to a monophonic
texture for the coda, which is a vocal solo that is acapella. With the vocal solo being acapella, it
produces a more intimate tone for the listener.

I believe this song resonates with audiences to this day, because of its lyricism. “Robert Plant
explained the song was a ‘cynical aside about a woman getting everything she wanted all the
time without giving back any thought or consideration.” (Genius) Although, Plant and Page
didn’t like to dissect their own lyrics, to avoid critics, the lyrics of ‘Stairway to Heaven’ gives
the listener a more mystical view of life, “incorporating the perspectives of the cultures that

5. influenced Plant.” (Genius) Plant was known to obscure his own work with self-criticism, but as
Plant states in the song, “you know sometimes words have two meanings.” This line is
particularly interesting as Led Zeppelin has never explained what the song is about, leaving
listener to interpret it themselves. “In the heart, imagination, and the ear of every listener, there is
an archetypal spiritual narrative, that enables them to visualize a magnificent journey.”(Genius)

6. References

Gold, A. (2019, October 1). What is the meaning behind led Zeppelin, "Stairway to heaven"?
American Songwriter. Retrieved November 1, 2021, from
https://americansongwriter.com/stairway-to-heaven-led-zeppelin-behind-the-song/.

Guardian News and Media. (2014, October 22). Stairway to heaven: The story of a song and its
legacy. The Guardian. Retrieved November 1, 2021, from
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/22/stairway-to-heaven-unreleased-mix-led-
zeppelin-iv-remastered.

Mitchell, E. (2016, October 25). Led Zeppelin and stairway to heaven - anatomy of a guitar
classic. loudersound. Retrieved November 1, 2021, from
https://www.loudersound.com/features/jimmy-page-and-stairway-to-heaven-anatomy-of-a-
guitar-classic.

Owsinski, B. (1970, January 1). Led zeppelin "stairway to heaven" song analysis. Bobby
Owsinski's Big Picture Music Production Blog. Retrieved October 31, 2021, from
http://bobbyowsinski.blogspot.com/2011/11/led-zeppelin-stairway-to-heaven-
song.html#axzz7AuzVOO8l.

7. Led zeppelin – stairway to heaven. Genius. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2021, from
https://genius.com/Led-zeppelin-stairway-to-heaven-lyrics.

Songfacts. (n.d.). Stairway to heaven by led Zeppelin - Songfacts. Song Meanings at Songfacts.
Retrieved November 1, 2021, from http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=328.