While this is obviously not a lesson on how to play Stairway To Heaven, or the solo from that tune…
It was the first song where I learned this set of changes.
Since then, I’ve seen them in songs like, “All Along The Watchtower,” and tons of old heavy metal songs by Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, etc..
And most recently from Kingfish Ingram in a song I transcribed for my All Access members.
There’s just a smidge of theory here, and then I’ll show you some ways to approach this sort of quasi-bluesy set of chords with a fun diatonic scale (a mode!)
Dig it!
For more theory, check out Guitar Theory Made Useful…
And for more about modes check out Modes Unleashed.
15 replies to "The Stairway Changes"
I’m another old guy, not complaining, just saying. I get the idea but it way more complicated than my brain can register. I’m going to have to take a week or two to slow you down and pick this one apart. I get that you can use the pentatonik scale in A. Good start . From there it looks like you can hit just about any note on the fretboard and nobody would know the difference . It may have been easier if you just showed us what not to hit . Just Kiddding lol.
Appreciate the lesson very much. Would REALLY appreciate an inset that showed the fret board with animated dots representing the fretted notes as it’s often difficult to determine which fingers are actually fretting which notes. Also, I’m old and there’s that. 😁
Right with you there, Buddy. LOL
lover of the bayou
Great lesson
Hi Griff some off topic question/comment
Would the 13th chord arpeggio qualify as chord tone overkill for the Am G F
Am Gmajor Fmajor
13 chord arpeggio
A C E G B D F ACE
these songs have something odd going on, with circle of fifths I think
CG-DA-E-Hey Joe
AE-GD-D-AGD- Hey Hey What Can I Do
Griff, sorry, you lost me when you said that A,D and E (I, IV, and V) aren’t in the same key. Help!
What he said was A7 D7 & E7 are not in the same scale. It’s the dominant 7 bit that makes them not in the scale. If they were straight major cords, then yes you would be right.
Riding the Storm Out – REO Speedwagan
GREAT lesson and many possibilities
I’m still playing a bit of minor &major pentatonnic .still trying to get the stairway heaven sound
The chorus to Ziggy Stardust progresses Am/A5 G5 F5 with the floppy first finger on the F5.
First song it reminded me of was “Walk Don’t Run” by the Ventures, but I played it and it seems to me to be all major and walks down to an E. So, my apologies. Guess my memory is faulty.
This is Awesome.
I personally listen a lot to the blues, my preference to play but often find myself playing other styles. Everything from clasic rock, to country, to gospel. Have seen this chord progression many times. My approach has been the minor pentatonic with an occasional nod to the major pentatonic. This unlocks a lot of other possibilities
Lost track of time playing over my looper for an hour this morning exploring many new sounds. Thank you 😊
I would be extremely curious about your picking hand pattern? It appears to me that is where your speed is coming from. I’ve been trying for a long time to smooth out my picking speed. Your thoughts?