Meta Description: Discover why Jimmy Page’s “Stairway to Heaven” solo is often hailed as the greatest guitar solo ever, despite the legendary guitarist’s own modest view. Explore the making of this iconic Led Zeppelin masterpiece.
Jimmy Page’s “Stairway to Heaven” Solo: The Greatest Guitar Solo Ever?
In 2016, Jimmy Page’s “Stairway to Heaven” solo was voted the greatest guitar solo ever by Classic Rock readers. While this iconic Led Zeppelin track has earned its place in rock history, Page himself has expressed a modest view of the accolade.
“Is Stairway to Heaven my best Zeppelin guitar solo?” Page pondered in an interview with Classic Rock. “No, but it’s pretty damn good. If everyone else says it’s my best solo, then that’s great, that’s good, but there are others that I prefer.”
The Making of Jimmy Page’s “Stairway to Heaven” Solo
More than three decades earlier, Page was more effusive about the song’s significance. In the 1983 book The Guitar Greats, Page explained how “Stairway to Heaven” encapsulates everything that made Led Zeppelin great. “That really sums it all up,” Page said. “It’s just a glittering thing, and it was put together in such a way as to bring in all the fine points, musically, of the band, in its construction.”
The track, which was famously recorded at Headley Grange during the sessions for Led Zeppelin IV, is a testament to the band’s creative process. As the band rehearsed, Robert Plant began shaping the song’s lyrics. “There’s actually a first rehearsal tape of it, and sixty percent of those lyrics, he came in with off the cuff—that was amazing,” Page recalled.
This early session tape, later uploaded to the Led Zeppelin Rarities YouTube account, offers a fascinating glimpse into the creation of the iconic solo. Plant can be heard experimenting with the melody, while Page meticulously refines his guitar work, ultimately crafting what would become one of rock music’s most famous solos.
A Masterpiece Born: The Legacy of Jimmy Page’s “Stairway to Heaven” Solo
Page’s approach to the solo was deliberate and methodical. “I wanted to try this whole building towards a climax, with John Bonham coming in at a later point, an idea which I’d used before, to give it that extra kick,” Page explained. The result was a powerful crescendo, with a fanfare leading into Plant’s soaring vocals.
The complexity of the solo posed challenges for live performances, leading Page to adopt a double-necked guitar to recreate the sound on stage. Despite the difficulties, the song quickly became a fan favorite, receiving standing ovations during the band’s U.S. tour.
Jimmy Page’s “Stairway to Heaven” Solo remains a defining moment in rock history. Whether or not Page considers it his best work, there’s no denying that it’s one of the most celebrated and enduring guitar solos of all time.
