Lead Balloon Analysis

Hard Rock Lesson: Led Zeppelin Tune

Hi, everyone! In this lesson, we're going to carry on with the hard rock theme. When Led Zeppelin were first formed, they were told that the band would be an abject failure and that they would sink like a lead balloon.

Title of the Tune:
Lead Balloon

Lesson Breakdown

Now, I'll run through the various features of this tune and then we'll try it:

1. Heavy Riff with Power Chords

   • Think of the lower note, the E, as the melody note, and finger the note above.

2. Double E Leak

   • We're doing slides and false harmonics here.

3. Series of Licks

   • These are carefully graded because you definitely don't want to start with your most impressive lick:
     • Start with the simple lick.
     • Next successful lick.
     • Third position lick.
     • Fast swoops.
     • Transition to the tricky bit.

4. Switching Feel

   • It switches from the four feel to a different feel, which is pretty difficult. I suggest you get your foot tapping forward of the bar.

5. Ending

   • We have the standard Ecstasy ending wave slider, like that.

6. Break

   • A little break while we relax and wait for the eight bars, and then we go in with a lick again.

Conclusion

So, I hope you'll enjoy this tune. I certainly do!