“Black Dog” is the first track on Led Zeppelin’s famous untitled album which is often referred to as “Led Zeppelin IV”. For the “few” of you that have actually been following my blog, it goes without saying that a lot Zeppelin tunes are a favourite of mine and Black Dog with its cool riff based structure is definitely no exception.
The riff found throughout the song is not hard to learn but if you are a beginner, it will take some time to get to the proper speed. Do not give up! It is a lot of fun to play along with the backing track or in a band situation. Keep rock’in!
Author Note:This is to help someone asking about how to play it on the Guitar Forum. Please note, I’m not a professional player, and I don’t claim to be a teacher. This is how I play (NOTE: HOW – I – PLAY) Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog”, the main riff, the 3/4 time switch riff as well as a real quick view of the chorus section.
If you claim “this isn’t right”, well two things:
I’ve been playing this song for about 15 years. I’ve changed it up a bit because that’s how I prefer to play it now.
Secondly, it’s really close to the version claimed to be “the right way” on the album. If you learn it from watching this video, just re-listen to the original tune and you can figure out the differences really easily.
Black Dog Backing Track
Related posts:
Welcome to Free Guitar Lessons Blog.
25 responses so far ↓
1 kcmsterpce // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
A 2001 Gibson Les Paul Standard
2 someone933 // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
what guitar is it, gibson? yamaha???? plz reply
3 Snipers4Life // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
Excellent video! But what’s happening with the 3/4 part? Is it played twice or are you just doing to show what it is you’re doing?
4 enjoi4lifeordie // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
thanks dude good playing
nice les paul if it is
5 AGGELOS19891925 // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
your right hand is wrong!!!!!!!
6 gab99 // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
good point! know the scale shape and suddenly its not like random notes but makes sense and you suddenly find you can move around the fretboard. Useful vid – hey kcm! wheres the dagon suit?! : )
7 boomboomfootball // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
the way you play this is the A blue scale
8 STmarks626 // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
awesome. good speed not too fast or too slow
9 ImtheSlime95 // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
Muy bueno el video!
10 thecreature2012 // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
get tha tabs
11 adrimaldonado // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
wow I hate you!! you are the best ,friend keep rocking!!
12 dudebrodude2132 // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
thanks a shitload bro. finally got the riff!
13 bluemanwolf // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
awesome as hell dude…is it hard to learn the rhythm???
14 LedZeppelinOwnzU // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
yes but still sounds nice
15 PopaRaff // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
Nice teacher-job, but try a little bit less
distortion, jimmy had a nearly clean tone
on his les paul. with less gain, you shall have a punchier sound. try to select both PUs. Pretty guitar! excuse my english.
16 jollyholiday1101 // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
3/4 isn’t quite right the guitar tone is nice.
17 skitsoman10 // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
good shit on the black dog man,
18 kcmsterpce // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
Peavey JSX twin combo
19 blueeyesblack // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
what amp model is that ?
20 Trueaim44 // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
wow thanks. big help to me on some of the notes after the the big pull off.
21 kcmsterpce // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
2001 Les Paul Standard.
22 Juanjolead // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
Which its your guitar?,, i know its a les paul but which one
23 mortomli61 // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
Yea, that’s right; Page & Bonham really playing together on this song. And.. the “3/4″ riff on this lesson ain’t right at all… Sorry to say
24 hakon92 // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
you always skip an A-note in the end of each “round” of the main riff. listen closely to the track, and you’ll see what I’m pointing at
25 mortomli61 // Mar 19, 2009 at 3:58 am
This is a hard song to play. The B (3/4) part miss a couple of tones, and the rhythm isn’t totally right…
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