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Led Zeppelin - What Is And What Should Never Be - Solo - Guitar Lesson

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Key A minor
Led Zeppelin - What Is And What Should Never Be - Solo guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Led Zeppelin Rock A minor
Capo Advisor 0 A minor · Original key

About What Is And What Should Never Be - Solo

Few solos in the classic rock canon flip the mood of a song as sharply as this one. After a hushed, swaying verse, Jimmy Page erupts into a lead that balances raw, aggressive bends with melodic phrasing rooted in A minor. The contrast between the soft dynamic of the song and the sudden ferocity of the solo is itself a lesson in feel: getting the timing and the swell right matters as much as the individual notes. Page's bends are wide and expressive, often pushed a full step or more, so fret-hand strength and intonation on those bends are the real challenge here. There is also a loose, slightly behind-the-beat quality to the phrasing that you simply cannot rush. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the solo slowed down and focus on matching that relaxed swing before you bring the tempo back up. Led Zeppelin built this track around contrasting worlds of quiet and loud, and the solo only lands when you honour that build.

  • The solo sits in A minor and relies heavily on wide string bends, often a full step, demanding precise intonation and strong fret-hand control.
  • Page's phrasing has a deliberately loose, behind-the-beat feel, so practising with the slow-down tool is essential before attempting it at full speed.
  • The sudden dynamic shift from the quiet verse into the solo means controlling your pick attack and volume swell is as important as the notes themselves.

How to Play What Is And What Should Never Be - Solo

Key: A minor · Tempo: 94 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 94 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Jimmy Page's 1958 Telecaster (gifted by Jeff Beck) delivered the bright, spanky single-coil attack that defined Led Zeppelin I's raw, bluesy edge. Its snappy treble cut through the mix on early tracks before Page switched to the warmer Les Paul for the band's heavier sound.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Page's 1959 Les Paul Standard with PAF humbuckers became the sonic backbone of Led Zeppelin from 1969 onward, its warm mahogany body and dynamic unpotted pickups creating the sustain-rich, touch-sensitive tone heard on 'Whole Lotta Love' and 'Black Dog.'

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

While Page primarily used the Les Paul Standard, a Custom's thicker body and tonal characteristics would complement his dynamic playing style, offering similar warmth with potentially enhanced bottom-end punch for Zeppelin's heavier arrangements.

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)
Amp

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)

The Marshall 1959 Super Lead Plexi was Page's primary amplifier from Led Zeppelin II onward, cranked past 7 for natural power-tube saturation and natural breakup that responded dynamically to his pick attack and volume knob control.

Vox AC30
Amp

Vox AC30

Page deployed the Vox AC30 in the studio for cleaner, chiming tones and layering textures that added dimension to Led Zeppelin's arrangements, offering a vintage British tone that complemented the Marshall's aggression.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Page's Vox Cry Baby wah became iconic on 'Dazed and Confused,' its expressive sweep adding vocal-like character to his lead work throughout Led Zeppelin's catalog, integral to the band's psychedelic and blues-rock textures.

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