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Led Zeppelin - Achilles Last Stand - Guitar Solo Tab

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Led Zeppelin - Achilles Last Stand guitar tab video
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
Presence (Remaster) album cover
Presence (Remaster)
1976 10:32
Listen on Spotify
Led Zeppelin Hard Rock 1976

About Achilles Last Stand

Few tracks in the Hard Rock catalogue demand as much stamina from a guitarist as this one. Running over ten minutes, "Achilles Last Stand" is built on a relentless, churning riff in Drop D tuning that gives Jimmy Page the low-end power to drive the song without a second guitarist on the record. Drop D lets you barre power chords with a single finger across the bottom two strings, but at 116 BPM for that duration, keeping your picking hand consistent while your fretting hand stays clean is a real endurance test. Page layered multiple guitar parts in the studio, so when you sit down with the tab, decide early whether you are learning the foundational riff, one of the overdubbed melodic lines, or both. The descending melodic passages in the mid-section are where most players lose their footing: use the Practice Toolbar to loop those sections slowed down until the fingering becomes automatic. Led Zeppelin recorded the album quickly, and that urgency is baked into the feel, so aim for forward momentum over perfection.

  • Recorded in Drop D tuning, the low dropped D string powers the central riff with one-finger barre power chords across the bottom two strings.
  • At 116 BPM over ten-plus minutes, right-hand picking endurance is the primary physical challenge, making consistent alternate or downstroke picking essential.
  • Jimmy Page overdubbed several guitar layers in the studio, so isolating which part you are learning before you practise will save significant time.

How to Play Achilles Last Stand

Tuning: Drop D · Tempo: 116 BPM

The drop D tuning lets you fret the low power chords with a single finger, which is central to the heavier riffing here.

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 116 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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