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Led Zeppelin - Going to California - Guitar Tab

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Key D major
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Classic Rock

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Led Zeppelin IV (Deluxe Edition) album cover
Led Zeppelin IV (Deluxe Edition)
1971 3:32
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Led Zeppelin Folk Rock 1971 D major
Capo Advisor 0 D major · Original key

About Going to California

Few Led Zeppelin tracks reveal Jimmy Page's acoustic side as clearly as this one. "Going to California" is built almost entirely on fingerpicked acoustic guitar, making clean left-hand fretting and right-hand fingerstyle control the core challenges. The key of D major lends itself naturally to open-string resonance, and Page leans into that, weaving chord voicings that ring open strings against fretted notes. Getting those voicings to sustain evenly takes patience, especially in the transitions where the melody and the bass line move independently. If the fingerpicking pattern trips you up, set the Practice Toolbar to slow the section down and loop it until your right hand finds a consistent groove. Led Zeppelin recorded the track for their 1971 fourth album, and it sits in a quieter corner of their catalogue, but it rewards careful, unhurried study. The song pairs well with a light fingerstyle touch and a relaxed, behind-the-beat feel.

  • The song is played on acoustic guitar using fingerpicking, so developing an independent thumb-and-fingers right-hand technique is essential before attempting it at full speed.
  • D major allows several chord voicings that incorporate ringing open strings, a detail worth preserving rather than substituting with barre chords.
  • The interplay between the moving bass line and the melodic top voice is the trickiest coordination challenge, and looping it slowed down will help isolate that independence.

How to Play Going to California

The song moves through: Guitar 1, Guitar 2, Mandolin.

Key: D major · Tempo: 70 BPM · Difficulty: Medium

Loop each section and focus on clean, even timing rather than speed, with the metronome at 70 BPM.

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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