RangeOfSounds.com is reader-supported. We may earn a small commission through products purchased using links on this page.
Led Zeppelin is one of the most iconic rock groups of all time. Founded in London, England, in 1968, the rock foursome has become one of the most influential and commercially successful rock groups of all time.
Zeppelin was heavily influenced by blues and folk music and is well known for their powerful vocals, amazing drumming, and heavy guitar-driven sound.
Jimmy Page is consistently listed as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, and while many rock bands of the 70s and 80s utilized two guitar players, Zeppelin opted for only one. Yet despite Jimmy being by himself, Zeppelin has still created some of the greatest rock and roll songs of all time.
While there are so many iconic Zeppelin songs, in this article, we focus our attention on some of their greatest songs in standard tuning. I’ll explain a little about each song but if you’d rather listen than read you can check out the full playlist on YouTube or listen to it on Spotify:
Let’s dive into ten iconic Led Zeppelin Songs written in standard tuning.
1. Babe I’m Gonna Leave You
The first song on our list comes from Led Zeppelin’s debut album, Led Zeppelin, released in 1969 and is one of my favorite Zeppelin songs. The song is a re-arrangement of a 1950’s folk song by musician Anne Bredon and is one of the more subdued songs on our list.
Babe I’m Gonna Leave You is 6:43 in length and is one of the first songs Jimmy Page and frontman Robert Plant worked on when starting the band. It is one of the most beautiful songs in Zeppelin’s extensive collection.
It is a perfect song to work on your acoustic and electric ability, with the first 2:22 seconds featuring acoustic only. At this point in the song, the electric kicks in for a while before moving back into acoustic. The song switches back to electric at the 5:25 mark and finishes with acoustic again.
Check out the tabs for Babe I’m Gonna Leave You Here.
2. Good Times Bad Times
The second song on our list is also from the band’s debut album. Good Times Bad Times served as the opening track on the record and was the band’s first single, hitting multiple top 100 charts worldwide, reaching as high as number 80 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The song is relatively short, coming in at only 2:47, but it does an excellent job of showcasing the various talents of all members, including one of my favorite Jimmy Page solos that starts at the 1:30 mark.
Besides the solo, Good Times Bad Times is not extremely difficult and can be a good song to begin learning Zeppelin. Here is a good tutorial video:
Follow this link for the Good Times Bad Times tabs.
3. Whole Lotta Love
Song three on our list comes from the Band’s hit-filled sophomore release, Led Zeppelin II. Whole Lotta Love begins with one of Page’s most iconic riffs and is considered one of the band’s most famous songs.
Whole Lotta Love is a relatively simple song and is an excellent choice for beginner guitarists who want to dive into Led Zeppelin. It is one of Page’s heavier-sounding songs, reminding us that you don’t need lower tunings to sound heavy.
A staple of their shows, the 5:34 song (which often went much longer in their live performances) features a long guitar-less interlude beginning at the 1:18 mark and lasting until around the 3:00 mark when Page flies back in with an incredible solo.
Whole Lotta Love is heavy, unique, and iconic, and you can check out the tabs here.
4. Heartbreaker
Another reasonably simple riff, Heartbreaker is incredibly fun to play and another good song to act as an entry-point for Zeppelin songs. Like nearly all of Page’s songs, the solo is tricky, but the verse and chorus are manageable. It also made the list of our classic rock songs in standard tuning.
Check out this video here to help you learn how to play Heartbreaker:
You can view the tabs for Heartbreaker here.
5. Black Dog
After the mediocre reception of Led Zeppelin III, the band burst back onto the scene with their 1971 release, Led Zeppelin IV, also known as Zoso, which is jam-packed with iconic songs. The album was a mega-hit and by far the band’s most commercially successful release, selling over 37 million.
Coming in at 4:55, Black Dog sets the tone for the entire album, starting with one of Robert Plant’s most famous lines, followed by Page’s awesome guitar lick.
Black Dog is a much more challenging song than some of the earlier tunes on this list, but it is worth investing your time in.
Follow this link to get started on Black Dog today.
6. Rock and Roll
As the name suggests, Rock and Roll is pure Rock and Roll. The second song on Zeppelin IV is the second of several songs from that iconic album on this list.
The song begins with one of John Bonham’s coolest drumming licks, followed by Page’s guitar and bassist John Paul Jones joining the fun at the:06 mark. Following a blues-style structure, the main riff is much easier than Black Dog but is still challenging due to the song’s fast tempo.
Page rips into a solo around the 1:54 mark, and while it is not one of his most technical solos, it is still quite challenging to master.
Enjoy learning this awesome Zeppelin song here.
7. Stairway to Heaven
One of the most recognizable rock songs of all time, Stairway to Heaven, comes in at number seven on our list. The fourth track off of Zeppelin IV, the 8:00 masterpiece, features soothing acoustic, energetic riffs towards the song’s end and one of the greatest solos of all time.
Stairway to Heaven is a slow build, with largely acoustic single-string picking until the 2:15 mark, when Page begins to strum chords. From this point, the song continues to build energy, with Bonham coming in around the 4:20 mark.
At long last, Page begins his world-famous solo at the 5:55 mark, and the rest is history.
You can check out the tabs to Stairway to Heaven here; just make sure you don’t try to play it at a music store.
8. Misty Mountain Hop
Yet another track from Zeppelin IV, Misty Mountain Hop, sometimes gets overlooked due to the sheer volume of amazing songs on the record, but it is no less rocking than the rest.
The 4:39 song title references the Misty Mountains, one of the iconic landmarks in J. R. R. Tolkien’s fantasy novels. Misty Mountain Hop is a rocking tune with a moderately high tempo and features Page’s familiar riff structure.
The solo, which begins at around the 2:40 mark, is one of the more accessible Jimmy Page solos on this list and is a decent choice if you are trying to move beyond just riffs and want to start tackling some solo work.
Check out the tabs to Misty Mountain Hop here.
9. Over the Hills and Far Away
Coming in at number nine, Over the Hills and Far Away is from the band’s fifth studio album, Houses of the Holy, released in 1973. Although much shorter than Stairway to Heaven, coming in at 4:51, Over the Hills and Far Away follows a similar structure.
The song begins with a cool acoustic riff featuring a bunch of hammer-ons and pull-offs and is a great song to work on these crucial guitar techniques. The song also features an awesome 12-string guitar accompaniment, so it is a great song to practice your 12-string if you are lucky enough to own one.
The electric guitar kicks in as the verse starts around the 1:27 mark. One of Page’s coolest solos starts at 2:22 and lasts for the better part of a minute.
Over the Hills and Far Away is a really cool Zeppelin song you should check out and add to your repertoire.
Follow this link for the tabs.
10. Custard Pie
Custard Pie is the first song on the 1975 release of Physical Graffiti, the band’s sixth studio album. The 4:13 has a moderate tempo, and the drums and bass create a fantastic groove over which Page’s relatively simple guitar riff fits perfectly.
Due to the main riff’s relative simplicity and moderate tempo, Custard Pie is an excellent song to begin your Zeppelin guitar-playing adventure. However, we must remember that simple doesn’t always mean easy, and like anything else, mastering this song will take practice.
One of Custard Pie’s signature features is Page’s solo, which begins at the 1:40 mark. It is a challenging solo, and if you want to recreate the exact sound, you will need a wah pedal.
Check out the tabs here if you want to give Custard Pie a shot.
Closing Thoughts
Led Zeppelin wrote many amazing songs throughout their long tenure, including these fantastic songs in standard tuning. Jimmy Page is one of the greatest rock and roll guitarists of all time, and his songs are some of the most fun to learn.
I hope you have enjoyed this list of ten Led Zeppelin songs written in standard tuning, and I wish you the best on your playing journey!
We’ll share ten iconic Led Zeppelin Songs in standard tuning from several Zeppelin albums across their long career.
Hi everyone! I have been involved with music most of my life, beginning in grade school with the trumpet. I am a largely self-taught multi-instrumentalist (drums, guitar, bass, and starting the piano and violin). I currently play drums in two rock/folk cover bands and write and produce many genres of music in my home recording studio. I am also an avid guitar and drum collector.