When the Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin

[LedZepMan97]

so would Open G tuned a whole step down be Drop C?

[privettricker]

@LedZepMan97 Both E strings would be down to C, yeah. That's why I had trouble using the slide on the high E string -- the string is just so wobbly/loose when it's tuned that low.

[mynamespitt]

If you tune down that far, use 12 or 13 gauge strings.

[FlashmoreGash]

One of the best song ever!

[Tubes12AX7k]

Good job. I just saw Zepparella's cover of When The Levee Breaks a few moments ago. Pretty cool to see from an all girl band.

[jerry44325]

@Tubes12AX7k i saw them too!

[jerry44325]

@Tubes12AX7k well you saw them on youtube i saw them live

[Bunzypoo]

My favorite Zepp song! :)

[mokaey]

after some years of watching your videos im pretty sure i recognize you.

do you know james armstrong the blues player?

i believe i might have met you as a child or something like that.(my parents where in the music biz)

not sure though...

anyway awesome vid man!

[TelonCrow]

Nice job dude. I have some old sheet music for this song. This may help with the tuning. It is in Open F Tuning. From the First String F,C,F,C,A,F. Really enjoy your videos they have helped my along with many songs. Thought I would return the favor.

[privettricker]

@TelonCrow You could tune to open F, but Jimmy has said he tuned to open G for this one. It sounds like F because the tape was slowed to give it some sonic texture, and that lowered the pitch. P.S. Don't trust sheet music.

[chest002]

@TelonCrow I agree with you. I play this one in open F on my resonator. Sounds great acoustic.

[h4ckb0x7]

@TelonCrow +1 to not trusting sheet music. Sheet music is only as good as the person who transcribes it.

[corgi37]

Always loved drumming to this song, now might have a go at playing it on guitar. Great clip (as usual).

[hunterfilms]

once again thank you so much for all your videos!! a request, could you do ATTENTION by the raconteurs? it's a great riff, thanks

[lukewood77]

Wow! This is so much better than paying for guitar lessons! Cheers!

[mad4mtl]

My all time fav Zep song!

[goodie7415]

A twenty penny nail works and costs zip.

[rogerd1955]

You can get a nut extender for a few bucks that will raise the action to a good height for slide work, and is easily removed for regular work.

[dtreeguy]

I have the same problem alll the time. I would suggest dedicating a guitar specifically to playing slide, it makes life a lot easier. Put a new nut on there that sits up higher and raise the bridge up. Makes it harder to play with fingers but makes slide work sound better.

[privettricker]

@dtreeguy Believe it or not, this is the guitar I have set up for slide, with higher action. Still not high enough, though. I've thought about using the Gary Rossington trick of putting a fountain pen ink stick under the strings at the first fret.

[boweryhester]

thanks for explaining the chords on my favorite zep song. no wonder it growls. good example of page's use of repitition, which makes this thing so hypnotic.

[wmprivett]

Hey! You're wearing my shirt!

[jdenicholls]

I'm confused about what tuning you used in the end. I thought Open G was usually DGDGBD, did you use CACAFA for it?

[privettricker]

@jdenicholls No, I used open G, except each string is tuned down a full step: CFCFAC

[robingahan1234]

@privettricker so the zep original is done in this tuning?

[privettricker]

@robingahan1234 No, the original was played in open G. The tape was slowed down, which lowered the tone down to F.

[ryler99]

Your slide playing on this is great!

[privettricker]

@ryler99 Thanks for saying that, but I really struggled with the slide on this one. There's so much slack in the strings (particularly the B/E strings) when you tune down that low, it's hard to get clean notes.

[surfjabroni]

after how many years of playing to you start to understand other tunings? I barely dice with the low E dropped to D but that's all. Well played song young man.

[jdenicholls]

@surfjabroni In my view you only start to understand other tunings when you use them regularly enough. No amount of E-standard will let you understand Open G

[bangbangTT]

fuckin jimmy page

[1971SuperLead]

My favorite Zep tune and I'm the 500th viewer on the 4th of July!!!

This means something!

[37paull1]

I'm not a huge fan of this particular song but you nailed it, as always. I've learned quite a lot from ur videos, so Thanks!! and keep'em coming!!

[tvrichie]

Thank You soo much for doing this song.My favorite Led Zep Song.

[Logoscyth]

I use FACFAC tuning for this song. Out of curiosity, what gauge strings do you use on your SG?

[privettricker]

@Logoscyth I thought about tuning to open E and then going up a half-step, but I thought the chord voicings would be different. Should have tried it, though. I think those are .09 strings. I sometimes use .10's.

[swatprof]

Open F? Jeez, no wonder I could never get close to getting this one right. Great job, as usual!

[tannerleudy36]

awesome !!

[brocolisgay]

Good job! 

[warner631]

Read my mind, I was going to request this one. How bout the Black Keys?

[Evan42881]

@warner631 YES TIGHTEN UP

[Slycooper2456]

How long does it take you to learn each song?

[Parkyy16]

nice sg :D How many guitars do you have!!!

[RubberSoul2686]

PLZ ON THE WAY HOME BY BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD

[12chipi]

Wow. Amaaaaaazing job! :D

[sgtpepr65]

Great tone man. Well done.

Beautiful guitar.

[TheStormtrooperrr]

finally!!!my favorite zepp song.thanks man!!

[jimilimijimi]

genial gespielt!

[bigpapachance]

be my hero man...tell me you pull a blue collar forty and just do this awesomeness for a little funtime hobby...

[privettricker]

@bigpapachance Yes, I'm a working stiff just like you.