Bonham's lick in Stairway to Heaven

[scorpion990]

This lick has been bugging me for ages now. I've looked in 2 Led Zeppelin books, and both of them have it written this way: (Top)

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/9953/lick8of.png

However, every time I hear the song, I hear the bottom one. They might not look different, but they both sound and feel very different.

So, what do you think? Did I catch a mistake, or my ears not sophisticated enough yet?

Also, the book is filled with mistakes. They sometimes get whole measures completely off.

[crazyguy832]

Your ears might not be detecting the notes, yeah.

I can more in songs (can hear stuff I've missed before) now than I could 6 months ago.

I've never really listened to Stairway to Heaven after becoming a drummer, though (I should :p). But... well... play what you think sounds/feels best.

[scorpion990]

Well, even when I slow the song down, and I still hear the same thing.

[cybersprint]

Where in the song does he play it?

[fishbulb]

That song is pretty easy i thought. I could play it a while ago, at least my version of it...

[xeonman9000]

It sounds like the top one to me, the bottom one would have more of that four stroke roll feel to it, 1+2 3 1+2 3 like Carter Beauford often uses.

[scorpion990]

6:20 into the song.

[crazyguy832]

Just curious, but what notation is that?

Like... what's each line?

What's confusing me is what looks like the bass line... is that a rim click on the bass?

o_O

[xeonman9000]

It's a ghost note, a rim click is a full circle.

[Blank]

:lol: The best part is we have no way of actually figuring it out!Bonhams dead!And never coming back!
Bwahahahahahahahaha!


Man I need to learn how to socialize with people...

[crazyguy832]

Ah, okay. Thanks, xenoman.

:chug:

It all makes sense now!

^_^

[scorpion990]

Thanks so far. Any more opinions?

[fishbulb]

:lol: The best part is we have no way of actually figuring it out!Bonhams dead!And never coming back!
Bwahahahahahahahaha!


Man I need to learn how to socialize with people...
That isn't a good start.

[Blank]

God damn dude I was kidding.

Um,most of stairway to heaven doesn't sound insanely complicated.
My best advice is,just listen to the song and try your best to learn it by ear.

[We_Love_Lime]

When I do it, I don't play the bass ghost note, My feet arn't fast enough yet. And isn't it a one measure fill ( You play those sixteenth note triplets 4 times as it says, and than the last fill, and thats the end, and you start the next measure with a crash and go into the beat, if im not mistaken... Ask your teacher if you have one, if you don't. Play it slow until you get it, than put it to the song once you've sped it up

[Det_Nosnip]

It's definitely triplets...top one's correct.

[We_Love_Lime]

It's definitely triplets...top one's correct.

Thank You.

[Bonham#1!]

:lol: The best part is we have no way of actually figuring it out!Bonhams dead!And never coming back!
Bwahahahahahahahaha!


Man I need to learn how to socialize with people...

:angry: Never mock the name of John Henry Bonham:angry:

[Bonham#1!]

On a more funny note, I'm sure you all know this but from when the drums come in and the "if there's a bustle in your hedgerow....." until he stops singing, if you play it backwards its quite amusig.

[dumbassdrummer]

It's the top one, no doubt about it. I wouldn't play the bass with the ghost notes, though, I'd play them like regular doubles. I see no reason to ghost them at that part, and really, they aren't even ghost notes. Yeah, they are slighty quiter than the first stroke of each doulbe, but not by much, probably a result more of his technique than anything else.

"Just curious, but what notation is that?

Like... what's each line?"

There isn't any, exactly. Bonham wasn't the kind of drummer to really count the measures like most, he had more of a "play it through" philosophy. What I do: I take the notes, and make them fit in that space. If that comes to be a particular notation, or time signature, cool, but I don't really care. And neither did Bonzo. Just make use of the space.

[scorpion990]

I was kind of right. I looked it up on some other books. Yes, that is a 32nd note triplet, but its followed by two 16th notes on the bass drum, not 32nd notes.

[ludvista29]

On a more funny note, I'm sure you all know this but from when the drums come in and the "if there's a bustle in your hedgerow....." until he stops singing, if you play it backwards its quite amusig.
I did that before heheheheheh