Black Dog (IRL)by Led Zeppelin

This lesson is part of our Intros, Riffs & Licks Package.

Jimmy Page will go down in the history of rock 'n' roll as one of the greatest writers of riff-based songs. Black Dog features some great elements that are challenging on many different levels. It starts with a simple minor pentatonic scale, adds a trill here and a bend there, and combines rhythmic figures that are best played with the steady alternating technique. He then takes a phrase based on the main one and creates a variation with an unusual beat pattern that turns the picking upside down.