"Communication Breakdown"

"Communication Breakdown" was the seventh track off of Led Zeppelin's debut album, and the B-Side to their first single, "Good Times Bad Times". The main guitar riff in the song was inspired by Eddie Cochran's "Nervous Breakdown" and marks one of the few appearances of Jimmy Page on vocals. The song itself was one of the first collaborations between Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, though Plant remains uncredited for this song. They developed and worked on the song over the course of their tour of Scandinavia as "The New Yardbirds".

The song itself proved to be immensely popular with the disgruntled youth of the time, indeed Johnny Ramone, guitarist for The Ramones has cited this song as being an influence on his quick downstroke picking rhythm. The band themselves seemed to have liked the song as they gave it the honor of being the only one they played every single year that they toured. You can find numerous examples of this song on official live records released by the band (The BBC Sessions has three different versions) and bootlegs alike.

Johnny Ramone

For the songs distinct guitar sound, described as a 'guitar in a shoebox' Jimmy employed a multitude of elements. The first was to put a Vox Wah Pedal in the signal before the amplifier and close it, meaning the pedal is switched on, but is fully closed. The next element was his amplifier of choice, a small Supro tube amp. The third and perhaps most important was the microphone placement. Jimmy Page is and always has been a huge proponent of microphone placement in order to achieve a certain sound. This song proves to be a perfect example of how microphone placement can help you to achieve a certain sound.

Jimmy went into more detail about this in an interview with "Guitar Magazine" in 1977: "I put it in a small room, a tiny vocal booth-type thing and miked it from a distance. You see, there's a very old recording maxim which goes, 'Distance makes depth.' I've used that a hell of a lot on recording techniques with the band generally, not just me. You're always used to them close-miking amps, just putting the microphone in front, but I'd have a mic right out the back, as well, and then balance the two, to get rid of all the phasing problems; because really, you shouldn't have to use an EQ in the studio if the instruments sound right. It should all be done with the microphones. But see, everyone has gotten so carried away with EQ pots that they have forgotten the whole science of microphone placement. There aren't too many guys who know it. I'm sure Les Paul knows a lot; obviously, he must have been well into that, as were all those who produced the early rock records where there were one or two mics in the studio."

The Supro Amp Jimmy allegedly used to record "Led Zeppelin I" on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Alright, so I think it is pretty obvious what equipment I used for this song, my Fender Baja Tele, through my Sears 5XL, with a Jimi Hendrix Crybaby Wah Pedal, closed of course. The song is pretty short and a little basic, it took me a bit of time with the solo, but the rest is pretty straightforward.

E                                   Dsus2       A       Dsus2
  e|------- ------- ------- -------|----5-- ------- 5------ 5------|
  B|-------------------------------|----5-----------5-------5------|
  G|-------------------------------|----7-----------6-------7------|
  D|-------------------------------|----7-----------7-------7------|
  A|-------------------------------|----5-----------7-------5------|
  E|0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0--|0---------------5--------------| x 4

  e|------- ------- ------- -------|----5-- ------- 5------ 5------|
  B|-------------------------------|----5-----------5-------5------|
  G|-------------------------------|----7-----------6-------7------|
  D|-------------------------------|----7-----------7-------7------|
  A|-------------------------------|----5-----------7-------5------|
  E|0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0--|0---------------5--------------|
    Hey                             girl                    stop 
  e|------- ------- ------- -------|----5-- ------- 5------ 5------|
  B|-------------------------------|----5-----------5-------5------|
  G|-------------------------------|----7-----------6-------7------|
  D|-------------------------------|----7-----------7-------7------|
  A|-------------------------------|----5-----------7-------5---7--|
  E|0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0--|0---------------5-----------5--|
    what you're  doin'! 
    Hey, girl, you'll drive me to ruin. 
    I don't know what it is I like about you, but I like it a lot. 
    Won't let me hold you, Let me feel your lovin' charms. 

 CHORUS
    A5                          A7          A6  A5 ....
  e|------- ------- ------- ----5--|----5-- ------- ------- ----5--|
  B|----------------------------5--|----5-----------------------5--|
  G|----------------------------6--|----6-----------------------6--|
  D|----------------------------5--|----5-----------------------5--|
  A|7---7---9---7---7---7---7---7--|----7---9---7---7---7-------7--|
  E|5---5---5---5---5---5---5---5--|----5---5---5---5---5-------5--|

  e|------- ------- ------- ----5--|------- ------- ------- ----5--|
  B|----------------------------5--|----------------------------5--|
  G|----------------------------6--|----------------------------6--|
  D|----------------------------5--|----------------------------5--|
  A|----------------------------7--|----------------------------7--|
  E|----------------------------5--|----------------------------5--|
                Communication                   breakdown
  e|----5-- ------- ------- ----5--|----5-- ------- ------- -------|
  B|----5-----------------------5--|----5--------------------------|
  G|----6-----------------------6--|----6--------------------------|
  D|----5-----------------------5--|----5--------------------------|
  A|----7---9---7---7---7-------7--|----7---9---7---7---7---9---7--|
  E|----5---5---5---5---5-------5--|----5---5---5---5---5---5---5--|

  e|------- ------- ------- ----5--|------- ------- ------- -------|
  B|----------------------------5--|-------------------------------|
  G|----------------------------6--|-------------------------------|
  D|----------------------------5--|-------------------------------|
  A|----------------------------7--|-------------------------------|
  E|----------------------------5--|-------------------------------|
                It's always the same
    B5      B6  B5              B7 ....
  e|------- ------- ------- ----7--|----7-- ------- ------- ----7--|
  B|----------------------------7--|----7-----------------------7--|
  G|----------------------------8--|----8-----------------------8--|
  D|----------------------------7--|----7-----------------------7--|
  A|9---9--11---9---9---9-------9--|----9--11---9---9---9-------9--|
  E|7---7---7---7---7---7-------7--|----7---7---7---7---7-------7--|

  e|------- ------- ------- ----7--|------- ------- ------- ----7--|
  B|----------------------------7--|----------------------------7--|
  G|----------------------------8--|----------------------------8--|
  D|----------------------------7--|----------------------------7--|
  A|----------------------------9--|----------------------------9--|
  E|----------------------------7--|----------------------------7--|
                    Having  a   nervous         breakdown 
  e|----7-- ----7-- ------- ----7--|------- ------- ------- -------|
  B|----7-------7---------------7--|-------------------------------|
  G|----8-------8---------------8--|-------------------------------|
  D|----7-------7---------------7--|-------------------------------|
  A|----9--11---9---9---9-------9--|----9--11---9---9---9---9---9--|
  E|----7---7---7---7---7-------7--|----7---7---7---7---7---7---7--|

  e|----7-- ------- ------- ----7--|------- ------- ------- -------|
  B|----7-----------------------7--|-------------------------------|
  G|----8-----------------------8--|-------------------------------|
  D|----7-----------------------7--|-------------------------------|
  A|----9-----------------------9--|-------------------------------|
  E|----7-----------------------7--|-------------------------------|
                    Drive me insane!
  e|------- ------- ------- -------|----5-- ------- 5------ 5------|
  B|-------------------------------|----5-----------5-------5------|
  G|-------------------------------|----7-----------6-------7------|
  D|-------------------------------|----7-----------7-------7------|
  A|-------------------------------|----5-----------7-------5------|
  E|0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0--|0---------------6--------------| x 2

  e|------- ------- ------- -------|----5-- ------- 5------ 5------|
  B|-------------------------------|----5-----------5-------5------|
  G|-------------------------------|----7-----------6-------7------|
  D|-------------------------------|----7-----------7-------7------|
  A|-------------------------------|----5-----------7-------5------|
  E|0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0--|0---------------6--------------|

  e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
  B|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
  G|9---9--------9------9-------9--|9---7-----------7-------7------|
  D|9---9--------9------9-------9--|9---7-----------7-------7------|
  A|7---7--------7------7-------7--|7---5-----------5-------5------|
  E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
    Hey                                 babe            I       got
  e|------- ------- ------- -------|----5-- ------- 5------ 5------|
  B|-------------------------------|----5-----------5-------5------|
  G|-------------------------------|----7-----------6-------7------|
  D|-------------------------------|----7-----------7-------7------|
  A|-------------------------------|----5-----------7-------5------|
  E|0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0--|0---------------6--------------|

  e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
  B|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
  G|9---9--------9------9-------9--|----7--------------------------|
  D|9---9--------9------9-------9--|----7-----------5-------4------|
  A|7---7--------7------7-------7--|----5-----------5-------5------|
  E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
        something I think  you ought to know.
    Hey, babe, I wanna tell you that I love you so. 
    I wanna hold you in my arms, yeah!
    I'm never gonna let you go,'Cause I like your charms. 


  e|------- ------- ------- ----5--|----5-- ------- ------- ----5--|
  B|----------------------------5--|----5-----------------------5--|
  G|----------------------------6--|----6-----------------------6--|
  D|----------------------------5--|----5-----------------------5--|
  A|7---7---7---7---7---7---7---7--|----7---9---7---7---7-------7--|
  E|5---5---5---5---5---5---5---5--|----5---5---5---5---5-------5--|

  e|------- ------- ------- ----5--|------- ------- ------- ----5--|
  B|----------------------------5--|----------------------------5--|
  G|----------------------------6--|----------------------------6--|
  D|----------------------------7--|----------------------------7--|
  A|7---7---9---7---7---7-------7--|----7---9---7---7---7-------7--|
  E|5---5---5---5---5---5-------5--|----5---5---5---5---5-------5--|
                Communication                   breakdown
  e|----5-- ------- ------- ----5--|----5-- ------- ------- -------|
  B|----5-----------------------5--|----5--------------------------|
  G|----6-----------------------6--|----6--------------------------|
  D|----5-----------------------5--|----5--------------------------|
  A|----7---9---7---7---7-------7--|----7---9---7---7---7---9---7--|
  E|----5---5---5---5---5-------5--|----5---5---5---5---5---5---5--|

  e|------- ------- ------- ----5--|------- ------- ------- -------|
  B|----------------------------5--|-------------------------------|
  G|----------------------------6--|-------------------------------|
  D|----------------------------7--|-------------------------------|
  A|----7---9---7---7---7-------7--|----7---9---7---7---7---9---7--|
  E|----5---5---5---5---5-------5--|----5---5---5---5---5---5---5--|
                It's  always  the same
  e|------- ------- ------- ----7--|----7-- ------- ------- ----7--|
  B|----------------------------7--|----7-----------------------7--|
  G|----------------------------8--|----8-----------------------8--|
  D|----------------------------7--|----7-----------------------7--|
  A|9---9--11---9---9---9-------9--|----9--11---9---9---9-------9--|
  E|7---7---7---7---7---7-------7--|----7---7---7---7---7-------7--|

  e|------- ------- ------- ----7--|------- ------- ------- ----7--|
  B|---------------------------10--|---------------------------10--|
  G|----------------------------8--|----------------------------8--|
  D|----------------------------7--|----------------------------7--|
  A|9---9--11---9---9---9-------9--|----9--11---9---9---9-------9--|
  E|7---7---7---7---7---7-------7--|----7---7---7---7---7-------7--|
                    Having  a   nervous         breakdown 
  e|----7-- ------- ------- ----7--|----7-- ------- ------- -------|
  B|----7-----------------------7--|----7--------------------------|
  G|----8-----------------------8--|----8--------------------------|
  D|----7-----------------------7--|----7--------------------------|
  A|----9--11---9---9---9--11---9--|----9-----------------------9--|
  E|----7---7---7---7---7---7---7--|----7-----------------------7--|

  e|------- ------- ------- ----7--|----7-- ------- ------- -------|
  B|---------------------------10--|---10--------------------------|
  G|----------------------------8--|----8--------------------------|
  D|----------------------------7--|----7--------------------------|
  A|----9--11---9---9---9-------9--|----9--------------------------|
  E|----7---7---7---7---7-------7--|----7--------------------------|
                    Drive  me  insane!
  e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
  B|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
  G|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
  D|9-\----------------------------|-------------------------------|
  A|7-\----------------------------|-------------------------------|
  E|0------------------------------|-------------------------------|
    SOLO
  e|----12- --P---- ----12- -------|----12- ------- ----12- -------|
  B|--------1512------------151215-|--------151212----------15121212
  G|1416--------14--1416------P----|1416------P-----1416-----------|
  D|--B---------------B------------|--B---------------B------------|
  A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
  E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|

  e|----12- ------- ---12-- -------|12--12- ---12-- ------- -------|
  B|--------15121212-----12-151212-|12--12-----12-------------P----|
  G|1416------------1416-----------|14161416---1416---------1412---|
  D|--B----------------------------|--B---B------B--------------14-|
  A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
  E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|

  e|------- ------- ------- -------|12----- 12----- 12--12- ---1517|
  B|----------------------------12-|----15------15---------------B-|
  G|14--12--------------12--1416---|-------------------------------|
  D|--------14--12--14-------------|-------------------------------|
  A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
  E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|

  e|------- 15-~--- 12----- 12-----|------- 12----- ------- -------|
  B|--------------------15---------|----12------------P------------|
  G|---------------------------1416|-----------1416R1412----14--12-|
  D|-----------------------------B-|-------------B------14---------|
  A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
  E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|

  e|------- 9------ 9------ 9------|------- ------- ------- -------|
  B|----9-------12------12---------|-------------------------------|
  G|---------------------------1113R11P911------9-------9---9---11B|
  D|-----------------------------B-|----------------11-------------|
  A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
  E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|

  e|------- ------- ------- -------|----10- ------- 10----- -------|
  B|----12-----------------------10B12------10-B-12----1012R10P8---|
  G|13------11P9----10--9---9------|-----------------------------9-|
  D|------------11-----------------|-------------------------------|
  A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
  E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|

  e|------- ------- ------- -------|----7/9 ----9-- 9-\-7-- 7------|
  B|10--8--------------------------|----7/9-----9---9-\-7---7------|
  G|--------9---7---9--------------|----7/9-----9---9-\-7---7------|
  D|-------------------------------|----7/9-----9---9-\-7---7------|
  A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
  E|--------------------0-------0--|-------------------------------|

  e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
  B|--------9-------10------11-----|----12------13------14------15-|
  G|1113-------1214----1315--------|1416----1517----1618----1719---|
  D|--B----------B-------B---------|--B-------B-------B-------B----|
  A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
  E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
                Communication                   breakdown
  e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- 171817- 151615- -------|
  B|----16------17--17--17--17--17-|17--17----B-R-----------17--15-|
  G|1820----1921-------------------|-------------------------------|
  D|--B-------B--------------------|-------------------------------|
  A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
  E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
                     It's  always       the same                                   
  e|--19B22 ------- ------R 19--18-|17--15- 14----- ------- -----B-|
  B|17-----------------------------|------------17--17------17-2022|
  G|-------------------------------|--------------------18---------|
  D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
  A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
  E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
                    Having  a   nervous         breakdown 
  e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
  B|---2021-17------17--19--17-----|17--19--17------17--19--17-----|
  G|-----B------18--------------18-|------------18--------------18-|
  D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
  A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
  E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
                    Drive   insane!
                        me
  e|------- ------- ------- -------|----5-- ------- 5------ 5------|
  B|-------------------------------|----5-----------5-------5------|
  G|-------------------------------|----7-----------6-------7------|
  D|-------------------------------|----7-----------7-------7------|
  A|-------------------------------|----5-----------7-------5------|
  E|0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0--|0---------------5--------------| 

  e|------- ------- ------- -------|------- ------- ------- -------|
  B|17-----------------------------|-------------------------------|
  G|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
  D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
  A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
  E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|

  e|------- ------- ------- -------|----5-- ------- 5------ 5------|
  B|-------------------------------|----5-----------5-------5------|
  G|-------------------------------|----7-----------6-------7------|
  D|-------------------------------|----7-----------7-------7------|
  A|-------------------------------|----5-----------7-------5------|
  E|0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0--|0---------------5--------------| ....
                                                    Yeah!
    Communication breakdown .... I want you to love me all night
    I want .... I want your love Yeah ....