"Dazed and Confused"

"Dazed and Confused", the trippiest song from Led Zeppelin's first album, it soon became a staple of their live shows, and entered the pantheon as one of the greatest songs ever recorded. The origin of this song begins with performer Jake Holmes, who wrote and recorded a song called "Dazed and Confused" and released it on his album "The Above Ground Sound" in June 1967.

Jimmy Page was introduced to this song in August, 1967 when the Yardbirds played the Village Theater in New York City, and Jake Holmes was slotted as the opening act. Jimmy decided to re-arrange the song and record his own take on it. The kernal of what became Led Zeppelin's "Dazed and Confused" can be heard on the Yardbirds album "Live Yardbirds: Featuring Jimmy Page", and is listed as "I'm Confused".

Jake Holmes was never credited as a writer on Led Zeppelin's "Dazed and Confused". Jimmy Page felt he had changed the music and lyrics enough that the song bared little to no relation to Holme's work. Holme's took no action at the time that Led Zeppelin released their first album, but later did attempt to contact Jimmy Page about the matter. In 2010, Holmes filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in order to obtain penalties against Jimmy Page for copyright infringement. The case itself was dismissed with prejudice in November 2011. You can read the dismissal here: http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/cacdce/2:2010cv04789/476306/27

Jimmy Page introduced the rest of Led Zeppelin to this song at the band's first rehearsal together, "Jimmy played us the riffs at the first rehearsal and said 'this is the number I want to do" recalled bassist John Paul Jones. The song begins with its signature slow descending bass line, followed by bursts of Jimmy's guitar playing while using a Wah Pedal. Robert Plant wails and moans over the whole track, and John Bonham bangs away with force over the slow tempo.

In the middle of the song, there is a breakdown, and Jimmy begins to use a violin bow to elicit other worldly squeals from his guitar. Jimmy insists he was introduced to the idea of using a bow to play his guitar from a man named David McCallum Sr. while still a session player. The use of the violin bow became a signature move for Jimmy, and he employed it at live shows to the delight of thousands of fans. Side-note, David McCallum was also one of the musicians to play on the Beatles opus "A Day in the Life"

"Dazed and Confused" became a staple of Led Zeppelin's live act and the band played it at every show from their beginnings to their series of shows at Earl's Court in 1975, after which it was abandoned for newer material. As time went on, the song evolved into an extended jam song with a medley of other pieces thrown into the mix. I believe the longest recorded version of "Dazed and Confused" is clocked at 45 minutes long.

The structure of the live version of this song was dissected by Luis Ray in his publication, "Led Zeppelin Live: An Illustrated Exploration of Underground Tapes":

Stage 1: Bass intro and wah-wah interludes

Stage 2: Main vocal theme

Stage 3: Fast instrumental and 'oriental' riffs

Stage 4: "San Francisco" or "Woodstock"

Stage 5: Violin bow episode including echo-slapping from the guitar; interlude with Plant's 'instrumental voice'; Gustav Holst's Mars, the Bringer of War and return of the rhythm section

Stage 6: Fast guitar solo and battle with Plant

Stage 7: Slower tempo solo and 'funky' moods

Stage 8: Violent breaks and call and response interlude

Stage 9: Faster solo in crescendos and occasional break-up tempo

Stage 10: New arrangement of Mars, the Bringer of War (slow and fast versions) and final frenzy

Stage 11: Return to main theme

Stage 12: Coda. Final instrumental and vocal battle inside syncopated rhythms, drum-solo and final explosion.

So to play this song I used my Fender Telecaster played through my Marshall Haze 40, with my Jimi Hendrix Wah, and Ibanez Tube Screamer guitar pedals in the chain. I did not have a violin bow, so I was unable to replicate that portion of the song, however I do intend on buying one and giving it a shot!

The song itself is really just a series of great guitar riffs, with a bow solo, pre-solo, and guitar solo part. Its a little tricky to get down, but once you do, you'll find its not as hard to play as you may think. So here we go!

Here is the intro, that is played along with the descending bass line:

e|-------12---------------|------5-----------------|
B|----12------------------|----5-------------------|
G|------------------------|-----------12~----------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|------------------------|------------------------|
E|------------------------|------------------------|

       *  *                    * * * *
e|-------12---------------|------5-----------------|
B|----12------------------|----5---5---------------|
G|------------------------|----------5~------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|------------------------|------------------------|
E|------------------------|------------------------|

                *
e|------------------------|------------------------|
B|-12----------12---------|------------------------|
G|-12----------12---------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|------------------------|------------------------|
E|------------------------|------------------------|

And the riffs on guitar as they appear in the song:

(Using Vibrato on each note except the open E's)
e|------------------------|------------------------|
B|------------------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|-------10--9--8br--7----|---5--4--3br--2---------|
E|0-0-0-------------------|0-----------------------|
  . . .

e|------------------------|------------------------|
B|------------------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|---10--9--8br-7---------|---5--4--3br-2----------|
E|------------------------|0-----------------------|

e|------------------------|------------------------|
B|------------------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|---10--9--8br-7---------|---5--4--3br-2----------|
E|0-----------------------|0-----------------------|

Riff 2
e|------------------------|
B|------------------------|
G|--4-4-4-------2h4-------| X 4
D|--4-4-4--2h4-------2h4--|
A|--2-2-2-----------------|
E|------------------------|

Riff 1b
   (Using Vibrato on each note except the open E's)
e|------------------------|------------------------|
B|------------------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|-2----------------------|------------------------|
A|-2-----10--9--8br--7----|---5--4--3br--2---------|
E|-0--0-------------------|0-----------------------|
      .

e|------------------------|------------------------|
B|------------------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|---10--9--8br-7---------|---5--4--3br-2----------|
E|0-----------------------|0-----------------------|

e|------------------------|------------------------|
B|------------------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|---10--9--8br-7---------|---5--4--3br-2----------|
E|0-----------------------|0-----------------------|

e|------------------------|------------------------|
B|------------------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|---10--9--8br-7---------|---5--4--3br-2----------|
E|0-----------------------|0-----------------------|

Riff 2
e|------------------------|
B|------------------------|
G|--4-4-4-------2h4-------| X 4
D|--4-4-4--2h4-------2h4--|
A|--2-2-2-----------------|
E|------------------------|

After the last riff, comes the the bow section, I have no idea on how to play it, haha.
After the bow section comes a pre-solo part:

e|------------------------|------------------------|
B|------------------------|------------------------|
G|-------------12-14-12---|--------------12-14-12~-|
D|-------12-14----------14|--------12-14-----------|
A|-12-14------------------|-12-14------------------|
E|------------------------|------------------------|

e|------------------------|------------------------|
B|------------------------|------------------------|
G|-------------12-14-12---|--------------12-14-----|
D|-------12-14----------14|--------12-14-------0---|
A|-12-14------------------|-12-14------------------|
E|------------------------|------------------------|

e|------------------------|------------------------|
B|--15----14----12----10--|--8---7---5-------------|
G|--19----18----16----14--|--12--10--9-------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|------------------------|------------------------|
E|------------------------|------------------------|

e|------------------------|------------------------|
B|-8---7---3--------------|--2---------------------|
G|-12--10--6--------------|--5---------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|------------------------|------------------------|
E|------------------------|------------------------|

Then of course, the guitar solo:

e|--------------------------------------------------------15\12----15\12---|
B|---12--12-15\12-------12-15\12---------12-12-15\12-X-12-------12-------12|
G|14b16-----------14b16----------14-14b16----------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|15\12---15\12--15\12------12-15b17-15-12----12---------------------------|
B|------12-----12-----12-12-12-------------15-15-15\12---------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------14\12----12-14-12-14|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------14------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------15---------------------------------------------------------------|
G|12-14b16----16\14\12-14\12---------------------------------!9!b!11!--9b11|
D|--------------------------14-12-14-12/14\12----12/14\12--0---------------|
A|--------------------------------------------14---------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--7-9-7-7-7\6-6\5-6-7\6-4-6\4\3-4-2-2\0-4-2\0--0-0-0b2--0-0b2-0-0b2-0-0b2|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|-------------------------------------------------------15\12-15-15b12----|
B|----------------------------------------------------12-------12-12----12-|
G|-0-0-0b4-0-0b2--0-0b4b4-0-0b2-0-0b4-0-0b3-0-0-b4r0-----------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|15\12----15\12----15--15\12-----15--15b17-15-17-15b17-15b17-15-12----12--|
B|------12-------12------------12-----------------------------------15-----|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|15\12------------------------15------------------------------------------|
G|------14\12---12-14-12-14/16----16\14\12-14\12---------------------------|
D|------------14---------------------------------14-12/14\12----12-12------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------14----12/14\12|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|------------------------------------------------------------------19b21--|
B|--------------------------17b20---17b19-17b20--17b19-15-15--17-17--------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|/14\12---------10--12-10-------------------------------------------------|
E|------------12-----------------------------------------------------------|

e|19\18--17----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------20-20\17----17-20--17/20\17----17-20-17/20\17----17-20-17/20\17|
G|-------------------19-----------------19----------------19---------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----17-20-17/20\17----17-20-20b22--19b21-21b22-19b20-19b20b22------20b22b|
G|-19----------------19----------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------0-0--------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|-------------------------------------19b22r19---------19b22r19-----------|
B|24r20\17--17-17--20b24r20-17-17-17-17---------17-17-17---------17-17-17--|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--17-20b23r20--17-17----17b20r17-15-15--15b17r15-------------------------|
G|---------------------0--17-----------------------12-12---12b14r12-9-9--9-|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------4\2\0-------------!4!|
G|9b11-9b11r9--7--4b6r4-4--4\2\0-2--4\2\0-2--4\2\0-2--4\2\0-2--2--4--2---4-|
D|-------------0-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------------|
B|----2/4\2\0----------------------------|
G|----2/4\2\0--0--2\0/2\0/2--------------|
D|--------------------------4\2\0--------|
A|--------------------------------4\2\0--|
E|---------------------------------------|

After the solo we go back to the riffs:

Riff 3
e|-------------------------|------------------------|
B|-9-----------------------|-9--12------------------|
G|-9---7--6----------------|-9--12------------------|X3
D|-9---7--7----------------|-9--12------------------|
A|-7---5--7----------------|-7--10------------------|
E|-0------5----------------|-0----------------------|


Riff 2
e|------------------------|
B|------------------------|
G|--4-4-4-------2h4-------| X 4
D|--4-4-4--2h4-------2h4--|
A|--2-2-2-----------------|
E|------------------------|

Riff 1b
   (Using Vibrato on each note except the open E's)
e|------------------------|------------------------|
B|------------------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|-2----------------------|------------------------|
A|-2-----10--9--8br--7----|---5--4--3br--2---------|
E|-0--0-------------------|0-----------------------|
      .

e|------------------------|------------------------|
B|------------------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|---10--9--8br-7---------|---5--4--3br-2----------|
E|0-----------------------|0-----------------------|

e|------------------------|------------------------|
B|------------------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|---10--9--8br-7---------|---5--4--3br-2----------|
E|0-----------------------|0-----------------------|

e|------------------------|------------------------|
B|------------------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|---10--9--8br-7---------|---5--4--3br-2----------|
E|0-----------------------|0-----------------------|

Riff 2
e|------------------------|
B|------------------------|
G|--4-4-4-------2h4-------| X 4
D|--4-4-4--2h4-------2h4--|
A|--2-2-2-----------------|
E|------------------------|

E|------------|------------|------------|-------------|
B|------------|------------|------------|-------------|
G|9-9-9-9-7---|------------|------------|-------------|
D|9-9-9-9-7---|7-7-7-7-5---|9-9-9-9-7---|12-12-12-12-9|
A|7-7-7-7-5---|------------|------------|-------------|
E|------------|5-5-5-5-3---|7-7-7-7-5---|10-10-10-10-7|

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

e|------------------------|   |------------------------|
B|------------------------|   |------------------------|
G|--------7p6p5-----------|X7 |------------------------|
D|------------------------|   |------------------------|
A|--0000------------------|   |--0000------------------|
E|------------------------|   |------------------------|

e|------------------------|   |------------------------|
B|------------------------|   |------------------------|
G|-7-7-7-7-7--------------|X7 |-7-7-7-7-9-9------------|
D|-7-7-7-7-7--------------|   |-7-7-7-7-9-9------------|
A|-5-5-5-5-5--------------|   |-5-5-5-5-7-7------------|
E|------------------------|   |---------0-0------------|

As you can s