January Challenge ’24 Cascading My Way To The Pearly Gates-Jimmy Page

[John H]

Left to my own devices I turned the amp up to “11” and went bat-s*&t crazy. My take on my favorite guitar solo ever written STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN. A good theme to which one can apply the cascading licks in sequence. Not as easy as it appears. Speeding it up to 16th or 32nd notes will take some time. Nevertheless, the value to this challenge is it opens the door to some creativity and ingenuity. Played with my Les Paul Standard through a Boss Kantana 50. Settings dialed in at: Lead Channel; Gain @ 2 o’clock; a touch of delay and reverb. Killer tone!

[charjo]

Killed it, John. Even I’m jealous of the tone you got out of that little Katana 50!
John

[John H]

John
Thank you…. Honestly, I’m not sure I’m gonna get a better tone from the little beast. No need to be jealous, you can dial the same stock amp tones into yours. I think it’s the Les Paul. Nothing against my beloved Strat. Just saying.

JH

[Manfred M]

With a killer tone on the way to the Pearly Gates, I like this analogy, John. And I like your playing. It really carried me away. You nailed it! If I’m on my way to the Pearly Gates someday I want this as Soundtrack.

Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
The next Meetup is expected to take place in November 2025

There will be a detailed announcement here in the forum in good time.

I look forward to meet you.
Manfred

[Alan L]

Some grade A rock and roll right there. Just killer, well done John !

[Andy N]

You could have played the same note all the way through with that tone and I’d still have been hooked!
But a combo of Stairway and some fast cascading licks..that’s rock at its finest! Just awesome John!

[Geoff]

Wow John! You really showcased your skills on this one 🙂 Brilliant playing Sir.

I had forgotten that this “Stairway to Heaven” lead made use of this four note pattern and it really showcases how one can develop some speed using it.

This lesson has been so beneficial to me, I think it should be required learning before anybody can join AM 🙂 Joking aside, it really has opened up the fretboard for me somewhat.

[John H]

Geoff,
This song/solo lends itself to the cascading lick thing whether its 4 or 3 notes. I think Jimmy Page incorporates some of it into his solo anyways. The beauty of it all is it really opens the door to developing creativity and speed.

[Geoff]

Yeah no kidding on the speed thing! I feel with this cascading technique I sound faster that I actually am – very useful. Don’t know why I never cottoned on to these before.

[James B]

You’ve got those four note patterns down pretty good, John. 😀 You have ascended into Les Paul heaven. Really impressive picking and tone.

James

[Anonymous]

Wow John that was awesome. You really nailed the Jimmy Page tone. Proof positive that the concept from this lesson is all over some pretty major music.

[Paul S.]

Wow. At any speed, this was a masterclass. The four-note cascading scale part was the least of it. The bends, runs, up and down the neck… Wowee zowee. A very impressive application of the challenge to the real musical world.

[Michael L]

Hi John, great working in the sequence on this classic. Really enjoyable and who doesn’t go bsc on this tune?

[Richard W]

Fantastic, John! Man, you were truly rocking out and nailing it. Great idea to work on these patterns over Stairway. It shows just how musical they can be, especially when you break them up with some sweet bends or power chords. Great stuff!

[JoLa]

You’re a rock star, John!

What a brilliant idea, cascading licks as in “Stairway to” the Pearly Gates. Loved how you played some of the original but then did your own take including the challenge licks. It took a lot of guts and skills to have a go at the indisputable #1 classic and still pull your own weight, which you did so well! Yeah, the tone was a killer but it was only as good as the player! 🤘🤘🤘

🎸JoLa

[Dieter]

Wow, so many impressive licks and runs. Great.

[Bob Utberg]

Ok John! That was freakin’ AMAZING!!! YOUR BESTEST EVAH ‘N @!!! NOT JAGGIN’ HERE my friend!
First off: GENIUS on song selection! You kick me ars this month in that category! (Although my four ain’t too shabby)
Then, you go all pro session player on us @ 2:35-40 with those incredible HO/PO (hammer on, pull offs). Wowza! You finished that nice run with a sweet Eric C styled Tore Down (Dahn) run! And, then . . . . .
You surprised the S.hip H.igh I.n T.ransit outta me with your nod to Sugarload and Green Eyed Lady and those bends at 2:47-2:56. Green Eyed Lady, fashion lady . . .
All and all, you kicked ars my Yinzer friend! Well Done!
Go Pens!!! Sid’s playing with a bunch o’ Avs this weekend!
Love ya my Brother!
Bob

Bob U. (aka Bobby Ut)

[Jennifer D]

What a treat that was amazing!

[Alan K]

Wow, you nailed this Zep solo and still fit in the 4 note pattern. Rocking playing and tone. Top notch submission.

[AndréM]

Jimi is a LP dude.
You rocked that thing.
Very well done inserting the 4 notes.

AndréM

AndréM

[Mark T]

Your enjoyment and enthusiasm of playing this was just oozing out of the Computer on this, John – excellent submission for the challenge 👍🎶😎

[Pap]

John, that was genius. You and I are cut from the same cloth on taste of music. I love Led Zeppelin. I listened to them so much in my earlier years and although Stairway was way over played back in the day…I still love it. It is one of the most beautiful songs ever written and played. Jimmy Page….man, that guy is just incredible and you represented in this challenge my friend. You have a good ear and a lot of talent. Keep rock’n my friend. Cheers. Pap

[JoeD1]

Excellent playing John. You really wailed away and let it all hang out! Nice submission using a great piece of pentatonic riffage from one of the greatest rock songs ever.

Joe

The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge

[Marie Jarreau]

OMGosh!
Ditto what “Bobby Ute” said, and everyone else!
I don’t have a LOT of “rock” knowledge, but like many “back in the day” I had ‘Stairway’ memorized – even though I wasn’t even REALLY playing guitar back then!
Bravo Bravo Bravo John!

MEEEP MEEEP! (Masterful, Enjoyable, Entertaining, Educational, Playful!)
I just came up with that today for Bobby U. but you get one too! LOL!

All Da Best,
Marie

“Laissez les bon temps rouler“
Marie Jarreau

[David H]

John, sheesh! Bleeping awesome. I am speechless. Your best yet.

[sunjamr]

Awesome job, John! Either your fingers are getting faster, or my brain is getting slower. And I think my brain is still pretty good. I reckon pretty soon you’ll be getting a phone call from Joe Satriani inviting you to play on stage at his next gig.

Sunjamr Steve

[Mike D]

Loved it, masterclass! Well done!

Live on planet Earth ? You got the blues.

[Tom D]

Amazing John! Killer tone, killer playing. The cascading patterns work so well with this classic and you play with just a fantastic feel … one that can command center stage. Man, no matter if you have an electric or acoustic you can drive a song! “We’re not worthy … We’re not worthy”😂. Cheers, Tom

[Pat]

Yea man, u were really rocking out there. Very nice playing and great sounding guitar! Yes u got that 4 note thing down good!

[Martin W]

Wow John that’s some nifty picking for sure with those fast runs , I like the way you’ve incorporated the four note sequences into this classic tune , and you dialled in a killer tone from that katana .
Excellent sub enjoyed it!

Martin

[Alan O]

Wow, awesome performance there!!! Makes me want to go try and learn that solo! Nice LP and great tone! I am really impressed with this one! Excellent!!

Alan

[Guido]

Great solo on this classic song! Really a killer tone, and your fast runs was really remarkable, flawlessly and beautifully played! You say “not as easy as it appears” but to me it doesn’t appear easy at all! Enjoyed very much your performance!

Guido

[Author]

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