There’s no doubt that Stairway to Heaven remains one of the most iconic songs in rock history—an anthem that resonates with generations of guitarists and music lovers. For many, it was the song that first inspired them to pick up a guitar. Mastering Stairway to Heaven from start to finish was a rite of passage, a sign that you could finally call yourself a guitarist.
A few years ago, Jimmy Page sat down for an interview with BBC News to discuss how Stairway to Heaven came to life and the creative vision behind it. He reflected on the song’s timeless appeal and the contributions from every member of Led Zeppelin that turned it into the masterpiece we know today.
Page explained that his goal was to create a song that would gradually build in intensity, layering emotions and sounds until it culminated in that legendary solo:
The idea of Stairway to Heaven was to have a piece of music which would just keep on unfolding into more layers and moods. […] The overlay of the composition would accelerate as it went through, on every level – every emotional level and every musical level. And so it just keeping opening up as it continues through its passage.
Jimmy Page
You can watch the full interview with Jimmy Page discussing the creation of Stairway to Heaven below (courtesy of BBC News).
Now to answer the question that many of the gearheads are likely wondering about —
When it comes to Stairway to Heaven, Jimmy Page didn’t rely on just one guitar for the recording. In the studio, he used a few different instruments to achieve the layered sound we know today. However, during live performances, Page famously used a Gibson EDS-1275 Doubleneck guitar. This iconic guitar allowed him to seamlessly switch between six-string and twelve-string parts without needing to change instruments mid-song.
For the acoustic parts of the song, particularly the iconic intro, Page used a 1960s Harmony Sovereign H1260 acoustic guitar. This guitar holds significant value to him, as it was not only featured in Stairway to Heaven but also played a major role in the early years of Led Zeppelin.
The Harmony guitar is quite special to me. It is what I used to write all the acoustic songs and many of the electric songs on the first three albums. I also used it to record all the acoustic tracks on the third album, and it’s the guitar I played on “Stairway to Heaven.”
Jimmy Page Talks First Three Led Zeppelin Albums; Guitar World Magazine
Around the two-minute mark, when the drums kick in, Page introduces an electric guitar to the mix. According to Page himself, this part was recorded using a 1965 Fender XII, a unique twelve-string electric guitar that added another layer of depth to the track.
The legendary Stairway to Heaven solo was played on a 1959 Fender Telecaster, a guitar gifted to Page by Jeff Beck. This guitar had a special backstory—after Clapton left the Yardbirds, Jimmy recommended Jeff Beck as a replacement, despite Clapton’s initial idea of having Page join the band. (You can read more about this guitar on our Jimmy Page Gear page.)
While the Telecaster is the most well-known guitar associated with the solo, some have speculated that the outro may have been recorded using Page’s iconic 1959 Gibson Les Paul, given the tonal qualities that sound similar to humbuckers.
