Led Zeppelin’s “What is and What Should Never Be” - Guitar Lesson [Guitar Solo and Song Breakdown]
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- čas přidán 18. 01. 2021
- In this episode, I share my reaction and joy of breaking down this beautiful song. What is and
What Should Never Be appears on Led Zeppelin II released in 1969. The track epitomizes the name “Led Zeppelin”: i.e. Lightness and heaviness in the same song. This duality is a recurring texture in Jimmy Page’s writing and is fully realized two albums later with the iconic track: Stairway to Heaven.
For this video, I share classical and compositional insights (oblique motion, binary structures, harmonic progression, etc.) found in this track. I’ll demonstrate the highlights of these elements for you and conclude by joyfully playing the slide guitar solo unaccompanied. This is not so much a teaching video as much as it is a ringside seat watching me react and share my love for what I’ve learned in revisiting this track.
Stemming from my 40+ years as a professional artist, I bring a historical and a composer’s background to my love of rock music by analyzing and playing some of the most iconic music of all time. At the heart of all my videos is that I’m an enthusiast who has dedicated his entire life to composing and playing music.
Whether you’re a guitar player, musician, songwriter or just a music enthusiast, I’m sure you will find something in these videos to inspire you and help you smile.
If you like what you see, please comment, subscribe and hit the thumbs up button!
Also, give me some ideas for other songs you’d like me to dig into!
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Jimmy was not only the most superb guitarist but was a great arranger and producer as well!
You know your stuff!! True on all counts. Can we add his impeccable sense of sartorial style as well? Most people miss how he artistically presents himself dressed as a glorious piece of living art. He had his own style of dress which always looked like he sounded! Textured, flowing and edgy. I’ll have to break out a couple of my Pagey scarves. Maybe a vintage Vera Neumann (I have several). You play how you feel and if you dress uniquely and feel great, you’ll play uniquely great!! Thank you so much for watching and commenting!!! I’m in early days of this social media business and appreciate if you could subscribe and pass the word by sharing. I’ll do my best not to disappoint!
Peace,
Carl
I love the way he dresses. Please do break out some of your scarves, to add to the atmosphere...
@Julie Manarin, with what Page achieved in arrangement and composition, it matters not that he was “sloppy”, as some of his critics assert. I personally love his technique. As he always said, “the music speaks for itself”...
Yes, Julie, the band's arrangements set them apart from their peers, imo.
@@cgab12 Yes!
“If you wake with the sunrise and all your dreams are still as new. “
They were in their 20’s writing these masterpieces
Hi know, it’s unimaginable!
This blows my mind constantly.
Zeppelin...best band ever!! You're pretty good on that guitar too! As Jimmy Page put it...it is about light and shade!
Carl, thanks for outlining and breaking down this song. It's almost impossible to comprehend how Page came up with all these exquisite compositions at such a young age. His mastery of blues guitar was just impeccable. A lot people say that Clapton was the greatest white British blues player, I don't know... The more I see Page's songs broken down and analyzed by experienced musicians as yourself, the more fascinating it really is.
Catch the wind
See us spin
Sail away
Leave today
Way up high
In the sky
🎸🎸🎸🎸
Thank you for sharing! And she said “yes” to that?! Bloody hell amazing!!
this is one of my favorite zeppelin songs. It's so underrated... my god that solo intro is divine.
Your breakdowns are simply amazing. Just like Led Zeppelin's music your breakdowns will live on long after we're all gone.
You're without a doubt the best teacher I've ever had. Your vocabulary is extraordinary, thanks from the UK!
I've listened to Zep's songs so many times, they are burned into my brain...and yet, each time I watch one of your videos, I hear things I haven't heard before. I realize now that it's Zep's light/dark, soft/hard, fast/slow, build/release...that is what has made me so crazy about them my whole life. Not to be melodramatic, but they are humanity in musical form and the seed of humanity is sex, which is the creative force powering the whole thing. I hadn't thought about it this clearly until now, so thank you for making me even MORE crazy about Zep, and understanding more why I am.
Thanks for the message!!
Earlier that year Page acquires Joe Walsh's #2 '59 Les Paul and while touring later part of '69 tour they record between shows and when Zeppelin ll comes out it leaves the debut album in the dust and that small change launched the "Classic"
Hard Rock and Blues sound into the stratosphere!
Nice! short but sweet sampling of another great song by Led Zeppelin . Carl you have opened up another level of how great of a genius Jimmy Page is and was. As a very young man I learned guitar so I knew this band was different right away. Not your typical 2 or 4 chord songs like a pop song . I started to learn Zeppelin songs about 1969 at age 13 from older musicians I hung around. The songs were difficult but I stuck with it and eventually graduated to more difficult songs like The Rain Song with all of it's 30 something chords. A little different from "The House Of the Rising Sun" . I used to jam with various guys and it was great times. Unfortunately as I aged into my late fifties I developed arthritis in my hands and it became too painful to enjoy. But it's channels like yours that let me play vicariously through you and other great teachers of Zeppelin. Thanks for sharing.
That neck? I can attest the bold full square fret markers on a Les Paul have been a Carl Baldassarre trademark from the beginning. Great slide work; not easy to control and get that much expression. Yes! I've seen that Segovia clip where he imitates other instruments. Though lengthy, I would say requisite viewing for any aspiring guitarist.
Carl, Great break down of these classic's, Had to subscribe.. You do it in such a way, that I've never seen or heard.. Makes me appreciate the music in a different light... Awesome :)
I’m so grateful that my insights resonate with you! I truly appreciate you reaching out. If you know anybody else who might enjoy these, please share my channel. I’d like be able to do a whole lot more of these! Peace out my friend! Carl B.
I've always been intimidated slightly by slide guitar, thinking it requires different tuning, but watching this video has inspired me.
Great. What’s more important is to not avoid playing on guitars with super low action. My action is too low for slide, so I have to be extra careful not to fret buzz out.
I was just introduced to your channel yesterday and have been power watching your breakdowns of my favorite songs with my son. The music of Led zep was a highlight of my youth. Your videos have reminded me exactly what made their music great and has reignite my love to listen to their catalog and enjoy the music with my kids…(who also play guitar). Thanks for doing this..I am missing out no longer!
So many lessons on Zeppelin appreciation, how much I wish I knew earlier on life.
Me too!
I was never the biggest Zeppelin fan (I'm a Deep Purple person actually) but I've always acknowledged their impact. I'm only now slowly delving into their repertoire and while always knowing many of the classics, I never really got to know the names, including this song. Lyrics are speaking to me right now given the situation I've recently entered into and I'm starting to feel compelled to learn this song myself.
Subscribed!
Awesome! Thank you!
That was wonderful Carl and you have the best Zeppelin tutorials I've seen!
The epitome of the meaning of the name! Good insight. And this is in the top 10 of my all time favorite of their songs :) Just fantastic...
Led Zeppelin was and is the greatest rock n roll band going they were a power house and the way they mixed different genres of music 🎶 basically they were the first music DJ s without the turntables and mixer
Awesome Carl!
Another fantastic video, keep up the great work!
With your encouragement and support, I’ll try. Thanks for rooting me on!
Fascinating!
I really enjoyed this breakdown. This is my #1 favorite song of all time and one of my favorite songs to play and I never realized the binary arrangement on the chorus where he switches octaves on the As and Bs. I mean, I play it same way you do, but I just never realized exactly how the arrangement was structured.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the insight. It makes it all the more beautiful when you see the elegant motion of the music within the great song!! That’s what I look for and try to share. Be sure to check out all my videos of the 2nd album and share with friends if you don’t mind!
Peace,
Carl Baldassarre
Carl, you’ve achieved what I’ve always tried to do when I play Zeppelin, and that is to get inside the mind of Jimmy Page as regards musical structure, which you have done and have articulated superbly. I think Mr. Page himself would agree with your interpretations.
Thank you so much. It would be awesome to hear his thoughts! In the meantime, I’ll keep digging in to his genius and offer these video essays from a classical musicologist’s perspective as best I can.
I would encourage you to do so, these analyses provide insight as to why their music is so infectious and timeless....there is so much going on in the songs, each one is a powerful statement. It was as if they were changing rock and roll song by song...
Another excellent analysis, thank you. I think another important part the slide solo was the way Page changed his guitar soiund. There's three distinct tones: the first two phrases are played on the neck pickup with the vol. turned low so it's nearly clean; the next phrases (when he goes to the 12th fret) it sounds like the middle position with the neck still low, and the bridge up high; and the last part where it really screams it sounds like he's gone to bridge pickup alone, turned up high to distort. He did this sort of thing a lot. It's very prominent here, but it's also obvious in Since I've Been Loving You. In the live footage of that song you can see him manipulating the controls almost continuously.
Great slide work Carl! 🙂
After the Yardbirds, Jimmy spent time in the Studio doing sessions. That's where he learned to read music 🎶 and theory. Which in my opinion helped groom His To perfect Him to produce Led Z. And, to make them as Great as they were 🙂
Impressed with the commentary. Not overly “professorial” but just the correct amount of back knowledge.
I knew of LZ almost as soon as they came on the music scene. Being a subscriber to Melody-Maker so I couldn’t wait for them to come to San Diego. I saw them twice in 1969, January and August. I saw severals more times in SD/LA.
Great breakdown of all the parts and intricacies.
SierraHotel.
Thank you so much! Truly appreciate it coming from someone who was in on the ground floor like you!
Brilliant insight!
Just loving your channel. I really hope you keep going these break downs are really helpful. Zeppelin 3 next?
Cheers ❤️🎸🇨🇦✌️
Very entertaining and informative.
Looking forward to enjoying this channel. Cheers 🇨🇦🍁
Hello my friend from the north! Beautiful country!
Another superb analysis.
Thank you kindly!
Love from nepal. A fan of this channel. Thanx.
Good stuff, great analysis and demo.
You gotta jam with this guy!
Outstanding comments!! Love them.. Keep on going Carl!!
With you’re encouragement I’ll try. Please share as much as you can. If I can make these big enough I’ll do this the rest of my life!
Great guitar sound.
Excellent job ..
Led Zep's first 2 albums were the absolute best they did .... yes there were a couple of good songs on future albums but not the whole albums
Would love to be able to play this one day..as I continue to learn..this will help me do so..thank you Carl!!🎶
So glad to help! I can show you whatever you need at the next show! :)
@@CarlBaldassarreMusic thank you, that's very kind and appreciated 😊
just awsome ❤️
Thank you so much!! I hope you subscribed?? Btw…hit the notification bell. CZcams is not prioritizing my videos yet!
Not to forget Zeppelins backup vocals on the early albums .
There is an isolated vocal for this track and it has some reminiscing tonal quality of the beach boys .
I would presume Page ,Jones and Bonham contributed.
Great breaking stuff down!
I did enjoy it!
Light and shade is how JP has described Zeppelins music. So right.
another one of jimmys greatsongs...nicely and well "didected".....and played...even your slideguitar was well executed....(slide guitar is usually a tricky business)....
Thank you!! Slide is it’s own world! At least I got through it;))))))
Legend has it that Keith Moon when he heard that Jimmy Page was starting a new band said that they would go down like a lead Zeppelin. Hence the name.
Yes. And it’s a very cheeky English sense of humor which I’m sure made the lads crack a smile when it tripped off of moony’s liquored tongue! The name is one of the greatest band names of all time. It works in every sense. Great visual appeal in print. I was always drawn to z’s ( x’s and y’s) as they have such angular visual stopping power! Not too mention the mouthfeel of the sound of the name when you say it. The z’s also sound a little gritty like a guitar distortion pedal! Not to mention the visual imagery of the dirigible. But I’ll leave that for others...thank you so much for commenting!!! Please subscribe and share if you can! Peace,
Carl B.
Lead balloon, said Moon.
@@CarlBaldassarreMusic I also heard that Led Zeps manager Peter Grant. said to drop the A out of lead so that it would not be mispronounced.
Yes, I heard that too. A brilliant decision. The name was also genius!!
Lead balloon is the expression, that’s what moon said
Nice!!
Jimmy never left Yardbirds ,the band was over and Peter Grant ask him to form a new one ,in fact their first gig as a band the name of the band was The new Yardbirds.
Thank you for clarifying! I was a bit too “efficient” on the point!
And this first gig was in Copenhagen. September 7, 1968.
this song shares that whole light verse heavy chorus thing with ramble on
As someone who’s recently been discovering and rediscovering Led Zeppelin after never having been able to really get into their music for ages, I’m equally thrilled to have found your channel because I’m finding myself having the same exact reflections on the songwriting and especially production genius of Jimmy Page and it’s great to have someone able to articulate them so well. This is currently my favorite song of theirs and I couldn’t agree more: it’s the perfect encapsulation of their music as a whole. It’s all about dynamics and no other track shows it more or better than What Is and What Should Never Be.
Awesome
Thank you!
@@CarlBaldassarreMusic Hello Carl....You're welcome. ...I found your guitar playing ability. ...and your overall knowledge of the guitar very interesting and fascinating. An Awesome demonstration.
Name given to them by the late greats John Entwisle and Keith Moon.
"Well What's To Be, They Say Wil Be", John Bonham must have been like a Gift to Jimmy Page. Like You, this album hit me like lightening back in the early 70's, my older brother, had
a Les Paul and an Orange Amp so, Jimmy Page was our Teacher. The light/heavy formula delivered the intensity that was conducive to my high strung demeanor, and obviously
touched a nerve in countless others, who needed way more "Punch" to their music. Yes, for complexity, Led Zeppelin, for power, Pink Floyd, for solemnity, and Steely Dan, for whimsey.
Thank you for sharing your experiences with us! You really had to be there to truly understand that mystery and magic of that moment in time! With you all the way brother!
@ 5:14 I can imagine a piano roll note match with that and it would give it a nice glitter .. Weird thought maybe but that section of WIWSNB always stuck with me..I have thought about part all my life and maybe 1000s of times I played it in my mind .
Glad you enjoyed!!
I think your theories on music structure of Led Zeppelin hold a key to why their riffs and leads stand out as so memorable and gratifying even decades later. The idea of Page's leads and riffs creating questions and others answers those questions make them memorable. In addition, all 4 musicians did the same on album and live. So often Bonham would respond to Jimmy's improvisational playing. Likewise Plant used his phrasing of vocals to stimulate direct feedback from the other 3 musicians. This type of free-form creativity is so spontaneous and gratifying to play and listen to and it is no wonder other songs were created during these interplay.
Numerous famous musicians claim their most popular songs were created quickly, with spontaneous crafting of the song. Led Zeppelin never played in a static mode, always pushing and reinterpreting songs each time they played them. I believe this is a major source to their wide range of musical styles within their music catalog.
I could be wrong but to me the death of John Bonham wasn't the only reason Plant wanted to quit the band. Along with his death a great deal of the spontaneity of the band left with him. Specifically Page began to try to recreate the magic of the past by trying to play old and new songs exactly like the past and new songs mimicked older songs. Example, tea for one much like since lve been loving you. I believe if Page was as loose and willing to interpret new sounds and songs as in the past, Plant would still be playing with him.
My goodness! You nailed everything here. Thank you!!!!
Since I've been Loving You is another Led Zeppelin masterpiece.
Where’s the bow? That part is pretty majestic also. Great job Carl as usual.
I’ll do a bow episode!!
@@CarlBaldassarreMusic Thanks! I always thought the bow parts were outstandingly performed on stage. They added real drama and theater to their already powerful musical performances
Great breakdown! Looking forward to more Jimmy Page!🔥 by the way are you an Alex Lifeson fan?
Total respect for Mr. Lifeson. Great band. I’ll get to him one day. I’d learn a lot by doing it!
Thanks, Carl. This is the first time that I've seen any of your presentations and I found it very interesting and informative. Some great insights there.
By the way, I couldn't help but notice your strategically-placed framed image of the Led Zep II cover on the wall behind you. It seems to be of professional quality and it looks great. I was wondering if it was signed by the band or if it can be bought on-line. I'm starting a collection to go with my framed gold (well, gold-plated) disc of Sticky Fingers, autographed by the Stones themselves.
Best wishes.
You’re the first to notice!!! Yes, autographed by all four members. A real treasure.
@@CarlBaldassarreMusic NO WAY, Carl. I'm green with envy🤢. How much do you want for it?
Ha! Make me an offer. Make it frighteningly high! :)
@@CarlBaldassarreMusic Ha ha! Mr Baldassarre, sir, I have a strange feeling that any offer that may be frighteningly high to me is not likely to raise either of your well-groomed eyebrows. You're a star.
Anyway, I think I can recall that you were going to give your fans a demonstration of the solo from Thank You. I've been looking out for it but haven't seen it posted. I'm still hoping. It's strange - you listen to an album God knows how many times for 48/49 years and think that there's nothing new to learn. And then you come along and it hits me in the face: I haven't been LISTENING at all. Not really. So many new insights, new angles, new concepts. Now I'm learning how to CONNECT with the music.
Love your work. Peace.
Thank you brother. I’m still noodling on Thank You. I’m finding some very interesting harmonic, thematic, orchestral and lyrical textures that I’m preparing a more fulsome examination. I thought it would be a brief episode, but I’m finding so much to say. So I’m turning over in my mind and writing it out to get the script focused. So much to see I’m that tune. Deceptive cadences, contradictory lyrics, leitmotif and of course the guitar solo which I’ve learned note for note. But I’m still formulating my message. Hang in there with me. It will be interesting as long as you don’t mind a bit more theory and analysis for this one!
Man great video, one of my fav led zeppelin tunes. Man I have seen some of your videos and noticed, you use fender amps, and I wonder, what pedal you use to get that Jimmy page tone?
Bognar La Grange pedal
Hey Jimmie, If you're out there, please chime in!
Funny. I have that in the back of my mind. I think he might appreciate the angle. But I can’t imagine he’d ever find me/us! We could only hope!
@@CarlBaldassarreMusic I have had friends who had the pleasure of of meeting Mr.Page... I have heard from several sources that he is a really nice man.. And from his interviews... I get that as well.... Its funny because My Uncle Joe looks like between him and Actor Jon Voight LOL! :)
Hi Carl. May ai ask what pickups you’re using? They sound very articulate!
One thing that influenced me and stuck with me about JP was.. He always see's the big picture... And I have always tried to do the same... I'm always drawn to big cinematic sounds..
Me too brother!!
Your Les Paul is a standard - ?headstock ? with custom blocks??
Carl
Youre a guitar master. Have you considered writing songs your self, or has that already happened?
Carl.
What Amp are you using?
What is your opinion about them stealing old songs? like you shook me?and whole lotta love?
I never noticed that (octave walk) about the song. Great insight! I gonna go back and look into this song again. One of my favorites. Oh and greetings from St Petersburg Russia, btw. Your viewership area is expanding.....as it should!
I’m so glad you saw this and wrote!! Peace to you my brother!! Please keep watching my videos!
Hey carl could you do braun yar stomp? I have learned how to play it but i would like to learn the nuances that jimmy does in the song! If you dont accoustic songs what about nobodys fault but mine? Thats a beautiful gem of a riff! Thanks in advance
Two wonderful extremes from his immense palette of creativity and technique.
@@CarlBaldassarreMusic i love 100% of zeppelins music. Their is something so special about it.
Carl is the Beachland Ballroom show a full band featuring the music of Led Zeppelin Revival??
Yes, All revival shows are full band! Dates can be found at:
Ledzeppelinbybaldassarre.com
i think youtube likes you lucky guy
Thank you! I could use about 10k more subscribers! But grateful for each one!
The widow inventor of the zeppelin wasn't too happy about the group naming a rock band after her husband...I read that someplace in a zep bio.
Isabella! The wife of Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin. She was actually thrilled when she heard that an artist was going to take the name...then she saw the album cover for Led Zeppelin I...lawsuits followed!
@@CarlBaldassarreMusic yes.. that's it! Thanks for the refresh!
Here to serve!
Where's part 2
Personally I think between Beck, Page, & Clapton
Beck is the better guitarist, but Page is the better composer!
Yep
jimmy didnt leave the yardbirds, the rest of the band left him. he was left with a bandname and no band lol. zep were originally called the new yardbirds. ps the bassline on this is fantastic
John Paul Jones was a major part of the success of LZ imho. Of course all 4 were. But next time you listen to this amazing song, pay extra attention to the bass part. I know it's not just me, but JPJ could create bass parts that were so lyrical. I "hear" what he's playing not just musically, it's like bass lyrics coming through. And of course Jimmy did this with his guitar as well, no shade on him or any of the members :)
Totally agree! There’s no doubt that JPJ’s musical craft and musicianship was of equal importance. In fact, the back line of Jones and Bonham was so important that Zeppelin would never exist without their magical combination. Thanks for weighing in!!!
3 down 6 to go 😁
You’re on to me!!
I call this song the "hey ho" song.
I get it!! So funny!
I shamelessly stole a line from this song when I met the woman I eventually married. I probably sounded like a mental case at the time, but I don't care. This song has deep personal meaning to me and has since the first time I heard it.
Was it the first verse? My money’s on that;) do tell us my friend!!!
looking at the title and wondering where the 'Reacts' part is...
It's all a reaction. It's interesting to get a considered perspective from an expert for a change. There are plenty of fake "oh my God my mind is blown!" reaction channels elsewhere on CZcams if that's what you're looking for.
The word of the day: "binary"
That is until I start to talking about Tertiary movement. Thanks for engaging! I really appreciate it!
You do know lead is not led right?
Got it
Sorry bro. Led Zeppelin is used as an expression in the UK, which expresses their irony and self effacing nature. If something went down like a Led Zeppelin it means it didn't work very well. A Lead Zeppelin clearly would not fly very well. They were being ironic and self effacing in a UK, English way. Great playing though.
I totally got that and the naming story is legend (Peter Grant and Keith Moon quipping about the band in its earliest incarnation). We have the lead balloon version here. I was just adding an ironic, metaphorical twist in retrospect. Thank you for watching so thoroughly. I hope you stay with me and the channel!
Nice try except it’s all wrong. Ok except the verse ( A13 & E9). Just plain wrong mister composer. Oh and way over -analysed
Led is not lead. LED is a light-emitting diode crystal. New at the time in electronics, therefore, they thought it was cutting-edge rock name. Sorry about your misunderstanding.
Peter Grant suggested the spelling
That’s news to me. Thank you! btw...Ironic that the corpulent Mr. Grant would “slim” down anything:)
Peter Grant wanted the "a" out to prevent mispronouncing.