Tabs
Led Zeppelin - Achilles Last Stand
From the CD set 'Remasters'
Written by Page/Plant
Atlantic Records 82371-2
This is not the complete song. This version is the way I play it.
The entire song encompasses 6-7 guitar parts, all layered, and it would
be too much effort to do them all. Besides, what good would it do? If you
are playing this song, you cannot hope to play all the parts at once.
Better to go straight through, playing the parts which are most prominent
at that particular point in the song. The song was partially transcribed
earlier by Charles Eric Horowitz ([email protected]). The song is in G.
Jimmy Pena - [email protected]
| = not a standard bar line; just used to separate music
~ = vibrato or held note
x = percussive note with no pitch; muted note
. = staccato; mute the note immediately after striking it
h = hammer on
p = pull off
s = slide
b = bend string up to indicated pitch/fret
r = release bend to indicated string/fret
/ = slide up from infinity
\ = slide down into infinity
[Intro] - Let bottom note ring throughout, and open 
G+G (when it is played)
Em9Em9 F#m(add b6)
e:-------------2p0----------|--------------2p0--------------------|
B:----------3------3p0------|-----------3-------3p0---------------|
G:-0------0-------------0---|--0------2--------------0------------|
D:------4-------------------|-------4-----------------------------|
A:----2---------------------|-----4-------------------------------|
E:-0------------------------|--2----------------------------------|
[Intro2]
F#m7(add 4)
e:----------------0--------------------------------------------------|
B:------------0--(0)-------------------------------------------------|
G:--0------2---------------------------------------------------------|
D:-------4-----------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:--2----------------------------------------------------------------|
[Riff 1]
F# minorF#m 
E minorEm 
D6/ED6/E
e:----9.-------7----7~-----------------------------7~----------------|
B:---10.-------8----8~-----------------------------7~----------------|
G:---11.-------9----9~-----------------------------7~----------------|
D:------------------------7-7--7-7-8-9--7-7--------7~----------------|
A:------------------------------------------7-7----------------------|
E:----------------------------------------------0--------------------|
[Riff 2a]
D/ED/E
e:---------9------7~----------------5~-------------------------------|
B:--------10------8~-----------7----7~-------------------------------|
G:--------11------9~-----------7----7~-------------------------------|
D:-----------------------------7-------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:---0~--------------------0~----------------------------------------|
[Riff 2b]
D/ED/E
e:---------9------7~----------------7~-------------------------------|
B:--------10------8~-----------7----7~-------------------------------|
G:--------11------9~-----------7----7~-------------------------------|
D:-----------------------------7-------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:---0~--------------------0~----------------------------------------|
[Riff 3]
E MajorE 
F5F5
e:---------------------------------------|---------|-----------------|
B:--9---7--8--9--------------------------|---------|-----------------|
G:--9---7--8--9---7-8-9-9--7-8-9--7-9----|--10~----|--10~~\----------|
D:--9---7--8--9---7-8-9-9--7-8-9--7-9----|--10~----|--10~~\----------|
A:---------------------------------------|---------|-----------------|
E:---------------------------------------|---------|-----------------|
[Ascending octave progression 1]
E minorEm
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
D:--4s5----5s7---7s9-----10-----10s12--------------------------------|
A:------7------9-----10------12--------14----------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Ascending octave progression 2]
C(add9 #11)
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G:--7s9-----11----12-----12s14-----14s16-----------------------------|
D:------10-----12----14---------16--------17s12----------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Ascending octave progression 3]
E minorEm
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G:-2s4----5----5s7---7s9-----9s11------------------------------------|
D:-----5----7------9-----10-------12s9-------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Ascending octave progression 4]
C(add9 #11) F#m/E E minorEm
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:--7s8----10----10s12------13------15--------17s19---17--17~~~------|
G:------9-----11---------12------14-----16---------------------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Riff 4a] - the notes in ()'s can be played, if you are skilled enough
e:---(9.)---(7)-(7~)----'12--9---------------------------------------|
B:--(10.)---(8)-(8~)---'10-----10--10b12--10--8~---------------------|
G:--(11.)---(9)-(9~)---11--------------------------------------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
rake
[Riff 4b] - the notes in ()'s can be played, if you are skilled enough
e:--------------------(7~)----'10---7--------------------------------|
B:--------------------(7~)---'7-------8--8s10--7---------------------|
G:--------------------(7~)---7--------------------7~-----------------|
D:--(7)-(7)-----------(7~)-------------------------------------------|
A:----------(7)-(7)--------------------------------------------------|
E:-----------------(0)-----------------------------------------------|
rake
[Riff 4c]
e:---(9.)---(7)-(7~)----'12--9-----9b10---9--7~----------------------|
B:--(10.)---(8)-(8~)---'10-----10------------------------------------|
G:--(11.)---(9)-(9~)---11--------------------------------------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
rake
[Riff 4d]
e:---------------------(7~)----'10--7----7s9--------|----------------|
B:---------------------(7~)---'7------8------10-----|----------------|
G:---------------------(7~)---7-----------------11--|--9b11r9---9~---|
D:--(7)-(7)------------(7~)-------------------------|----------------|
A:----------(7)-(7)---------------------------------|----------------|
E:-----------------(0)------------------------------|----------------|
rake
[Riff 5a]
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:---------8--------7--5---7b8---------------------------------------|
G:--11-------9--------------------7b9r7------------------------------|
D:----11-------9-9------------------------9--------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Riff 5b]
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:--8-8--------7-----------------------------------------------------|
G:------9-9-------7------9--7----9b11--7b9---------------------------|
D:----------9-------7-7-----------------------7----------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Riff 5c]
e:-9---9--------7----------------------------------------------------|
B:-------10---------8-------10------10b12----8b10r8------------------|
G:----------11--------9-9-------9----------------------9-------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Riff 5d]
e:--7-7--------5-5---------------------------------------------------|
B:------8-8--------7-------8--7--8b10---8b10-------------------------|
G:----------9--------7-7------------------------11-------------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Riff 6a] [Riff 6b]
e:-------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------|
B:--8-8--------8b10r8------|--7-7--------7b8r7-----|-----------------|
G:------9-9----------------|------7-7--------------|---9b11---9--9---|
D:----------9--------------|----------7------------|-----------------|
A:-------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------|
E:-------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------|
[Riff 7a]
E minorEm
e:-------0------0------0-----0---------------------------------------|
B:-----0------0------0-----0-----------------------------------------|
G:--------------------------------0----------------------------------|
D:--2------4------5------7------5----4p2-----------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Riff 7b]
C(add9 #11)
e:----------2p0-------2p0--------------------------------------------|
B:-------3------3----------3-----------------------------------------|
G:-----0----------------------0--0-----------------------------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:--3--------------3-------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Riff 7c] [Riff 7d]
C(add9 #11)
e:---------------0------2p0-----0-|----------2p0---------------0-----|
B:-------3----------3--------3----|--------3-----3---------------3---|
G:-----0---0--0-------------------|------0-------------------0-----0-|
D:--------------------------------|----2-------------4--2--4---------|
A:--3-----------------------------|--3-------------------------------|
E:--------------------------------|----------------------------------|
[Riff 8]
E minorEm 
D MajorD
e:-7-7-7-7--7-7-7-7--7-7-7-7--7-7-7-7---7----------------------------|
B:-8-8-8-7--8-8-8-7--8-8-8-7--8-8-8-7---8--7-------------------------|
G:-9-9-9-9--9-9-9-9--9-9-9-9--9-9-9-9---9--7-------------------------|
D:-----------------------------------------7-------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
C majorC
e:-8-8-8-7--8-8-8-7--8-8-8-7--8-8-8-7---8----------------------------|
B:-8-8-8-7--8-8-8-7--8-8-8-7--8-8-8-7---8--7-------------------------|
G:-9-9-9-7--9-9-9-7--9-9-9-7--9-9-9-7---9--7-------------------------|
D:-----------------------------------------7-------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Riff 9]
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:--5s7--5--5~~----7s8--7--5---3---5---------------------------------|
G:------------------------------------5~~~---------------------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Riff 10]
Repeat 4x
e:---------|--9s12--12~--|---12ss15~~--------------------------------|
B:---------|-10s12--12~--|---12ss17~~--------------------------------|
G:-5sssss9-|-------------|-------------------------------------------|
D:---------|-------------|-------------------------------------------|
A:---------|-------------|-------------------------------------------|
E:---------|-------------|-------------------------------------------|
[Riff 11a] [Riff 11b]
E MajorE E MajorE
e:----------------------------|--------------------------------------|
B:--------------8~---7--8--x--|------------7-------------------------|
G:--------------9~---7--9--x--|------------7-------------------------|
D:--------7-9-----------------|-------7-9--7---9-9-7-7---------------|
A:--7-9-9---------------------|-7-9-9------------------9-------------|
E:----------------------------|--------------------------------------|
[Riff 12]
E minorEm C(add9 #11)
e:--0-(0)~-----------------------------0-(0)~--------------0---------|
B:--0-(0)~-----------------------------3-(3)~-----------------3--3p0-|
G:--0--0-------------------------------0-(0)~------0--(0)------------|
D:--2-(2)----4~---5~---7~--5~---4p2----x-------2~--------------------|
A:--2-(2)------------------------------3-(3)~----------3-------------|
E:--0-(0)~-----------------------------------------------------------|
[Riff 13] - the section where the guitars are randomly brought to the
foreground - cleaned up a bit
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:-13--12---15b17~~------------------------------------12--13--12----|
G:-----------------------12b14r12~~~-----14b16r14~-------------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:-------------15b17----15-------------------------------------------|
B:-15b17~-------------------15b17~--------12b13----12----------------|
G:-----------------------------------------------------14--12--------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:-----------------------------------15b17~------15--12------12------|
B:------------12--13b15----13.--12-----------------------15------15--|
G:--14b16~-----------------------------------------------------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:-----------------------------------------------15b17r15----12--12~-|
B:-12--15~----12b15r12~~----10---------------------------------------|
G:-----------------------------12----12-14-12~~----------------------|
D:--------------------------------14---------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
Song progression:
Fade into [Intro] x3
[Intro] x1, replace last half with [Intro2]
[Riff 1] x4
[Riff 2a] x2 /w lyrics:
It was an April morning when the....
[Riff 2b] x2 /w lyrics:
Woah the fun to have to live ...
[Riff 1] x2
[Riff 2b] x1 /w lyrics:
Swept New York a glancing kiss ...
[Riff 2a] x2 /w lyrics:
Below the streets that steam...
[Riff 2b] x1 /w lyrics:
Oh to touch the dream, ...
[Riff 3] x2, second time do 10th fret slide down
[Ascending octave progression 1] x1
[Ascending octave progression 2] x1
[Ascending octave progression 3] x1
[Ascending octave progression 4] x1
[final two notes over [Riff 1] x2]
[Riff 2a] x1 /w lyrics:
Into the sun the South and ...
[Riff 2b] x1 /w lyrics:
As shackles of commitment ...
[Riff 2a] x1 /w lyrics:
Oh to ride the wind, to ...
[Riff 2b] x1 /w lyrics:
Oh to laugh aloud, with ...
[Riff 4a] x1
[Riff 4b] x1
[Riff 4c] x1
[Riff 4d] x1
[final two notes over [Riff 2a] x1 /w lyrics]:
To seek the man whose ...
[Riff 2b] x1 /w lyrics:
To guide us from the curling ....
[Riff 2a] x1 /w lyrics:
And if one bell should ring ...
[Riff 2b] x1 /w lyrics:
So fast the heart should ...
feet, yeah.
[Riff 3] x4 (at the end of the first time, sing "Ooh......")
[Guitar Solo]
e:----------7---------------------------------------------------5----|
B:--------------7--5--5~~----8b10r8--------------5--5~-------8-------|
G:-------7-----------------------------7b9r7-----5--5~----5-(5)------|
D:--7s9------------------------------------------5--5~---------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:--3h5p3----3~--------3------3h5p3-------3-----5~---------------7---|
B:--------5---------------------------5------5-(5)~------------------|
G:--------4--4~-----4----4------------5------5-(5)~-----------7------|
D:--------------------------------------------------------7s9--------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:-------------------------------------------10b12r10---------12.-14.|
B:--7--5--5~----7-8-10--8h10p8--7--8--7--8----------------12.--------|
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:---14b15r14p12--14b15r14p12---12--14--14b15r14p12---15b17r15-------|
B:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:--13--13~~----12--13----12-----------------------------------------|
G:---------------------14------12------------------12--14------------|
D:---------------------------------14--14~~~----14-------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:---------------------------------------------12-13--15p13p12-13p12-|
G:--14b16r14b16r14p12-------------------12--14-----------------------|
D:----------------------14--14~~----14-------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:----------------------------------------12-14-15.-15p14p12---------|
B:----12-----12h13p12----12-----12-13-15-----------------------------|
G:-14----14-----------14---------------------------------------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:-14~~~~p12-----12-------12-----------------------------------------|
B:------------15----15p12-13--12-----12------------------------------|
G:--------------------------------14----14-12----14-----12h14p12-----|
D:--------------------------------------------14----14---------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:-----------------------------------15------15------17b19-----------|
B:--------------------------------15----17.-----17-------------------|
G:----------12--------------14s16------------------------------------|
D:--14--14-----------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:-x--17.--x----12--12~~~~---15b17r15~----15p14p12h14~~---12h14p12~--|
B:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:-12h14p12---------------------------------------------------12-----|
B:-----------15b17-----15-13----13--12-12-12~~~~--------12-15--------|
G:---------------------------14----------------------12--------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:-14--15p14p12--14~---12-14-15-17-19-20b22~~~-----20.--19.--17------|
B:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:-19~~~--x------17b18-------17--15--17--17b19~-------17b19----17----|
B:------------0.-----------------------------------------------------|
G:------------------------0.-----------------------0-----------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:--15---17b19----17--15---14~~~~~----14h15p14p12--14~~---12--14-15--|
B:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:--17p15~~---15--15~~----12--15s14~---------------------------------|
B:-----------------------------------------13s12~--------------------|
G:-------------------------------------14-------------14--12.--------|
D:--------------------------------------------------------------14---|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:--------------------------------------------12---------------------|
G:--12-----12~~--------12~~~~--------------12------------------------|
D:-----14----------------------------12h14---------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Ascending octave progression 1] x1
[Ascending octave progression 2] x1
then:
e:--17b19r17----15~--------------------------------------------------|
B:-------------------17~--15.----------------------------------------|
G:-----------------------------16--14---14b16r14----12---------------|
D:------------------------------------------------------14--12.------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:--------------17b19----17--17~~~-----------------------------------|
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
D:--9----12----------------------------------------------------------|
A:----10-------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
(last part of solo: 17b19 17 17~~~ over lyrics):
[last half of Riff 2a]
Days fly by and you and I ...
[Riff 2a] x2 /w lyrics:
As far away and distant, ....
[Riff 2b] x2 /w lyrics:
Oh Albion remain ....
[Riff 5a] x1
[Riff 5b] x1
[Riff 5c] x1
[Riff 5d] x1
[Riff 6a] x2 /w lyrics:
Wondering and ...
[Riff 6b] x2 /w lyrics:
one place to ...
[Riff 6a] x2 /w lyrics:
Where the mighty ...
[Riff 6b] x2 /w lyrics:
hold the heavens ...
[Riff 6a] x2
[Riff 6b] x2
[Riff 6a] x2 /w lyrics:
Oh the mighty ...
[Riff 6b] x2 /w lyrics:
hold the heavens ...
last half of [Riff 6b] x1 /w lyrics:
from the earth......
last half of [Riff 7a] x1 (from 7)
[Riff 7b] x1
[Riff 7a] x1
[Riff 7c] x1
[Riff 7a] x1 /w lyrics:
I'm gonna reign, gonna ...
[Riff 7d] x1 /w lyrics:
gonna ...
[Riff 7a] x1 /w lyrics:
I'm gonna reign, gonna ...
[Riff 7c] x1 /w lyrics:
reign.
[Riff 8] x1
[Ascending octave progression 1] x1
[Ascending octave progression 2] x1
[Riff 9] x2
[Riff 10] x1
[Riff 11a] x2 (beginning of each one sing "Aah..." along /w guitar)
[Riff 11b] x2
[Riff 11a] x2
[Riff 11b] x2
[Riff 11a] x2
[Riff 11b] x2
[Riff 11a] x2
[Riff 11b] x2
[Riff 11a] x2
[Riff 11b] x2
[Riff 12] x2 (first "Aahhh..." then "Oohhh...." /w guitar)
"Aah..." (stops before next one)
[Ascending octave progression 1] x1
[Ascending octave progression 2] x1
"oh..." (stops before next one)
[Ascending octave progression 3] x1
[Ascending octave progression 4] x1
[Riff 13] x1
[last part played over [Riff 1] x1]
[Riff 1] x1 /w lyrics:
Where the mighty arms of ...
[Riff 11a] x2 (sing "Oh.." x5 with increased force and pitch)
[Riff 11b] x2
[Riff 11a] x2
[Riff 11b] x2 (sing "Aah" at start of each line /w guitar)
[Riff 11a] x2
[Riff 11b] x2
[Riff 11a] x2
[Riff 11b] x2
[Riff 1] x2 (sing "Ooohhh... first time only)
[Intro] reversed, at least 2 times, then begin fadeout
Other versions of Achilles Last Stand
Alternative guitar chords and tabs for Achilles last stand by Led Zeppelin
