Led Balloon

Led Balloon

Led Balloon Band Video

Genre: 70’s Blues / Rock

The cultural reference here is clearly Led Zeppelin. Zeppelin were an iconic and seminal band for many reasons, the quality of the musicianship; both Jimmy Page - guitar and John Paul Jones - bass / keyboards were highly successful session musicians in the 1960’s. John Bonham - drums and Robert Plant - vocals each brought a unique originality to their instrument styles and performances and they in particular have been a profound influence on countless musicians over the years.

The roots of the Zeppelin sound lie in Blues and they are one of the greatest exponents of the rock riff.

This piece opens, firstly with a John Bonham inspired drum break and then with a riff. Disarmingly simple, this riff is almost a major chord arpeggio but it features both the minor and major third and no 5th just the octave.

This is the A section which runs over two bars. Beats 3 & 4 of bar 1 and the whole of bar 2 are left to the drums and it is the drums that progressively drive the dynamic throughout the piece.

A new melodic idea is introduced at bar 14, a descending figure, starting on the minor 3rd (G) and dropping in 1/4 notes to the b7 (D), developing the melodic interest and emphasizing the modal nature of the piece.

Two chords replace this new idea at bar 18, A & G again very modal (Dorian). This changes the dynamic considerably.

A B section emerges at bar comprising and extended version of the 4 note descending figure that appeared at bar 14. The 1/4 notes are now 1/2 notes and they are accompanied by a rising chord progression: Em, G, A, C.

The intention of this composition was to capture the raw simplicity of the Blues with simple but powerful melodic statements. Though simple, the motifs are progressively developed; they interact with each other and morph into new sections.

Key elements for learning: riffs, developing motivic ideas, morphing thematic material, modal concepts, evolving dynamics, harmonies.