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An Analysis of “Stairway to Heaven”, Part 8: Tempo

3/12/2018

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One aspect I've ignored so far is tempo. The song gradually builds speed, before winding down again at the end.

0:00-0:54 Introduction: 64 beats in 53.8 seconds = 71.4 beats per minute

0:54-1:48 Verse 1: 64 beats in 53.7 seconds = 71.5 bpm

1:48-2:15 Verse 2: 32 beats in 26.8 seconds = 71.6 bpm

2:15-2:40 Transition A 1: 32 beats in 25.0 seconds = 76.8 bpm

2:40-3:07 Verse 3: 36 beats in 27.6 seconds = 78.3 bpm

3:07-3:31 Transition A 2: 32 beats in 23.4 seconds = 82.1 bpm

3:31-3:57 Verse 4: 36 beats in 26.5 seconds = 81.5 bpm

3:57-4:20 Transition A 3: 32 beats in 23.0 seconds = 83.5 bpm

4:20-4:45 Verse 5: 36 beats in 25.5 seconds = 84.7 bpm

4:45-5:08 Transition A 4: 32 beats in 22.0 seconds = 87.3 bpm

5:08-5:35 Verse 6: 36 beats in 25.3 seconds = 85.4 bpm
NOTE: The measure that connects Verse 6 and Transition B 1 uses a fermata to artificially extend its temporal duration, which skews the numbers. To be consistent, I'm omitting that measure from this analysis.

5:35-5:56 Transition B 1: 31.5 beats in 20.1 seconds = 94.0 bpm

5:56-6:45 Solo: 80 beats in 48.8 seconds = 98.4 bpm

6:45-7:47 Verse 7
   6:45-7:27   [vocal]: 18 measures = 72 beats in 42.3 seconds = 102.1 bpm
   7:27-7:47   [instrumental]: 28 beats in 17.5 seconds = 96.0 bpm
NOTE: I'm again omitting the final measure as it uses another fermata, which skews the numbers.

7:47-8:02 Coda: freely (not in rhythm)

Here's the same information in the form of a line graph:
Picture
With two minor exceptions that fall within the margin of error, the tempo consistently increases throughout the song until the end. And this was done very much on purpose. "When I did studio work," acknowledged Jimmy Page, "the rule was always: you don't speed up. That was the cardinal sin, to speed up. And I thought, right, we'll do something that speeds up" (Wall, page 242).

Interestingly, the climax of the song as a whole comes at 5:56 (at the onset of the solo), but the tempo's climax is at 6:45 (at the onset of verse 7), where it peaks at 102 beats per minute.


SOURCES
Wall, Mick. 2008. When Giants Walked the Earth: A Biography of Led Zeppelin. St. Martin's Griffin, New York, NY.

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    Aaron Krerowicz, pop music scholar

    An informal but highly analytic study of popular music.

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