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Riff Lesson

How Jimmy Page Wrote Black Dog

AdvancedScalesMarty Music
1:37/105K views/Feb 2026
1:37·105K views·Feb 2026·Released 1971·Taught by Marty Music
ScalesHard RockKey of A82 BPM
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How's it hit?

Chords

What you'll learn

  • The A minor pentatonic foundation of Black Dog
  • Jimmy Page's chromatic note technique
  • How to add tension to riffs with chromatic notes
  • The recognizable groove and feel of Black Dog

About this lesson

One small tweak makes the Black Dog riff hit so hard. This classic Black Dog groove is built on the A minor pentatonic, but Jimmy Page sneaks in a simple chromatic note that gives it that instantly recognizable tension and swagger. Once you hear it, you’ll start adding it to your own riffs too. 🎶 Grab the FREE Boss Katana patch I used here: bit.ly/bossmarty Thanks to @BOSSinfoglobal 🎸

Notes

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