Few openings in rock are as immediately recognisable as the descending chord sequence that launches Stairway to Heaven. Beginning on Am, the progression slides down through G# and C before resolving to G, creating a melancholic pull that feels both inevitable and quietly mysterious. The movement between those chords is unhurried, each change arriving with a sense of weight and intention, drawing the listener inward rather than forward. For guitarists, the sequence sits naturally under the fingers yet rewards careful attention to tone and phrasing. Released in 1971, the song exemplifies Led Zeppelin's gift for blending acoustic delicacy with underlying tension, establishing from its very first notes a mood that feels timeless.