growing up with this and the 80's was a teat and pleasure i feel like i am one of many lucky people to have lived threw a decade that had it all did it all and can never be repeated.
@@benardubert6961 Wonderful and sad at the same time. I can always say, that was my time, but if i look around now, everything feels gray compared to the 80s and 90s. I began listening to music at the age of 14. That was only 89. But they have all been around back then. All the real superstars. Not the computer supported artists of 2023.
I was supposed to be in that building on that night! The old New Haven Coliseum in Ct. my dad grounded me and I never went. He apologizes every time I bring it up!
What a terrible loss it was to the rock community on the day EVH passed. There will never be another…. what a legend! I’m so glad I grew up in this era of rock. RIP Eddie 😢 we miss you
To lose two all time greats like Neil Peart & EVH in the same year was so difficult for so many. Neil's passing was sad, but part of my childhood died when Eddie left us. R.I.P. Neil & Edward. 🙏🙏
I was in that very audience…I was 13…I’m almost 49 now and it’s as fresh in my memory as if were yesterday…I had posters of Eddie on my bedroom walls when I was 10 and now I have an entire wall in my living room dedicated him…Eruption was never played exactly the same twice… It’s been more than a year since we lost him and I still cry when I watch him play…
That’s so friggin awesome, I roughly the same age as you and I bought the vhs when it came out and watched it a million times. Now I listen to it almost every night at the gym lifting. I know every single note from that show😎
Jordan asked "How is that possible?" Not since Hendrix did people ask that about a rock guitarist. Eddie was a pioneer of the finger tapping technique. He is the father of what's called "Shredding". Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix & Eddie Van Halen each represent a major step forward in the evolution of rock lead guitar. He also played lead on Michael Jackson's "Beat It".
I would have to say a great innovator but definitely not a pioneer of tapping. A number of guitarists were doing it decades before Eddie (especially in country music - strangely). Django Reinhardt was doing it in the 1930s and there are stories of classical composers using both hands on the fretboard as far back as the 1700s. Eddie definitely brought it to the mainstream because of the band's popularity and put his own spin on it.
@@kingbrutusxxvi Django is probably my favorite guitarist of all time, if I could only pick one. No player just makes me smile immediately like Django does.
I hate to burst your bubble, but Eddie was no finger-tapping pioneer. Check out this Italian jazz guitarist tapping his fretboard in 1965. ua-cam.com/video/u7M8L1rAUsI/v-deo.html
@@willdwyer6782 I think Vincent means he popularized it though. Tal Farlow also did it much earlier, Ed was a great rhythm player too tho...I probably liked that as much as his lead playing, which in later years just wasn't my thing, as a guitarist - a great rock player tho.
EVH is literally *THE* reason we had so many hair metal bands in the ‘80s. He is the innovator, the originator, the virtuoso. He created this “sound” in 1978 and every young guitarist wanted to play like him, to be *THAT*! He literally spawned a generation of guitarists who grew up trying to be the next Van Halen. RIP EVH!🔥🤙🔥
@@raymo6795 Nice. I'm looking at my Kramer F6000 right now. It was kinda wonky when I first got it but I've dialed it in over the years. It plays pretty good now but it sounds great!
Your facial reactions are priceless. I love seeing people experiencing Eddie for the first time. Each album has a solo on it. This is a compilation of them all together.
It's like watching people having a religious experience. Nothing can prepare a person for a truly epic solo of this magnitude. Absolutely Biblical performance
When Van Halen was recording their first album, the producer came into the studio in the morning and Eddie was just warming up playing Eruption. He asked him "what is that?" Eddie said it was nothing, just the solo he played in the club the night before. The producer said "we got to get that on wax." History was made.
You guys just witnessed the greatest guitarist in the world just really playing around with his guitar . Nobody has even come close to doing this solo justice and it's meant to be that way. Never be another guitarist like him . I'm proud that I grew up jamming this dude .
There are still greats. But our Eddie is the greatest. He inspired millions to play instruments, and he developed a new thought pattern about using your tools all the way in different extremes for the sound(s). He definitely paid homage to classical strings, a sound he was raised with by his pops. So devastating, our loss.
Eddie was not just a great guitarist. He was an innovator and creative genius. He built his own guitars, created most of the sounds you are squinting at wondering how the heck he's doing that. He was an inventor and actually made things for the guitar that have patents. He was a prolific composer. I have no idea how many hundreds of unique riffs and solos came out of this man's brain during the course of Van Halen's career. Most of what you were hearing during this performance were bits and pieces of well known VH riffs. Eruption by itself is a 2+ minute powerhouse of a solo that is strewn about throughout this performance. It started, believe or not as something of a finger warm up for Eddie and got put onto their debut album as a lead in for another song. I recommend giving it a listen by itself. It's nasty and dirty and one of the reasons people couldn't figure out what they were hearing in 1978!
You are also leaving out he created his own amps as well to help give his guitars something different without the using of pedals back then (pedals where even more popular back then then now IMO)
yup, the original studio recording of Eruption was several segments and takes of spontaneous leads strung together (and so what!) into pure dynamite. I became a little less of a fan with "Van Hagar" but EVH taking all these lead solo's live, like in this video, is crazy great.
It was all in his hands! No one could ever and still can’t get that sound and do these things! King Edward stands by himself! The innovator and virtuoso bar none! RIP Eddie
The part where he is “twisting the knob” , Its him twisting the volume knob up and down quickly while he “hammers” the strings on the neck.. he times it to where when the volume is turned down he hammers the string and when he turns the volume back up you didnt hear the “hammer on” or the pick if you will only the sound creating a violin type sound. So many sounds the guitar can make have been attributed to him. He is a generational player that revolutionized how everyone after him played.
For Cathedral, he turns on an echo effect but it's set to give 2 echos. He uses his hammer on technique while working the volume knob so you only hear one of the echo pulses which gives the violin effect....
Kinda. That particular guitar he went to the Kramer factory (actually an assembly plant) and built the guitar, using the parts available. He then modded it over many years, changing wiring, pickups, paint, etc. He was a tinker of guitars, and spent countless hours in his workshop.
That was Frankenstrat. a custom guitar he built from parts. The maple neck cost $80, while the ash body was bought for $50 as the wood had a knot in it. The tremolo arm was originally taken from a 1958 Fender Stratocaster, and was later replaced with a Floyd Rose arm. The guitar had a single Gibson PAF (patent applied for) bridge pickup from a Gibson ES-335, which he enclosed with paraffin wax to prevent feedback. The Frankenstrat was originally painted black, but was recoated with Schwinn red bicycle paint in 1979.
This is actually Kramer Pacer mimicking the Frankenstrat. Most of the original stripe guitars were random parts. Some when Charvel still did parts, Mighty Mite, Warmoth, etc.
Eddie Van Halen isn't just a great guitarist. He is G.O.A.T. guitarist. When you hear the term "guitar god" EVH is the God of Gods! He was also a great composer and arranger. He sang. He played keys. He was a master musician. There will never be another one like him. R.I.P. EVH. May your music live on forever!
@@deweyoxburger5470 That is an urban legend/meme. I've also heard "Somebody asked Jimi Hendrix/Eddie Van Halen/Yngwie Malmsteen, and they said said 'I don't know, go ask Billy Gibbons/Rory Gallagher/Allan Holdsworth/Richie Blackmore'." It's a really old joke that has had countless guitarists' names substituted in both places.
The knob he’s playing with, is just the volume knob. It’s crazy how much creativity and talent he had. EVH is still my favorite guitarist till this day. We miss you Eddie 🖤
Technically, it's a combination effect. On the one hand he's feathering (his term), or "violining", the note using the volume knob while also using a slapback delay with a very specific set of envelope, attack, and decay settings. You can can't get the sound of "Cathedral", the song he employed this technique on originally, without both. EVH was who inspired me to pick up a guitar in the first place. He was one of a kind.
@@Danrt2 seems like it. It did sound like there was an effect, but either way, the technique itself is amazing. I agree though, he really was one of a kind
When we first heard the studio version of this in 1978 (on their debut album), our heads exploded. No guitarist had played like this before, and everyone tried to figure out how to play like him in the 80's. Try the dual studio track on the LP Eruption/You Really Got Me Now. ✌
I remember like it was yesterday I was 15 maybe my friend had the album he put it on and my jaw dropped. And now I get to enjoy it for the first time vicariously through Jay and Amber that's really cool
Love your reactions! I’m 60 years old and grew up in the greatest musical generation EVER. So nice to watch a younger generation truly appreciate those artists. It seems like no one aspires to be the best anymore so it’s awesome to watch those who did!
It doesn’t matter what genre of music you like. When you see a master craftsman, honor must be given!! He was a major Wolfgang Mozart fan…even named his son after the classical prodigy. Thanks guys!! ❤️
It warms my heart and makes me giddy with glee to see people discovering "the king" of 10 fingers and 6 strings for the first time. Eddie and his music was a huge influence on myself and thousands of other guitar players. The confusion you have reminds me of when I first heard Eddie and all the things/sounds he could do/make. I was literally going, "how does he do that?" all the time! But eventually I figured it out and thank Eddie and what he gave me and the world every time I pick up my guitar. RIP Eddie.
Tapping and hammer ons/pull offs are 2 guitar concepts that Eddie developed to perfection. The use of the whammy bar to send pinch harmonics into the stratosphere is iconic. He is an inspiration to all . I dabble in guitar and this dude is the shit!!!!!!!!!!!
Rob, you're very perceptive. The part that sounds like violins and cellos is a piece he wrote called Cathedrals. He is rolling the volume knob back and forth while playing and using a delay pedal to create that sound.
Yes exactly… and the reason it sounds more like a violin is that the initial “attack” of the pick (or his fingers at times) hitting the string is missing. He rolls down the volume, picks, and then rolls up the volume; so the note is already playing when we start hearing it.
That moment where Ambers eyes closed, and she melted into the sound! If you listen to the album version now, you'll really understand just how special this version is. There are bits of different Van Halen songs sprinkled into this version. When I saw Van Halen in concert (with DLR and with Sammy Hagar) he did a version of what you just saw, while the rest of the band left the stage to get a break. When Jordan asked "who's that guy?" at the beginning, that's Sammy Hagar. The monster on the drums is Eddie's brother Alex, and the beast on the bass (not really featured here, but trust me, he's a BEAST) is Micheal Anthony. Eddie played with such joy, you couldn't help but feel it too. Absolutely one of the greatest guitarists who ever lived, he is TERRIBLY missed! Eddie was to guitar, what Neil Peart was to drums. If the two had ever jammed together, the world could have ended with no complaints from me. Both were incredibly, insanely talented, and now they're gone.💔 Rest in peace Eddie Rest in peace Neil
The fact that he can reproduce this song/piece of art on demand, day in and day out, is simply astonishing. They say, “Amateurs will practice something until they get it right. Professionals will practice something until they can’t get it wrong.” EVH is beyond professional - he’s an artist at a level few have ever matched. Dang.
Amber you nailed it when you said he’s playing from his soul by looking at his face. EVH was one with the guitar. He always had a smile when he had a guitar in his hand. He is the guitar God of all. He can make it sound like an elephant. It’s called finger tapping Jordan. In his early career he would turn his back to the audience so they couldn’t see what he was doing.
There was an Australian band in the 90’s called Baby Animals and their guitarist was quite influenced by EV. If you’ve never heard them, check out At The End Of The Day.
@@tempsitch5632 I saw the baby animals open for Van Halen. It was the worst thing that I have ever heard. I hope that the members of the baby animals did not quit their day job.
When Eddie was a young man, he couldn’t afford all the special effects boxes for electric guitars there are today. He had to learn how to get the sounds we wanted with only his hands & fingers. Necessity is the Mother of invention. Eddie Van Halen continues to be our mad scientist rock master of the electric guitar.
@@gregoryjohanek5832 you're wrong effects boxes are from the mid sixties, although not that many as nowaday. The main trick is he build his own guitars. A quote from him in a Dutch interview from 1979 was 'I made them for 200 dollars and they sound better the ones you could buy'.
Eddie was a fan of classical music - some of the passages in this solo hearken back to classical piano compositions, for instance. He even named his son Wolfgang, in honor of Mozart. He had a head for the technical aspect of music, too, building his own guitar (the "Frankencaster") from parts to his own specs, and eventually starting his own company to sell amps and other gear he designed.
To answer your “who is that”, that is Sammy Hagar, the lead singer for Van Halen from 1985 till 1996 after the departure of David Lee Roth. This is a whole highly successful era of Van Halen you have not explored yet.
Eddie Van Halen was one of the GREATEST guitar players ever and what he did to the upbringing of playing with his tapping techniques will never be forgotten and another great guitar player you should check out is JOE SATRIANI, he is another one that is amazing, and ERIC JOHNSON.
@@williamjordan5554 did you just compare Eddie Van Halen to Chuck Berry as far as being and influential guitarist? I mean he was definitely very influential and came before Eddie but that is a reach.
I was never a Van Halen fan but, you can't underestimate the talent, skill and determination to his craft of playing guitar. There will be no one like him ever again. He will always be a legend and a guitar God (as they like to say). Truly a one of a kind guitarist that changed the game forever. He is missed even by me.
He's doing what is called a hammer on with his right hand and his left hand is doing pull off. When you get good at it and add some speed it gives a cool 3 note arpeggio
The part that you "really loved best up to this point" is the actual song Eruption. The set is a collection of bits of many of their different hits. The first slow song is "316" written as a lullaby for his song Wolfgang. The one that sounds like a violin, where he twists the volume knob and uses distortion, is called Cathedral. The one where he does a lot of fast "slapping" is Spanish Fly. Basically used this solo set to show fans his many playing styles, several of which he innovated himself. The guitar he's playing was a hybrid made by him. He called it the "Frankenstrat."
Good explanation. Some of the fingertapping and hammer on techniques he used back in the late 70's became staples of the heavy metal era in the early to mid 80's for many "hair metal" bands. EVH was a truly innovative guitar player bar none.
Eddie Van Halen always took pieces from his songs and stringed them together (pun intended) for his live solos. What you’re hearing is a musical montage of Eddie’s genius being played from his heart and soul. Nothing beats that raw talent.
Gives me goosebumps all over. I luckely saw them live opening for Bon Jovi...whoooo? Yes Bon Jovi but van Halen just blew them off. I ❤ THEM. I stood there at the Goffert stadium (Netherlands) soaked by the rain but I sang every song with them full blown.😊I will NEVER forget. I have ❤ van Halen from the get go❤❤❤❤❤ EDDIE is sooooooo missed😮
Eddie was the greatest technician out there. He made sounds that no one else knew how. He was told at times to turn his back to the camera so that he wouldn't give the technique away. He revolutionized the guitar. He would make his own guitars to get the sound he wanted. I am surprised you have not heard of them yet. You need to hear their songs.
His technique you're talking about is just what you called it, "Tapping". Eddie didn't invent it, but he took it so far beyond anything anyone else had ever done before that people think he did.
I’ve played guitar for 16 years, I understand how he made every one of those sounds, and I’ve spent thousands of dollars on equipment trying to make them myself, and after all that I just have to concede that while I understand it I’ll never have the magic in my hands to make it happen.
...dont give up Mike...keep it alive . RIP EVH...I bought a focus 5000 Kramer and an MXR Flanger back in 85...the even tide harmonizer was out of my budget...but I could do a decent version of "Ain't talking Bout Love"...still have have the Kramer and the flanger
@@raymo6795 oh I’ll never stop playing (or spending to much money on guitars) but I just know I don’t have the magic Eddie did. I’m only 28 but being in the 15th row on the 2012 tour and seeing this in person is one of my favorite memories.
Mike - I feel the same way sometimes when I watch the keyboard greats like Rick Wakeman, Keith Emerson, or Jon Lord. Inspiration and intimidation are just a fine line apart. I still play keys after 42 years. Keep the music alive.
I was the singer in a crappy band in high school in 1986. Our 15 year old guitarist used Eruption as his warm up. He nailed it. I can't remember what equipment he was using though. He actually didn't have a lot. He quit when we added a rhythm guitarist. I have an 86 Kramer Pacer Custom I, which no one uses. The frets are worn to the point of unplayability.
Eddie was unique in the fact that he preferred classical scales in his solos, whereas most rock guitarists stick with blues scales. Not exclusively, of course, but it is a distinguishing characteristic. The guy could do everything well. He was a true composer. This contributes to his “brand” more so than any distortion pedal or whammy bend. He was awesome.
@@tempsitch5632 Fair point. But Eddie does deserve credit for breathing new life into arena rock and inspiring all the virtuoso guitarists who came after and made the '80s such an exciting time for arena rock (before it devolved into pretty-boy "hair metal"). Sigh.
I was blessed to see him do this live twice. When Eddie wasn’t in your top five, I knew you must never have heard him. Great reaction, and Amber you are looking amazing. Tomorrow is 30 years Freddie died so I was hoping you could do a Queen reaction, and to stay on the guitar brilliance, I recommend Dragon Attack live in Montreal.
Much has been made of Eddie’s technical abilities, his innovations, his songwriting, etc… But what I will always remember him for the most is *how much he LOVED playing guitar.* The look of pure joy on his face whenever he was playing guitar is inspirational to me. Everyone should have something that they love as much as Eddie loved playing guitar.
The awesomeness of Eddie - An incredible ear for music - As a child, he played Classical Piano pieces by ear (at a very high level). The solo quotes snippets of that music. A desire to seek out and learn from the best people he could find. A love for all kinds of music - Classical, Jazz, Country, All forms of pop music. In innate sense of how music 'works' - Harmony, Intervals, sound. Every guitar technique he encountered he took to the next level and beyond: Hammer On / Pull Off, Two Handed Tapping, Harmonics, Pinch Harmonics, Palm Muting, Playing behind the Nut (the plinky sounds) Sliding fingers and picks up and down the neck to change the pitch of notes by a little as a single fret to the whole length of the string. Using any and all ways to cause the guitar/strings to vibrate - Bang the guitar body and neck to make things vibrate. Volume Swells via the knob on the guitar (used extensively by Jeff Beck). Using the Volume knob to adjust the how clean or distorted the amp sounded. Using (mostly) Guitar effects: Phase 90, Chorus, Flanger and Wah pedals. Eddie often worked with manufactures to make tweaks to get thing the way he wanted. Used a Makita drill to make the pickup react (used on the song Poundcake). Similar Steve Stevens (Billy Idol) using a Toy Space Gun. Eddie was also very adept at exploring the technology to get what he was 'hearing in his head'. Working on his and with others to get what he needed. Built his own guitar from parts Learned how to set up a Marshall Amp to get the tone he wanted, then used a Variac to get that tone at a reasonable loudness Used the Floyd Rose Tremolo and Locking Nut system that allowed him to lower and raise the pitch the guitar over a wider range without having the guitar go out of tune. Options that older Tremolo systems didn't have. With all of the above, EVH was able to freely express himself and his soul on the guitar, using the the tools and his skills in a musical way. RIP Eddie
OK... this is a combo of all of the various innovations he came up with over the years. Eruption/You Really Got Me set the guitar world on its butt, no one ever heard anything like that before, Spanish Fly off the second album was another new sound, played on an acoustic Spanish guitar. Cathedral off of Diver Down is the violin sounding one... and the opening sounds of Mean Street from the album Fair Warning...listen to the studio versions you will be even more amazed!
One of the most iconic performances ever. How he grabs a smoke and then leads into the awesome performance. Note it is very improvised from several different pieces of songs. The studio recording of Eruption is just a part of this performance, roughly the 7:00 point. A young guitarist in a local cover band did this whole piece quite well.
The other thing is: his striped guitars were called Frankenstein's & he built them himself out of a bunch of different guitars to get his distinctive sound & sensitivity. He was a Master guitar craftsman as well.
It’s a volume knob. What he’s doing is called a swell. He’s playing the notes with his left hand and producing that swell sounds by adjusting the volume knob, in time with certain notes. One of the greatest ever. RIP EVH
His tapping, double-tapping, hybrid-tapping is a shitload of techniques including hammer-on slides, hybrid picking (his fingertips are so calloused he could probably cut glass) are just impossibly arranged. And he does them, and does them so fast he challenges Roy Clark's speed on "Malaguena." (Roy is absolutely FASTER, but only barely.)
He is definitely not the greatest to have lived... but is responsible for making those who are better possible. I am old-school and still incorporate his harmonic tapping techniques into my playing. He was a showman and still in the top 10, in my book. Shawn Lane is my number 1, but without EVH and Allan Holdsworth, even Shawn would never have had a road paved for him.
The violin sound is called "volume swell". You start with turning the volume knob all the way down, strike a note, turn the volume up and back down very quickly after every note..
The major technique that EVH popularized is called tapping. Essentially, he's doing a hammer on (where a note is struck and then a finger pushes down quickly on a string to create a new note, creating a staccato rise in pitch) and pull off (the same thing, but the pitch goes down instead of up) with both the finger(s) on his picking hand and the fingers on his fretting hand. Add in the various effects he uses and you get a sort of sonic mélange as the various harmonics work over and around each other.
The first I ever saw do it was an Italian guitarist named Vittorio Camardese.He was doing it in the early 1950's.Growing up a bit outside the US,and coming from a musical family...definitely where Eddie got it from.If you're not aware of him,he's definitely worth checking out
Tapping is like pizzicato. Yes, Eddie was the master of tapping and hitting harmonics. So to Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. But even Angus does it too. Like the intro to Thunderstruck.
Steve Lynch was far better than Eddie, to the point when Autograph opened for VH, back in the 80s, VH's road manager banned Lynch from playing his style, so he didn't make Eddie look bad.
Now that you've reacted to "Eruption", you should react to "Malaguena" by Roy Clark. An idol of Eddie's and considered one of the greatest guitarist in the world while he was alive. He was an actual prodigy. Started playing at age 14, and could play any stringed instrument at master level.
I just saw a clip from The Odd Couple tv show the other day and was amazed. As a kid I only saw him on Hee Haw and I don't think his talent was showcased properly.
J asked, "How is that possible?" Eddie Van Halen was a genius. You cannot get better than him. His brother Alex is the drummer and his son Wolfgang plays with the band too. RIP Eddie.
The solo that he does after the one that you said sounds like violins is the beginning of the song Mean Streets see the crowd knows it they know all the Van Halen songs that's why they're going crazy after he does every solo
That's Eddie's brother on the drums, Alex. His family is very musical. I was very happy to see them live. I definitely recommend Eddie's son's band Mammoth WVH, his song/video Distance, which is a tribute to his Dad. It just got nominated for a Grammy. The album is great, Wolfgang wrote the songs and plays all the instruments on the album
And still Eddie asked Alice Cooper to help him get lesson from Glen Campbell. Don't misunderstand what I'm saying - Eddie recognized the greats from all genres and set out to learn as much as he could from as many as he could work with ... Eddie, Glen, Roy Clark are all in my top 5 and I can make a case for each to be #1 ... but for rock it's Eddie by a mile at least on my list. About 30 seconds in ... ua-cam.com/video/B6q2hsdXenQ/v-deo.html
Eddie and Frankie always brings a tear to my eye. Still can't believe he's gone. Van Halen wrote the soundtrack to my youth. The first 6 albums are off the charts. The reactions from these two was cool.
I have seen countless concerts over the years. I am glad to say the first concert I took my sons to was Van Halen. To see their heads melt from the sonic assault of EVH guitar mastery was worth the ticket price
I had never heard Eruption before today, but parts of it sounded VERY familiar....and I finally realized that I've played the same music on the organ. Several minutes in, he lifts a fair-sized section of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor. You'll recognize the first part of the Toccata as the "creepy Halloween organ music". This passage is difficult to play on ANY instrument! I noticed someone else commented that EVH was a huge fan of Mozart. It is amazing how many rockers are classically trained and truly appreciate their classical music heritage.
He started off playing classical piano and that influence is found everywhere in his music. Though he didn't invent tapping on the guitar he revolutionized it and it also allowed him to bring elements of play that were influenced from the piano.
Eddie played classical piano.....cello....started on drums.....played bass...which is nothing like guitar. I believe the classical music came out from his younger. Yes his guitar sounds like violin at times. Eddie would say....remember guitar is my 4th instrument. Everyone says the same thing because its true. He was one of a kind. Even though im a acoustic writer and player now....i was very much saddened when eddie passed.
Love that he created his own guitar and called it "Frankenstrat". Love to see new reactions to the masters work. Still remember my sons reaction to seeing this for the first time. RIP Eddie, you were the best. 😪
The violin sound is a delay pedal and he's continually rolling on and off the guitar volume knob with his hand for every note to give each note that string like swell. It's damn brilliant.
When EVH came onto the scene no one played like that. It blew everyone's minds when they first heard Eruption on Van Halen 1. Then he put out even more insane riffs and tricks on each album and people could not figure out how to play them for the longest time. There's only one Eddie Van Halen and I'm glad I was alive to witness his greatness. RIP Eddie
The technique you're discussing is known as two-hand tapping. The fingers of the right hand are used to press the strings to the fingerboard, along with the left (normal fretting) hand. You can learn it to do with some practice. Eddie van Halen didn't invent the technique, but he did perfect it. Next Stops, Showpieces Edition: Eric Johnson, "Cliffs of Dover" (live) (electric guitar) Victor Wooten, "Amazing Grace" (live) (electric bass) Neil Peart, "Drum Solo" (live, Frankfurt) (drumset)
He also did it for free. In 2 takes. And then the Thriller album was the only reason Van Halen 1984 album only made it to #2 that year. Legendary stuff.
I love watching people discover Van Halen for the first time! I grew up in the late '70's and '80's and feel so lucky to have been able to get into music when Van Halen came up. Eddie will always be my all-time favorite musician and it is great to see people who enjoy other music genres enjoying his genius. It reminds me of how I reacted and felt when I first heard Eddie. His music has always and still affects me at such a deep level. They describe him perfectly! Thank you for sharing this! Eddie's music will live forever!
A lot of that solo is actually stuff that he would compose. He basically starts off with 316, a song that will be released 6 years later to celebrate the birth of his son. Then he goes into some of his signature runs and licks and there is a lot of improvisation there. This is the real genius right here. His sense of melody and ears are so strong that he knows where to just improvise and where something would sound good. He then goes into eruption as it is on the recording with some other improv in there for good measure. And then he does a bunch of other compositions and ends on a part of cathedral as the rest of the band joins. This of course is a 16 minute solo but he actually has this habit of doing off the cuff solos where he would follow the recording a bit but throw in some spontaneous stuff where he sees fit. Some of the exact parts and techniques are things she would throw in on recordings when doing solos in one take or live and he knows exactly what part to put these things in. I don't think he is consciously thinking about all that but he just does it anyway. That's the genius.
Just as an interesting bit of trivia, in the movie Back to the Future, when Marty sneaks in his fathers room at night pretending to be an alien to convince his dad to take his mom to the dance, he puts this cassette in the walkman. Love that scene. 🤣Class of 85!
In my opinion,this is one of the best guitar solos Edward has ever done. I've seen Edward live,waved as they boarded the bus in Portland(1991). Ed put his heart and soul into this. The facial expressions,just him being in his own world. Bless you Edward,and thank you for the "thumbs up".
I know nothing about playing a guitar but even I can tell this man's talent was so far off the charts that it can't even be measured; far and away the best guitar solo I've ever heard. And good comments from both of you, I don't mind you interrupting the "flow" because you both always say things worth hearing.
Don't forget people Ed was an excellent piano player he used to win talent shows as kid when he picked up guitar he basically went from piano keys to a fretboard that's why his style is so unique, his inventions and innovations are still used today in guitar building Ed was talking to les Paul one day and les said Ed Leo fender and les himself were the only one's who could build a great guitar what a compliment.
From a kid born in 96, I’m so intensely jealous of those who were blessed to grow up in this era, what an experience it must’ve been to hear things like this, much love from a kid born in the wrong generation.
i was just a little kid when Van Halen were at their peak but they were so iconic, their music wasnt just everywhere, they set the whole vibe for what parties and good vibes felt like. it was a much simpler time
@@jazziered142 I am 66 years old and from Hollywood. I saw Van Halen when they were a backyard party band called Mammoth. I went to their first show as Van Halen at the Troubador. Saw them as the headliner for the US 83 Festival along with 400,000 other people. Didn't miss one tour. It was the heyday of metal, and I lived right in the middle of it. Its like Motley Crue's "Dr. Feelgood". Anyone who lived in the area knows exactly who Dr. Feelgood is.
A true master of his instrument. Don't feel bad Jay, I've been asking "how is that even possible" about Eddie since the 70s, & still haven't found an answer.
You need to react to 'Unchained' live from Oakland to get a real feel for just how amazing the whole band was at their absolute peak. They were something to behold live. One part circus, one part acrobats, one part lights extravaganza all added to the incrediblely powerful hard rock perfection. Also 'Her About It Later' and 'So This Is Love' from the same concert. The visuals as well as the music will blow you away and have you wishing you could go back in time to attend. Thanks for the great reactions. Love your channel!
Absolutely! "Unchained from Oakland in 1981" shows this maestro at his peak. The video for "Panama" is also just incredible. Classic Van Halen (1978-1984) were the biggest rock band in the world.
For those of you blown away by this solo… please check out the solo on Michael Jackson’s beat it. Once you realize that solo is Eddie rippin the guitar, that song becomes so much more iconic than it already was.
And he did it for free for MJ. Van Halen was in between gigs and EVH was just sitting around doing nothing when Jackson called and asked if he come down to the studio and do something for his new album. Eddie said sure, I'm not doing anything.
And Quincy Jones & Michael gave him permission to rework the song. He redid it his way, which Quincy, and Michael both loved and it became the huge it. As far as the solo he did it in one take.
Fun fact. When Eddie and Alex were growing up Eddie was learning drums and Alex was learning guitar. Eddie snuck into his brother's room one day to try out the guitar. Alex came home and caught him and when he heard him on guitar they immediately decided to switch!
I love how at 14:20 or so you understood EVH. He was a virtuoso. He played what is in his head. The guitar was just an extension of him. He was truly amazing. May he rest in peace with Jimi and SRV.
The earth is 4.543 billion years old and we were lucky enough to share a slice of time with Eddie, and I am so thankful. R.I.P. Eddie Van Halen
growing up with this and the 80's was a teat and pleasure i feel like i am one of many lucky people to have lived threw a decade that had it all did it all and can never be repeated.
@@benardubert6961 Wonderful and sad at the same time. I can always say, that was my time, but if i look around now, everything feels gray compared to the 80s and 90s. I began listening to music at the age of 14. That was only 89. But they have all been around back then. All the real superstars. Not the computer supported artists of 2023.
GOAT
I was supposed to be in that building on that night! The old New Haven Coliseum in Ct. my dad grounded me and I never went. He apologizes every time I bring it up!
There's only one guitarist all others are measured by EVH
What a terrible loss it was to the rock community on the day EVH passed. There will never be another…. what a legend! I’m so glad I grew up in this era of rock. RIP Eddie 😢 we miss you
..me too Gina...makes me sad
To lose two all time greats like Neil Peart & EVH in the same year was so difficult for so many. Neil's passing was sad, but part of my childhood died when Eddie left us. R.I.P. Neil & Edward. 🙏🙏
RIP
Me too 😊
I saw Van Halen in concert in 1979 and 1980... To this day the best concerts that I have ever been too!
I was in that very audience…I was 13…I’m almost 49 now and it’s as fresh in my memory as if were yesterday…I had posters of Eddie on my bedroom walls when I was 10 and now I have an entire wall in my living room dedicated him…Eruption was never played exactly the same twice…
It’s been more than a year since we lost him and I still cry when I watch him play…
I was in “New Halen” as well. 56 now. 19 at the time. When he died, a piece of my musical soul was taken from me.
I saw em in '78 with Sabbath. So innovative at that time, and it was so awesome to watch his growth.
So jelly you got to see the legend Eddie Van Halen live🥰
The slapping part is actually the intro to Mean Streat.
That’s so friggin awesome, I roughly the same age as you and I bought the vhs when it came out and watched it a million times. Now I listen to it almost every night at the gym lifting. I know every single note from that show😎
Eddie was asked how many sounds he could make with his guitar. He said all of them.
Jordan asked "How is that possible?" Not since Hendrix did people ask that about a rock guitarist. Eddie was a pioneer of the finger tapping technique. He is the father of what's called "Shredding". Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix & Eddie Van Halen each represent a major step forward in the evolution of rock lead guitar. He also played lead on Michael Jackson's "Beat It".
Ummmm..... are you forgetting jimmy page and his viola bow?
I would have to say a great innovator but definitely not a pioneer of tapping. A number of guitarists were doing it decades before Eddie (especially in country music - strangely). Django Reinhardt was doing it in the 1930s and there are stories of classical composers using both hands on the fretboard as far back as the 1700s. Eddie definitely brought it to the mainstream because of the band's popularity and put his own spin on it.
@@kingbrutusxxvi Django is probably my favorite guitarist of all time, if I could only pick one. No player just makes me smile immediately like Django does.
I hate to burst your bubble, but Eddie was no finger-tapping pioneer. Check out this Italian jazz guitarist tapping his fretboard in 1965.
ua-cam.com/video/u7M8L1rAUsI/v-deo.html
@@willdwyer6782 I think Vincent means he popularized it though. Tal Farlow also did it much earlier, Ed was a great rhythm player too tho...I probably liked that as much as his lead playing, which in later years just wasn't my thing, as a guitarist - a great rock player tho.
There's no denying, this man was a magician on a guitar. R.I.P. Eddie, and thanks for all the great music.
EVH is literally *THE* reason we had so many hair metal bands in the ‘80s. He is the innovator, the originator, the virtuoso. He created this “sound” in 1978 and every young guitarist wanted to play like him, to be *THAT*! He literally spawned a generation of guitarists who grew up trying to be the next Van Halen. RIP EVH!🔥🤙🔥
Perfectly said.
Perfect
..In 1985 I bought a Kramer Focus 5000 Kramer guitar...still have it...it alway will remind me of Eddie
@@raymo6795
Nice. I'm looking at my Kramer F6000 right now. It was kinda wonky when I first got it but I've dialed it in over the years. It plays pretty good now but it sounds great!
Perfectly said! RIP EVH. What a master.
Your facial reactions are priceless. I love seeing people experiencing Eddie for the first time. Each album has a solo on it. This is a compilation of them all together.
It's like watching people having a religious experience. Nothing can prepare a person for a truly epic solo of this magnitude. Absolutely Biblical performance
When Van Halen was recording their first album, the producer came into the studio in the morning and Eddie was just warming up playing Eruption. He asked him "what is that?" Eddie said it was nothing, just the solo he played in the club the night before. The producer said "we got to get that on wax." History was made.
The intro track is called 3:16 which the date of birth of his son, Wolfgang
I love how Eddie always looks just as impressed by his skills as the audience 😂 he’s face is like “Damn that was a nasty riff!”
Probably because he's so stoned out of his mind that he keeps getting surprised to discover that he's on stage 🤣
when you make a perfect harmonic pinch - must admit ive done that a hundred times the sound is so sweet & you think wow I DID THAT :D
@@mcfcguvnors Is that using your nipple
@@Arbaaltheundefeated LMAO
One of Eddie's charms is that he's full of childhood wonder about music and playing. His guitar was a sandbox for him.
You guys just witnessed the greatest guitarist in the world just really playing around with his guitar . Nobody has even come close to doing this solo justice and it's meant to be that way. Never be another guitarist like him . I'm proud that I grew up jamming this dude .
His son is not too shabby ua-cam.com/video/b2w5QsTGvOo/v-deo.html
There are still greats. But our Eddie is the greatest. He inspired millions to play instruments, and he developed a new thought pattern about using your tools all the way in different extremes for the sound(s). He definitely paid homage to classical strings, a sound he was raised with by his pops. So devastating, our loss.
I don't know Prince and Jimi Hendrix are pretty good
Lol.. naive white people
Eddy was awesome, he was great but yngwie malms teen is definitely the best that I seen live
"It is truely like watching an art form right now."
She just nailed it. Amen.
Eddie was not just a great guitarist. He was an innovator and creative genius. He built his own guitars, created most of the sounds you are squinting at wondering how the heck he's doing that. He was an inventor and actually made things for the guitar that have patents. He was a prolific composer. I have no idea how many hundreds of unique riffs and solos came out of this man's brain during the course of Van Halen's career. Most of what you were hearing during this performance were bits and pieces of well known VH riffs. Eruption by itself is a 2+ minute powerhouse of a solo that is strewn about throughout this performance. It started, believe or not as something of a finger warm up for Eddie and got put onto their debut album as a lead in for another song. I recommend giving it a listen by itself. It's nasty and dirty and one of the reasons people couldn't figure out what they were hearing in 1978!
@Oliver Bodnar truth
You are also leaving out he created his own amps as well to help give his guitars something different without the using of pedals back then (pedals where even more popular back then then now IMO)
@@el-moop-bey9699 true true! Thanks for adding that. Eddie's inventory hat.
yup, the original studio recording of Eruption was several segments and takes of spontaneous leads strung together (and so what!) into pure dynamite. I became a little less of a fan with "Van Hagar" but EVH taking all these lead solo's live, like in this video, is crazy great.
It was all in his hands! No one could ever and still can’t get that sound and do these things! King Edward stands by himself! The innovator and virtuoso bar none! RIP Eddie
The part where he is “twisting the knob” , Its him twisting the volume knob up and down quickly while he “hammers” the strings on the neck.. he times it to where when the volume is turned down he hammers the string and when he turns the volume back up you didnt hear the “hammer on” or the pick if you will only the sound creating a violin type sound. So many sounds the guitar can make have been attributed to him. He is a generational player that revolutionized how everyone after him played.
For Cathedral, he turns on an echo effect but it's set to give 2 echos. He uses his hammer on technique while working the volume knob so you only hear one of the echo pulses which gives the violin effect....
Phil Keaggy was doing the bit with the volume knob back in the early 70s.
@@TheHighestGood Oh man, Phil Keaggy is great. Love me some Glass Harp!
He was finger taping and hammering and pulling the strings. Amazing.
He plays the guitar like someone from another universe. Rest in peace Edward Van Halen.
Long live King Edward
So glad I saw him with David Lee Roth before he died. Legend...
From another galaxy
Is that plagiarism writing ????????????
@@bigtst36 King me is killing me lamb of god paper C-lips 💋💋
Eddie made the guitar himself. It was uniquely his own creation and the exact sound he wanted. One of a kind.
Kinda. That particular guitar he went to the Kramer factory (actually an assembly plant) and built the guitar, using the parts available. He then modded it over many years, changing wiring, pickups, paint, etc. He was a tinker of guitars, and spent countless hours in his workshop.
That was Frankenstrat. a custom guitar he built from parts. The maple neck cost $80, while the ash body was bought for $50 as the wood had a knot in it. The tremolo arm was originally taken from a 1958 Fender Stratocaster, and was later replaced with a Floyd Rose arm. The guitar had a single Gibson PAF (patent applied for) bridge pickup from a Gibson ES-335, which he enclosed with paraffin wax to prevent feedback. The Frankenstrat was originally painted black, but was recoated with Schwinn red bicycle paint in 1979.
He couldn't afford to buy a new one so he didn't have much choice but to make one from parts.
Frankenstrat, affectionately known as Frankie.
This is actually Kramer Pacer mimicking the Frankenstrat. Most of the original stripe guitars were random parts. Some when Charvel still did parts, Mighty Mite, Warmoth, etc.
Eddie Van Halen isn't just a great guitarist. He is G.O.A.T. guitarist. When you hear the term "guitar god" EVH is the God of Gods! He was also a great composer and arranger. He sang. He played keys. He was a master musician. There will never be another one like him. R.I.P. EVH. May your music live on forever!
Eric Clapton was once asked how it felt to be the greatest guitar player. He responded "Go ask Prince"!
@@deweyoxburger5470 They all say the same about Tommy Emmanuel.
Never
@@deweyoxburger5470 That is an urban legend/meme. I've also heard "Somebody asked Jimi Hendrix/Eddie Van Halen/Yngwie Malmsteen, and they said said 'I don't know, go ask Billy Gibbons/Rory Gallagher/Allan Holdsworth/Richie Blackmore'." It's a really old joke that has had countless guitarists' names substituted in both places.
There are a lot of greats, but only Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen completely transformed the instrument.
Look at that smile ! 😊 you can tell he LOVED what he was doing ❤
The knob he’s playing with, is just the volume knob. It’s crazy how much creativity and talent he had. EVH is still my favorite guitarist till this day. We miss you Eddie 🖤
Spot on. They call it "violining"
@@HuwBass oh okay, I didn’t know it had a name. Thanks for the info
Technically, it's a combination effect. On the one hand he's feathering (his term), or "violining", the note using the volume knob while also using a slapback delay with a very specific set of envelope, attack, and decay settings. You can can't get the sound of "Cathedral", the song he employed this technique on originally, without both.
EVH was who inspired me to pick up a guitar in the first place. He was one of a kind.
@@Danrt2 seems like it. It did sound like there was an effect, but either way, the technique itself is amazing. I agree though, he really was one of a kind
@@Danrt2 Back in the day, Guitar Magazine called the technique, Volume Swells.
When we first heard the studio version of this in 1978 (on their debut album), our heads exploded. No guitarist had played like this before, and everyone tried to figure out how to play like him in the 80's. Try the dual studio track on the LP Eruption/You Really Got Me Now. ✌
Changed my life!
True!
I remember like it was yesterday I was 15 maybe my friend had the album he put it on and my jaw dropped. And now I get to enjoy it for the first time vicariously through Jay and Amber that's really cool
They should do a full album review of VH debut album! They won't know what to do! 😅
What always made me smile about Eddie VanHalen was that through the amazing talent he had the look of a little boy having the greatest time.
Love your reactions! I’m 60 years old and grew up in the greatest musical generation EVER. So nice to watch a younger generation truly appreciate those artists. It seems like no one aspires to be the best anymore so it’s awesome to watch those who did!
It doesn’t matter what genre of music you like. When you see a master craftsman, honor must be given!! He was a major Wolfgang Mozart fan…even named his son after the classical prodigy. Thanks guys!! ❤️
Talk about a true virtuoso? THAT is Eddie VanHalen. This entire live concert is an absolute joy to watch! SERIOUSLY, Y'all!
It warms my heart and makes me giddy with glee to see people discovering "the king" of 10 fingers and 6 strings for the first time. Eddie and his music was a huge influence on myself and thousands of other guitar players. The confusion you have reminds me of when I first heard Eddie and all the things/sounds he could do/make. I was literally going, "how does he do that?" all the time! But eventually I figured it out and thank Eddie and what he gave me and the world every time I pick up my guitar. RIP Eddie.
Tapping and hammer ons/pull offs are 2 guitar concepts that Eddie developed to perfection. The use of the whammy bar to send pinch harmonics into the stratosphere is iconic. He is an inspiration to all . I dabble in guitar and this dude is the shit!!!!!!!!!!!
I just realized how much he used the whammy on 5150 live . Same video
Rob, you're very perceptive. The part that sounds like violins and cellos is a piece he wrote called Cathedrals. He is rolling the volume knob back and forth while playing and using a delay pedal to create that sound.
Yes exactly… and the reason it sounds more like a violin is that the initial “attack” of the pick (or his fingers at times) hitting the string is missing. He rolls down the volume, picks, and then rolls up the volume; so the note is already playing when we start hearing it.
@@jasonpucel8111 exactly right
Ed didnt use pedals as far as I know..
@@larsnrgaard9128 he was famous for not using a distortion pedal, but used some pedals minimally. Loved the MXR flanger
That moment where Ambers eyes closed, and she melted into the sound! If you listen to the album version now, you'll really understand just how special this version is. There are bits of different Van Halen songs sprinkled into this version. When I saw Van Halen in concert (with DLR and with Sammy Hagar) he did a version of what you just saw, while the rest of the band left the stage to get a break.
When Jordan asked "who's that guy?" at the beginning, that's Sammy Hagar. The monster on the drums is Eddie's brother Alex, and the beast on the bass (not really featured here, but trust me, he's a BEAST) is Micheal Anthony.
Eddie played with such joy, you couldn't help but feel it too. Absolutely one of the greatest guitarists who ever lived, he is TERRIBLY missed! Eddie was to guitar, what Neil Peart was to drums. If the two had ever jammed together, the world could have ended with no complaints from me. Both were incredibly, insanely talented, and now they're gone.💔
Rest in peace Eddie
Rest in peace Neil
The fact that he can reproduce this song/piece of art on demand, day in and day out, is simply astonishing.
They say, “Amateurs will practice something until they get it right. Professionals will practice something until they can’t get it wrong.” EVH is beyond professional - he’s an artist at a level few have ever matched.
Dang.
Incomparable talent. I'm so glad I got to hear him live a few times. RIP Eddie
"If there's a Rock & Roll Heaven, you know they got a hell of a band."
Amber you nailed it when you said he’s playing from his soul by looking at his face. EVH was one with the guitar. He always had a smile when he had a guitar in his hand. He is the guitar God of all. He can make it sound like an elephant. It’s called finger tapping Jordan. In his early career he would turn his back to the audience so they couldn’t see what he was doing.
On the album, this directly segued into the next song seamlessly.
Yep...you really got me, kinks cover
To the point that they're usually played together a a single song on the radio.
You have to hear an abbreviated version of the riff with the song you really got me.
Ray Davies hates that song now. He quit performing it because idiots kept complimenting him on his Van Halen cover.
Another reason CDs suck
I love how he uses several different genres in this solo! Pure ear candy!WOW!
IMO, the greatest rock guitarist ever. Nobody sounded like him when he came out in '78 and nobody has since.
There was an Australian band in the 90’s called Baby Animals and their guitarist was quite influenced by EV. If you’ve never heard them, check out At The End Of The Day.
@@tempsitch5632 I saw the baby animals open for Van Halen. It was the worst thing that I have ever heard. I hope that the members of the baby animals did not quit their day job.
@@lilorbielilorbie2496 You must have had an off night.
@@tempsitch5632 No It's just imo. the baby animals suck.
When Eddie was a young man, he couldn’t afford all the special effects boxes for electric guitars there are today. He had to learn how to get the sounds we wanted with only his hands & fingers. Necessity is the Mother of invention. Eddie Van Halen continues to be our mad scientist rock master of the electric guitar.
When Eddie was a young man there were no "special effects boxes"...just stop.
@@gregoryjohanek5832 you're wrong effects boxes are from the mid sixties, although not that many as nowaday. The main trick is he build his own guitars. A quote from him in a Dutch interview from 1979 was 'I made them for 200 dollars and they sound better the ones you could buy'.
Eddie was a fan of classical music - some of the passages in this solo hearken back to classical piano compositions, for instance. He even named his son Wolfgang, in honor of Mozart. He had a head for the technical aspect of music, too, building his own guitar (the "Frankencaster") from parts to his own specs, and eventually starting his own company to sell amps and other gear he designed.
To answer your “who is that”, that is Sammy Hagar, the lead singer for Van Halen from 1985 till 1996 after the departure of David Lee Roth. This is a whole highly successful era of Van Halen you have not explored yet.
ikr? Finish what you started :)
Sammy put out some great solo stuff as well, yall should give him a listen
@@Sportsref13 even with Montros
5150, one of the best albums ever made.
The I can't drive 55 dude
Eddie Van Halen was one of the GREATEST guitar players ever and what he did to the upbringing of playing with his tapping techniques will never be forgotten and another great guitar player you should check out is JOE SATRIANI, he is another one that is amazing, and ERIC JOHNSON.
Love them, but my fav is SRV and Brian May
Amen!
R.I.P E.V.H Gone but never forgotten
THE most influencial beside Chuck Berry.
@@williamjordan5554 did you just compare Eddie Van Halen to Chuck Berry as far as being and influential guitarist? I mean he was definitely very influential and came before Eddie but that is a reach.
I was never a Van Halen fan but, you can't underestimate the talent, skill and determination to his craft of playing guitar. There will be no one like him ever again. He will always be a legend and a guitar God (as they like to say). Truly a one of a kind guitarist that changed the game forever. He is missed even by me.
He's doing what is called a hammer on with his right hand and his left hand is doing pull off. When you get good at it and add some speed it gives a cool 3 note arpeggio
The part that you "really loved best up to this point" is the actual song Eruption. The set is a collection of bits of many of their different hits. The first slow song is "316" written as a lullaby for his song Wolfgang. The one that sounds like a violin, where he twists the volume knob and uses distortion, is called Cathedral. The one where he does a lot of fast "slapping" is Spanish Fly. Basically used this solo set to show fans his many playing styles, several of which he innovated himself. The guitar he's playing was a hybrid made by him. He called it the "Frankenstrat."
Good explanation.
Some of the fingertapping and hammer on techniques he used back in the late 70's became staples of the heavy metal era in the early to mid 80's for many "hair metal" bands. EVH was a truly innovative guitar player bar none.
Well explained
The slapping part is actually the intro to Mean Street.
@@wri7913 did he invent fingertapping?
The guitar he is playing is the Kramer 5150 , not the Frakenstrat . He had retired the Frankenstrat by then .
Ed Van Halen was truly one of the greatest rock guitarist that ever played. He died last year of throat cancer. Long live Eddie
Eddie Van Halen always took pieces from his songs and stringed them together (pun intended) for his live solos. What you’re hearing is a musical montage of Eddie’s genius being played from his heart and soul. Nothing beats that raw talent.
Gives me goosebumps all over. I luckely saw them live opening for Bon Jovi...whoooo? Yes Bon Jovi but van Halen just blew them off. I ❤ THEM.
I stood there at the Goffert stadium (Netherlands) soaked by the rain but I sang every song with them full blown.😊I will NEVER forget. I have ❤ van Halen from the get go❤❤❤❤❤
EDDIE is sooooooo missed😮
Eddie was the greatest technician out there. He made sounds that no one else knew how. He was told at times to turn his back to the camera so that he wouldn't give the technique away. He revolutionized the guitar. He would make his own guitars to get the sound he wanted. I am surprised you have not heard of them yet. You need to hear their songs.
His technique you're talking about is just what you called it, "Tapping". Eddie didn't invent it, but he took it so far beyond anything anyone else had ever done before that people think he did.
I’ve played guitar for 16 years, I understand how he made every one of those sounds, and I’ve spent thousands of dollars on equipment trying to make them myself, and after all that I just have to concede that while I understand it I’ll never have the magic in my hands to make it happen.
...dont give up Mike...keep it alive . RIP EVH...I bought a focus 5000 Kramer and an MXR Flanger back in 85...the even tide harmonizer was out of my budget...but I could do a decent version of "Ain't talking Bout Love"...still have have the Kramer and the flanger
@@raymo6795 oh I’ll never stop playing (or spending to much money on guitars) but I just know I don’t have the magic Eddie did. I’m only 28 but being in the 15th row on the 2012 tour and seeing this in person is one of my favorite memories.
Mike - I feel the same way sometimes when I watch the keyboard greats like Rick Wakeman, Keith Emerson, or Jon Lord. Inspiration and intimidation are just a fine line apart. I still play keys after 42 years. Keep the music alive.
Don't feel bad. Even Gary Moore couldn't do it and he was using Eddie's actual equipment. And he was Gary Freakin' Moore!
I was the singer in a crappy band in high school in 1986. Our 15 year old guitarist used Eruption as his warm up. He nailed it. I can't remember what equipment he was using though. He actually didn't have a lot. He quit when we added a rhythm guitarist.
I have an 86 Kramer Pacer Custom I, which no one uses. The frets are worn to the point of unplayability.
Best. Ever. I've seen them all in person. I've NEVER seen anything like him
Eddie was unique in the fact that he preferred classical scales in his solos, whereas most rock guitarists stick with blues scales. Not exclusively, of course, but it is a distinguishing characteristic. The guy could do everything well. He was a true composer. This contributes to his “brand” more so than any distortion pedal or whammy bend. He was awesome.
A lot of this “solo” is just scales and finger exercises - done flipping fast !
@@tempsitch5632 the word “just” should never be associated with Eddie.
@@Mainecoonlady.Hah. Eddie just murdered those scales.
Is that better ?
@@tempsitch5632 Fair point. But Eddie does deserve credit for breathing new life into arena rock and inspiring all the virtuoso guitarists who came after and made the '80s such an exciting time for arena rock (before it devolved into pretty-boy "hair metal"). Sigh.
he played piano at a high level as well.
He was Absolutely Amazing in concert!! Even as he got older, his skills were out of this world!!! RIP Eddie
I was blessed to see him do this live twice. When Eddie wasn’t in your top five, I knew you must never have heard him. Great reaction, and Amber you are looking amazing. Tomorrow is 30 years Freddie died so I was hoping you could do a Queen reaction, and to stay on the guitar brilliance, I recommend Dragon Attack live in Montreal.
Great idea 💡
Much has been made of Eddie’s technical abilities, his innovations, his songwriting, etc… But what I will always remember him for the most is *how much he LOVED playing guitar.* The look of pure joy on his face whenever he was playing guitar is inspirational to me. Everyone should have something that they love as much as Eddie loved playing guitar.
The awesomeness of Eddie -
An incredible ear for music - As a child, he played Classical Piano pieces by ear (at a very high level). The solo quotes snippets of that music.
A desire to seek out and learn from the best people he could find.
A love for all kinds of music - Classical, Jazz, Country, All forms of pop music.
In innate sense of how music 'works' - Harmony, Intervals, sound.
Every guitar technique he encountered he took to the next level and beyond:
Hammer On / Pull Off, Two Handed Tapping, Harmonics, Pinch Harmonics, Palm Muting, Playing behind the Nut (the plinky sounds)
Sliding fingers and picks up and down the neck to change the pitch of notes by a little as a single fret to the whole length of the string.
Using any and all ways to cause the guitar/strings to vibrate - Bang the guitar body and neck to make things vibrate.
Volume Swells via the knob on the guitar (used extensively by Jeff Beck).
Using the Volume knob to adjust the how clean or distorted the amp sounded.
Using (mostly) Guitar effects: Phase 90, Chorus, Flanger and Wah pedals. Eddie often worked with manufactures to make tweaks to get thing the way he wanted.
Used a Makita drill to make the pickup react (used on the song Poundcake). Similar Steve Stevens (Billy Idol) using a Toy Space Gun.
Eddie was also very adept at exploring the technology to get what he was 'hearing in his head'. Working on his and with others to get what he needed.
Built his own guitar from parts
Learned how to set up a Marshall Amp to get the tone he wanted, then used a Variac to get that tone at a reasonable loudness
Used the Floyd Rose Tremolo and Locking Nut system that allowed him to lower and raise the pitch the guitar over a wider range without having the guitar go out of tune. Options that older Tremolo systems didn't have.
With all of the above, EVH was able to freely express himself and his soul on the guitar, using the the tools and his skills in a musical way.
RIP Eddie
OK... this is a combo of all of the various innovations he came up with over the years. Eruption/You Really Got Me set the guitar world on its butt, no one ever heard anything like that before, Spanish Fly off the second album was another new sound, played on an acoustic Spanish guitar. Cathedral off of Diver Down is the violin sounding one... and the opening sounds of Mean Street from the album Fair Warning...listen to the studio versions you will be even more amazed!
One of the most iconic performances ever. How he grabs a smoke and then leads into the awesome performance. Note it is very improvised from several different pieces of songs. The studio recording of Eruption is just a part of this performance, roughly the 7:00 point. A young guitarist in a local cover band did this whole piece quite well.
How can somebody not LOVE THIS❤❤❤❤
The other thing is: his striped guitars were called Frankenstein's & he built them himself out of a bunch of different guitars to get his distinctive sound & sensitivity. He was a Master guitar craftsman as well.
The first one he built was the Frankenstrat, the one used in this video was 5150. This one was a Kramer he built.
@@thefuzzman ,
A switch or switches on the backside of this one he'd flip on-the-go, correct?
@@That_Handle I'm not aware of any switches on the back of the guitar.
@@That_Handle You may be thinking of the "Drop D-tuna" he created. He eventually dialed it in to the one that is now on the market.
It’s a volume knob. What he’s doing is called a swell. He’s playing the notes with his left hand and producing that swell sounds by adjusting the volume knob, in time with certain notes. One of the greatest ever. RIP EVH
Doesn't that knob go to "Eleven"? lol
Yes along with a delay effect.
His tapping, double-tapping, hybrid-tapping is a shitload of techniques including hammer-on slides, hybrid picking (his fingertips are so calloused he could probably cut glass) are just impossibly arranged. And he does them, and does them so fast he challenges Roy Clark's speed on "Malaguena." (Roy is absolutely FASTER, but only barely.)
Eddie learned a lot of his tricks from Roy
I'm glad to see there are other people who know what a badass Roy was.
He is definitely not the greatest to have lived... but is responsible for making those who are better possible. I am old-school and still incorporate his harmonic tapping techniques into my playing. He was a showman and still in the top 10, in my book. Shawn Lane is my number 1, but without EVH and Allan Holdsworth, even Shawn would never have had a road paved for him.
The violin sound is called "volume swell". You start with turning the volume knob all the way down, strike a note, turn the volume up and back down very quickly after every note..
The major technique that EVH popularized is called tapping. Essentially, he's doing a hammer on (where a note is struck and then a finger pushes down quickly on a string to create a new note, creating a staccato rise in pitch) and pull off (the same thing, but the pitch goes down instead of up) with both the finger(s) on his picking hand and the fingers on his fretting hand. Add in the various effects he uses and you get a sort of sonic mélange as the various harmonics work over and around each other.
The first I ever saw do it was an Italian guitarist named Vittorio Camardese.He was doing it in the early 1950's.Growing up a bit outside the US,and coming from a musical family...definitely where Eddie got it from.If you're not aware of him,he's definitely worth checking out
Tapping is like pizzicato. Yes, Eddie was the master of tapping and hitting harmonics. So to Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. But even Angus does it too. Like the intro to Thunderstruck.
@@notanotherenigma7759 Satriani's my main man!!!
Steve Lynch was far better than Eddie, to the point when Autograph opened for VH, back in the 80s, VH's road manager banned Lynch from playing his style, so he didn't make Eddie look bad.
@@notanotherenigma7759 angus actually picks through that intro but you can tap it too
Now that you've reacted to "Eruption", you should react to "Malaguena" by Roy Clark. An idol of Eddie's and considered one of the greatest guitarist in the world while he was alive. He was an actual prodigy. Started playing at age 14, and could play any stringed instrument at master level.
I just saw a clip from The Odd Couple tv show the other day and was amazed. As a kid I only saw him on Hee Haw and I don't think his talent was showcased properly.
Yea that video of Roy playing it on the ODD couple was a trip
If it had strings, he could make it sing. Acoustic, electric, banjo, fiddle, mandolin.
J asked, "How is that possible?" Eddie Van Halen was a genius. You cannot get better than him. His brother Alex is the drummer and his son Wolfgang plays with the band too.
RIP Eddie.
The solo that he does after the one that you said sounds like violins is the beginning of the song Mean Streets see the crowd knows it they know all the Van Halen songs that's why they're going crazy after he does every solo
That's Eddie's brother on the drums, Alex. His family is very musical. I was very happy to see them live. I definitely recommend Eddie's son's band Mammoth WVH, his song/video Distance, which is a tribute to his Dad. It just got nominated for a Grammy. The album is great, Wolfgang wrote the songs and plays all the instruments on the album
Absolutely cracking album. Totally agree.
Eddie van Halen is arguably the greatest guitarist of all time!!! Fun fact Eddie was a classically trained musician.
And still Eddie asked Alice Cooper to help him get lesson from Glen Campbell. Don't misunderstand what I'm saying - Eddie recognized the greats from all genres and set out to learn as much as he could from as many as he could work with ... Eddie, Glen, Roy Clark are all in my top 5 and I can make a case for each to be #1 ... but for rock it's Eddie by a mile at least on my list. About 30 seconds in ... ua-cam.com/video/B6q2hsdXenQ/v-deo.html
Eddie Couldn't read sheet music.
His dad was, he wasn't,couldn't even read music.
Hendrix is the best.
Eddie and Frankie always brings a tear to my eye. Still can't believe he's gone. Van Halen wrote the soundtrack to my youth. The first 6 albums are off the charts. The reactions from these two was cool.
Love your recognition, understanding, and willingness to go with flow..
I have seen countless concerts over the years. I am glad to say the first concert I took my sons to was Van Halen. To see their heads melt from the sonic assault of EVH guitar mastery was worth the ticket price
I had never heard Eruption before today, but parts of it sounded VERY familiar....and I finally realized that I've played the same music on the organ. Several minutes in, he lifts a fair-sized section of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor. You'll recognize the first part of the Toccata as the "creepy Halloween organ music". This passage is difficult to play on ANY instrument! I noticed someone else commented that EVH was a huge fan of Mozart. It is amazing how many rockers are classically trained and truly appreciate their classical music heritage.
His son's name is Wolfgang. ;)
He started off playing classical piano and that influence is found everywhere in his music. Though he didn't invent tapping on the guitar he revolutionized it and it also allowed him to bring elements of play that were influenced from the piano.
Eddie played classical piano.....cello....started on drums.....played bass...which is nothing like guitar. I believe the classical music came out from his younger. Yes his guitar sounds like violin at times. Eddie would say....remember guitar is my 4th instrument. Everyone says the same thing because its true. He was one of a kind. Even though im a acoustic writer and player now....i was very much saddened when eddie passed.
Eddie and Valerie Named their Child Wolfgang
The Mozart of our era.
Love that he created his own guitar and called it "Frankenstrat". Love to see new reactions to the masters work. Still remember my sons reaction to seeing this for the first time. RIP Eddie, you were the best. 😪
Quote of the decade: „How is that possible?“ hahaha nice reaction
I’m so thrilled you finally got to this!!!! What an amazing crazy talented man. Godspeed Eddie!! 💔💔 You are so missed !
The violin sound is a delay pedal and he's continually rolling on and off the guitar volume knob with his hand for every note to give each note that string like swell. It's damn brilliant.
When EVH came onto the scene no one played like that. It blew everyone's minds when they first heard Eruption on Van Halen 1. Then he put out even more insane riffs and tricks on each album and people could not figure out how to play them for the longest time. There's only one Eddie Van Halen and I'm glad I was alive to witness his greatness. RIP Eddie
Yep.
I have been listening to this man since 1976, he is the greatest ever.
The technique you're discussing is known as two-hand tapping. The fingers of the right hand are used to press the strings to the fingerboard, along with the left (normal fretting) hand. You can learn it to do with some practice. Eddie van Halen didn't invent the technique, but he did perfect it. Next Stops, Showpieces Edition:
Eric Johnson, "Cliffs of Dover" (live) (electric guitar)
Victor Wooten, "Amazing Grace" (live) (electric bass)
Neil Peart, "Drum Solo" (live, Frankfurt) (drumset)
Fun fact for Amber, since she’s an MJ fan. Eddie Van Halen played the guitar on the “Beat It” record. He killed it! 😊
Well , EVH did do the solo ....Steve Lukather from TOTO did the rest of the song.
And he makes a guest appearance in 'Eat It' - the parody by Weird Al Yankovic
He also did it for free. In 2 takes. And then the Thriller album was the only reason Van Halen 1984 album only made it to #2 that year. Legendary stuff.
@@raserx63 There are some great videos out there of Lukather and Eddie jamming together. Cool stuff.
We have all been honored to witness the genius, the magic, the brilliance of the tiny but mighty, Edward Van Halen! Rest in peace, Eddie. We love you!
I love watching people discover Van Halen for the first time! I grew up in the late '70's and '80's and feel so lucky to have been able to get into music when Van Halen came up. Eddie will always be my all-time favorite musician and it is great to see people who enjoy other music genres enjoying his genius. It reminds me of how I reacted and felt when I first heard Eddie. His music has always and still affects me at such a deep level. They describe him perfectly! Thank you for sharing this! Eddie's music will live forever!
A lot of that solo is actually stuff that he would compose. He basically starts off with 316, a song that will be released 6 years later to celebrate the birth of his son. Then he goes into some of his signature runs and licks and there is a lot of improvisation there. This is the real genius right here. His sense of melody and ears are so strong that he knows where to just improvise and where something would sound good. He then goes into eruption as it is on the recording with some other improv in there for good measure. And then he does a bunch of other compositions and ends on a part of cathedral as the rest of the band joins. This of course is a 16 minute solo but he actually has this habit of doing off the cuff solos where he would follow the recording a bit but throw in some spontaneous stuff where he sees fit. Some of the exact parts and techniques are things she would throw in on recordings when doing solos in one take or live and he knows exactly what part to put these things in. I don't think he is consciously thinking about all that but he just does it anyway. That's the genius.
Just as an interesting bit of trivia, in the movie Back to the Future, when Marty sneaks in his fathers room at night pretending to be an alien to convince his dad to take his mom to the dance, he puts this cassette in the walkman. Love that scene. 🤣Class of 85!
George McFly said he's going to melt my brain
If I remember correctly, that was actually a bit of custom work Van Halen did for the movie; only about 50 seconds long
In my opinion,this is one of the best guitar solos Edward has ever done. I've seen Edward live,waved as they boarded the bus in Portland(1991).
Ed put his heart and soul into this. The facial expressions,just him being in his own world. Bless you Edward,and thank you for the "thumbs up".
Whenever someone asks how is this possible ? One simple answer He's Freaking EDDIE VAN HALEN one answer covers all
I know nothing about playing a guitar but even I can tell this man's talent was so far off the charts that it can't even be measured; far and away the best guitar solo I've ever heard. And good comments from both of you, I don't mind you interrupting the "flow" because you both always say things worth hearing.
Don't forget people Ed was an excellent piano player he used to win talent shows as kid when he picked up guitar he basically went from piano keys to a fretboard that's why his style is so unique, his inventions and innovations are still used today in guitar building Ed was talking to les Paul one day and les said Ed Leo fender and les himself were the only one's who could build a great guitar what a compliment.
Eddy Van Halen is a guitar GOD. What he learned was self taught. We went by feeling and got all the notes right. He is a legend.
From a kid born in 96, I’m so intensely jealous of those who were blessed to grow up in this era, what an experience it must’ve been to hear things like this, much love from a kid born in the wrong generation.
I saw Van Halen in concert. Back in the beginnings.
Going to a concert of Van Halen was the best thing in the world!😁
i was just a little kid when Van Halen were at their peak but they were so iconic, their music wasnt just everywhere, they set the whole vibe for what parties and good vibes felt like. it was a much simpler time
@@jazziered142 I am 66 years old and from Hollywood. I saw Van Halen when they were a backyard party band called Mammoth. I went to their first show as Van Halen at the Troubador. Saw them as the headliner for the US 83 Festival along with 400,000 other people. Didn't miss one tour. It was the heyday of metal, and I lived right in the middle of it. Its like Motley Crue's "Dr. Feelgood". Anyone who lived in the area knows exactly who Dr. Feelgood is.
Tyler just glad you like it and can keep rocking on. Cheers🍻
A true master of his instrument. Don't feel bad Jay, I've been asking "how is that even possible" about Eddie since the 70s, & still haven't found an answer.
With the same look, open mouthed and staring at his hands😯😲
You need to react to 'Unchained' live from Oakland to get a real feel for just how amazing the whole band was at their absolute peak. They were something to behold live. One part circus, one part acrobats, one part lights extravaganza all added to the incrediblely powerful hard rock perfection. Also 'Her About It Later' and 'So This Is Love' from the same concert. The visuals as well as the music will blow you away and have you wishing you could go back in time to attend. Thanks for the great reactions. Love your channel!
Absolutely! "Unchained from Oakland in 1981" shows this maestro at his peak. The video for "Panama" is also just incredible. Classic Van Halen (1978-1984) were the biggest rock band in the world.
You just witnessed in most people’s eyes the greatest guitar player ever
I saw Van Halen in concert in my teens. Loved them!!
For those of you blown away by this solo… please check out the solo on Michael Jackson’s beat it. Once you realize that solo is Eddie rippin the guitar, that song becomes so much more iconic than it already was.
EXACTLY.
And he did it for free for MJ. Van Halen was in between gigs and EVH was just sitting around doing nothing when Jackson called and asked if he come down to the studio and do something for his new album. Eddie said sure, I'm not doing anything.
And Quincy Jones & Michael gave him permission to rework the song. He redid it his way, which Quincy, and Michael both loved and it became the huge it. As far as the solo he did it in one take.
this solo is way better the beat it solo
Jennifer Batten went on tour with Michael.
She dug Eddie too !
Fun fact. When Eddie and Alex were growing up Eddie was learning drums and Alex was learning guitar. Eddie snuck into his brother's room one day to try out the guitar. Alex came home and caught him and when he heard him on guitar they immediately decided to switch!
Finger tapping, volume swells, delay effects and reverb. Put it all together with an epic amount of talent and you get Eddie.
I love how at 14:20 or so you understood EVH. He was a virtuoso. He played what is in his head. The guitar was just an extension of him. He was truly amazing. May he rest in peace with Jimi and SRV.
You just witnessed the greatest guitarist to ever live. Eddie was so inventive and creative, there will never be another Eddie Van Halen.