The WEIRDEST Van Halen Riff and How to Understand It!
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- Опубліковано 20 гру 2024
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Hey guys! Its your good buddy, Uncle Ben Eller, and i'm here to give you all a complete breakdown on the WEIRDEST Van Halen riff, the Unchained prechorus! This riff has stumped MANY a guitar, drummer, bassist, and singer for ages, and we're here to talk about WHY!
In this video, i'm giving you a riff-by-riff lesson on how to play this riff on guitar, show you the way they changed it when they play it live, then break down the time signature used and a couple of the clues Alex left us in his drum parts. Using these tips, you'll never get lost again!
Playing my Suhr Modern through the Fractal Audio Axe FX 3!
What other Van Halen riffs still have you stumped? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks for learning how to Understand Unchained!!! What other Van Halen classics do you want a breakdown of next???
Ice cream man solo, opening solo lick is niice!
I'll get back to you. I'm still trying to master the I'm the one groove from Weekend Wankshop 209 :)
How about Top Jimmy, Ive not seen anyone tackle that well!
Mean Streets without a doubt. The Rhythm part before the guitar solo, is some of his best
Push comes to shove
Before the chorus
Beautiful guitar uncle Ben
I brought this song to my first guitar teacher in about 1987, he was a jazzer but humored my rock music. He listened to it maybe two or three times, and said "wow, I thought this was just a big mess, but the drummer is right there...." and described the riff and time signatures to me exactly. I didn't realize what a musical genius he was at the time.
Let's face it. Edward was wayyyyyy ahead of his time. The man is a genius.
Yes he is!
You misspelled genius but without spell check I wouldn't have done any better ! 😂😂😂 Yeah, Eddie is the man ! I went right out and got VanHalen 1 when I was about 16 when it first came out. Same thing with VH2 ! Greatest thing since sliced bread and caned beans ! 😆✌
@@tonyfedor9052Thanks, for your comment. Yes i misspelled, English is not my native language so yeah, what can i say, i am from The Netherlands. 🤘
You must have forgot all those videos with bikini girls.
@@tonyfedor9052 "canned" beans. Lol, sorry not intended to be an internet troll or dick....but since you already brought up spelling....Hahaha. I got the first VH album when I was 15. But it had already been out for quite some time.
You’re the guitar teacher I should have had when I was learning. I might actually be good now. All the young folks watching this better be grateful for the technology that allows someone like the great Uncle Ben make it easy for you.
What’s holding you back now? Get a guitar and jam out and have fun! You have access to technology now, make use of it!
@@michaelwoolley576 True, my friend Zed Frangalen learned to play guitar aged 94 and now his band is number 1 metal band in Portugal with their song about AI in education called 'Bot for teacher'
It's been 4 years since this comment. With this knowledge and practice you should be an absolute beast by now. So hows it been going?
I remember trying to learn this back in the day on a record player. That was tough back in the day, but it was great for ear training.
Yeah, I wore out two tape decks mashing on the reels to slow down VH tracks.
I remember learning Rush songs from records. Ruined a few records and to this day, listening to La Villa Strangiato doesn't seem right without all the hisses and crackles from constantly moving the stylus back and forth.
Hahaha back in the day when you really had to work to learn a song!! 🤘🤘🤘
@@Smudgie Thank god we (our gen cca 1989) don't have to fiddle with that stuff. It's hard enough as it is :)
@rj zander I remember gettimg right at the front for a Thin Lizzy concert and watching Scott Gorham. I was more interested in how he got his sound. A Marshall stack or a Les Paul was out of the question moneywise so I latched onto the only pedal he was using, an MXR compressor. I managed to get hold of one... Imagine my disappointment.
*We were alive during the time of Eddie Van Halen*
Got to meet and work with him.😪😪
@@ezstaples6653 ...i did as well. Big loss to music when he left, but also, huge gains to music while he was here.
Isn't [insert entity here] good?
Venger, yes big gains. He was brave.
It was a blessing to see him a few times in concert. Was hoping to see him one more time, but the memories are still alive
In another lifetime, I’m going to bump into Ben when I’m 16, and take my lessons from him. I think of how much less painful things would have been.
Ben, you’re not only a gifted musician, but you’re an amazing teacher. The way you deconstruct things is so easy to follow, and there’s such an obvious love for the instrument and music you play. It permeates every minute you’re instructing is.
Love the Chaka Kahn reference. Also EVH rhythm playing is always so shuffly. He said that him and Alex played a lot of “oompah” or polka music as kids with their dad and so he learned how to bring that along with classical music training together into his unique style.
And probably why they can boogie like no one else...
Thank you so much for all the times you’ve highlighted EVH’s taken-for-granted impeccable rhythm playing. It’s the trickiest part of his playing.
Another very cool thing about this pre-chorus that tripped me out when I discovered it is that if you just count straight four through all of those signature changes, (providing your brain can handle it) you’ll notice that it all fits neatly within 7 bars of 4/4. Made me think about what that arranging process was like when they were workin’ it out. I just can’t picture charts in the room that day. lol Favourite VH tune of all time, btw 🏆
I always felt this in 4/4 time. Trying to count (feel) it in 3s and 4s makes it more complicated for me... and I'm a RUSH guy. I can do 7 and 5 in my sleep.
Virtuoso don’t need no stinking charts! 😝
As I understand, Edward never was able to read charts.... ;-)
EVH's favorite VH song too.
Are you from the south ?
I love how you teach this stuff dude! Just the right pace, not a bunch of talking, then you put it all together just right. Thanks for what you do!
I want to give you an honorary PhD in Van Halenology. I think you are the first on the internet to really go done the rabbit hole for analyzing VH’s creative work. I have nothing but applause for your efforts in explaining this to people like me. Thank you and yes I did subscribe to your channel.
Eddie was the Mozart of modern days. Rest in peace, king Edward
This is a fantastic breakdown of the pre-chorus. I have had such trouble figuring out the timing of this in the past and your tutorial just laid it out spot on!
Well done and thanks again!!
Sir,
I am 51 years old.
I've been taking UA-cam guitar instruction when I can't figure something out myself.
You are an excellent instructor.
My biggest complaint with most YT instruction is people love to hear themselves flap their gums.
You flapped your gums just enough.
The speed that you move along is perfect.
Fast enough for the pro but doable for the novice.
Keep up the good work.
Matt Blake
Austin, Tx.
Great job unpacking this riff for the guitar and drums. The bass has its own riff that anticipates the beat. It should make us appreciate Michael Anthony's ability to sing harmony and keep the bottom end during this riff.
Hey dude - great job... I never heard your channel and I am certainly glad I did. Thanks!!!
It’s also possible that back before digital, Ed just left the mistake in. The feel was there, why mess with it. Also Alex is a very underrated drummer. Super creative in that boogie style. Sinners swing!!
Yeah, this would be my guess. Like the adage goes, "If you make it any better it will be worse."
hes got some great grooves, little guitars is probably my favorite Alex drum track
Yeah Sinners Swing is a great example!
Alex can stand with anyone. I’ve seen them several times starting in 1978 and he’s all business.
It’s called ‘ Van Halen time’ . It’s timing only the brothers play in
Sometimes I think it’s easier to learn these things if you don’t know anything about things like theory and timing. You just play it as it sounds without worrying about it. Ignorance is bliss.
But Mike followed it perfectly!
It’s all feel.once you hit a certain level
So true. It was a Van Halen measurement. And Eddie was always doing so many fills between chords, his signature is straight up his own.
Only the Van Halens could really pull that timing off perfectly everytime. They probably never once even spoke about it. Eddie played the riff and Alex played his riff. And it just worked, because, Van Halen. They probably thought it was just completely normal and everyone did it. Remember they only ever played with eachother their whole lives. To them, everything they did was normal. Hahahaha
Alex Van Halen is one of my favourite drummers. His snare tone is as distinct as Eddie's guitar tone.
💯
It really is. He doesn't sound like any other drummer, and the tone is a big part of that.
Defo! Now we need someone to break down the drum part on this specific song part , that's rather interesting too! There is!
Yeah, so was Lars' on Saint Anger
Amenn
Great breakdown! Your last 5 sentences put it all together perfectly.
Alex is great. Hard to stand out when your brother is E.V.H. Great lesson once again, You help us to play better. I suck at this stuff but it;s fun as heck anyway. Rock on!
Wow, 40 years later someone breaks down, possibly the best Van Halen song, in a simple manner! Much appreciated my friend! It has stumped me for ohh roughly...40 years ;) Many thanks! \m/
Bravo! Great Lesson,Ben. THANK YOU. And very astute on how ubiquitous the cymbals are. In my view, in many 3 piece bands, the ways to fill in space is CYMBALS! Me? I prefer reverb. In Halen..BOTH!
Top Eddie....He’ll always be the king. RIP King Ed🎸🔥🎸🔥
And Randy Rhoads too
An era.... see you soon Eddie, we will jam one day. Thanks Uncle Ben, your skill is much appreciated. I cannot teach like you do, you have a way of dissecting this song in a very comprehensive way and give a solid lesson every time. And of course, to be able to play Eddie in any way shape or form you got to have chops. I commend you sir. Dilly Dilly
For a second I was land of the lost, but then I found the riff, and the riff was good.
Well done Uncle Ben. You really have a knack for breaking down Van Halen licks. First noticed it on your 'Drop Dead Legs' lesson.
Pink strap holders to match the paint job...you got style Uncle.
"Brown sound" - I only just learned it's Eddie's 80s tone - still makes me think of the "brown note" from a South Park episode.
Yeah why was it ever called the brown sound?
@@SteveMahoney I'm not sure that it's going to bring volume levels down to "reasonable levels" my father in law runs a variac on his plexi and the most noticeable change is sag and gain. If you dime a plexi, it will still be way too loud for bedroom volumes, even if you take the voltage down below what is safe for the tubes.
DillonBerkley I've always loved the phrase "dime a plexi," thanks for reminding me of that. Also, maybe he means "reasonable levels" for a certain value of "reasonable."
“You can also combine those two measures together..”
That’s a relief, imagine having to “combine them apart”.
Hahahaha true!
Shades of Mitch All Together. RIP Mitch Hedberg.
I had major problems learning this part of the song, despite having a tablature book that is accurate (at least insofar as the Unchained pre chorus is concerned), to the point where I almost gave up entirely. I was able to learn the first couple of measures, then I could fake my way through the rest, and eventually after faking it a bunch of times it came to me. Now I play it correctly.
I am no guitare player ( but a Van H fan since 1975) I am just amases how you play . This look like ease. Thanks for your chanel
I'm actually mainly a drummer, but this one was quite a headscratcher when it was basically just casually thrown at me at practice. 😂 Had to eventually write the drum part down to get a handle on it. Good to know it's not a picnic for guitar players either!
Not too many guitarists can count out proper time, correctly. I'm still trying to learn the chorus/intro. Another great post Uncle Ben
Thanks for posting pretty easy riff once you learn it of course writing it that's a whole different story. Eddies known by many for his soloing, but his rhythm playing is off the freaking charts!!
Breakdown of the outro of “Can’t get this stuff no more” would be boss level. Eddie’s rhythm playing at it’s finest!
EVH had the fortune of a super solid bass and drum back line, allowing him to noodle his way to greatness...
The Last_Saint I’ve recently read that Eddie wrote some of those bass parts. Not sure if that’s true, but it’s easy to believe. Having a lifelong musical partner in his brother certainly did help, as did, perhaps, having begun on drums.
To think Michael Anthony is solid is hilarious...
James Pringle no subs, no content. Guess you better put your bass skills where your mouth is, and show us what a solid bassist is then....
@@jamespringle1898 You seem pretty slick for a guy that has a last name named after a fucking chip brand.. You have no room to talk. Michael Anthony's bass skills and backing vocals were great, and if you dont like that, well.. boohoo.
I have always wondered how Ed came up with some of the riffs he played. The main riff is as simple as any of us would approach a jam. But the prechourus is the same type of deal as a lot of his riffing. This does have the time change, but if Pete Townsend could spare a minute; he'd give Ed a tip of the hat because if Ed doesn't surpass Pete in his rhythm prowess it's only because you're giving Pete way too much respect.
I've just started seeing your stuff Ben and you're one of the few guys that makes me love guitar players again. Zero ego and spot on. I'm 53 and haven't been this excited about guitar since I first started. Great job, young man. Keeping kids enthused isn't about flash. That's fleeting and you just seem at home with giving practical knowledge. Thhppt!
Now when I sing along I’m gonna say “non stop Chakka what a rocka, blue eyed murder in size 5 dress!!” That riff is such a pain. Gonna learn it right now.
I always thought Dave sang, "Sci fi dress," which conjured all kinds of weird Star Trek imagery.
I thought it was "blue eyed burner in a side swipe dress". Hmmmm
Took me forever to figure out Dave was saying “yes I’m living at a pace that kills” on Running With the Devil. Lol.
Ramen Vermicelli lmao.
@@ericcarpenter3263 Yeah that one threw me for a while. It sounded to me like "yes I'm livin in a freeze bag deal"; wtf!😆
OMG! Thank you for that Chaka after moving to the A chord. The timing on the ending part of this riff was so difficult for me to grasp.
One of my favorite Van Halen songs. I know Ed has said it is his favorite song to play. I have been playing a long time man, and this tune has always been a pain in the ass to count out. I always end up coming in with the main riff/ chord progression a slight bit late. It can get really annoying man. Thanks Ben, you just showed me where I have been counting , or feeling it slightly off.
Chaka, Chaka, great breakdown UB ! I’m having a theoretical conversation with me in back 1982 trying to figure this tune with my Rockman headphone amp and dropping the needle uggg
I’ve always tried to tell people that EVH’s rhythms were more complex and cooler than they thought. Eddie, at times has his own timing only a brother in drums can understand.
It's tough to count. You just have to feel it.
The dissonance between the drums and the guitar is what makes the last four beats resolve so powerful. Its really brilliant.
Riff, at 1:51, this is from a song released with DLR return, but what song is it?
Just going off memory but based on your question and what I heard, I'm guessing you are referring to "Can't Get This Stuff No More" from the Best Of Volume 1 album. They did that tune and "Me Wise Magic", got a bunch of us to get our hopes up, then pulled the rug out from under us and gave us VHIII instead. :(
@@geoffallard7718 That's it! Thanks!
Thank you!!! This is a prime example of why Edward is a one of my favorite guitarists.
Excellent breakdown!
Haven’t played since I was 16, but with you teaching I’m thinking about buying another rig.
Anywho, the symbol chokes and eddies guitar make some powerful music. Thanks Mr Eller. Buy the way I’m 58 years old.
The rhythms how VH did that in those days were different than the other bands and this was also their success.
Might be your best lesson yet. Great introduction to shifting time signatures seamlessly. That Eddie/Alex synergy is unstoppable!!
Ben Halen!
The Chaka image was funny at first but then the continued use of it made it even hilariouser. Well done and a great tutorial. Thank you!
Hey Ben. Could you do a vid on tri-tones and their uses specifically on how they are used for tension and release in writing?
If you're interested in that I'd definitely recommend that you check out Uncle Ben's vid on What makes Ghost sound evil. I think if you just search that you should find it. He covers a little more than just the tritone, but it's a pretty great video. I think it might answer some of your questions about that.
Geoff Allard major third for a secondary dominant
major seventh dude
That was one of the best song breakdowns I’ve ever seen. Awesome ‘research,’ also on that live vs recorded riff version. I’ve always loved this song, but never bothered to learn this part of playing it. Can’t wait to get home to my guitar to follow the tutorial.
I've always been impressed with the rhythm playing of EVH..listening to Cabo wabo now..what some rhythm playing on that song
Nice job explaining this Ben! That part always stumped me but thanks to you I now have it down! Thanks again and keep up the good work...
After 40+ years of drumming, I still can't figure out how to count and play...I have been playing that tune for years, and if I tried to play it and count...I'd be all over hell.
Why am I talking drums on a guitar thing? Must be the cough syrup...
Really nice video. The next step, just to see if you've truly internalised the rhythms, is playing the solo. It is played over the same pattern as the pre-chorus
Holy shit ive been trying to figure this one out for a few days now. I've been trying to find good tabs and video of this part but nobody has gotten it perfect. This is dead on! Thank you so much! Keep shreddin!
Nice. That, sir, is one high-quality lesson. You broke that down perfectly. Thank you uncle Ben.
I have been playing it this way for 20 years! LOL The original tab book got it right. I never could understand why most people can't get it right!
The 'Nailed It's sections made me feel like I unlocked a guitar achievement haha
Duuuuuude! I've been struggling with this part of Unchained for years. Thank you for breaking it down. YOU ROCK BEN!!!!
Man that guitar is stunning. I like nice things
Awesome breakdown of Unchained, one of my all time favorites VH songs.
Great breakdown Uncle Ben! I never did know exactly what Eddie was doing in this part.
Try the Mean Streets middle phaser effected bridge riff at 2:06 right before the solo. That's an underated VH riff.
Don't skip out on those chucka's haha. Another excellent informative video Ben.
I've just done a Van Halen 1 tone preset for the Axe-Fx III if you'd like to check it out.
Send away!!
Cool i've done a short video on my channel and have the link for the preset if not i can send it to you.
For some reason I never had a problem learning and playing this riff...the Mean street intro on the other hand...still learning...also the chorus riff to Amsterdam lol. :🤘🤘🤘
Love the Chaka and the associated popup image of her lol. My question is then, how do you play a Kahn?
Ty Hampton first you need a hi res picture of Ricardo Montalban...
Through the Fire is my jam
Oh man, love that tune as well!
Love your videos! So informative and unravels so much of the mysteries of the masters. Thanks, man!
I've never really dived into Eddie's playing because I thought he was just a one trick pony with the tapping stuff. But recently I've been diving into his playing and there's a lot of interesting little nuances that people never seem to talk about, so this lesson couldn't have come at a better time. Thanks biological stepdad!
I've always wanted to sit down and check them out more not sure why I never did. Any suggestions on cool licks to learn ?
Anything from “I’m the one” is worth learning. I’ve never heard someone play that song and have it sound right
Ed is as good a rhythm player as he is a soloist.
@@joshuagoudie2849 Beautiful Girls is an absolute text book on rhythm improv. Every verse, chorus, prechorus....Edward does SOMETHING different on pretty much every pass in that song. But it's all based on the same couple riffs and grooves. Seamless. Excellent.
Mean street still blows my mind!
I just realized how complicate this track is and went looking for a discussion. Thanks for doing a great job of breaking down the elements, especially Alex's drum part.
Cool lesson. Regarding the "change", my guess is Eddie screwed up when recording and just left it. He was known for leaving little mistakes in recordings here and there.
Just like the great Jimmy Page was known to do..."yeah,I know. I just left it in." Guitar God !
Great video, its always fun to geek out on Ed's stuff, never gets old, thanks Ben!!
Another great quirky one I love on dirty movies the one let spot between come see baby now and hey you remember when that girl... such a total eddeism part that just is cool as all can be and comes out of nowhere, what was he thinking!!!!
Drop Dead Legs is a weird riff too, sounds like he's using a whammy bar but he isn't he's just string bending.
ua-cam.com/video/E6ge9IOYth8/v-deo.html :)
Favorite song.
Just recorded that last month and that pre chorus took forever to get close. Wish I had seen this first. Great job.
The timing just drives me insane. Honestly, I stopped trying to play it years ago. Close, but no cigar for me. I don`t count and never had to. I just tap my foot and feel the heartbeat and I rarely am out of time. From 1980 till now, I just don`t count cuz it makes me overthink and ruins my flow. But Ed is simply copy-proof. An alien who stopped by to bewilder mere mortals. And Ben is right on about how Ed and Al are just so close. If you hear Ed play with others, he sounds very different. Like a human being.
Chaka: verb: to just mute in a down-and-up stroke. Note: its always gotta be played exactly like that. Down/up. It's never up/down or 2 downs in a row. Sentence: "Chaka man." "Chaka man?" "Chaka real man."
*Chaka mad ;)
Thanks Ben! Nailed it!!
I'm so glad you're my Uncle, even if you are very country
Great lesson. Really like how you explain stuff in a way I actually understand. When I was a beginner I got a teacher and he handed me the circle of 5ths chart and said go practice this. I only saw that guy 2 times. At least he did introduce me to the music of Satriani. So I guess that was worth the $20 or whatever I paid him. My only question is how do you deal with the alternate tuning like that with the Floyd? Isn't it a nightmare to get it set correctly to zero point and then change back? The only Floyd setup I have had an easy time setting zero point on was an Ibanez ZPS (I think it was called).
Alex is so under rated. Playing drums to Eddie's endless solo is incredible difficult. Alex is incredible.
Oh man im a Van Halen fan myself at 17 years old, would love to send you "the right way" to play the hot for teacher solo
I was hoping you’d use Chaka from land of the lost. 😹
...Chaka Kaun
Chaka! From land of lost! Esp
In will Ferrells version! 😝 OMG 🤣
Ogaaanzaa! hahaha!
1:51 man, I've always loved that riff! So good
Butt rocking Ben keeping the amazing 80s alive. So much better than the 90s and a hell of a lot more fun.
Depends on which 90s you're talking about. Plus, the mid 80s-1990 were mostly shit, incl fashion and hair.
I don't play anymore, but I wish I knew of your videos when I was learning. (UA-cam didn't even exist back then!) This is very clear, not unnecessarily overly technical, has a good pace and just nicely accessable. Thanks!
I bet the reason Ed started playing it differently was because he forgot exactly how it went and Mike prob showed him the F note.
In an old guitar mag, the interviewer asked Ed if they ever play any older songs live that aren't on the set list and Ed said, "Sometimes, but we only play as much as we can remember and it falls apart".
Ed was so creative that he was always thinking forward. I have a memory like an elephant but I always respected Eddie for that. Although he was proud of his past work, he constantly thought creatively.
Thanks Uncle Ben. I missed a little because I was interrupted by a Steve Stine commercial! Always enjoy your break downs.
The intro riff to Beautiful Girls always fools my ear as I think of the first notes as a pickup bar, when they aren't.
You said a drop D , i have the pitch box on -2 at detune. I get a great vanhaggar sound. Your sounds really fantastic.
Eddie Van Halen was a genius !!! Never be another.
you earned a new sub when you pointed out the subtle diff over time between studio and live versions. i have often noticed this and that's why i prefer live version of songs many times over studio.
A "choke" is also called a stinger. I'll trade you three "chuckas" for one "stinger".
All the more valuable to talk about this now. Eddie was a genius rhythm player as well as soloist. RIP Eddie!
I see you’ve enjoyed An Evening with Kevin Smith 🍻
You know it!
Really liked the help you gave on Drop Dead Legs as far as the bends and not trems ....
My very good guitar playing friend has said it always sounds like Eddie's guitar playing is like he's falling down the stairs but always lands on his feet. This is a difficult one to put together for the entire team, but is a great tune, nonetheless :)
I think I've read Eddie himself describing it that way. No matter who came up with it it's a perfect description.
@robert proctor eddie said it about himself too.i have an old guitar magazine with the interview in it.
@robert proctorit was guitar world sometime in the 90s.its in a stack in one of many boxes so im not sure the exact issue.i didnt know i could get a couple extra bucks for some of them
@robert proctor its may 1995.its special 15 th anniversary issue with a flaming strat on the cover
No Eddie said that about Eric Clapton - one of Eddies favorite guitar players...
I don't know why this song keeps coming up but it's been something I've never gotten quite right at any speed, so THANK!
Why am I here, I just play folk songs.
It's American Folk Metal!
russell zauner lol
There's a little Van Halen in everybody.
I don't play VanHalen ( much) or folk music ( much) but I respect the mans genius and God given talent. You probably do too and that's why you're here. . . . ✌😆
Best lesson I've ever seen on this riff. Fantastic stuff, thanks for this.
"Dirty Movies"