Comments on: 10 Things You Gotta Do To Play Like Eddie Van Halen http://www.vhnd.com/2010/03/01/10-things-you-gotta-do-to-play-like-eddie-van-halen/ The Latest News & Info about The Mighty Van Halen Tue, 27 Dec 2011 23:29:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Nick Rusko-Berger http://www.vhnd.com/2010/03/01/10-things-you-gotta-do-to-play-like-eddie-van-halen/comment-page-2/#comment-68570 Nick Rusko-Berger Mon, 19 Apr 2010 04:48:12 +0000 http://www.vhnd.com/?p=3325#comment-68570 Eddie Van Halen has been my guy since 1982 (even though I've had many guitar influences/heroes of many styles and genres). '82 was the year I started playing guitar (age 13) and our drummer played "Mean Street" during a rehearsal. The intro nearly made me fall over--it was otherworldly in sound--but mainly, it was simply gorgeous. Though I'd heard Van Halen songs for a number of years prior to this, "Mean Street" was my entry song--and it sounded like a street fight. ("Fair Warning" was the perfect first VH album-buy since it was raw, often experimental, and seemingly uninfluenced by Radio Friendliness. Discovering "Unchained" leading off Side 2 of the record made me trust these guys.) I bought the rest of the albums--allowance depending, and learned as much as I could by playing along. Here are the things I've noticed in the last 28 years of listen and learning from Ed: • Creativity & Technique: When an artist "gets it" (whatever their medium is), their Grokkage sets the stage--Wide and DEEP-- for wherever their tech can take them. Ed has both. • Rhythm: EVH has an innate, rock-solid sense of rhythm. His frequently syncopated feel and effortless ability to skip--like a stone over water--around his phrasing sets him apart for many imitators and technically gifted (yet less naturally Unique knock-offs). Ed's also crazy-adept at using (selective) palm-muting to highlight this rhythmic feel. • Phrasing: Back to this. He can jam weird numbers of notes into a plain old Measure. Also, his speed/shred usage is deceptive; he mostly uses it to leaven passages & solos, and there's a nice balance, so it's not all flurries. Flurries can be exciting and jaw-dropping, but regardless of whether it's Yngwie or Chick Corea...it gets old very fast. • Texture: Interesting sounding of notes--whether it's right-hand palm harmonics or mutes, whammy bar squiggles, or little string bends. There's always something adding "just a little" to struck notes. (Plus he does it tastefully--see "Getting It", earlier--so it doesn't get old or stand out inappropriately.) • Influences/Projects: Not only did Ed gain from earlier influences, he's always had a fresh Ear open. I mean, c'mon--EVH introduced me to Allan Holdsworth! (Also, for outside projects: Check out the "Starfleet Project" with Brian May. Here's Ed being a top-of-his-game guy having fun while tearing the place up (along with tubes and strings)! I could go on for a lot longer, but this is getting long. I'm 41 now, and years ago I admitted that I'd never be a great guitarist. I've played for over 28 years--all self taught--which I'm proud of. Luckily, my main focus has always been fine art (Painting, Drawing, and Photography), and to this day (even regardless of all the guitar help), Ed has embodied a certain, special Quality that, to this day, inspires and guides my creative life. cheers to all, Nick Eddie Van Halen has been my guy since 1982 (even though I’ve had many guitar influences/heroes of many styles and genres). ’82 was the year I started playing guitar (age 13) and our drummer played “Mean Street” during a rehearsal. The intro nearly made me fall over–it was otherworldly in sound–but mainly, it was simply gorgeous. Though I’d heard Van Halen songs for a number of years prior to this, “Mean Street” was my entry song–and it sounded like a street fight. (“Fair Warning” was the perfect first VH album-buy since it was raw, often experimental, and seemingly uninfluenced by Radio Friendliness. Discovering “Unchained” leading off Side 2 of the record made me trust these guys.)

I bought the rest of the albums–allowance depending, and learned as much as I could by playing along.

Here are the things I’ve noticed in the last 28 years of listen and learning from Ed:

• Creativity & Technique: When an artist “gets it” (whatever their medium is), their Grokkage sets the stage–Wide and DEEP– for wherever their tech can take them. Ed has both.

• Rhythm: EVH has an innate, rock-solid sense of rhythm. His frequently syncopated feel and effortless ability to skip–like a stone over water–around his phrasing sets him apart for many imitators and technically gifted (yet less naturally Unique knock-offs). Ed’s also crazy-adept at using (selective) palm-muting to highlight this rhythmic feel.

• Phrasing: Back to this. He can jam weird numbers of notes into a plain old Measure. Also, his speed/shred usage is deceptive; he mostly uses it to leaven passages & solos, and there’s a nice balance, so it’s not all flurries. Flurries can be exciting and jaw-dropping, but regardless of whether it’s Yngwie or Chick Corea…it gets old very fast.

• Texture: Interesting sounding of notes–whether it’s right-hand palm harmonics or mutes, whammy bar squiggles, or little string bends. There’s always something adding “just a little” to struck notes. (Plus he does it tastefully–see “Getting It”, earlier–so it doesn’t get old or stand out inappropriately.)

• Influences/Projects: Not only did Ed gain from earlier influences, he’s always had a fresh Ear open. I mean, c’mon–EVH introduced me to Allan Holdsworth! (Also, for outside projects: Check out the “Starfleet Project” with Brian May. Here’s Ed being a top-of-his-game guy having fun while tearing the place up (along with tubes and strings)!

I could go on for a lot longer, but this is getting long. I’m 41 now, and years ago I admitted that I’d never be a great guitarist. I’ve played for over 28 years–all self taught–which I’m proud of. Luckily, my main focus has always been fine art (Painting, Drawing, and Photography), and to this day (even regardless of all the guitar help), Ed has embodied a certain, special Quality that, to this day, inspires and guides my creative life.

cheers to all,
Nick

]]> By: Glenn http://www.vhnd.com/2010/03/01/10-things-you-gotta-do-to-play-like-eddie-van-halen/comment-page-2/#comment-66925 Glenn Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:51:37 +0000 http://www.vhnd.com/?p=3325#comment-66925 The first time i heard van halen was when i was watching the movie herbie and jump came on The first time i heard van halen was when i was watching the movie herbie and jump came on

]]> By: little big toe http://www.vhnd.com/2010/03/01/10-things-you-gotta-do-to-play-like-eddie-van-halen/comment-page-2/#comment-62663 little big toe Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:17:07 +0000 http://www.vhnd.com/?p=3325#comment-62663 Indeed my friend. 1972 was the "Mammoth" days. If I recall, they changed their name to VH in 1973. Indeed my friend. 1972 was the “Mammoth” days. If I recall, they changed their name to VH in 1973.

]]> By: non-stop talker http://www.vhnd.com/2010/03/01/10-things-you-gotta-do-to-play-like-eddie-van-halen/comment-page-2/#comment-62604 non-stop talker Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:45:06 +0000 http://www.vhnd.com/?p=3325#comment-62604 Thanks little big toe; you obviously know your stuff :). I, on the other hand, know very, very little (I did know that KISS had a record deal before Van Halen did though hahahahaha). I was just going off of what Wikipedia said (it says VH formed in 1972, and KISS in January 1973). Thanks for the info! Thanks little big toe; you obviously know your stuff :) . I, on the other hand, know very, very little (I did know that KISS had a record deal before Van Halen did though hahahahaha). I was just going off of what Wikipedia said (it says VH formed in 1972, and KISS in January 1973). Thanks for the info!

]]> By: little big toe http://www.vhnd.com/2010/03/01/10-things-you-gotta-do-to-play-like-eddie-van-halen/comment-page-2/#comment-62603 little big toe Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:29:07 +0000 http://www.vhnd.com/?p=3325#comment-62603 aahh.. Kiss Debut album April 1974, Van Halen February 1978. Kiss was co-founded in 1973, Van Halen does have The "Glitter Demos" which exact dates are not confirmed (1973-74?), regardless, Kiss had an official release around the Van Halen "Glitter" time-frame. Wicked Lester was Kiss' earliest form, but I don't know if it included Ace at any point in time...tough to confirm when who became a band first...it's a pretty close time frame. No dis to "non-stop talker". aahh.. Kiss Debut album April 1974, Van Halen February 1978. Kiss was co-founded in 1973, Van Halen does have The “Glitter Demos” which exact dates are not confirmed (1973-74?), regardless, Kiss had an official release around the Van Halen “Glitter” time-frame. Wicked Lester was Kiss’ earliest form, but I don’t know if it included Ace at any point in time…tough to confirm when who became a band first…it’s a pretty close time frame. No dis to “non-stop talker”.

]]> By: EJD http://www.vhnd.com/2010/03/01/10-things-you-gotta-do-to-play-like-eddie-van-halen/comment-page-2/#comment-62369 EJD Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:47:15 +0000 http://www.vhnd.com/?p=3325#comment-62369 EVH, why don't they have left handed Frankenstrats? EVH, why don’t they have left handed Frankenstrats?

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