In this video I demonstrate how I play Mean Street by Van Halen and share some tips and secrets I used to attempt to replicate this classic from Van Halen.
Your lessons are very helpful, especially by the fact that you teach every detail. The complexity of Eddie's playing can only be learned like this. Thanks a lot!
Thank you so much. I had second doubts when starting these but you all have given me encouragement. I am very grateful you all like them and I will continue. 😎🎶🎶
@@Ranch5150SkinWalker of course, and this particular lesson is like an anatomy class because you opened "the body" of Eddie's guitar playing to identify every part of it.
This is by far my fav VH song by a long shot. It has everything in it. The tapping intro, the wicked intro riff, the insane pre solo, the actual solo and of course the outro. This album is by far his best sound (imo). He was always on full tilt when he played, and it definitely shines on this album. He was a genius. He had so much attitude in his playing, and I feel that's what connects people with him. He was just bad ass is the only words I can come up with. Great video. Cheers
Thank you so much man! Yeh I agree. Fair Warning has the best tone for sure. They had the right amp, studio and Eddie was inspired to record all those parts and make it correct. Late at night with Landee. He was in his element for sure. And it showed.
From the depths of music journalism and 'rumour has it', Eddie was adamant to create a more guitar oriented album, and this was it. As for many, he was the sole reason I wanted to play guitar.
Dude was just next level genius. Unexplainable how he came up with this stuff but damn it just always sounded so bad ass. There will never be anybody like.
this dude Eddie I name my older son Edward lol. He is truly my hero. Is not just the most dirtier and beautiful riff or rhyme, he can put them togethers into a finish sound to a song beautiful and nicely. Left too soon, RIP Eddie. By the way Marty, thanks for the lesson.
It's cool that your showing the up and coming guitarists of today the techniques and tricks that became famous from my generation. The 80s were definitely defined by the guitar.
Holy crap!!! That's my comment. Holy crap ...!!! I know nothing about playing guitar .Honestly. I want to now !!! I feel like we lost the soundtrack of our lives with Eddie's passing . I've always wanted to play. Never committed the time. At 57 , it's now or never . I love your approach to it. You don't preach to those who know , or look down at those who don't. Thank you for that . I feel like I can learn from you , even though I'm nowhere near your level of playing.... love VH ,,,,, from 13 on ....... I've subbed , and I hope you keep on teaching . THANKS , Dan ....
Great lesson and your tone is AWESOME!!, so much headroom and not compressed, sounds unprocessed and "natural" so to speak. Thanks Marty we appreciate you man...
Marty you're a beast for taking this one on!! AWESOME job!! It still amazes me how Eddie could come up with theses techniques out of no where, the guy was a genius!! GREAT lesson!!
I can tell by the title, haven’t watched yet, saving for later… you are my brother from another mother. If I had to pick one all time favorite ROCK SONG of all time… that’s MY PICK!!!
Interesting lesson, thanks for posting it. Eddie definitely had a firm grasp on the theoretical aspects of music. He was classically trained on piano and studied composition in college. He liked to pretend it was all off the top of his head, but he had a lot of musical training to back up what he heard in his head.
Ed done a lot of stuff with symmetry that sounded so good to the ear and yet didn’t make much sense theory wise. But yes he definitely knew music theory. And applied some of the piano concepts he learned on his guitar as well…
Sure, but… Shit man, some of it’s pure wizardry, from EXACTLY not learning/playing the “proper” way. (I can’t play guitar well either way, proper or not… but drums are another story) The more I learn about how Eddie really played, he kinda had his own method. I get that. I have to do that with life…heehee Much respect to the king EVH & Marty5150 & anybody else who attempts to play ANY OF THIS! =VH= FOREVERs
That's what you and others like to believe, but he said it many times and others around him agreed, including other great guitarists, that he in fact did not have a theoretical understanding of music. It's not a myth and he wasn't just being humble. You think he had all this classical training because of the home he grew up in. He gives an account of a time his music teacher discovered he couldn't read music. It's so hard for many guitarists to fathom great musicians not understanding music theory or never having wanted to understand it. The list of great musicians/guitarists who can't read sheet music and don't understand theory is vast. It's not to say they don't understand some elements of it, but not the way you think. I have professional musicians in my family. One who is in a band that is a household name and he has no understanding of theory. He has a great ear, understands timing and has a basic understanding of chords and scales and keys. He avoids musicians that get deep into these theory discussions because it's all foreign to him.
Eddie has said many times that he didn’t really understand or follow theory because he felt it would limit him , he said just play what’s in your head and play it on guitar and if it sounds good, it is good … Genius for sure
I am the same way. I actually have used a lot of tab. And it takes me months sometimes years to finally piece it together in my mind to get it close or correct. So I am passing along my “knowledge” and what works for me. Thanks for the comment!
Great Attemp Marty . . . Keep up the Great Van Halen Share . . . Some times a simplified version of a lesson is the best way to Grasp the complexity of the Genius that made Eddie's Crazy mind inspire us ALL!
Brilliant video Marty - well done - you got the tone , reverb and delay spot on too . Love your videos - you always put a good level of thought in to them too.
Like the way you present this content … you break it down .. easy to pick it up and transfer of knowledge .. sharing these .. you should have 600,000 Subs ..GOOD STUFF❗️
Thanks so much! I wish the TH-cam algorithm liked me better lol! But I’ll keep plugging away. I enjoy sharing. Thanks so much for the. Ice comment, I really appreciate the support man. 😎🥂
I will say that there is very much a point to choosing to learn how Eddie actually played. It’s not for everyone to learn how Eddie played what he played and people can certainly feel free to learn as much or as little as they want. But there is no question that there is everything to be gained and nothing to lose by putting forth the effort to learn from any player (including Eddie) on a true and correct note-for-note level.
@@michaelkennedy2190 That's true. Which is why Eddie worked so hard to learn all the Clapton/Cream solos and many, many other classic recordings from many artists exactly note-for-note. Eddie did some covers in the club days that he didn't study note-for-note, but when he was learning to play he ALWAYS learned everything note-for-note correct. All the live Cream recordings, all of 'Live at Leeds' by The Who, all of the live version of "I'm Going Home" by Ten Years After from the 'Woodstock' album, all of "Highway Star" and "Bloodsucker" by Deep Purple. There is no question that Eddie valued note-for-note study of his favorite artists when he was young and into his adulthood. Eddie taught himself to play guitar by studying his favorite recordings and his favorite artists note-for-note and he didn't stop until he achieved that level of perfection. These are the facts.
Duuude! this one was such a challenge but I love how you explain and teach things. Learning to do Panama along with this one. So glad I found your channel since im going through a VH phase. Subscribed!
Very good! Dude you’re a good teacher! Watching him live it looks like he is slapping the crap out of the frets, with his hand. I had no idea it was a finger thing.
Thank you! I think Eddie got so good at it by the time Live without A net was filmed he was kinda slapping it. His action was fairly high and his gain was low so he really had a lot of work to do in order to create it live. But it’s not as “aggressive” as it sounds. (If you are referring to live without a net). His tone in that concert was really clean!
Eddie's way of stretching fingers by 7 frets is this. The interplay of notes within that wide tonal range creates a big, bold, muscular sound. And once again : a fantastically broken down and paced lesson.
@@Ranch5150SkinWalker By the way, none of the Eddie lessons had urged me to practice like yours did. I read some guy commenting “sloppy”, who doesn’t get the point. I am a design teacher and when I doodle on a student’s sketchbook my intent is to “communicate” not to impress the student. Do not let those kind of comments to sway you from your teaching method.
@@gokhanersan8561 I thank you sir. I really appreciate the comment. I don’t let it bother me. It’s a little frustrating to see some folks that don’t understand the points that you outlined/wrote . Thanks my friend.
Dude, really good, really nice demonstration of one of Edward's masterpieces. I love your slow playing and slow demos. 'Mean Street' is just an all around killer song, the whole band is bad as hell on this whole track. The whole of the Fair Warning record is dirty excellence.
I love the way Eddie slapped & popped his guitar and a lot of times was just trying to get a noise from it. Everyone will tell you that its improper technique for 6 string but F that, any noise/sound in time & key is music and can be played. My 5th grade music teacher taught me that....one of the best lessons ever.
Thank you for doing this video! Your talents and skills on the guitar are fantastic. I have tried for years to play this, and even though this is my go to lesson I am still in need of a bit more practice! I am also a Fractal AX8 user and would love to see how you set your sounds in the presets. Having read your replies I am going to give the Friedman a tryout tomorrow. You (and Fractal) rock!! Thank you, I love watching your videos. Brett
Hey man. Thanks a lot and keep plugging away. My most recent video today (4 Van Halen intros) has my fractal settings at the end. 🥂 th-cam.com/video/WWZr9FpsQPk/w-d-xo.html
Awesome lesson🤘🏻🤘🏻 I just received my Frankenstrat guitar today so excited to give this a go. Not sure if you seen it on The Music Zoo they have the reflector kit and I changed my strap buttons out to the hooks like the original. I also got a 1971 quarter too. I know maybe a little much but it’s fun!! Enjoying the content🤘🏻🤘🏻👌🏻👌🏻🎸🎸
He understood it by ear and had excellent instincts. He just had to no technical musical theory knowledge. Which was a good thing for him. As an example he would never say “I am in C major so for this transition I think I’ll do a deceptive cadence and modulate to A flat. That’s what I mean. He just had excellent musical instincts and played. He played shapes. And scales that were modes. But had no idea what mode he was doing. He just knew it sounded correct.
The intro always gets a lot of focus but to me, the main riff is the shit. One of the nastiest riffs of all time. His feel on it is just insane. I still remember the first time I heard this song. The intro was on another level but when the actual song kicked in my head almost exploded. RIP King!
Dude you play some of the most accurate VH songs I've ever seen. Good job. U got me thinking maybe I could...lol. But the only ones I know solo n all is Running with the Devil(easiest VH song ever) and I can do Finish what you started. o and I can pull off the rhythm parts for Unchained. But dam that solo....lol. Yea dude ur awesome, and I feel you, its hard to show ppl a lot of those tricks at slow speed. You gotta kinda see it an just try figure out your own way to make that sound happen...lol.
Thank you! I have, truthfully I should be better as long as I have but it is what it is! Lol. Figuring out his licks since I got 5150 on cassette. (Trying to). Thanks for the nice comment man, I appreciate it. 😎🎶
I know one thing about Edward Van Halen for certain, I met him in 1980 in San Diego and got to hang out for a bit got to watch him warm up for the show, and there he was Bumbel Bee Charvel playing through 2 had to be modded 1960's Fender Twins, He say do you play yes and proceeded to stick my foot in my mouth saying well If I had your gear I could sound just like you too. Yep he handed me guitar and I played for him, He said you don't sound anything like me at all, do you know why? He explained just by observation the way I used the pick. So I guess What I meant is do with what you want to and just dig play the six strings. R.I.P Edward Van Halen ViVa Marty5150
If you watch him play it live , During the intro bit, he’s spanking on that fret board. That’s where his magical finesse shines. He can play rough but it’s still under control
Yeh especially live without a net. I actually have played some of Eddie’s 5150 touring guitars and his action was really high. Plus he used very little gain so he could whack the crap out of it and it was really percussive.
Awesome video lesson! I personally think Sinner's Swing is the baddest tune VH ever did.. I'll never forget getting that Fair Warning cassette tape back in the day and wearing that song out.
That riff @ 17.26 from Ediie is brilliant.. this is what made Eddie so brilliant.. many of his licks and riffs were even better than his solo´s imo... Simple BUT brilliant.. Your really Good Marti .. great technique .. great ear . and great sound...
You are correct. Even Lindsey Buckingham recently made a video speaking on this matter as far as Eddie's lack of theoretical understanding of music. It's so hard for people to accept this, but it's true. They always go to the fact that he had classical training on piano, but Eddie never really said that or that he understood any of it. He did say, to his music teacher's surprise, he discovered Eddie couldn't read music. I don't know what people think Eddie would lie about this. He stated this many times. Part of me just thinks some people have spent so much time learning music theory that it bothers them that he was so good and didn't have a grasp on it. I'm all for learning music theory, but many greats didn't understand it. I'm not one of those greats, but I've been asked if I took classically trained. When I tell them I'm self taught, they say they never would have imagined that.
Well said! As a student of music theory myself I can honestly say it helps a lot to understand it and I would encourage anyone interested playing music to study it. But it's necessary at all. It just opens your ears and mind to things you may never have realized before. Some musicians like Eddie just a natural grasp of a lot of the concepts and methods found in Western music and utilized them very well. I think his lack of "formal" musical education helped him ten fold and allowed him to look way beyond and outside the box. He was pure. Much like Hendrix. Page. Etc.. ☮️
I played this in a band for years and never did the intro anywhere near correct...but by golly I'm gonna learn that mofo! I agree with you in that you have to kind of make it your own....but still pay homage to Eddie. Thanks for the vid....learned a bunch of cool stuff!
Alright cool 😎 the last feedback on the intro Eddie actually fried that amp it is literally the sound of that Marshall dying as for rolling off the fretboard he used r5 necks with r4 nuts back then keep it up very insightful
I'm gonna let you know about my latest 5150 build first of all the vinyl number transfers available are the wrong size albeit he did use 2 inch numbers in the end he originally used 2 and a half I had these custom made and now you can get them at image360norman.com for one number set with 2 stars it's 55 dollars but the more you get the less it is so 4 sets is 80 bucks I sent my parts to Marty Bell for paint after 4 pre assemblies and a dress and redress on the 79 esp pre grail non tilt banana neck the body is a 82 pin routered hand sawed poplar made at the factory in Neptune the floyd is an American precision metal works stamped steel they made for 4 months before the Schaller contract in late 82 early 83 of coarse the duncan 78 pup and a .022 600v capacitor to ground not to the other connection thank you if you read this novel!
Are you using an AxeFXIII for this?….it sounds great…pretty good Fair Warning tone…seriously considering getting one…I have some nice amps,like you do,but bedroom studio playing,seems like a good choice….
Keep the Van Halen content coming. You rock Marty. :)
Thank you! I certainly will!
I thought you did an a Amazing job bro .. I want to go learn this now from you ! Thanks dude .
Your lessons are very helpful, especially by the fact that you teach every detail.
The complexity of Eddie's playing can only be learned like this.
Thanks a lot!
Thank you so much. I had second doubts when starting these but you all have given me encouragement. I am very grateful you all like them and I will continue. 😎🎶🎶
@@Ranch5150SkinWalker of course, and this particular lesson is like an anatomy class because you opened "the body" of Eddie's guitar playing to identify every part of it.
Marty you always amaze me with your accuracy and deep dive into Eddie’s guitar. So complex and so beautiful.
Many thanks! 😎🤟🏻
This is by far my fav VH song by a long shot. It has everything in it. The tapping intro, the wicked intro riff, the insane pre solo, the actual solo and of course the outro. This album is by far his best sound (imo). He was always on full tilt when he played, and it definitely shines on this album. He was a genius. He had so much attitude in his playing, and I feel that's what connects people with him. He was just bad ass is the only words I can come up with. Great video. Cheers
Thank you so much man! Yeh I agree. Fair Warning has the best tone for sure. They had the right amp, studio and Eddie was inspired to record all those parts and make it correct. Late at night with Landee. He was in his element for sure. And it showed.
From the depths of music journalism and 'rumour has it', Eddie was adamant to create a more guitar oriented album, and this was it. As for many, he was the sole reason I wanted to play guitar.
Dude was just next level genius. Unexplainable how he came up with this stuff but damn it just always sounded so bad ass. There will never be anybody like.
I agree. He really messed around and came up with so many cool ideas, riffs and techniques. Hard to comprehend.
He truly was on another level. His rhythm playing is incredible.
@@tdz69 I totally agree. 😎🤟🏻
this dude Eddie I name my older son Edward lol. He is truly my hero. Is not just the most dirtier and beautiful riff or rhyme, he can put them togethers into a finish sound to a song beautiful and nicely. Left too soon, RIP Eddie. By the way Marty, thanks for the lesson.
Great video. I tried to learn this in 94 and man it's a juggernaut of technique.
Thank you! It really is. Lots of things thrown in there to learn from and work on!
Dude that was an amazingly clear explanation of the technique required to re-create this lick! Thanks a ton...
Thanks brother. I appreciate the compliment and I am glad you liked it! 😎🥂
It's cool that your showing the up and coming guitarists of today the techniques and tricks that became famous from my generation. The 80s were definitely defined by the guitar.
Thanks! I enjoy sharing and it’s nice knowing some folks get something out of it! Especially newer generations! 😎🤟🏻
This sounds incredibly difficult to nail. Great lesson explaining it. Thank you Marty.
You’re welcome! It’s tricky for sure but it starts making sense after a while. Especially the intro.
Mean Street is a masterpiece! That tapping intro played slowly sounds like a deranged goose....i love it!
You kick ass my friend. Can't get enough of the lessons.
Thanks brother!
Holy crap!!! That's my comment. Holy crap ...!!! I know nothing about playing guitar .Honestly. I want to now !!! I feel like we lost the soundtrack of our lives with Eddie's passing . I've always wanted to play. Never committed the time. At 57 , it's now or never . I love your approach to it. You don't preach to those who know , or look down at those who don't. Thank you for that . I feel like I can learn from you , even though I'm nowhere near your level of playing.... love VH ,,,,, from 13 on ....... I've subbed , and I hope you keep on teaching . THANKS , Dan ....
Thanks Dan!! What a cool comment. Best of luck and thanks so much for checking out the video and subscribing! 😎🥂
Great lesson and your tone is AWESOME!!, so much headroom and not compressed, sounds unprocessed and "natural" so to speak. Thanks Marty we appreciate you man...
Marty you're a beast for taking this one on!!
AWESOME job!! It still amazes me how Eddie
could come up with theses techniques out of
no where, the guy was a genius!! GREAT lesson!!
Thank you! I was a bit nervous before working on the video but I just let it roll. lol. I appreciate the comment man. 😎🎶🥂
I can tell by the title, haven’t watched yet, saving for later… you are my brother from another mother. If I had to pick one all time favorite ROCK SONG of all time… that’s MY PICK!!!
This one’s a beast but once you get it, it’s not so bad!!! Thanks man
This is great man,I can't believe I haven't found your channel till now..,glad I did and thanks
Thank you so much! More to come and welcome aboard!
The absolute best lesson on how to play this. I stumbled across your channel and it has become a must watch for me! Keep up the great work Marty!
Thank you so much, that means a lot man. 🤟🏻😊
THANK YOU for the Street beat breakdown. This is the best depiction of this difficult part. I'm off and working on it!👍
Interesting lesson, thanks for posting it.
Eddie definitely had a firm grasp on the theoretical aspects of music. He was classically trained on piano and studied composition in college. He liked to pretend it was all off the top of his head, but he had a lot of musical training to back up what he heard in his head.
He was brilliant for sure.
Ed done a lot of stuff with symmetry that sounded so good to the ear and yet didn’t make much sense theory wise. But yes he definitely knew music theory. And applied some of the piano concepts he learned on his guitar as well…
Sure, but… Shit man, some of it’s pure wizardry, from EXACTLY not learning/playing the “proper” way. (I can’t play guitar well either way, proper or not… but drums are another story) The more I learn about how Eddie really played, he kinda had his own method. I get that. I have to do that with life…heehee Much respect to the king EVH & Marty5150 & anybody else who attempts to play ANY OF THIS! =VH= FOREVERs
That's what you and others like to believe, but he said it many times and others around him agreed, including other great guitarists, that he in fact did not have a theoretical understanding of music. It's not a myth and he wasn't just being humble. You think he had all this classical training because of the home he grew up in. He gives an account of a time his music teacher discovered he couldn't read music. It's so hard for many guitarists to fathom great musicians not understanding music theory or never having wanted to understand it. The list of great musicians/guitarists who can't read sheet music and don't understand theory is vast. It's not to say they don't understand some elements of it, but not the way you think. I have professional musicians in my family. One who is in a band that is a household name and he has no understanding of theory. He has a great ear, understands timing and has a basic understanding of chords and scales and keys. He avoids musicians that get deep into these theory discussions because it's all foreign to him.
Eddie has said many times that he didn’t really understand or follow theory because he felt it would limit him , he said just play what’s in your head and play it on guitar and if it sounds good, it is good … Genius for sure
I love Van Halen used to listen to it going to work in Sydney headphones the Brown album ,and women and children first Awesome Tone Thanks Marty 😊
I appreciate you watching man 😂🤟🏻🎸
Marty I'm so happy to see your channel growing so fast. You deserve it. You speak so well and have great content. Here's to your success🖖
Thank you so much!! That means the world to me!
Dude you do the best lessons ever , appreciate you doing the van halen stuff . Thanks so much
Thank you man!! 😎🙌
when I first seen this transcribed in GFTPM, I had no idea how to play this. No awesome channels like this were available.
I am the same way. I actually have used a lot of tab. And it takes me months sometimes years to finally piece it together in my mind to get it close or correct. So I am passing along my “knowledge” and what works for me. Thanks for the comment!
Brilliant explaination of the guitar playing in the song😊
Thanks so much for watching. 😎🎵
Great Attemp Marty . . . Keep up the Great Van Halen Share . . . Some times a simplified version of a lesson is the best way to Grasp the complexity of the Genius that made Eddie's Crazy mind inspire us ALL!
Thanks a lot. I appreciate it man! 👍☮️
Always amazed at his ability to have such a rapid soft controlled touch on those over amped strings. That was the secret to his harmonics.
The 8 gauge strings he used really made the difference.
Great lesson and oh what a tone! Rock on dude.
Thanks Ryan! 😎🥂
can feel the love; can see the skill! well done, sir!
Thanks Matt!! 😎🤟🏻
The main riff sounds like the main riff in all ED'S work bravo for unlocking the key🎼🎵🎶🎸🙏
You’re welcome ! 🎶☮️
Brilliant video Marty - well done - you got the tone , reverb and delay spot on too . Love your videos - you always put a good level of thought in to them too.
Thank you Rich! I really appreciate the comment. I am glad everyone (mostly) seems to really like the videos!
Did someone say Van Halen??? I came a runnin' when I heard. 🏃♂️ Glad I found your channel👍
Awesome man. Thank you! Glad to have you on board. 😎🥂
Great lesson, tks Marty
You’re very welcome man! Thanks 😊
This is great and I have to say that the tone you've achieved with the Fractal is incredible!
Thanks! I tell ya it’s all in the IR’s for the cabinets and the speaker proximity. 😎🥂
Like the way you present this content … you break it down .. easy to pick it up and transfer of knowledge .. sharing these .. you should have 600,000 Subs ..GOOD STUFF❗️
Thanks so much! I wish the TH-cam algorithm liked me better lol! But I’ll keep plugging away. I enjoy sharing. Thanks so much for the. Ice comment, I really appreciate the support man. 😎🥂
I love your lessons EVH.
Keep them coming Marty
Thanks man. Will do! 😎🥂
hey man....not like other tutorials they get me confused...I'm left handed...you make it look easy Marty...thanks dude🤘
Oh man, that’s awesome. You’re welcome. Glad to hear they work for you! I appreciate your support and keep playing man!
I will say that there is very much a point to choosing to learn how Eddie actually played. It’s not for everyone to learn how Eddie played what he played and people can certainly feel free to learn as much or as little as they want. But there is no question that there is everything to be gained and nothing to lose by putting forth the effort to learn from any player (including Eddie) on a true and correct note-for-note level.
If it sounds right. it is right. EVH !!
@@michaelkennedy2190 That's true. Which is why Eddie worked so hard to learn all the Clapton/Cream solos and many, many other classic recordings from many artists exactly note-for-note. Eddie did some covers in the club days that he didn't study note-for-note, but when he was learning to play he ALWAYS learned everything note-for-note correct. All the live Cream recordings, all of 'Live at Leeds' by The Who, all of the live version of "I'm Going Home" by Ten Years After from the 'Woodstock' album, all of "Highway Star" and "Bloodsucker" by Deep Purple. There is no question that Eddie valued note-for-note study of his favorite artists when he was young and into his adulthood. Eddie taught himself to play guitar by studying his favorite recordings and his favorite artists note-for-note and he didn't stop until he achieved that level of perfection. These are the facts.
@@michaelkennedy2190 yes! 🥂
Great tutorial and very informative into EVH's techniques - things you would never guess on your own - thanks
You’re welcome. Thank you so much! I am glad people are finding value in my videos. 🎶☮️
Duuude! this one was such a challenge but I love how you explain and teach things. Learning to do Panama along with this one. So glad I found your channel since im going through a VH phase. Subscribed!
Thanks for the kind words man! So happy you like the videos and that they are helping you! 😎🤟🏻
Fantastic as usual Marty.
You rock the UK 🇬🇧 🤘
Thanks so much. I appreciate it man. 😎🥂
Awesome lesson bro,you really nailed it
Thanks bro I appreciate it! 😎
Very good!
Dude you’re a good teacher!
Watching him live it looks like he is slapping the crap out of the frets, with his hand.
I had no idea it was a finger thing.
Thank you! I think Eddie got so good at it by the time Live without A net was filmed he was kinda slapping it. His action was fairly high and his gain was low so he really had a lot of work to do in order to create it live. But it’s not as “aggressive” as it sounds. (If you are referring to live without a net). His tone in that concert was really clean!
@@Ranch5150SkinWalker
Yep very much a clean tone, I still have that show on VHS! 😂
😳
They had so much fun!
Thanks again! 👍
The Mean Street March! Great way to think of it.
Thanks! It’s totally a rhythm pattern 👍. Marching down Mean Street! 😎
So badass! Thanks for breaking this down. EVH 🤘
You’re most welcome man!
Much appreciated video, including the philosophy. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
The Mean Street March!! Haha love it!
Haha. That just sorta came to me lol.
Eddie's way of stretching fingers by 7 frets is this. The interplay of notes within that wide tonal range creates a big, bold, muscular sound. And once again : a fantastically broken down and paced lesson.
I really appreciate that man. Thank you. You are correct about EVH😎
@@Ranch5150SkinWalker By the way, none of the Eddie lessons had urged me to practice like yours did. I read some guy commenting “sloppy”, who doesn’t get the point. I am a design teacher and when I doodle on a student’s sketchbook my intent is to “communicate” not to impress the student. Do not let those kind of comments to sway you from your teaching method.
@@gokhanersan8561 I thank you sir. I really appreciate the comment. I don’t let it bother me. It’s a little frustrating to see some folks that don’t understand the points that you outlined/wrote . Thanks my friend.
Thanks for the great lesson. I think I’ll have a go at this but it seems quite unorthodox and I might not be able to do it. 😊
Keep plugging away man! You're welcome!!!
Love your channel, Marty!!
Thanks! I appreciate the support! 😎🙌
Absolutely loved this lesson Thank you!!
thanks for posting the lessons, i find them extremely helpful.
You’re most welcome. Thanks for watching!
Awesome videos!!Your a great teacher 👍
Thanks Kelly! Glad to hear you enjoyed the video! More to come. 😎🥂
One of my favorites
Most definitely man!! 😎😎😎
My favorite Marty.Thanks bro,love that bridge break part.First part is really freaking me out.
It’s super weird at first but one you get it down slow and memorized it becomes kinda like habit. Thank you for the comment I appreciate you!
Dude, really good, really nice demonstration of one of Edward's masterpieces. I love your slow playing and slow demos. 'Mean Street' is just an all around killer song, the whole band is bad as hell on this whole track. The whole of the Fair Warning record is dirty excellence.
Not the very 1rst part,but the 2nd 1rst part.I play bass,so the 1rst part,I caught on pretty quick.Thanks again,So fun!
Thank you man. I love that. So good to hear!!
I love the way Eddie slapped & popped his guitar and a lot of times was just trying to get a noise from it. Everyone will tell you that its improper technique for 6 string but F that, any noise/sound in time & key is music and can be played. My 5th grade music teacher taught me that....one of the best lessons ever.
Great Job!
Thanks! 😎
Thank you for doing this video! Your talents and skills on the guitar are fantastic. I have tried for years to play this, and even though this is my go to lesson I am still in need of a bit more practice! I am also a Fractal AX8 user and would love to see how you set your sounds in the presets. Having read your replies I am going to give the Friedman a tryout tomorrow. You (and Fractal) rock!! Thank you, I love watching your videos. Brett
Hey man. Thanks a lot and keep plugging away. My most recent video today (4 Van Halen intros) has my fractal settings at the end. 🥂
th-cam.com/video/WWZr9FpsQPk/w-d-xo.html
Awesome lesson🤘🏻🤘🏻 I just received my Frankenstrat guitar today so excited to give this a go. Not sure if you seen it on The Music Zoo they have the reflector kit and I changed my strap buttons out to the hooks like the original. I also got a 1971 quarter too. I know maybe a little much but it’s fun!! Enjoying the content🤘🏻🤘🏻👌🏻👌🏻🎸🎸
Thank you! I hope you enjoy your guitar. I might get the reflectors but I’m worried they’d feel weird… but they look cool!! 😎
Thanks for sharing! You rock bro
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching 🤟🏻😎🤟🏻
Actually, Eddie's understanding of theory was top notch
He understood it by ear and had excellent instincts. He just had to no technical musical theory knowledge. Which was a good thing for him.
As an example he would never say “I am in C major so for this transition I think I’ll do a deceptive cadence and modulate to A flat. That’s what I mean. He just had excellent musical instincts and played. He played shapes. And scales that were modes. But had no idea what mode he was doing. He just knew it sounded correct.
Killer Fing Lesson!!!!! 🙌🙌🙌🙌😊😊😊👏👏👏👏👏🙏🙏🙏🙏🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
The intro always gets a lot of focus but to me, the main riff is the shit. One of the nastiest riffs of all time. His feel on it is just insane. I still remember the first time I heard this song. The intro was on another level but when the actual song kicked in my head almost exploded. RIP King!
Wow would love to get you on a 5150 show bro 😎
Dude let’s make it happen! Send me a dm on Instagram. Martys_guitars… we can work it out!
Thanks Marty!
You're very welcome!!
On the intro...I find a difficult to use my thumb so I use my index finger and my ring finger.
Dude you play some of the most accurate VH songs I've ever seen. Good job. U got me thinking maybe I could...lol. But the only ones I know solo n all is Running with the Devil(easiest VH song ever) and I can do Finish what you started. o and I can pull off the rhythm parts for Unchained. But dam that solo....lol. Yea dude ur awesome, and I feel you, its hard to show ppl a lot of those tricks at slow speed. You gotta kinda see it an just try figure out your own way to make that sound happen...lol.
Thanks Isaac I really appreciate that bro! Keep playing man!! 😎🤟🏻
I'm glad you pointed that out. I always felt like Ed's playing had a lot of percussive elements. This was an AWESOME lesson brother :)
Thanks man! I totally hear it as a rhythmic beat’
A+ for effort. That tone is tasty!
Thank you
I could play this pretty well. The ending is cool as the rest!
I agree man 😎
Well done...
Thank you!
super cool Marty
great lesson marty ! thanks ,, the bass takes quite a bit of work , M A is a monster bass player
I'm impressed Marty. Looks like you've been practicing Eddy Van Halen alot, sounds good 👍
Thank you! I have, truthfully I should be better as long as I have but it is what it is! Lol. Figuring out his licks since I got 5150 on cassette. (Trying to). Thanks for the nice comment man, I appreciate it. 😎🎶
@@Ranch5150SkinWalker by the way there's another bad ass song "Unchained". Of course their all good, right?
@@douglaschristine8387 yes! That may be my next lesson. If not, soon.
Amazing
Thanks James!
Keep it up man, I'm enjoying the content. If that is an Axe III, I'd love the patch
Ax8. 😫
@@Ranch5150SkinWalker Might be able to convert it with Fractool. Hmm. I ran an AX8 forever...Axe III direct or Wildwood Smallbox these days
You do it better than “satch” lol
Thanks brother 🤙🏼
I believe Eddie rocks (rotates his wrist) his wrist for that percussive beginning. Great lesson as always though.🤘😎🎸🏍
Of all VH songs Mean Streets is my favorite. Fair Warning is my favorite Album. Cool stuff.
Me too man. So amazing! Thanks for the comment.
Awesome thanks dude!!!
YOU ARE AMAZING
Thank you! I appreciate it man. 😎🥂🎶🎶🎶
Holy fuck, Marty!! A+ for effort! If I could play this full blast on a Marshall, the cops would be dragging my ass out of the house.
I know one thing about Edward Van Halen for certain, I met him in 1980 in San Diego and got to hang out for a bit got to watch him warm up for the show, and there he was Bumbel Bee Charvel playing through 2 had to be modded 1960's Fender Twins, He say do you play yes and proceeded to stick my foot in my mouth saying well If I had your gear I could sound just like you too. Yep he handed me guitar and I played for him, He said you don't sound anything like me at all, do you know why? He explained just by observation the way I used the pick. So I guess What I meant is do with what you want to and just dig play the six strings. R.I.P Edward Van Halen ViVa Marty5150
Little guitars. Great ending. I was stoked they played it in San Jose
Great song! I agree. 😎
If you watch him play it live , During the intro bit, he’s spanking on that fret board. That’s where his magical finesse shines. He can play rough but it’s still under control
Yeh especially live without a net. I actually have played some of Eddie’s 5150 touring guitars and his action was really high. Plus he used very little gain so he could whack the crap out of it and it was really percussive.
Awesome video lesson! I personally think Sinner's Swing is the baddest tune VH ever did.. I'll never forget getting that Fair Warning cassette tape back in the day and wearing that song out.
The Mean Street march!! HA!! love it!!
That riff @ 17.26 from Ediie is brilliant.. this is what made Eddie so brilliant.. many of his licks and riffs were even better than his solo´s imo... Simple BUT brilliant.. Your really Good Marti .. great technique .. great ear . and great sound...
Thank you so very much. Yeh that riff is so angry and bad ass. I think my favorite EVH lick of all time in all honesty!
You are correct. Even Lindsey Buckingham recently made a video speaking on this matter as far as Eddie's lack of theoretical understanding of music. It's so hard for people to accept this, but it's true. They always go to the fact that he had classical training on piano, but Eddie never really said that or that he understood any of it. He did say, to his music teacher's surprise, he discovered Eddie couldn't read music. I don't know what people think Eddie would lie about this. He stated this many times. Part of me just thinks some people have spent so much time learning music theory that it bothers them that he was so good and didn't have a grasp on it. I'm all for learning music theory, but many greats didn't understand it. I'm not one of those greats, but I've been asked if I took classically trained. When I tell them I'm self taught, they say they never would have imagined that.
Well said! As a student of music theory myself I can honestly say it helps a lot to understand it and I would encourage anyone interested playing music to study it. But it's necessary at all. It just opens your ears and mind to things you may never have realized before. Some musicians like Eddie just a natural grasp of a lot of the concepts and methods found in Western music and utilized them very well. I think his lack of "formal" musical education helped him ten fold and allowed him to look way beyond and outside the box. He was pure. Much like Hendrix. Page. Etc.. ☮️
Definitely is their baddest song. Hot for Teacher is another firecracker 🧨
the album is really unique. It is my second favourite after the green one
I played this in a band for years and never did the intro anywhere near correct...but by golly I'm gonna learn that mofo! I agree with you in that you have to kind of make it your own....but still pay homage to Eddie. Thanks for the vid....learned a bunch of cool stuff!
Thank you Shawn. Good luck and you can do it. Just let it flow and not over think it. 😎🥂
That beginning is like a drum rudiment.
Exactly! 💯
Alright cool 😎 the last feedback on the intro Eddie actually fried that amp it is literally the sound of that Marshall dying as for rolling off the fretboard he used r5 necks with r4 nuts back then keep it up very insightful
Wow that’s a great story about the amp dying. And the tip on the neck!
I'm gonna let you know about my latest 5150 build first of all the vinyl number transfers available are the wrong size albeit he did use 2 inch numbers in the end he originally used 2 and a half I had these custom made and now you can get them at image360norman.com for one number set with 2 stars it's 55 dollars but the more you get the less it is so 4 sets is 80 bucks I sent my parts to Marty Bell for paint after 4 pre assemblies and a dress and redress on the 79 esp pre grail non tilt banana neck the body is a 82 pin routered hand sawed poplar made at the factory in Neptune the floyd is an American precision metal works stamped steel they made for 4 months before the Schaller contract in late 82 early 83 of coarse the duncan 78 pup and a .022 600v capacitor to ground not to the other connection thank you if you read this novel!
Are you using an AxeFXIII for this?….it sounds great…pretty good Fair Warning tone…seriously considering getting one…I have some nice amps,like you do,but bedroom studio playing,seems like a good choice….
Thanks, I am using a Fractal AX8 with a Friedman BE and 4x12. I have added delay and reverb in post through pro tools just for more mixing control. 😎👍
Super 👌
🙏
My FAVORITE “VanHalen Tune”…..ever!!!
(It’s my G.O.A.T.)
Yes! So awesome! 😎🎶🎶
FRICKIN COOL 😎
Thank you Stan!
I use my thumb and hit the harmonics for the percussive section.
That works man! Never thought about that!
@@Ranch5150SkinWalker No idea where it came from. But, yeah it works.