Author Topic: Eddie Van Halen  (Read 1888 times)

Offline icepac

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Re: Eddie Van Halen
« Reply #15 on: January 03, 2025, 10:32:37 AM »

What people are now noticing is what Eddie does between solos.

He knows how to announce a storm of a solo is coming, fit the solo to the song, and he knows how to get back to the song from the solo.   

All one has to do is listen to the album "Fair Warning" to hear his amazing rhythm guitar playing.


Offline Animl-AW

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Re: Eddie Van Halen
« Reply #16 on: January 03, 2025, 11:24:02 AM »
What people are now noticing is what Eddie does between solos.

He knows how to announce a storm of a solo is coming, fit the solo to the song, and he knows how to get back to the song from the solo.   

All one has to do is listen to the album "Fair Warning" to hear his amazing rhythm guitar playing.

Me thinks his fluent ability to coordinate both hands on the fret board comes from the same coordination of playing the piano/keyboard. Keyboard and guitar playing go hand in hand, easier for one to learn the other.

I wish I could remember the name, Larry something I think,… a black guy … everything he played was 100% both hands on fret board, no pick at all. Played some really cool stuff, it just wasn’t man stream, more like smooth jazz.

Glad someone posted this, great interview.

EV is/was a monster. But Randy Rhodes not far behind.

Offline morfiend

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Re: Eddie Van Halen
« Reply #17 on: January 05, 2025, 02:24:51 PM »
Me thinks his fluent ability to coordinate both hands on the fret board comes from the same coordination of playing the piano/keyboard. Keyboard and guitar playing go hand in hand, easier for one to learn the other.

I wish I could remember the name, Larry something I think,… a black guy … everything he played was 100% both hands on fret board, no pick at all. Played some really cool stuff, it just wasn’t man stream, more like smooth jazz.

Glad someone posted this, great interview.



EV is/was a monster. But Randy Rhodes not far behind.


I heard a podcast about the Van halens and they said Eddie started out learning the piano.
« Last Edit: January 05, 2025, 02:26:22 PM by morfiend »

Offline Animl-AW

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Re: Eddie Van Halen
« Reply #18 on: January 06, 2025, 02:46:17 PM »

I heard a podcast about the Van halens and they said Eddie started out learning the piano.

Pretty sure thats true, may have been mentioned above. I think I heard it decades ago. As soon as I did it made sense of similar cords on the keyboard and fretboard. He does play KB parts of songs, nothing complicated tho.

The way the brains of Eddie, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Randy Rhoads flow is stunning. They rarely pause to regroup into the next riff. Its one steady flow. Players like David Gilmour will pause.a little.

Offline Tumor

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Re: Eddie Van Halen
« Reply #19 on: January 18, 2025, 02:12:35 PM »

I heard a podcast about the Van halens and they said Eddie started out learning the piano.

There's some hilarity involved with EVH's "...learning the piano".   Saw him talk about this in an interview (no idea which one).  So as a kid, he's taking piano lessons, entering and winning local competitions.  The fun part I think eludes to his musical genius.  Well into his lessons, one day his piano instructor is playing the piano (from sheet music) and tells EVH to turn the page of music for him as he's playing.  Eddie couldn't do it because he was lost, he never learned to read a note of music.  All along he'd been watching/hearing the instructor play and repeating it.

In another interview he said his most profound "gift" was having a good ear.

The man will never be matched.  Check this out: https://youtu.be/0GJO2SovRgU?t=734
"Dogfighting is useless"  :Erich Hartmann

Offline Animl-AW

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Re: Eddie Van Halen
« Reply #20 on: January 19, 2025, 09:28:57 AM »
There's some hilarity involved with EVH's "...learning the piano".   Saw him talk about this in an interview (no idea which one).  So as a kid, he's taking piano lessons, entering and winning local competitions.  The fun part I think eludes to his musical genius.  Well into his lessons, one day his piano instructor is playing the piano (from sheet music) and tells EVH to turn the page of music for him as he's playing.  Eddie couldn't do it because he was lost, he never learned to read a note of music.  All along he'd been watching/hearing the instructor play and repeating it.

In another interview he said his most profound "gift" was having a good ear.

The man will never be matched.  Check this out: https://youtu.be/0GJO2SovRgU?t=734

It may be shocking to some how many musicians can’t read music. They know where it is on the instrument, not so much on paper.

Also, you can think of reading music as keeping you in line. Which can inhibit venturing outside that discipline.

Its also hard to duplicate Hendrix. Unless you play a gtr upside down. Even then, not easy. I don’t think he read music either. 

His thing was live he was a bit sloppy. OTOH , Van Halen sounded as good live as on record.

This is a 1hr video so to get to the point start at about 10:00. Deweezil Zappa explains learning from Eddie



Offline Animl-AW

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Re: Eddie Van Halen
« Reply #21 on: January 24, 2025, 04:39:44 PM »
This is who I was tryin to think of a while back. Prolly not some's taste in music, but the the hammering talent is down. Just wait for it

Offline Tumor

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Re: Eddie Van Halen
« Reply #22 on: January 24, 2025, 11:55:30 PM »
This is who I was tryin to think of a while back. Prolly not some's taste in music, but the the hammering talent is down. Just wait for it


Pretty sure that guy did a cameo in some movie or another... no idea what it was. 
"Dogfighting is useless"  :Erich Hartmann

Offline Animl-AW

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Re: Eddie Van Halen
« Reply #23 on: January 25, 2025, 02:31:34 PM »
Kinda resembles a young Denzel Washington. As far as what it is, dunno what people were thinking on wardrobe back then, other than “look at me”. If that's what you’re referring to.

IMO, this is a gimmick skill.

But if does sorta illustrate  ties between piano and gtr..