"Big Trouble" by David Lee Roth - Note for Note Guitar Lesson

David Lee Roth’s “Big Trouble” from his 1986 album Eat 'Em and Smile showcases the phenomenal guitar work of Steve Vai. The track combines elements of rock, blues, and funk, while delivering intricate guitar techniques that challenge and excite guitarists. In this guitar lesson, we focus on four essential techniques featured in “Big Trouble”: octaves, slides, harmonics, and string bending. These techniques help shape the song’s dynamic, melodic, and rhythmic foundation, making it a perfect learning opportunity for guitarists looking to improve their technical skills. This lesson is taught by Sam Bell.

Techniques Used

Octaves

Octaves play a significant role in “Big Trouble”, as they are used to create melodic and harmonic depth without crowding the arrangement. An octave involves playing the same note at two different pitches, separated by twelve frets, giving the guitar a fuller, richer sound while maintaining clarity. Steve Vai employs this technique to add emphasis and drive to key sections of the song, particularly during the riffs and melodic lines.

Mastering octaves allows you to expand your ability to play both rhythm and lead parts. Octaves add depth to your playing, making it sound bigger and fuller while still maintaining simplicity. This technique is widely used in rock, jazz, and funk, helping you to emphasize melody without losing the power of the rhythm. Learning octaves improves your fretboard navigation, helping you quickly find the corresponding octave notes. Playing octaves with precision will also help enhance your muting technique, ensuring clean, focused notes with no unwanted string noise.

Slides

Slides are another prominent technique in “Big Trouble.” A slide involves pressing down on a note and then smoothly moving your finger along the fretboard to a different note without lifting it. In this song, Steve Vai uses slides to create a seamless, connected feel in both his lead and rhythm parts, adding fluidity and expression to his guitar lines.

Slides allow you to transition between notes smoothly, creating a more connected, legato feel in your playing. Mastering this technique helps you improve your fretboard control, allowing you to move between positions quickly and fluidly. Slides are perfect for adding expressive nuances to your playing, making your guitar lines sound more polished and professional. They also work well in creating a vocal-like quality in solos, a characteristic often found in blues and rock. By learning slides, you’ll be able to add more expression and fluidity to your guitar work.

Harmonics

Harmonics are used extensively throughout “Big Trouble” to add texture and complexity to the song. Harmonics are produced by lightly touching the string at specific points along the fretboard while plucking the string, resulting in bell-like, chimey tones. In this track, Steve Vai uses natural harmonics to punctuate riffs and solos, giving the song a distinct, ethereal quality.

Harmonics add a new layer of sound to your guitar playing, creating shimmering overtones that can make your music more atmospheric and dynamic. Learning harmonics improves your picking and touch sensitivity, as you need to be precise with both your fretting hand and picking technique to produce clear, ringing notes. Harmonics are used in a variety of musical genres, from rock to classical, and mastering this technique will give you greater tonal variety. By practicing harmonics, you’ll be able to add more texture and color to your guitar lines, enhancing the overall sound.

String Bending

String bending is one of the most expressive techniques used in “Big Trouble,” and it’s a signature aspect of Steve Vai’s guitar style. A bend involves pushing or pulling a string to raise its pitch, allowing you to create smooth, vocal-like transitions between notes. Vai uses string bending to add emotional intensity to his solos, particularly during climactic moments where the bends mimic the expressiveness of a human voice.

String bending allows you to add emotion and expressiveness to your playing. It’s a technique that can transform a simple melody into something more powerful and dynamic. Learning to bend notes accurately helps improve your finger strength and control, as well as your ability to sustain and manipulate pitch. Bends are essential for blues, rock, and metal guitarists, and mastering this technique will elevate your lead playing. By practicing string bending, you’ll be able to play with more feeling and articulation, making your solos stand out.

The Guitarist Behind the Song

Steve Vai, the virtuoso behind the guitar work on “Big Trouble,” is known for his technical mastery and innovative approach to the instrument. Vai’s playing on Eat 'Em and Smile showcases his ability to blend intricate, fast-paced shredding with tasteful, melodic phrasing. On “Big Trouble,” Vai employs a mix of harmonic creativity, rhythmic complexity, and dynamic lead playing that defines his style.

Vai’s influence on the song is undeniable—his use of octaves, slides, harmonics, and string bending adds depth and character to the track. Vai’s ability to incorporate advanced techniques into a song without overshadowing the music makes him one of the most respected guitarists in the world. Learning to play “Big Trouble” will give you insight into Vai’s playing style, allowing you to adopt his innovative techniques into your own guitar work.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Octaves
• Slides
• Harmonics
• String Bending

Mastering the techniques found in “Big Trouble” will not only allow you to play this song with precision, but it will also improve your overall guitar playing. Octaves will enhance your melodic sense, slides will improve your fluidity and fretboard navigation, harmonics will add textural depth to your playing, and string bending will give you greater emotional expressiveness in your solos. These techniques are essential for guitarists looking to expand their skills in rock and beyond. Dive into this lesson to unlock the secrets behind Steve Vai’s innovative guitar work and bring new levels of creativity to your playing!