Eruption by Van Halen

Dive into the electrifying world of Van Halen’s groundbreaking instrumental, "Eruption", with our comprehensive guitar lesson. This legendary track, performed by Eddie Van Halen, showcases a variety of advanced guitar techniques that forever changed the landscape of rock guitar. At Licklibrary.com, we break down each aspect of the song to help you master its technical brilliance while enhancing your overall guitar skills. Jamie Humphries breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About Eddie Van Halen and His Influence

Eddie Van Halen was more than just a guitar player—he was a revolutionary force in music. Known for his technical prowess and innovative approach, Eddie blended incredible speed, melodic phrasing, and jaw-dropping techniques like two-handed tapping and dive-bombs, which became signature elements of his style. His work on "Eruption" inspired countless guitarists and solidified his place among the greats. For anyone looking to elevate their guitar game, learning Eddie’s techniques is essential.

Techniques Featured in "Eruption"

Two-Handed Tapping

A hallmark of "Eruption," two-handed tapping involves using both hands on the fretboard to create rapid sequences of notes. This technique allows for incredible speed and fluidity, opening up a new world of melodic possibilities. Mastering two-handed tapping will enhance your dexterity and help you tackle advanced solos across genres.

Legato

Eddie’s use of legato—smoothly connecting notes without picking every string—creates seamless runs that are both fast and expressive. Learning legato improves your fretting-hand strength and finger independence, enabling fluid phrasing in your own playing.

Dive-Bombs

The dramatic swoops and growls created with the whammy bar, known as dive-bombs, are another signature sound of "Eruption." These add a sense of flair and drama to your solos, making them more dynamic and engaging.

Tremolo Picking

Rapid picking on a single note or string creates the high-speed sound that’s essential for parts of "Eruption." Practicing tremolo picking boosts your picking-hand stamina and precision, ensuring you can handle fast-paced passages with ease.

Trills

A combination of hammer-ons and pull-offs performed rapidly, trills are used in "Eruption" to create a cascading effect. Learning trills enhances finger strength and agility, allowing you to add this technique to your own repertoire for added excitement.

Pinched Harmonics

Eddie’s ability to produce screaming, high-pitched tones with pinched harmonics adds an aggressive edge to "Eruption." This technique improves your control over harmonics, adding expressive possibilities to your playing.

Slides

Slides connect notes with a fluid motion, creating a dramatic, vocal-like quality in Eddie’s performance. Incorporating slides into your playing can make your solos feel more expressive and lyrical.

Arpeggios

"Eruption" features lightning-fast arpeggios, showcasing Eddie’s precision and control. Learning arpeggios sharpens your fretboard knowledge and enhances your ability to navigate complex chord shapes in any context.

Benefits of Learning "Eruption"

• Enhanced Technique: From two-handed tapping to pinched harmonics, mastering "Eruption" equips you with a toolkit of advanced techniques applicable across musical genres.
• Improved Dexterity: The rapid movements and intricate phrasing develop both fretting-hand and picking-hand coordination.
• Expanded Creativity: Understanding Eddie’s approach to melody and improvisation sparks ideas for creating your own unique solos.
• Confidence Boost: Conquering this challenging piece is a rewarding accomplishment, pushing your guitar skills to new heights.

List of Techniques Covered in This Lesson

Here’s a comprehensive list of the techniques featured in our "Eruption" guitar lesson, along with internal links for further exploration:

• Two-Handed Tapping
• Legato
• Dive-Bombs
• Tremolo Picking
• Trills
• Pinched Harmonics
• Slides
• Arpeggios

Take your guitar skills to the next level by learning "Eruption" from Van Halen. Our detailed lessons ensure you not only master this iconic track but also build a strong foundation for exploring other advanced guitar techniques. Start your journey with Licklibrary.com today!