5 Things You Never Noticed in Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love by Van Halen! Weekend Wankshop 184

unclebeneller
instagram @BenEllerGuitars
Skype lessons? email [e-mail]
Intro song: "Saturdays", by me! Get it here: www.benellerguitars.bandcamp.com
2:09: #1: The low G in the intro (4:40 #1.5: Eddie's mistake)
5:10: #2: The Missing Low E's in the chorus
7:00: #3: the missing A and G in the verse
8:20: #4: picking pattern in the bridge
10:53: #5: the C's in the outro
Hey kids! On Weekend Wankshop 184, Uncle Ben Eller here is gonna be showing you all 5 things that i bet you've never noticed in Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love, by Van Halen, off their landmark Van Halen 1 album!
So recently, i found where someone uploaded Eddie's isolated guitar track here on youtube. I love browsing through guitar-only tracks, and as i listened to this song that i have heard a billion times before, i noticed little tiny details in every section of the song that i had never heard before! So, because i've seen (and played) so many inaccurate covers and tabs of this tune, i decided to share my findings with you all.
Have you guys ever noticed these little things before?!?!
Playing my Suhr Modern White Tiger into the Kemper Profiler, with the Top Jimi Brown Sound profiles, which are so sick for nailing that early EVH tone!

[@BenEller]

I STAND CORRECTED! It’s a flanger, not a phaser that Eddie uses in this tune. Thanks y’all, I’m always getting those mixed up. What do you guys want to see covered next?!

[@MetalKillsRap2]

Ben Eller I’d love to see some more Van Halen tunes as Eddie is my favorite guitarist. Also, I’d love to see some Mastodon songs off of Emperor of Sand and Once More Round the Sun albums!!

[@ghosteh6503]

Ben Eller do an in depth of drop dead legs

[@thepoozer]

More old Metallica, horrible transcriptions out there!

[@BenEller]

PV5150II coming up!!!

[@BenEller]

Ian absolutely! Drop me some specific suggestions!

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

My instructor has me playing Mary Had A Little Lamb. As soon as I master that, I am totally going for this.

[@jamesfeldman4234]

Hah, but try playing Mary Had A Little Lamb in the style of Van Halen.

[@paulmcgo1089]

You should go for Chopsticks next . But I'm sure your rockin that Mary had a little lamb by now . Keep practicing dude

[@KoolKatDave]

@BLOGAN BURGESS Buddy Guy version!

[@g.m.6417]

😂😄😆

[@dirkwyse1609]

MHALL is better if you do it in the David Lee Roth style and not Sammy Hagar

[@SquirrelTheater]

A huge number of people don’t realize that EVH was one of the best rhythm guitarists ever.

[@emt52889]

Agreed

[@SquirrelTheater]

@@emt52889 Nice name 😁👍🏻😎

[@jesuschrist4185]

That’s James Hetfield

[@SquirrelTheater]

@@jesuschrist4185 😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@metalboy5150]

@@SquirrelTheater Hey, he's not wrong. Hetfield is definitely one of the best rhythm guitarists ever. But so was Eddie, so you're both right.

[@nellawell4976]

Just a kid plays 2 basic chords.... and here we are 42 years later still trying to get it right!

[@stevenapolitano1056]

Eddie has always talked about how he'd try to do things in one take, leaving little mistakes in the recordings. He said the mistakes are what make it live and breathe.

[@kensurrency2564]

Man, are you right! I was tracking bass on a song for my band Push (Push PDX) ‘Tapestry’ and close to the end we were building up. I wanted to do something cool, and I thought I totally f-ed it up. Then we mixed it down and I listened to it later, and lo and behold my ‘mistake’ turned out better than I could have ever imagined. I am still proud of that 4-measure slop-fest! (yes that was a shameless plug)

[@screambluemurder101]

@@kensurrency2564 got a link Ken?

[@kensurrency2564]

@@screambluemurder101 oops, sorry, I guess they’re getting hard to find. Warning: hard rock kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIm4h4eNrbt-q9k

[@ranger5281]

Uncle Ben, some of us appreciate your attention to detail. Shows a lot of knowledge and *respect* for Eddie's genius and craft. And... getting that sizzling tone really requires nearly perfect tuning... THANK you. I used to wake up a neighborhood infant playing a cranked 50w Marshall (no power soak), trying to cop this riff without an echo or flanger, before school after my Mom left for work. Ahhh...

[@AndriyVasylenko]

I remember that I couldn't believe it's a song from 1976. Such a meety distortion and unique riff, nothing similar to what was released in 70s.

[@beaumowery5610]

Andriy Vasylenko it's early 1978, it might've been written then but what I mean is that VH1 was released in early 78

[@AndriyVasylenko]

Beau M. Sure, it was a typo)

[@HarpoSpoke]

And Andre Segovia, Chet Atkins, and Joe Pass were outplaying Uli Jon Roth long before he recorded a note too. Maybe...it's not a contest?

[@shaunclifton5281]

+HarpoSpoke 👍👍👍

[@jdambrose4169]

All those Jazz guys outplaying the world and nobody gives a shit xD It is totally NOT a contest

[@goncalobaia1574]

I've been tuning the B string a little flat for years by ear because I thought there was something wrong with my guitar and the thirds weren't sounding as beautiful and clean as they were supposed to Now I just found out I've been unintentionally doing the same as Eddie I feel kinda honored to be honest

[@gregp103]

by whom? Next time lie to me.

[@screambluemurder101]

@@gregp103 just spreading the love huh Greg?

[@goncalobaia1574]

@@gregp103 wut

[@mikeivey8471]

R.I.P. Eddie Van Halen !!! Thanks for all the music !! You will be missed !!

[@VangeliRock]

Arguably one of the greatest guitar licks ever invented.

[@gregp103]

I disagree. Want to argue about it?

[@jamesmorgan2064]

Bad as tune

[@jamesmorgan2064]

@@gregp103 yes.. I'll argue with you. Thanks. I was hoping someone with the guts to argue about talking bout love on Ben Ellers KZbin channel. EXACTLY what I wanted.

[@gregp103]

@@jamesmorgan2064 Do you want an -s?

[@adamwarlock5286]

@@gregp103 so what are you doing here if the tune sucks ? Not that I can even play, I'm just here for the witty comebacks.

[@Partsunknown426]

Eddie Van Halen will never die, he's just seeking tone in another Universe where some beings of another kind are saying....what the?

[@gregp103]

No.

[@UroboricNate]

Nope he definitely died and his loved ones are still greiving, people need to cut it with the self comforting and distastful pie in the sky ideas

[@mikelovvorn2222]

By now eddie has already figured out how to put a floyd rose on his harp

[@doublejake.4846]

Eddie is a master at his craft. Alex is really a great drummer also.

[@RobertBakerGuitar]

Everything I know has been a LIE!!! Great video dude.

[@JohnDoe-pq8yw]

Robert, you have taken a major step to freedom!!! Congratulations.

[@jamesholmberg3158]

Well, Ben has got me in a knit-picky mood, so....your "tense" doesn't stay consistant in that first sentence. Now that you are enlightened, Everything I'd known had been a lie. Shit! That sounds about as natural as two hot dogs in one bun. As usual, I don't know WTF I'm talking about...love. P.S. Dear Van Halen, Ain't ain't a word...

[@JohnDoe-pq8yw]

Here is the biggest lie of all. Eddie always to this day says he is self taught. He father was a professional musician and taught Eddie and Alex how to play when they were very young. Eddie's father was his teacher. Denying a parent taught you anything is the biggest lie of them all.

[@Chuffin_ell]

Ohhh man, you just really don't know how true that is....

[@axellofgren7679]

Hey Robert, I love your videos! They have helped me so much!

[@rmartin7558]

I remember reading how Eddie was embarrassed because he was worried this song was, "too simple." He compared it to, "Sunshine of Your Love." Gotta love, Ed. So nuanced, DECEPTIVELY simple, always brilliant.

[@alwayscurious413]

I want to thank you around 4 min mark for spot on tuition. You clearly state the string, fret, note and finger shape needed - then you repeat slowly then play thru at speed. Newbies need to be told all this as one gap means we lose the whole thing! Thanks.

[@morebeer4435]

Good stuff man. One of the greatest things about Eddie was that the majority of his sound came from his hands. Like Buddy on drums, Eddie's hands are from another planet. Nice video👍👍

[@jamesavdelis6610]

This instructional video makes me smile. These days, I listen to Van Halen tracks as loud as I can tolerate it in my "old" age. Rock on!!🤟🤟

[@kentlofgren]

You know that feeling. When you meet someone who knows what they are talking about.

[@mjgibbs131788]

Dude! That double C note is something I always heard from when I first learned it as a kid. No one ever covered or tabbed it like that. One of the benefits of learning by ear at a young age.

[@ronkopald]

This is accurate. Something most rock guitarists don't really take the time to nail. I'm not a shredder, but this is great. Nice job. You're a thoughtful musician.

[@KaldDodeGitarist]

I'd like to take a moment to point out how amazing your tone always is.

[@TheCadman069]

Dude, those 5150 amps/heads also have an amazing tone!

[@azabuvsobelo5687]

Peavey's 6505 series are the original 5150 amps. Amazing tone if you don't get too crazy with the gain. Eddie used much less gain than a lot of guitarists think. I get in that 'brown sound' zone usually with the gain about 11-12 o'clock on the high gain channel. I'm using an EVH frankenstein pickup too, which is also a link in the chain that's very important obviously

[@iptaytiger]

But he's using the Kemper, no? What/where did he get the amp tone from, Top Jimi?

[@TheCadman069]

You're right on the money in regards to 11-12 o'clock for the gain. That's definitely the sweet spot!

[@kekyko9951]

That kemper amp is unreal! They have truly bridged the gap between tube and digital.

[@vinskeeter]

These little details and nuances on his rhythm work are essential. I think I committed them to memory by March of 78. That first album rocked my world when it came out, when I was 14. I remember thinking, why do I hear 3 guitars? The bass, the rhythm, then the lead? I thought the rhythm and lead were two different guys, and it didn't add up, that there were 4 guys in the band. I would focus on how good the rhythm sounded with the hooks and power chords.

[@mccloysong]

Great job, and perfect replica of his tone. I would love to see your tutorial where it's first played entirely with no talking and THEN go back and talk your way through the parts. But, again, thanks for your accurate share.

[@randyjohnson5426]

This just reinforces what an innovator Eddie was...amazing...good job by the way!

[@sholland42]

Ironically, I listen to Eddie’s rhythm parts way more than I do his leads. I love the way he crafts all of the unique parts into a cohesive and catchy song. Thanks Uncle Ben. Just think, you can tell your kids one day, “Look, I may be your uncle, but I’m still your daddy.”

[@ranger5281]

...crafted into catchy songs as a showcase for his virtuosity ... and that's why Van Halen sold millions, and most people don't know Yngvie Malsteen's name (and they aren't missing anything...). Nobody walks aroung humming Yngvie tunes...

[@fuckingfuck6405]

@@ranger5281i do on occasion

[@TheMalibuDar]

Dude, that's a AX2! That was my jam for years! So ahead of its time. Nice!

[@cswalker21]

I don't play guitar and I didn't understand a single thing you said after "guitar" but Van Halen was everything to me for like a 3 year period in the early 80s and this was my favorite song of theirs so in light of recent events, it's really interesting to see all the technical mastery that went into the masterpiece.

[@douglee5990]

Very good instruction. You would think teaching would be easy - but it isn't. Very pleasant disposition.

[@GraphiteBlimp27]

I love Eddie and I love this song. Such an overlooked song. Honestly one of my favorites by VH top 10 or even 5 (I don’t really rank music) After having watched the video, I can’t believe people forget the palm muted 3rd fret E string before that hook! So essential. The other stuff you either reminded me of or I never knew, either forgotten from time or learned incorrectly. Good video! You move at a great pace that’s not annoyingly slow like so many youtubers dumb it down for beginners trying to play VH.

[@mikekiss648]

Killer riff !!!!

[@Big_Uncle_Randy]

EVH is hands down my favorite player...but mostly his Rhythm playing!!!and his harmonic work...and his absolutel badassery of playing in the best spot in the pocket!!!

[@ZblockWoW]

YESSSSS!! The DETAILS of Eddie’s rhythm parts are the BEST thing about his songs! 👍🏻🎸🤘🏻

[@gunsofsteele]

When I'm jammin this in the garage & doing my best Dave on the mic my wife has no idea I'm playing it wrong. She loves it!

[@lifegoeson2422]

One of the best guitar riffs ever 🤘🎸

[@Roscoe1279]

LifeGoes On Period.

[@wolfgangvonkill9391]

LifeGoes On agree entirely.

[@stevesuttle5878]

I just noticed the Line6 AX212 ..I still have mine and play it everyday. I miss being able to get patches for it.. Love the lesson! Thank you!

[@Roscoe1279]

Eddie's crunching rhythms and striking leads are incomparable. I haven't heard a greater rock guitarist.

[@starcloud4959]

Yes, off the charts!!!.greatest thing since jimmy page and jimi hendrix.

[@BKMDano17]

Eddie in an interview said that he was at a Zep concert hear in LA. He finally figured out how Page was doing a couple cool things. I think he may have incorporated some of that. By the way for awhile it seemed like every 10 years or so a great guitarist comes along? Page 1969, EVH 1979 then Slash not quite 10 years for GnR but you get the point. We could sure use another one of those bands right now😁

[@dewdude2112]

Michael Schenker. And he is STILL making music and relevant to this day.

[@geraldorodriguew3605]

Slash?

[@vistalite]

Dan Deen Slash? LOL. The only thing he revolutionized was wearing hats over his eyes.

[@jeffkamen2307]

I'm a Helix guy, but that VH1 sound on the Kemper is to die for!

[@ironz18]

Feels good to know someone else noticed the subtle but important stuff in Ed's rhythm playing. His rhythm stuff is just as complicated as his lead stuff.

[@kylebross2222]

The first rock song I ever heard was Jump - through my cousin’s boom box. I was born in ‘79. I have been hooked on VH since. The second song I heard from VH was this one. I have a whole story about VH and what his music meant to me, and why I picked up the guitar at 40, when I played the drums starting at 14. Jump and Ain’t Talking Bout Love come from my earliest memories. I’m drunk, and it’s 5:30 right now, so I’ll leave it at that. I hit the subscribe button.

[@danscott9222]

The best guitar player of my generation

[@ansar1809]

@Peoplekind go listen to the solo on eruption by van Halen then come back.

[@MajickPalindrome]

Al di meola, phil manzanera, paul gilbert, danny gatton, frank gambale, john mclaughlin were great as well... Honestly, i think allan holdsworth and al di meola did tapping before eddie made it popular.

[@anthonycommandatore9080]

Great lesson Ben, those little things are the pathways to being able to play more or better. I'm 57 and followed you well. Thanks. URock

[@MikeCindyWhite]

Great ear bro! Thanks for the lesson

[@albertpratt4999]

"Just leave a'little grease on there' had me lol. Nice job Uncle Ben

[@mrtwistyneck]

Hey there I'm listening to this and so far so good! Although he does use the mxr phase 90 During certain areas of the song for the C to B riff after the low G he is using an mxr flanger. Throughout the first album he pretty much tap dances between the phase 90 in the flanger and in some cases uses them both at the same time like in Atomic Punk

[@BenEller]

mr. twistyneck yup I mention that ;)

[@mrtwistyneck]

Ben Eller whoops! I will add that to the list of things that I overlooked in this video. LOL

[@eriknielsen4070]

First time I've seen one of your break downs and instructionals. Keep them coming! You break it down nicely!

[@maidenthe80sla]

There is one sure thing about Eddie. He was good at adding little nuances to the songs. Those little bits of flavor kept it ever more interesting to listen to; but harder to play (all the while keeping in time & the swing he had in most of his early songs). Keep up the great job!

[@shesellssin]

Maiden the 80's L.A. The swing is definitely a key element. Most musicians lack it these days - along with some grease in their playing.

[@maidenthe80sla]

Ian Guest True. I guess too many are worried about perfection and being tied to the grid. They need to loosen up a bit and not sound like a machine. I like hearing the little flubs or mis-picked notes on a song. The swing has to be there even when I learn a riff or run very slow. If not, the timing will be off and it does not feel right at all.

[@jhs5150]

I think it kept it more interesting for HIM. He hated playing the exact same thing twice.

[@jmm1817]

Absolutely spot-on I remember hear somebody saying when Eddie plays he's like falling down the stairs, but always lands on his feet

[@brianstevens7241]

I am 50yo. Lived back in the day. Your talk and body language leads me to believe you are the one.

[@brianstevens7241]

No joke, did believe you were the one. You are so serious and matter of fact. You are the one. Maybe someday we meet face to face. You must look inside yourself and learn, let's face it, we will always live in a transformers movie. We will never die totally.

[@treblekicker]

You nailed the tone on that kemper.

[@BenEller]

Treble Kicker you can have it if you get the Top Jimi Brown Sound kemper pack!

[@MximumOvrdrv]

wow, it's only $15. I expected it to be a lot more than that.

[@rjpauloski]

I have no idea how to play guitar, but watching this is excellent. Thank you.

[@deathmetalscottie]

Been playing that low E by accident this whole time trying to eliminate it. Guess I'll keep it in now.

[@kensurrency2564]

Haha your subconscious heard it ... you may be onto something 🤔

[@lujitsu1251]

I've always wanted to know how to play the guitar,,,,,one of my life regrets that I never learned it. Just so impressive when someone knows what they are doing like you here. Love this van Halen song.

[@DVincentW]

The Sitar part is great..

[@DVincentW]

And yeah I love your tutorial great learnig tools.

[@MrSimondaniel3]

ha i dont think theres a sitar part.. perhaps an effect on electric guitar?

[@joelybarish4618]

More Cowbell!!!

[@shaundomingue6509]

Excellent tutorial! You are a great teacher and player. Also, admire your humble/down to Earth attitude. Be well.

[@tntkop]

There is a 6th thing that even YOU overlooked. MORE COWBELL !!!

[@KaldDodeGitarist]

When people skip that low note before the vibrato, I die a little inside

[@RudyAyoub]

KaldDodeGitarist dont die live

[@KozmykJ]

Yeah if you die live it only happens once. If you die in the studio with the machines rolling you can do it again and again and again ...

[@volimNestea]

This is why I love KZbin comments, you never know when you're going to come across something like this! Don't die, live lol

[@tisbonus]

KaldDodeGitarist yep! Murdering a classic riff kills me too.

[@ACoustaDC]

Really?... You care that much...How many guitar players does it take to screw in a light bulb... 6... One to screw it in, and 5 to stand around saying, "I can do that better, he screwed that up"

[@fiveeyes2802]

I never knew I had an Uncle Ben! This is great news! Thank you, Uncle Ben!

[@154Jamesp]

Great lesson. My guitar teacher laid this song out for me exactly like you did in this video 30 years ago with a cassette tape copy from the FM radio. Took him about 25 minutes total. I was just curious to see if I'd been doing anything wrong all these years. You guys that do these lessons are more appreciated than you'll realize, I think. Cheers.

[@jakeqwaninne8502]

in the intro riff i always played the open g string, now i have to go back and listen to it

[@SpontaneousOwl]

RIP EVH

[@SixStringStudies]

Nice lesson Ben, I’ve seen these mistakes over and over. Thank you for putting the correct way of playing it online. Keep up the great work. 👍🏻

[@afterburner2869]

And this folks is exactly why I don’t play the guitar. Splitting the atom or cold fusion sounds easier.

[@michaelandmelanieasby4378]

Hahaha.....now thats funny to me!

[@88_TROUBLE_88]

This is actually a very accessible song, as far as Van Halen goes anyway.. It's pretty simplistic, even the "solo" is extremely basic and this is the best song to start with when diving into Van Halen on guitar.

[@drdrums1]

@@88_TROUBLE_88 I'm increasingly realizing about Eddie's playing that a lot of his music was built on fairly basic progressions, but the way he riffed on them elevated them to an entirely new dimension. That's his true genius - and, I dare say, a common thread in most genius-level endeavors. I find it fascinating how many folks, when they reach a level of true mastery, move away from highly technical playing (although they certainly can pull that out), and just sing - they take the basics and make you rethink what's possible.

[@88_TROUBLE_88]

@@drdrums1 Buckethead is a perfect example of what you're describing: he can melt your fuckin face off with lightning fast arpeggios and 8 finger taps but he reserves that for the right time instead of just always demonstrating how badass he is when it comes to shredding as many notes per second as possible, he oftentimes gently coaxes you into a false sense of relaxation before tearing the lid off that shit and dropping blindingly fast sweeping arpeggios and multi point tapping... Truly a master like you said he doesn't have to go balls out 24/7 and can confidently kick back in the pocket knowing that the minigun is loaded and ready at any moment.. Right?

[@drdrums1]

@@88_TROUBLE_88 Exactly. That's a musician!

[@calansvc]

Best rendition of the brown sound I've heard since I bought the casette in '79 :)

[@dan2007kohn]

I was just listening to an isolated guitar track of this song and you can actually hear him rolling the volume down right before the bridge. Too cool.

[@robbrown39]

I heard in a interview with DLR on Joe Rogen, that Eddie would improvise much of his solos. Then make several recordings of each Improv solos. Then pick out 2 or 3 of them and put them together on the album. Like layers of solos that were not that dissimilar. Then he'd have to learn to play the new mixed solos so that he could play them live.

[@sickb2200]

4:39 That's one of the things that made rock albums so cool back in the day of analog. Sometimes it wasn't perfect and they were just like, "Screw it man, time is money. Just leave it and move on to the next song." Like the accidental harmonics heard on "Helpless" from Metallica's Garage Days Re-revisited. That "ching-chang" just lets you know they are jamming their asses off. Then there's Jimmy Page, the king of slop. His (cool) mistakes should have their own website because they're rad.

[@starcloud4959]

- yeah i think jimmy page's mistakes are a work of art in themselves.

[@samwilcockmusic]

Jimmy’s slop contrasts so beautifully with his disciplined acoustic playing. Such an interesting player, and what a vision for composition.

[@joeysplats3209]

"Lemme get that airplane off there"... "Nah leave it".

[@johnc7801]

LMAO- Great video but I couldn't stop laughing every time I saw the King Ben painting over your shoulder. F-ing hilarious!!

[@TheAgentAssassin]

ALSO one thing I've never seen anywhere ever on any video or any discussion (with this song in particular) is how when you hold the pick like Ed does using the second finger (the F You finger) and thumb as opposed to pointer and thumb how when you PALM MUTE , how it sounds different. Play the A minor part , palm muted with Ed's style of holding the pick then play it holding the pick the standard way (like you do) . NOTICE the subtle difference in tone how Ed's versions sounds a little more warm and percussive. Because of the distance between where your palm rests on the strings and where the pick strikes the strings when you palm mute , using Ed's way of holding the pick you'll notice the distance is longer using Ed's pick holding method. Think of the area between where you palm rests and the pick's striking area as a string inside of a string . Ed's version creates a longer string within a string. Even just plucking the open A string with a pick and switching finger pick holding styles you can clearly hear the difference. Usually players who play with the pointer finger and thumb hold the pick closer in on the thumb (I noticed you do) whereas when you hold the pick Ed's style the pick is further out on the thumb , creating a longer distance between the palm and the pick's string area. Just leave your palm on one place as you palm mute and flip back and forth between pick holding styles. Most males typically have a shorter pointer finger compared to the middle or ring finger as Ed does. (testosterone in the womb creates this typical male digit ratio) Try it , flip back and forth between finger pick holding styles you can clearly hear Ed's way , sounds little bit thicker , more percussive , brown as it were. ALSO another point when you switch from pointer to middle finger , do it without playing the guitar just hold your hand up and just touch your pointer and middle finger switch back and forth and feel the pad of your hand just under the thumb ,notice the pad gets harder as you move all the way up , even to your pinkie, in fact the entire lower portion of your palm stiffens up , just switching to pointer to middle . The same way CHEFS know how to tell a steak's temperature , med, rare , well done , etc. (youtube 'easy way to check meat for doneness') to get what I'm talking about on this point. I hope I explained this well enough. With all factors involved , even the way Ed holds his pick is a small part of what we all call the 'brown sound'.

[@BadRonald1]

I thought he only held it like that when he speed picks and regular when playing

[@no1garbologist]

This was one of the first songs I learned and can play it in my sleep. Great vid!!!

[@waynebeard4605]

What a band there must be. Eddie on Guitar, Bonham on drums, Bon Scott breaks into "I heard the news baby".

[@radkins80]

Makes me feel kinda good that I was able to pick these nuances up from an old cassette tape and a boom box back in the early 90's. I hate when people screw up the little things on rhythm parts.

[@JulioJustiniano]

To me it sounds more accurate on a Flanger rather than a Phaser.

[@theidiotwhowaitsforjesus889]

Everything you pointed out is exactly what i noticed in the track, but i play the chorus with power chords

[@L.Scott_Music]

It kinda hurts when someone calls "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" a classic. Sigh. Wish there was this video in the late 80s when my band was covering this. I used to have to learn songs from taped copies of tapes and tapes of radio air play.

[@gregp103]

Does it hurt more than your rheumatism, arthritis and bad hips & knees, boomer?

[@Cassp0nk]

@@gregp103 did he trigger you little snowflake?

[@L.Scott_Music]

@@gregp103 Not as bad as your malnourished little brain. It's good you have managed to learn how to use the internet (which my GenX generation built). Now go look up what a Boomer is.

[@Roscoe1279]

I did too. Those LP's took the longest to learn.

[@jeffshawn9568]

Its hilarious getting called "boomer" by some little punk eating tide pods!! Most are GENXers you imbecile!!

[@BigBilly1958]

Been a VH since '78. Can't play guitar. Love your breakdown and insight.

[@thegee-tahguy4877]

My friend, Mike K. was Ed's tech. He got me on stage to play Ed's rigg at Great Woods in MA back in '98. My wife was in row 1 with a VH cardboard camera they gave us. She somehow "forgot" to take any pics... UGH! Ed's guitar was filthy. Later, the boys did sound check with Gary Cherone. It was just my wife and I and the sound guy in the audience. Gary was so new, he was using cheat sheets for Runnin' W/the Devil. We could tell Gary was gonna blow out his voice. The 3rd song of the night, he did and couldn't continue. I was sitting next to Gary's parents. Kenny W.Shepard was there too as the opener. We went back the next night for the entire show. I'll never forget it.

[@BenEller]

The Gee-tah Guy dang dude, awesome story!

[@ajiezul5116]

The imperfections makes Eddies unique. He plays as a guitarist who enjoys playing musics and make music as a humane conection and not as a robotic musical 👍🏼just enjoy making his music as it is. He’s not bother if he play life slighly diff from each live performances when sounds his guitar 🎸

[@CentaurusRelax314]

Masterful dissection of a rock masterpiece. Thank you.

[@darrel855]

This was therapeutic! RIP

[@daverench2327]

I just learned this song. Super helpful Ben. Thanks!

[@rogueshadow93]

It has got to kill you to understand all he does and not have his "feel".... love everything you do and teach us but greats are because they are!

[@metalgod72]

That tone just slays. Great lesson!

[@JMnyJohns]

MXR, hmm. I'd swear he was using a pinch harmonic for the 3,2,3 lick on the A. Will try it your way. Awesome as always, thx!

[@maxrockatansky8399]

It sounds like a pinch harmonic with a little bit of phase or flange added to it to me actually. That's the way I play it.

[@GigiUK]

When you say most guys miss it, you’re not including me; luckily. I’ve been playing VH songs since before you were born, lol (yes, I’m old!), but well done on teaching other players who seem to be too lazy to get it right. On a personal note, I’ve never seen any point in playing someone else’s music the way they did because you may as well just listen to the original. My take on it is that you MUST add your own style. But I digress... nice tone, btw, well done 👏

[@Powerslave234]

I always thought that eddie had a very interesting rhythm that always fit with with the drums and bass.

[@poisonedratfunk]

MAN, dude! Ive heard a lot of my friends play that, well since 77, and I never heard some of that stuff either. I was 13 when that came out, and I took lessons immediately. The thing is everyone was playing Eddies stuff, and I decided to stick with other classic stuff. Now Im ready to learn these other tunes. How about Jamies cryin? I apologize if it is here already. I just found your page, and haven't had a chance to check everything out. The funny thing about that song is that Tone loc sampled the hell out of the main drum sequence, and guitar riff in the song wild thing. (no im not a rap fan) But when I first heard that years ago I liked it for some reason. Well it dawned on me a few months ago as I was messing around with Van Halen stuff from their first album. Could you put up that song? Thanks for doing what you do man.

[@davidflint12]

So cool. The first time I heard these details. I love little details. I found the isolated track and you pulled them out perfectly. Uncle Ben the amazing

[@RichM0410]

Excellent video thank you! Ain’t talkin bout love is an excellent song!

[@juliAnarchist]

One more thing, for this song you need an analog delay set to 1 or 2 reps and 300ms~ and put it in front of the amp, just leave it on through the whole song. Learned this trick from pete thorn, it's amazing.

[@Lucifer2066]

Yeah, I got my amp set like that too. I picked up on that myself though by ear. What's really funny though is I was just over at this one guys place and he spent all this money on EVH branded gear (5150 III amp, pedals, the whole setup) and I got a Line 6 Pod XT Pro I run into a Marshall 9200 power amp with a Marshall 1960 Lead cab and my rig sounded way, way closer to Eddie's sound than his stuff. Much cleaner and much more power too.

[@Brian-Martin]

Eddie alternates low G 3rd fret and open low E muted. Check out Pete Thorne's video on the delay on this. He's not actually double strumming most of it. He's using a delay in front of the amp (rare, I know). For the bridge you're right about the guitar pot volume roll off to a clean tone (or maybe it was recorded clean). To get that effect of the harmonics coming in and out, have your guitar volume pot rolled off to three or so, then have MXR Phase 90 (dialed at about 10 o'clock) along with an MXR Flanger (or replica flange - same settings for "Unchained") at the same time. Play fifth fret natural harmonics on the D, G, and B stings (let them ring) to get that effect.

[@ryanduray1]

I learned this note for note and played it for my stepdad. He wasn't impressed.

[@Joesfosterdogs]

you threaten him...nuff said...that is all about HIM not you bro!

[@bryanlettow4389]

Time to fight him. ;D

[@ACoustaDC]

What did you expect... You aint talking bout love here...

[@keeperofthebonessean2872]

being an old man myself I would say its jealousy. My youngest has already surpassed my playing in many ways. chin up lad!

[@michaelturner7013]

Split his lip

[@chrislawson7983]

Dave n mike had the highs in that tune, so great thanks for the post.

[@beaudalleomusic3525]

Killer EVH tone! Great video - very informative for us Ed fans!

[@clutch2827]

You made me feel a lot better about playing this song by ear. I didn't miss any of those little things. :)

[@jasonanderson8102]

wow. thanks for doing this. I haven't played this song in years, but i was definitely doing some things wrong. reminded me how dope this song is. It's stunning how some really simple things can make a riff or a patten so much more musical or personal (to Eddie in this case). Rhythmic subtleties in the chord/riff AND lead playing are the secret to EVH's Roth-era godhead playing.

[@celestialbody6890]

I dont care what NWA says but your lesson on you tube are mega awesome!

[@baby-sharkgto4902]

The easiest Van Halen song to play, including solo! Simple but great!!

[@lucbos7516]

Slapback echo 300 ms in front of distorted amp and step on the Flanger when needed You can also put a pre delay 100 ms Try and Enjoy ))

[@maxthecat1235]

Should I turn the flanger off on for that little wahh wahh at the end of the g I think? I haven’t seen a video on how exactly in each section flanger is turned on

[@MyName-cj4em]

Eddie Didn't Make A Mistake, He Just Made Simple Changes To Not Constantly Repeat Himself, To Keep it Fun or Interesting!!!

[@w1av]

Nice analytical breakdown man. Greta tune too. Thank you!

[@frankd8089]

Uncle Ben that whole album means so much to me, well done.... Anyone who's studying early VH has my full attention....

[@johnsantos1348]

No shit , I've been playing it wrong the whole time . Right when you did I knew you were right .