Chordplay - The Chords of Van Halen

Here's the next episode of Chordplay with The Chords of Van Halen.
Needless to say, Eddie Van Halen is the entire reason I started playing guitar and I've always respected his legacy, as he helped me gravitate toward the guitar and influenced me greatly when I was just starting to play.
His influence on me (and millions of other players) was paramount to not only begin playing guitar but also emulating his creative approach and wild musical imagination.
I've always remembered a number of his famous quotes - namely the "if it sounds good to you, it is good" and "falling down the stairs but landing on your feet" related to creating/writing music has always bounced around in my head when I'm jamming, writing, and playing guitar in general.
While most people think of Eddie primarily as a lead guitarist, he's one of the greatest rock rhythm guitarists in the history of the instrument and there are plenty of things you can learn from tackling some of his music and seeing how he puts everything together.
Give this lesson a view, leave some comments and feedback, and please subscribe to Late Night Lessons - THANK YOU!
Become a Patreon supporter of Late Night Lessons for only $5 (or more) each month. Thank you!
www.patreon.com/latenightlessons

[@t.sewell1513]

Fair Warning is the most abstract guitar work I have ever heard. It’s paramount for anyone who plays rock guitar to understand this!

[@robertciaschini7625]

Well done. Nobody talks about Eddie's rhythm playing. Thank you.

[@ericredlefsen5554]

It is mentioned at 9:15

[@LateNightLessons]

Thank you!!! : )

[@treykook]

He might be the most underrated rhythm player in history. His lead work gets all the attention, but his rhythm is on that same level.

[@markmcmullan3351]

Nuno Bettencourt talked about it all the time back in the day he said the same thing it always gets overlooked and its phenomenal .

[@bossHogOG]

Eric Redlefsen that’s what he’s saying

[@BudStudmuffin]

Can you go ahead and make those 10 episodes on Van Halen's chord work, please? That'd be great, thanks....awesome work man.

[@ScottTheNews]

You are such a humble and nice man that speaks honesty. I just like you mate

[@LateNightLessons]

Thank you and take care! : )

[@CreativeWarrior-]

Fair Warning kicks so much ass without even trying. His solo on Push Comes To Shove is brilliant!!

[@whatarefriends4]

Creative Warrior777 Fair Warning the greatest guitar performance of all time

[@CreativeWarrior-]

@@whatarefriends4 Yes, sir!

[@ThrashRoC]

The Intro to mean Street ...Uuughh so KILLER !! Diver Down ...i( i learned this spanish Piece ...) Eddie Van Halen is the Greatest Rock Guitar Player of ALL Times ...He is The Chief !!

[@markr.devereux3385]

I know that damn solo is awesome and tricky kinda has the parts that appear on BEAT IT.

[@markr.devereux3385]

@@ThrashRoC hey Jimi I hasten to add while a true original Eddie Van Halen has a lot of shit material where as JIMI HENDRIX has most remarkable and creative compositions and lyrics. Different level really.

[@musicmotorskate7540]

honestly his rhythm playing and song structure is what we most love about Eddie whether we realize it or not. The leads are just the icing on the cake, but the chords are really what we feel! RIP Eddie.

[@headwinded1948]

I'd agree with this. I like his rhythm playing better than his leads. The little bend / slide trick in Drop Dead Legs is something I never get tired of hearing.

[@tiki_trash]

A lot of the chords are implied, and the bass is giving so much to the harmony. Things like an A major chord against a G. The whole chord progression relies on the band picking up the pieces, from bass to vocals.

[@imelvino]

Ive been playing since i was 17 and I am now 58, and seeing your videos and love for Van Halen as I do, makes me think, I have too many habits of being stuck in the simple stuff and to learn Van Halen I would suggest that Van Halen as a music course for a beginner would be the way to go for any child picking up a guitar so they dont get stuck in playing the simple basics. I know I'll never be able to play 99% of Van Halen because I have the habits of playing simple rhythms. Van Halen should be a course on its own , like Jazz , or like Country. Teachers always ask, what do you like and what would you like to learn. You go to a Jazz teacher to learn Jazz and it's styling, and such. so Van Halen should be noted as being a style on it's own. Great job explaining those chords and how he plays them and fingers them and makes me believe even more Eddie is a bona-fide musical Genius, like Mozart and Beethoven

[@charliemarkham7418]

RIP Eddie... Never thought the last album would be the last album. God bless you. 👑 LONG LIVE THE KING 👑

[@blackfender100]

I saw the first 2 VH Tours in the late 70's Awesome as I recall. Those were the days.

[@coughforme21]

"Fair Warning" is my favorite too. What an album. "Dirty Movies", "Mean Street". Wow.

[@LateNightLessons]

It sounds and feels unlike anything else they released or recorded. It's so dark and angry. Hand-down it's their best album. Eddie's leads and licks are simply on fire! Thanks for watching and rock on! : )

[@countvond233]

When he kicks in the rhythm on Dirty Movies - OMG. It's Godzilla heavy. And what's up with those two weird-sounding snare beats in the intro?? And that volume thing on the beginning of So This is Love? Got FW on my birthday, summer 1981.

[@gtrman69777]

Those are two of my favorite Van Halen songs. Dirty Movies is one of their most underrated tunes.

[@coughforme21]

@@countvond233 And was listening to "When Push Comes to Shove" the other day. Another great one from that album. Quirky. Great Holdswoth-inspired solo and killer lyrics from DLR.

[@BadRonald1]

@@countvond233 Those 2 weird sounding beats are actually an 8" and 10" toms tuned fairly high recorded with a lot of Reverb.

[@jamescropper]

Ive been playing for 45 yrs and come from a family of famous musicians...I just wanna say Great job and attitude! Keep humble and on top of the game. Peace

[@LateNightLessons]

I love getting messages and comments like this - THANK YOU!

[@IAmKillEveryone]

No relation to Steve the Colonel, right?

[@jamescropper]

@@IAmKillEveryone hey...hes my cousin. My buddy.

[@IAmKillEveryone]

​@@jamescropper pretty badass if true. The Colonel is a legend.

[@jamescropper]

@@IAmKillEveryone lol..ya, he's a humble guy. Never really seen him down or anything except for when Duck passed away. That was tuff but Steve doesn't stop. Angel is amazing too!!! She keeps him in line lolol

[@patrickkeenan6331]

Just discovered Dave's channel; lost about two hours watching this brilliant teacher....Thank you, Dave!

[@jimmyjennings4089]

this is why Eddie Van Halen is my favorite and I built my own frankenstrat, I was 18 when I first heard him in 78 and I've never stopped learning his stuff, I like other guitarist but Eddie's my basic go to guitar player.

[@erickgarcia7498]

I had that Star Wars wallpaper on my wall when I was a kid. Cool!!

[@gregoryallensmith3886]

This is the way I see it....picture yourself a pie graph, divide it in half and you have Eddie Van Halen on one half and everyone else on the other half.

[@bretakeson6565]

Go ahead, make 10 episodes. We’ll watch every single one!

[@Timaustex]

I love that Star Wars poster, makes me 70's nostalgic

[@dickiefredericks]

Fair Warning is my favorite VH album too! And Hear About It Later is certainly a fave.

[@LateNightLessons]

It's such a great album! : ) Rock on\m/

[@michael_caz_nyc]

Me Too - Fair Warning " Unchained " made me lose my mind

[@williamthomas5780]

VERY nice. You've a positive, easy way about you. Absolutely beautiful guitar. Completely utilitarian fine art; played as easy as breathing it would seem. Good thing breathing didn't take as many thousands of hours to become as natural. Thank you for sharing / teaching.

[@Gloveberg1]

"Fair Warning" is so great because it's awesomely weird. I thought I was about the only one that considered it my favorite VH record.

[@mr.c1563]

Learned more VH songs watching you once than any lesson on line. Thanks!

[@t.sewell1513]

I’m a drummer and Eddie is the center of my musical universe.......lol! But for real he is.

[@kensurrency2564]

i started on drums, now i play bass more but my first guitar teacher is EVH.

[@silverjaw138]

Alex Van Halen is one of the most underrated drummers ever!!

[@mineheadX1]

EVH is one of the great rhythm players, you can keep all of that tapping nonsense, it's his sense of rhythm that attracted me to VH...

[@cleverbobby]

Earl Brackett 100%. That's what I listen to on their records: Eddie's rhythm and Alex's drumming. Incredible stuff.

[@yourpetard]

No one puts Eddie in the corner...

[@gtamediaproductions1]

Man Eddie was a genius!

[@sttarch5150]

Been saying that for a long time.

[@heatnationwpb]

Idk about tapping "nonsense" - I mean it was revolutionary at the time - but I agree with the overall sentiment that Eddie was always kind of overlooked for his incredible rhythmic chops. All of those little perfectly-timed harmonic pinches and squeals couched so perfectly into that percussive rhythm slap n' groove... just pure magic. Although my style of playing ended up drastically different from his, Eddie's definitely the reason that I originally picked up a guitar in the first place for sure. And although I play much heavier music I still find myself tone-chasing his elusive "Brown sound" from time to time with the help of modeling software like Amplitube, Bias, etc. Oh how I wish IK Media would work with his estate to release an EVH package for Amplitube 5!

[@iwilrage]

His rhythm inside a song is incredible...how he fills space...it never takes away from the song

[@deaterk]

You display deep knowledge of the neck. I love how you always know where you are, and the notes that make up chords, no matter where on the neck you’re playing! You’re a super guitar teacher! I’m an teacher by profession, and a working musician...not everybody ( even some really good guitar players I know possess your mastery. Thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@polydactylstrangle]

Eddies rhythm playing is EPIC, currently learning beautiful girls and unchained.

[@LateNightLessons]

It really is and that's awesome to hear. Both of those tunes (and albums) kick butt. Fair Warning is great, but I'm a big fan of VH II too. Thanks and take care!

[@edmundooliva6818]

Really great video and insight, not just into EVH but a lot of classic players in your series. I was wondering if you give private guitar lessons? You seem like a really great teacher 🤘

[@commentfreely5443]

is that guitar friggin bent?

[@SuperReverbious]

@@commentfreely5443 Yes. So is the picture frame, the amplifier and everything else in the room. It's caused by playing Van Halen. It's melts things. (Ok not really. It's a fish-eye camera lens.)

[@sp3ci4lkpo]

EPIC doesn't even do it! Eddie has said in multiple interviews that he's a better rhythm player than a lead player, and that's probably true. But it's not just what he plays -- it's how he plays it. And don't even get me started about the stuff he writes. My lord. His stuff gives me chills...and the way he creates tension. Holy bugeezuz!

[@georgelowe9281]

Great lesson. I'm a huge VH fan, Hear About it Later is my #1 song.

[@t.sewell1513]

Hear about it later gives me chill bumps to this day. I bought Fair Warning the day it dropped.

[@duckydrummer6331]

I share your sentiments about EVH being a permanent influence on you. Most people wanted to learn how to play Eruption etc. Me too but I was into his rhythm playing and chords he used. I'm a few years older than you because I first saw VH in April 1978 in Houston and again that same year in November. When they played the Music Hall in April, the sound was awesome because that's where they have musicals and the place had great acoustics. Our seats were on the side of the stage, not very good view but I had a perfect view of Eddie and Alex sharing a joint just before going on, ha.

[@TMoody]

That first VH album is pure FIRE and still holds up very strong decades later.

[@LateNightLessons]

Van Halen came out swinging and were truly relentless. : )

[@davidmohr1920]

I wore the cassette of Fair warning out it was such an awesome album the first time I heard V.H was at a party back when The cradle will rock came out and that song blew me away and I was a fan for life from then on :-)

[@RockinSG]

I love these chord combinations. Thanks!

[@The_Macaroon]

That was excellent. Looking forward to the next 9 episodes. Subscribed.

[@LateNightLessons]

Thank you so much! Take care and rock on!

[@fernfernacelli]

Not sure how this many months have passed before finally seeing this - EXCELLENT, man. Subscribed. THANK YOU! Cheers!

[@brianveestrom6784]

Really enjoyed this piece. Thanks for putting out a vid that feels so natural. Stay awesome.

[@prowlman]

Nice! I was tooling through this on an acoustic this morning since everyone is still sleeping. At 57 this was new to me and added a few things that my martin seems to like. Thank you!

[@CharlieRubel]

Great videos Dave. I was fortunate enough to see Van Halen many times starting with the Women & Children First tour. I've been playing guitar since I was 16 and I'm still learning Van Halen songs and leads. It's my favorite hobby. I'm a professional noodler and EVH is my main inspiration, but not my first guitar hero. Thanks for doing these videos. Very cool.

[@kevinraabe457]

Dont forget about Michael Schenker~ 😎

[@tmitz73]

Lots of vids out there about VH, but this is BY FAR THE BEST EVH video I've ever seen!!! Thank you Brother a million times over!!!! More chord play episodes... per favor!!!

[@MatthewMcClellan]

Thank you for this, it was brilliant. I’ve been moved by his chord choices and his rhythm work for years. So many songs just became guitar symphonies.

[@jorexcasiple8580]

This guy is one of the most brilliant and sensible analysis iv ever seen..thank u so much for sharing with us ur skills..

[@blakeburress]

Dude you’re playing all my favorite songs. I love being able to finally put a name to so many of the chords Ed caught my ear with.

[@tosacoem5953]

I love the honest enthusiasm. It’s contagious very cool

[@RicardoUcles95]

“Or something like that 👋🏼” - plays it spot on

[@AFloodofSolaceJohnWhigham]

He was inspiring chord master. Great job and awesome selection of songs/chords. I love this video!

[@silentstormstudios]

Great breakdown and analysis. Eddie also got me started in music when I was very young, and it was all of these things that you mentioned that caught my ear and pulled me into his music. Enjoying the content. Keep it up!

[@My.Guitar.Journey]

Wow totally loved this !!!

[@fendermcmarshall]

Really enjoyed this...Eddie is a creative creature and made a career out of keeping it fresh and interesting. You never could predict his next move and along with that he was never afraid to put himself out there with some pretty wild idea's. Thanks for posting and hopefully we will see you dive in a little deeper. Keep up the awesome lessons. Very enjoyable!

[@elizabethanderson2968]

This is SUCH a brilliant breakdown and tutorial... my son is just starting out playing, and I got him a Bumblebee for his bidet, but he's getting so frustrated and trying to do WAAAY to much advanced stuff and blowing his own teenage mind as a result. I told him to just focus on Eddie's rhtyhm playing and how tight, edgy and melodic all that stuff is on its own merit... I was looking for a vid to highlight that ... and look what I found! Thank you for joining the dots ... or stripes! x

[@srisidvicious]

Great lesson and discussion, loved your enthusiasm!

[@fivestring65ify]

I love Eddie's rhythm playing. So many great songs.

[@TheBlackStrat502]

Just found your channel, I love your content!!! I can’t wait to dive into all of it. Thank you for the amazing/fun videos!

[@rogeryoung2049]

what a great lesson on a great player. Thanks for the ideas

[@guitboxgeek]

Always good to see younger players who take the time to notice just what made/makes the greatest so great. Good work on the chord diagnosis. I'll tell you a secret, he (and most of us) had almost no idea what these chords were; they just sounded good!

[@emmetarnett4903]

Totally awesome info! Thanks!

[@theunfortunatespectacle7381]

"No one knows who they were... or...what they were doing. But their legacy remains...."

[@glassslide]

Bravo! That was fantastic!!

[@scottconger1266]

Exelent video, thanks.

[@2216sammy]

Eddie is indeed considered one of the best rhythm players ever as you said . His rhythm playing blows me away , so dead on accurate and flowing.

[@chansouvannarath3789]

I his rythm playing more than them solos (I like the solos too). His sense of rythm is what grabbed my attention.

[@JohnPMusic]

Great explanation of Ed’s approach to rhythm playing!

[@josephjelinek1841]

I absolutely love Van Halen with Sammy !

[@LateNightLessons]

If Eddie Van Halen is involved, you really can't go wrong. : ) \m/ VAN HALEN \m/ Eddie...Eddie...Eddie...

[@gk6993]

Feel the same way. Love VH. Whole reason me loving guitar. My favourites 1984 and 5150. Awesome.

[@LateNightLessons]

I love getting messages and comments like this - THANK YOU!

[@toshalazarus]

Late Night Lessons ! Nice talk !! Loved this -

[@johnlopez5531]

Amazing lesson. Thank you for the in-depth breakdown on VH chords.

[@HEADBANGRR]

1978 was the first time I heard them. They're one of my favorite bands of all time. Back then Eddie was guitar player of the year and was featured on the cover of guitar magazines.

[@ruperterskin2117]

Cool. Thanks for sharing.

[@jimmyc5498]

Smiling from ear to ear as you’re playing those old VH riffs! They still sound amazing. Somebody Get Me .. is the only VH solo I learned, always reminded me of a Johnny Winter vibe. Your clips are excellent, thanks for posting.

[@LateNightLessons]

Thank you so much! Truth be told, I think VH II might be better than VH I. Eddie's all over the place on that album and I do really like that solo. and I do hear that Winter vibe - good call! Thanks again and take care! : )

[@neogeoriffic]

Fantastic lesson bro! Learned more from this one lesson than the last 20 Van Halen lessons I've watched!

[@Boogieplex]

Great video. I think you’re right on the money with your evaluations of his styles. Fair warning is also my favorite album,so creative.

[@My6stringer]

Very nice work brother, I was blown away back in the day when a friend shared for the first time, "Eruption" with me, it changed my approach towards guitar forever too !!!

[@deHelli]

yes cool chords. i love it. Great.

[@MadHatterND]

So clear and easy to follow/understand. Thank you!

[@LateNightLessons]

Thank you!!! : )

[@heatnationwpb]

I'm so glad to hear someone give VHII it's flowers. I love Fair Warning as well... hell, I love all of the original VH albums. But for ME, VHII has always been my favorite. I remember saving up my allowance as a kid to buy 1984 when Jump was all over MTV. I got to the local store to find it sold out, so the store clerk talked me into VHII. Dude, I must've played that record to absolute death - to the point where I even caught my Mom humming Dance the Night Away while doing some chores around the house lol. That album's vibe was so infectious - there was something there for just about everyone. DOA, Beautiful Girls, Women in Love... from the opening cover of You're No Good that record just cooks all the way through! RIP EVH!

[@michael_caz_nyc]

Eddie is a Monster. He was a Total Game Changer. He shredded, but made-it Melodic and Commercial - not just alot of fast notes . . . " Without saying anything" ( like many guitar players ). I Love Eddie Van Halen. Major influence on me, and Everyone that I know who plays guitar.

[@LateNightLessons]

\m/ VAN HALEN \m/

[@sleggarri]

Thank you for another great lesson. I'm especially fond of your personal insights and opinions. I started playing because of Eddie too. His timing and feel are what had initially grabbed me. For the past two decades my fascination has centered on his early tone. That's putting it mildly, I was truly obsessed with his tone much like building Devils Tower out of mashed potatoes is Richard Dreyfuss did in Close Encounters.

[@andyoc]

Dave, love these lessons and studies. Watching in Ireland (Dublin) after work late on weeknights, they really are late night lessons for me!

[@angeldusted1577]

Awesome lesson!!

[@wulfenii64]

I concur. His playing chord-wise back in those days was the best of the day. Most players then used barre chords, even Vai and Satrianni.

[@LateNightLessons]

Heck yeah! EVH is a master rhythm player. And I've heard his leads are pretty good too. : ) hahaha Take care!

[@fbernacke]

Unreal!!! Your amazing bro!

[@JediMike71]

There’s no question that Van Halen is one of the most influential guitarists! The first player I really started listening to when I first heard their album 1884. A great lead, and also rhythm player. Thanks for sharing his work David! I love all Van Halen music with David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar.

[@timgray3718]

Great playing , enjoyed the lesson,thanks.

[@Brockstar5150]

Eddie’s playing is unbelievably complex and I’ve been playing his songs 30 years and am still nowhere near where I’d like to be with it. You see loads of people playing on the Tube that don’t play the chords correctly and it makes a huge difference to the way it sounds but you’ve obviously studied his music for years too and got it right. Nice playing, nice tone, nice guitar and well explained.👍

[@davidandrews3237]

How dare you be born WAAAAAY after me (1959)... LOL... Great lesson..... Great lesson professor... Cheers....

[@jessprice1518]

Dude!!! As a forty plus year old, been playing since my 20’s, no one has ever explained “ SUS” chords as well as you did right here in this video. I’ve known what it means, and applied it to my playing, but I wish someone 20-some years ago would have explained it just like that! I’m not only going to send this to someone who is just starting off. But I’ll share this video with some of my other people who have less the grasp on music theory than I do! Hey, great content man. I’ve always enjoyed your videos. Rock on

[@michaelmorales112]

Great video. Thanks man!

[@abc123gpl]

the best channel in this matter

[@Plowguitarist]

Very cool Eddie educational video my brother. Fair Warning is also my favorite album. Hear About it later has such dynamics and emotion in it. Mean Street, Dirty Movies, wow, album should’ve got more recognition. And I am really glad to hear someone else agree that Eddies playing developed a lot when Sammy joined the band. Chemistry with a great great singer couldn’t have hurt. Judgement Day, Pleasure Dome, are really different than anything with DLR. I’d pay good $$ to just go see the Van Halen’s without vocals if they’d just jam as they probably do at home. Love to see Ed play cello too. 🤘 I’m sure he whips it’s ass too. Again Great EDDIE education my friend.

[@nickrkr]

There are many videos that came after Eddie's passing away, but there are many more before that... Its a testament to how Great of a influence he was on modern rock music... RIP Eddie

[@DarrenJohnMusic]

Awesome video!!!

[@cmcarley]

Great video, enjoyed it!

[@tobaccorich]

This is a wonderful lesson. Thanks.

[@BluesInSeattle]

I had a moment of sadness thinking about Eddy and the old VH and pulled this video up and dang this is good stuff. Eddy was the absolute king of the power chord and his use of suspended chords is the bedrock of most every 80s metal hair band that came after. And that angry tone on rhythm being tuned a half step down is beautiful. And all the odd augmented and diminished or half step slur weirdness in the progressions grabs me every time.

[@CVicious777]

Amazing breakdown! Thank you ;)

[@Twobarpsi]

Nicely presented!

[@bamagtrdude]

wow just stumbled onto your lesson - excellent job! like you, Eddie was the reason i started playing 🤘🏻

[@josharmoogam6696]

It is great to see someone dissecting the many different Van Halen harmonies, chord progressions and chord types that he used in his songs. Many do not talk much about the guy’s rhythmic side but I believe that it should be much more talked about.

[@paulfroncillo4056]

My thought exactly thats why I picked up a guitar.I remember being on the school bus and every day I would bring an 8 track..yes an 8 track! for the bus driver to play.I remember the first time I brought Fair Warning (best album they did) one day.The kids faces went blank..what is this!??? they said.Well I didn't know if they liked it or were scared...I think most were scared especially when "one for out the door" played...even the female bus driver... I think she had a bunch of KC and the sunshine band tape on board...Gotta love it.VH forever

[@twangnut2067]

This is a great lesson! VH is too much fun!

[@marcguillemette2399]

Fantastic Video David! Made me an instant subscriber. You have a nice delivery of this subject with zero pretence and genuine EVH fandom oozing through each song demo. Looking forward to diving into your channel and checking out your lessons page. Please keep up the stellar work!

[@gozu1033]

Fantastic video, I appreciate you

[@michaeljoseph2917]

Very well done