Eddie Van Halens Simple Shred Trick Is A Game Changer!

[@Guitargate]

Dude - this is such a simple and profound lesson. Getting to the place where you can legato / staccato at will and not look at them as sections is a huge milestone for any improviser. You’re the man :)

[@RobertBakerGuitar]

Thanks buddy. I'm sure we can all agree Eddie was jsut TOO GOOD!

[@vonzoomtunes9847]

@@RobertBakerGuitar Eddie was a mutant, and we all know it.

[@Jonhobbs64]

Thanks Robert! I never even attempted any EVH because ...well! Now I am inspired! You are awesome!

[@rayondegracia2543]

Eddie was good that’s it !

[@MrTears03]

Guitar is life

[@sierraridgereaper]

Ive been using that lick for 30 yrs, it never seems to get old and it can literally be used everywhere in any solo/improv....😉

[@daveryan2148]

It always amazes me... I can slowly slide into a 3rd at the perfect time in a magical way to outline the chords... Or slam 237 notes out real fast. Lay people always like that one!

[@sublyme2157]

When people say tone is in the hands, this is exactly what they mean. It's not just the notes being played, it's how the notes are played. Well done man!

[@clementcomes1516]

Notice how Pantera's Dimebag Darrell borrowed this and made his own by simply changing the shape played! So Powerful 🤘

[@Quinceps]

Exactly!

[@brunakis4428]

Off brand

[@neonblack211]

damn that makes so much sense never thought of it that way, being that Dimebag was a huge van halen fan.....he surely got that lick from eddie

[@lilmike2710]

Borrowed it and made it his own by changing the shape... 🙄 So basically he made it his own by doing something completely different.

[@brunakis4428]

@@lilmike2710 are you stupid he changed nothing Eddie also used different shapes for different chords

[@mccloysong]

Great tone, accurate picking, simple explanation, good pace. You are a great teacher

[@cheenu711]

Yes more EVH. The world would be a better place with more EVH. Also this pattern has made my life so much easier.

[@TheCountofToulouse]

He was really the first guy to do so many things. His wammy control was astonishing, it was like a race car driver going WAY too fast but NEVER wrecking. Everything about his playing was revolutionary, inspiring and impossible to ignore. Even his sound and his accidental discovery with the VariAC, starving the tubes to get that warm tone. I was a young man in the 80's when they were big and I mean BIG, Eddie was untouchable, a legend, appealing to everyone who saw and heard him.

[@pashon4percushon]

I read a Google story that the Variac technique was a tangled up lie to keep Van Halen from getting sued and to stop guitar enthusiasts from blowing up their amps. As people were questioning how did EVH create his extraordinary guitar sound, David Lee Roth told him to lie in order to keep the fans in 'awe' as many famous musicians do. So EVH told fans in an interview that he uses a variac. Wouldn't you know it, guitar enthusiasts started plugging variacs into their amps and blowing them up. So EVH had to tell another lie about how he actually uses the variac in order to erase the first lie to get guitarist to stop plugging in variacs. So the second lie still sticks to this day cause last year i had a guitar coworker actually tell me EVH uses a variac. I googled his word, and this story came up, and EVH used a variac at home cause he had a small shitty amplifier that had issues with the output. What my coworker didnt know is I have 20 years of electrical experience and a BS in EET. So supposedly EVH never forgave DLR for that near fatal suggestion, and EVH never gave advice on his sound techniques. At the end of the day it was him and only him.

[@theboofin]

@@pashon4percushon The variac use was real, for a while - small clubs. He initially said that he jacked up the voltage rather than reduce it.

[@pashon4percushon]

@@theboofin he jacked up the voltage, in small clubs? Doesn't add up.

[@theboofin]

@@pashon4percushon Ed threw people off at first by saying he jacked the voltage up but he actually turned it down to 89 or 90 volts from 110. This gave him a distorted sound at a lower volume which was useful for small clubs where volume was a problem. After the first album came out it was not really needed.

[@genesises]

@@theboofin you cant be for real hahahahah

[@backslash68]

This was an eye opener! I was always wondering how to play the "Eddie scale": all alternate picked? difficult, sounds disconnected; all legatos? sounds too weak, no attack. The not so obvious solution was to play it mixing the two techniques. This proves once again how much of a genius Eddie was.

[@hinjurock70]

The best hard rock/metal players combine legato and staccato in their fast runs like Eddie did. Randy Rhoads and Dimebag Darrell also did this as well.

[@ThinPicks]

@@hinjurock70 And Michael Schenker too.

[@hinjurock70]

@@ThinPicks For sure. Michael is one of my favorite guitarists. Also, Richie Blackmore and Uli Roth combined both techniques.

[@ThinPicks]

@@hinjurock70 All true virtuosos 👍

[@mralgebro]

You’re so good at explaining without making me feel dumb. This is a mind blowing riff 🤯

[@urbanlegendsandtrivia2023]

I was lucky to see the Van Halen and Rush shows at the Hampton Coliseum back in the 1980s. Words can't describe what it was like to see those bands live and in concert.

[@johnabbottphotography]

Brother, you are a great guitar teacher! This is one of those things that as soon as someone points it out, you say to yourself "of course!". I've heard this all over his playing, but never recognized what it was until you pointed it out. Phenomenal.

[@vegasaxeman]

Mr. Robert Baker... YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN MY BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER! Seriously Robert, you've taken what seems like an impossible uphill battle and made it sound like your best friend sitting in your room with you turning you on to an amazing guitar lesson! And bro, I've said it before and I'll say it again, I really dig the way that, although you're an unbelievably talented and knowledgeable guitar player, you still NEVER talk down to your viewers! You TOTALLY ROCK, and don't go changin' you beautyful person, you! LOL!!! Anyway, keep the faith and keep fighting the good fight man! God bless and take care...

[@andrewwasson6153]

You got me at “Eddie is my opinion, the best guitar player ever”. I’m absolutely on the same page.

[@paulyoung4781]

He is good,but I'm more of a skyes man he is more my style more vibrato and creative john skyes was so underrated EVH was awesome though absolutely but john skys was just that bit better in my eyes sorry

[@scottpeters4401]

EVH was THE greatest guitarists/musician ever….40 years later,people are still trying to figure out the technique,the tone,etc….There is an industry in everything EVH,from replica’s of the strap he used in 1978,to pickups,to guitars,to amplifiers,to pedals….People buy Variac’s and tubes,and mod their Plexi’s like his….40 plus years later,people still want to imitate him….No other guitar player has ever had that kind of lasting impact on music,style,and tone…..There are lots of great and influential guitar players for sure,but EVH is in a league of his own…

[@paulyoung4781]

So much great guitarists there has been,Hendrix to Jimmy page!! I'm not saying EVH wasn't the greatest as he definitely was but for me I personally think john sykes was one of the greatest his tone his vibrato his creativity!! I love randy roahds he was outstanding even Gary moore very underated and he was definitely in the top 10 world best guitarists I personally would think and of course EVH!! No dought about it,sorry about my spelling haha I'm not the best my grammar!! Everyone always says slash is there top guitarist I rate slash too amazing guitarist,but david gilmour is bye far another amazing blues British guitarist outstanding tone player,Eric Clapton I never got into him much,,my top is definitely john skyes,,mark knophler,,,randy roahds,,david Gilmore always been my top favourites and of course EVH my father would still say EVH was the top for him haha like I say I'm not doubting the facts,but it all comes done to preference and I love skyes he was just absolutely amazing and nailed it and I loved his cool style haha rip EVH I wish I could play your stuff I'd not even try to attempt it lol

[@freebee8221]

Its always a matter of an opinion but yes, evh is the best ever

[@backslash68]

Eddie is the best *rock* guitar player ever.

[@ermonski]

I love that this trick can be a one size fits all for all improv applications!

[@brianolson_music]

I’ve always loved that lick, and you’re right - he used it a lot. I could never quite get it perfect- close, but he’s so dang fast I couldn’t quite figure out what I was doing wrong. Now I know- thanks to you! Appreciate it. Good stuff!

[@scottperrin9655]

this is so great. I've been doing this lick forever, but I do it with the picking/Legato backwards of this. it's amazing how different this lick sounds like this instead of how I've been doing it. wow. thank you for this!

[@lipstickspeedball]

Why hasn't anybody picked this guy up. He just crushed it. Out of the Park Lesson. First to describe Eddy's actual playing style to perfection. So anybody can play as the master himself. That one would be worth the money. Fo Sure! Well Done

[@juanpablomarin5463]

Eddie! The game changer! The king!

[@Wargasm54]

Just in time! Just finished learning drop dead legs and Panama. These nuances will help capture a bit more of that Eddie sound. He does a lot of muted string rakes between playing too. Helps get some of that Eddie feel as well. Thanks man 🤘🏻👊🏻

[@wakjob961]

Are you from that Boston band 'Wargasm'?

[@boofert.washington2499]

Are you an L7 fan?

[@Wargasm54]

@@boofert.washington2499 no. I’ve been using that name forever. Was a gamer tag back in the day. L7 is decent. But I didn’t boost my name from them.

[@jason698]

So great. Miss you Ed!😢

[@Douglas_I]

I can't wait to get home from work and try this!

[@sleepinggorilla]

THANK YOU for giving us a simple, effective lesson. I could not be more of a begginner to this style and almost every lesson I find is far too advanced.

[@avrilrocks3607]

I love this technique, that lick has always been one of my favourite from EVH!

[@BrunoKrnetic]

Amazing one! One thing I noticed in these samples that I consider important is the upstroke when doing hammer ons. It keeps the flow going and makes the picking pattern always the same across the strings. Thanks Robert!

[@CthulhuOO7]

While it’s all in the fingers, esp with EVH, the tone you have here is incredible. Even when you pick one note, it’s THERE. Throaty, not too much gain, big resonant bottom. People like to obsess over signal chains and gear, but I’d love to know what you have going on here. One big revelation I’ve had with EVH is listening to Spanish Fly and realizing just how hard he’s hitting the strings.

[@RKDriver]

I read or heard that EVH had an incredibly light touch on the strings. This allowed him to just float over them so fast. This makes sense because he always cranked his amps and a light touch would be critical to keeping the tones under control. Plus anyone who really cranks their amps and puts a lot a gain into them knows you can fly over the strings with both hands. The legatos, taps and picked strings become effortless.

[@aawenel1437]

High five, RB. This was such a simple and pragmatic lesson. I've started changing how I run all my scales with it now. It's the illusion of great speed and I love it!

[@victorialarkin1757]

I love the electric guitar I don't play it or anything, but I love hearing it! And what you're doing here Robert is basically showing me how they do it. There are so many great guitarists but my favorite is Jimmy Page. Led Zeppelin all the way. I like how Jimmy used a violin bow. I love all guitarists basically LOL I just love love love it!

[@tommypitt5490]

As a beginner your explanation of the dynamics in this video made so much sense. I’ve got a ways to go to shred like that but your videos are definitely a help. “R’N’F’R” Thank you.

[@Ibaneddie76]

Great lesson Robert this is an excellent technique for training your hand to memorize scales and how to use them in solos. I love those EVH guitars too, that is one of the best playing necks ever!

[@davidkay3443]

Great lessons. I’ve been playing 25 years and there’s always stuff to learn and improve on. Unless your name was Eddie van halen . He was sublime in every way. But these lessons are broken down and have been helping me alot. Many thanks from across the pond in the UK 🇬🇧. Look forward to more of these. New subscriber right here.

[@chocolatecookie8571]

So many years later I found out that my favorit rock guitarists were influenced by Eddie. Also Eddie was one of my favorits but in my teenage years I didn’t realized that he was the man every rock guitarist was looking up to.

[@alexguitar841]

Really dig these videos dude. I love EHV but I always shied away from trying to learn too many of his songs, primarily because my chops were never quite up to par but also because he's such a unique player that I thought it'd be useless to try. But throwing in the occasional "inspired by" lick is always a great homage and a fun exercise. You're the MAN!

[@crankertom2974]

Great video. Very inspiring. By having 4 pickstrokes on every string it fits in with Troy Grady's explaination of how to move from string to string.

[@sirzap7542]

Eddie was absolutely the best! There was no one who sounded more bizarre & unique with furious speed.

[@lipstickspeedball]

Sir ZAP ; A Master at his game

[@sirzap7542]

@@lipstickspeedball You know what pisses me off? When people try to discredit EDDIE! Like so many people think Randy was better. I LOVE RANDY TOO! BUT ...... People, do your homework! Randy admitted to learning everything he knew he learned from EDDIE!!!! Eddie was a magician inside a musician! Randy didn't have nearly as many tricks, while Eddie had a truckload! All I'm saying is this. I play guitar, I have studied both Eddie and Randy and Eddie wins hands down! Why? 1 Because he was the originator of bringing heavy metal and hammerons and pulloffs together. 2 If you thought you were hot sh!t behind guitar, all someone had to do was put on Eruption and say "Can You Play This?" It happened to me! I'm sure it happened to a lot of other players as well. And back when Eruption came out, no joke, no one knew what the heck Eddie was doing. We all knew we liked it, though! 3 When Eddie came out with Eruption, IT SENT EVERY GUITARIST BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD!!!! If you like Randy, you can thank Eddie for that! If you like George Lynch, Steve Lynch, Bucket Head, Bernth, Reb Beach etc... YOU CAN THANK EDDIE FOR THAT!!!!! Know your history people, it was Eddie and NO ONE ELSE THAT STARTED IT ALL!!!! Eddie changed the guitar world FOREVER!!!

[@lipstickspeedball]

@@sirzap7542 I call Eddie The Master of Guitar. I remember when I first heard Eruption on their first Album “ Running with The Devil. Everybody was astounded by how Eddie played Eruption. No body out there has even come close to writing something so mind blowing original to this day. Even now. And the Master has passed on in to R&R Heaven and no one has come close as of now. Sure they can play his Eruption. Because it is written out how to play it. But no one has actually written their own mind blowing original solo as Master Eddie has done. NO ONE!!!!! So that is why I call him the Original Master up there with Les Paul . I bet both of them are jamin right now in R&R Heaven. In my mind . There is only 2 real masters out there who enriched every kid out there with their Genuine playing style and new Ways to improve your sound with amps . Building their own instruments to their own style and play. Creating new tools like heads pedals and more to enrich the playing field so all kids have a choice in improving their playing styles 10 fold. Both have contributed so much to the Artists out there and the music industry. That they both have earned that tittle 10 fold !!!!! We owe them for their contributions to music. The masters are now LEGENDS!!!!

[@wizrom3046]

Not many people "get" the palm muting. EVH was an absolute master or the palm mute, and it adds so much texture. It turns guitar notes into a rythm instrument, and not just that, but a rythm instrument where you can control the actual texture and timbre of every single note event. Nice vid! Liked and subbed. 👍🛎

[@gravyblue]

I have to say Robert, You have the best tone of the youtube guitar community.

[@wormcultist6637]

I would love to see more of this type of thing licks and legato techniques. I struggle when I want to play fast

[@taylorforester4213]

Thanks for the lessons man. Always wondered exactly what was going on in these parts.

[@sebastionhawk5565]

I've been subscribed to you for many years, because, your instruction is superlative, and, YOUR HAIR IS PERFECT!

[@joejarusinsky2244]

Great lesson Robert!! Eddie would be proud 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻😎

[@redneckrebelzracing2891]

Great vid bro!!! I have always loved the insights into Eddie's playing simply because he did so much little things in between all the big sweeps, squeals and dives that made the riff or passage that much bigger. There will never be another. This was one of the things I loved about Dimebag's playing was there were so many influences there all intertwined. Keep it up man. Sick EVH guitar btw...

[@carlosmatos9848]

Always loved how Eddie was great at using symmetrical patterns all over the fret board. You can tell he had a lot of influence on other players like Dimebag, the CFH solo uses a variation of this lick

[@stormyandcold]

EVH basically influenced everyone after him.

[@stephenreese9841]

Awesome tutorial Robert… makes so much sense when “slowed” down excellent choice

[@donnyhawk662]

Great lesson Sir! Broke it down for easy learning. Always wondered why nobody's really teaching Eddies techniques. They usually sounded great.Thank you ..subscribed!

[@MrPERPS]

Eddie was the best. RIP to the GOAT.

[@thomasmartinscott]

Excellently presented! My pinky sort of has the Django Reinhart syndrome, but you showed it with just the 3 other fingers. That gives me some hope. Thanks! (I'm a Blues/Jazz Player, but I've been interested in some shredding lately. This should be fun.) I Liked & subscribed.

[@2715jedi]

Dude... Huge huge lesson here!! Such great stuff u do not see others going through on da tube... Thanks a bunch

[@robritoboy]

I think no-one ever takes any notice of how Eddie held the pick. I remember reading an article where he said he held it between his MIDDLE finger and his thumb, and when needed used his index finger for support. This is not normal, and people just dismiss it as bad technique, but you can see him doing it. How can it be bad if it's Eddie? However, if you try it (and really it takes 30 minutes to get mainly down), you will notice that you actually get more of Eddie's tone, because you hit the string harder at a different angle. It also gives you much easier access to mute all the strings with the side of your hand, so muting higher (note) strings is easier. Otherwise I had found it hard to mute them in songs like 'Ain't Talkin' 'Bout 'Love' and 'Drop Dead Legs' (and I'm sure logs of others). Also, by being able to rest your hand on the bridge, you are more stable, you don't have to put your pinkie on the pickguard to stabilise, or otherwise float and miss string skips. So you are actually more accurate (and Eddie was known for not making many mistakes). Additionally, and what sounds like a bad thing, it actually slows you down, so you can't pick super fast. I think Eddie overcame this with a lot of hammer-ons and pull-offs, both local and to open strings, because it was the way he could get the speed up. Could this also be why he 'invented' finger tapping, to get faster due to his picking technique letting him down on speed? It's easier to play Eddie's songs like this, but you can't really play Malmsteen with it (or I can't). Also note that holding the pick this way, you tend to hit the volume control on a Fender a lot. So he had to move the volume control down a little, and hence the Frankenstrat was invented! He also had to invent his own 'tremelo' technique where he flicks a string from a distance based on this grip. He never tremelo's quickly in his normal hand position. I would love it you would explore this technique yourself, it's really interesting to see what happens. Once you get use to it, it's quite comfortable, and you can switch between positions when needed. I'm sure lots of Eddie fans would love to hear these theories too, so put all this in a video if you want, don't have to mention me at all🙂

[@jfo3000]

This pick grip is also great for all downstrokes, middle finger / thumb with help from the index is also a Hetfield grip.

[@izaiahformanmusic6105]

Something else interesting to take into consideration is that Eddie was double jointed. He could hold the pick differently than people who aren’t therefore he had a different attack and different feel.

[@robritoboy]

@@jfo3000 Yeah, people sort of dismiss it as 'wrong technique', but it definitely has it's advantages. Just being more stable and accurate, which I think even allows more consistent timing. I've recorded myself sight-reading using this grip, and the notes are clearer and more naturally in the groove. Not sure why, whether it's more 'mass' of the hand, using slightly different muscles or more leverage with the fingers extended from the hand, but for me it seems to give me more confidence in my picking.

[@robritoboy]

@@izaiahformanmusic6105 If you look at his hands, I think you could say he hands tended towards 'malaysian' style, from his mother. Everyone is different, but I think he was gifted especially dexterous hands.

[@robritoboy]

@@izaiahformanmusic6105 If you try to hold it his way, you'll see your tone gets more like his.

[@jadreza8182]

I love how you have demonstrated and explained this. I recall that run in Spanish fly on the top strings, and those points you made really pop out. Thanks again for sharing this 😊👍

[@Xcorgi]

Thank you for providing the tablature for each run. These lessons are absolutely useless for many of us without the tablature!

[@riffwrath6236]

Discrepancies 1 The first 3 notes : tab should show note ties. 2. The 4th thru 6 notes: if picking technique is alternate picking technique, then the 7th note should also be alternate picking technique. your picking, per note, direction: 4th, down-pick 5th, up-pick 6th, down-pick 7th, down-pick* the 7th should be an up-pick. the correct picking is: 4th, up-pick 5th, down-pick 6th, up-pick 7th, down-pick. this sequence includes the proper pick escape technique.

[@ClassofEighty2]

This is what you're best at, showing us simple techniques that we can play and use. Thanks again.

[@harrigranqvist7871]

Finally for ages something fresh and especially since I have always been into Paul Gilbert's palm muting and so convenient movement to legato, this is exactly what I need and will try. Thanks!

[@ThinPicks]

I like the way palm muting the picked notes and lifting off for the legato parts kind of equalises the volume of each but retains enough of a distinction between them.

[@chadgarber]

Yes. I discovered this same thing a few months ago. Very cool.

[@tahoeboulderingguides1864]

Killer! I’ve been playing this lick, but picking every note. The pick/hammer combo with the muting made it shine. Thanks.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Jealous of that geetar! Great video as always Robert.

[@RobertBakerGuitar]

Thanks, dude. Hope all is well.

[@steveboxing]

One of your best vids yet. One of the reasons I love guitar is these simple tweaks that can level up your playing.

[@cardonasaltandlight1418]

Thanks for this! I really appreciate your work. Eddie was my inspiration to start playing many,many years ago. I'm subscribed. Your success is our success.✌️

[@bobramirez588]

“Your success is our success” - that’s spot on. Well said

[@gpapa31]

Awesome video as usual man. I hope one day you make a video that breaks down Eddie’s incredible rhythm playing. I honestly feel it’s by far his most underrated and overlooked skill and the one that sets him apart from all the other 80s shredders. Everything he played and composed had a killer swing groove even his solos and I think it’s something he brought over to the guitar from his drum days. . Because that was one of the first instruments he played before becoming a full on guitarist for life. Drums helped him develop his groove feel and inner rhythm and Piano his unique approach on how he voices his solos. He plays a lot of solo patterns (mostly his tapping solos) with piano harmonisation voicings in mind. Hence the insane stretches in his solos, since the Piano notes are laid on the clavier linearly and therefore you have more available notes to play simultaneously than the guitar.

[@markpell8979]

@ gpapa31... You wrote my comment for me! Well said, couldn't have put it better. The only thing I can add, and this seems to be true for Robert and many of the other commenters, is we still seem to think and speak of Eddie Van Halen as if he's here with us now. His music and rare talent are immortal. RIP Eddie.

[@ianorourke6320]

And still the genius of EVH keeps showing up. Bravo dude

[@lesgibbs326]

Thanks Robert for your lesson on Eddie I've always wanted to attempt some of his techniques and does seem pretty scary but it is way too cool not to try. I really liked your lesson on tap harmonics on chords octave apart that blew me away 😃👍

[@briankoenig8923]

Dimebag does the same in the CFH solo. 11-12-15 across the fretboard, but I think he resolves it on the high E 15th fret G. The interesting part is that all the notes could be played 10-11-12, but the order that he plays it creates nice intervals.

[@guitartec]

I'm The One is my fav Eddie "guitar tune" ever. It's a fast mover for sure made so other guitarist have a reason to live. Thanks for the vid!

[@jimiraybeckton]

Killer tone man! What’s the signal path? Most excellent 😎✌🏼

[@larryaustin6977]

Robert Baker is THE BEST! Thank you so much!

[@theaxe5150]

Very helpful lesson! Your right hand is so efficient.

[@sethcashman1011]

When I think of this Eddieism, "Spanish Fly" is the first example that comes to mind. Don't know why. Thanks for this excellent demonstration!

[@GregG92_5]

very possibly the absolute greatest simple EVH guitar lesson ever posted on YT

[@tallpaul1020]

Fantastic lesson Robert!!!!. Love it!!! Also a great practice workout that only gets better and better!!!! P.S. ALL VH lessons should be on that guitar, it just fits!!! Can't wait until the next Livestream!!!!🎸🤘🎸👍

[@brianheale5064]

Your Van Halen studies are totally cool. Brilliant

[@brianmckenzie1318]

Dude, you are on another level! Great analysis! Love it, always learning from your videos (even though I may not be able to play it properly)!

[@BMuscle]

Dude why have I never thought of doing this lol? I play that pattern all the damn time too. Thanks for this! RIP Eddie!

[@SpectreSoundStudios]

VERY cool technique, Robert! Thanks for sharing! BTW, great tone in this one! What was your signal chain?

[@RobertBakerGuitar]

Thanks buddy. I was jsut using an Axe Fx patch I made based around a Friedman.

[@wmear5893]

Robert, great video as always by you!! Agreed!, Eddie's dynamics were crazy amazing including, of course, his rhythm playing. Go back to VH 1 & 2 and think about the fact that many of those tunes were written years before they were published - only several years after the death of Jimi Hendrix. He was using his technique that many of us only first heard in the late 70's yet he had already been playing like that for what(?), how many years? If you think about the guitarists and the techniques of the early and mid 70's, compared to tunes like ... 'I'm The One' or even just an average example like the remake on VH 2 of 'You're No Good', Eddie's dynamics were so far ahead of his time he'd be the best argument that there is indeed time travelers in this world. And not to mention, his technique was unbelievable and clean for everyone to hear, nothing lost in the mix with nothing cleaner or more mystifying than Spanish Fly.

[@kojam1]

@@wmear5893 too bad I can only give one thumbs up! This is what I've ALWAYS be in awe of. The video (audio only) of him working style out in his bedroom, long before becoming a God, at the tender age of 18/19 or so is astounding. He was creating, from scratch, his OWN style. Almost all fret masters since have started out learning his style before even beginning to work on their own.

[@HailRider]

Love this kind of lesson/talk

[@larryb3946]

Thanks for breaking this down so patiently.

[@chasingtrailproductions3689]

Thanks Robert, I have been wanting to get a tutorial on exactly this EVH technique. Now my lesson plan is set for this evening. BTW, I find it really fascinating most of EVH licks sound terrible played slow and sound great up to speed. I always wonder how he came up with licks. Probably never played the notes slow, so it always worked. At stepdad speed these all sound lame. I agree EVH was the best and incredibly creative. Some will say other guitarist were better, faster etc. The criteria why he is absolutely the best. EVH inspired more people to play guitar then any guitarist in history, and changed music during a punk rock and disco time in music.

[@frankscassi4960]

All guys faster then him were inspired by him, he was the original shredder. But what every other evh imitator never got was the taste and feel Eddie had. It wasn't just about speed, it delivered a feel. You can feel that Eddie played that way because it came natural to him. EVH and Hendrix were the two most revolutionary guitarists ever, no other guy can even come close to them

[@andrewbecker3700]

Just imagine the kegger party scene in So Cal. in the late 70's when blow was being snorted by the kilo every weekend! Then it's not as hard to imagine how he came up with his technique.

[@chasingtrailproductions3689]

@@andrewbecker3700 Agree!

[@chasingtrailproductions3689]

@@frankscassi4960 Definitely!

[@garlicbutter1906]

@@andrewbecker3700 Ever heard Van Halen's demo? Holy crap. Imagine walking into a club at that time and and hearing that.

[@ryanp7782]

I've been trying to learn I'm The One, and this is a big help. Thanks Robert!!!

[@cameroncummings6020]

man this video is a blessing haha. I just hit a massive block and need something just like this to break it down! Thanks man! Long live the King!!!!

[@tommyholtMN]

This really helped a lot and so great to learn this. I tended to wait to pick the four notes too fast so slowing it down and getting it right helped. Trying some different picks helped as well.

[@willrobinson4089]

You are fantastic Mr Baker! And I'm envious of the Frankenstrat.

[@CentaurusRelax314]

This is the coolest. I love how you break down Eddieisms for the mortals.

[@eisbaellsche175]

yes! The ascending lick at the end of LOVE WALKS IN is in the same way. Took me years to figure that out... It sounds BIG.

[@RikJSmith]

Robert you are so good at teaching !! Thank you for sharing your Knowledge. A lot of your Lessons are quite difficult for me to retain due to a brain injury that happened about 3 years ago. Definitely changed my Guitar playing unfortunately. But anyway , I believe this is the type of Lick I can really get good at in a short time. Thanks again , Dude. Hope you're doing well and staying safe. 🎸🎸🎸

[@EnigmaticAnamoly]

I think its important to note that Eddie also leaned towards playing with thin picks...that alone is pretty impressive.

[@aquatichighs]

He used metal for much of his career because he couldn’t find picks strong enough…

[@EnigmaticAnamoly]

@@aquatichighs 👍

[@BenEller]

U R good boi

[@banyarling]

Darrell does this in his leads too. Looking at the notes he's fretting it's like wait that shouldn't work -- but it doesn't matter that it's just one shape if it's played fast enough! Really cool trick.

[@bartvools2314]

Made me think of Dime too. That’s how his love for Eddie shines through.

[@1969MARKETING]

the best sounding licks are always the fundamentals with improv

[@bobbysmith9380]

Thanks so much for this!! I can spend the rest of my life learning EVH techniques

[@jcburger733]

Thanks for the Eddie Van Halen shred trick. Appreciated!! Greatly appreciated.

[@odom2142]

Such a simple and easy pattern! Thank you so much!

[@hydrefyricon804]

Excellent lesson and playing...never thought of how he did this.

[@stevemcgee9440]

Great job, I enjoy how you break down the techniques with such clarity .thanks for the share

[@tony3231]

This is so cool. You have such a great sound. I am trying to learn this and I really see how useful it is already even before I have learned it. It’s just one of those things that I can really relate to. Thanks for sharing this.

[@blacob]

you the man Robert thank you bud for all your hard work to make us better shredders!

[@Terrybryk]

THANK U Robert for ALL OF YOUR VIDEOS. . LOVE U BRO. .& GOD BLESS U Robert

[@snorkyblundabus7063]

A great demonstration thank you. You made that really easy to understand!

[@mariamarin8152]

Eddie.... The King of Kings

[@louisflege3741]

Freaking awesome! I'll be practicing this next time I get the axe out! Thank you!

[@TheBlackStrat502]

If you aren’t subbed to Mr. Baker by now…then it’s just more hot licks, tips, and riffs for the rest of us! Love your content, Rob!