Eruption - Van Halen - Violin Cover By Nina D

[@NinaDiGregorio]

Hey everyone! There seems to be a lot to confusion about the instrument I am playing. For those curious: I own many violins, ranging from a regular 4-string acoustic Klotz violin c. 1752 which I used heavily throughout my masters degree in classical violin, to the 7-String Wood Violins fretted Viper (created by Mark Wood) that can be seen in the Eruption video, and everything in between! I perform on many different violins both live on tour, and in my videos. I choose the instrument that best serves my needs for the repertoire (the same way a guitar player would have a rack of guitars for a show). Back to the 7-string violin; the top 4 strings are exactly like a regular violin. They are violin strings, tuned in 5ths, same fingering, same spacing (the Flying V shape doesn’t affect that). You can play all of your favorite Mozart, Paganini, Bruch or Mendelssohn on it exactly as you would an acoustic 4-string. There are 3 lower added strings for range (BbFC) also tuned in 5ths following a natural violin hand position. I use these strings so I can play guitar solos in the same range as a guitar (the top E string of a violin sounds an octave higher than the top E string of a guitar). The frets are not like guitar frets. They are smaller and curved, and you are supposed to play on top of them instead of in between them. Though they can come in handy in a live setting where you are playing rock or metal with a drummer, if your in-ears happen to go out and you really need to still play in tune, I find it harder to play with the frets and I use them for achieving certain guitar techniques like pinch harmonics, tapping, or power chords. I don’t use these violins for everything, and I much prefer a fretless to cover something like Pink Floyd. The removal of the chin rest in lieu of a chest support system on the Viper serves to free up your head while performing. I sing and play at the same time in my show, and I also use a talk box. It helps to have full range of your head. Adding extra strings or frets to an instrument does not change the mechanical makeup of said instrument, nor does it change the fundamental technique needed to play the instrument. A guitarist could not pick up this violin and play it. A violinist could. Bow technique alone is something that takes years to master. You can’t compare it to Jimmy Page playing his guitar with a bow, because that’s much different. Jimmy Page is not using the bow with proper violin technique to perform difficult technical repertoire, he used it to create a new sonic aesthetic to his instrument, the same way John Cage utilized a prepared piano to create a new sonic landscape for traditional piano. But in no way was the guitar no longer a guitar, or the piano no longer a piano because they used a unique method to draw sounds. There is a difference between round wound strings and flat wound strings. Bowing a guitar will not produce the clarity of bowing a violin. To bow a guitar, you can get some sounds on the top or bottom strings, or all the strings because the bridge is mostly flat. You won’t be performing Paganini on a guitar with a bow. To bow a violin, first you have a curved bridge, and you must learn a very specialized bow grip, numerous bowing techniques, and practice for years to perform difficult repertoire like Paganini. In other words, it’s not just used as a sound effect, it’s necessary to the fundamentals of the instrument. Hopefully this clears up some confusion, ☮ out!

[@weets69]

Nina, thx for the clarification. This makes more sense to me now. I retract my first comment 🤘 Ps. Never questioned your talent by the way. I believe EVH would be approve of your rendition 😎

[@kevinagnew6878]

Wow I am so very glad I had a chance to read this and you Rock it

[@LIGHTintheHALLS]

You not only play it powerfully and brilliantly but the textures of sound you coaxed from that unique violin are spot on.

[@zeekmclaughlin7238]

Incredible tribute, Nina.. you more than captured the essence of Eruption and definitely got my attention!

[@kremata]

That was fantastic and made me shed a tear of emotion. I come from the rock classic era but always had a soft spot for violin. You perfectly combine them.

[@artvandelay4545]

Who else heard the beginning of "You Really Got Me" in their head after she was done?

[@billhahne2879]

It's almost a sin she didn't continue into YRGM, but I get it - Eruption stands on its own as a tribute to both rock guitar and EVH.

[@TheAlfaNut]

Haha yeah me! 😅

[@TheAlfaNut]

Haha yeah me! 😅

[@marcmiller789]

Eddie once said in an interview that the "eruption" solo was mostly made up of bits and pieces of his favorite VH songs.

[@joemarchinski914]

Yess🤘

[@Gregrsmt]

Heck yeah.!! 59 years old, Van Halen 1 all time favorite album. Got goosebumps listening to her play this. Very cool...

[@bruceellenburg429]

@@Gregrsmt I had the vinyl and recorded it to a cassette so I could listen to it in the car. It is an awesome album

[@dbuck1964]

And her outfit is an homage to the paint job on Eddie’s guitar at the time. How freaking cool.

[@NinaDiGregorio]

Yeah, someone who gets it!

[@berniebilicki7832]

Masterful, skillful, artistic, creative! and beautiful....Eddie would be proud, very proud.

[@TheRootsMan]

This performance has the best tone of any ERRUPTION cover I've ever heard.

[@jeromewagschal9485]

Somewhere in heaven Eddie Van Halen is smiling from ear to ear and as a musician is genuinely intrigued and fascinated by this rendition of his classic song... Of course I can't actually see him but I can only imagine... It's still an impressive display of virtuosity...

[@georgemaccrone6147]

That was amazing! Never in a million years did I think I would hear 'Eruption' played on violin and be so entertained watching, it was mesmerizing! Thank you!

[@markblake2112]

In 1978 I stood right in front of Eddie when he played Eruption. Will never forget it till the day I'm gone.

[@NinaDiGregorio]

🤘

[@bruceellenburg429]

@@markblake2112 I'm jealous...lol. Van Halen never came to my area. I would've loved it

[@08c6vette]

Wasn’t going to watch it but am I glad I did, think even eddie would have been blown away by that.

[@VanHalenStarWars]

Absolutely perfect!! The tone is beyond sick. Love the entire production! Ed’s legacy lives on..

[@NinaDiGregorio]

Thanks!

[@dawgosa8505]

Props. I understand this is a rendition of an Eddy Van Halen piece. And his was a rendition of a classical piece that every classical music lover always loved. She did an amazing job

[@F.A.F.O.818]

That was the most bad ass thing I’ve ever seen in 55 years on this planet, blown away!!!

[@rstoltz]

This is the new definitive cover of Eruption in my opinion. Great job, Nina D!

[@intehelt8606]

Finally an electric violin used as an electric violin

[@Chaz-x1i]

You did it, you triumphed over difficulty through perseverance. You are a great example for all.

[@RubenYbarra-y2v]

Eddie Van Halen would've been very proud! Absolutely amazing! 😮

[@joblo2671]

Holy shnizzles.....Im an old, crusty, stone-hearted bitter man, and nothing impresses me anymore. But that was AWESOME!!! 😮😮😮

[@LudoBruggeman-ux1sl]

Amazing… not only her great performance, but the whole picture… her beauty, the clothes, the spotlights, the sound… everything is amazing… what a great talented woman… you brought Eddie alive again, he would certainly loved this amazing cover of his trademark solo piece… I was amazed the same way u was when I first heard the song wat back in the 70’s when I was a teenager… I 65 now and a long time Van Halen fan and your cover version gives me shivers… thank you and God bless Eddie.

[@daviddeane3163]

That's completely bad ass! It's a shame Eddie won't get to see you perform this....RIP Eddie

[@jeffbaker5038]

The best cover of eruption I've ever heard and it was on violin! Awesome!

[@mikaldene7146]

I saw Eddie do this from second row. He would be smiling and no doubt jamming right along...our generation rocked

[@davidkirby-jx9xp]

From what little I remember,, And THEN Some!

[@phatdusa]

Beautiful tribute to a master guitarist!!!! Eddie would of enjoyed that violin version , Rock on Nina

[@drt28]

Fantastic, well played! That took her quite a few hours of relentless practice to perfect that piece! Indeed great talent and a nice outfit too!!! Bravo!

[@davidenders9282]

awesome. it's great to see musicians to continue the legacy of a pioneer of music. I was lucky & able to see him play that live for the first time in 1980 6 rows directly in front of him. EVH R.I.P.

[@Chibason]

Wow, it's truly remarkable how close she got to it. Probably the best Eruption cover ive heard

[@NinaDiGregorio]

Thanks!

[@sonicmayhym]

can we just take a moment hear to reflect on what we just witnessed..it is one thing to play this solo on the guitar but to play that on a violin type instrument, with frets even..mind blown and that pedal board and how absolutely radiant this woman is and did you see the rock on that girls finger....dam!!!!

[@no3rdseat]

I think EVH would have loved the dedication it took to learn this on an instrument tuned in 5ths that was created on an instrument tuned in 4ths. This was FREAKING amazing! Well Done!

[@NinaDiGregorio]

Congrats, you're one of the few people here who knows how it is tuned!

[@rktraeger]

This was actually one of the most correct and best interpretations of eruption I have heard. To the note! On Violin!!! Wow, this is a very skilled musician! Hats off!!!!!😯

[@NinaDiGregorio]

Thank you!

[@tomgaffney740]

I can still remember hearing this album on cassette in my buddies car when it was released. It was so unlike anything else at the time n I was hooked. Abosolute classic.

[@noelmichael3980]

The road less traveled … Eddie goes from pianist to drummer to guitarist and now his monumental solo is replicated, beautifully played on violin by this virtuoso … let that TRIUMPHANT journey sink in.

[@Aaron-fl2iv]

Is it really a violin though? It has 6 strings, frets, and pickups.

[@NinaDiGregorio]

@@Aaron-fl2iv Just go to electricviolinshop.com and peruse their inventory. It’s a whole new world out there for strings (for quite a few decades now).

[@humbuckersoup7571]

AMAZING! - You deserve nothing but a standing ovation for this. Technique, interpretation & performance. Just outstanding!

[@NinaDiGregorio]

Thank you!

[@paulsigmon7263]

Awesome. And the fiddle playing is pretty good too!

[@RocketQueen71]

❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 ROCKTASTIC! What an amazing tribute to Eddie ! Eddie is looking down and smiling wide ! ROCKTASTIC! ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥🤘😎

[@perkins1439]

Mind-blowing the tone was even spot on

[@高木竜太-i4o]

これはヤバい・・・凄すぎる✨

[@vanhenry98]

MAGNIFICENT ! that had me in tears ,Also the out fit is so BADASS What a salute to EDDIE

[@jamesshetterly4831]

Me too!!

[@NinaDiGregorio]

Thanks!

[@scottrowe533]

When it comes to musical performance, these days, I'm not easily impressed. Which is another way of saying "I've been around a while and I've seen it all." But this cover of Eddie V's 'Eruption' on a seven-string fretted violin is pretty damn cool. Thanx, Nina! Keep on bowin'! 👏

[@CJ-nt4cs]

That album came out when I was in high school. Eddie blew me away. So did this beautiful lady!

[@cliffhiggins730]

😳I have NEVER IN MY LIFE seen ANYTHING like this!!! AMAZING!!!👏👏👏

[@panzerlieb]

A fretted seven string violin!!! I never knew anything like that existed

[@DF-ee8vt]

Now, that's a REAL guit-fiddle! Excellent rendition.

[@JavierTorres-py6rp]

Just stumbled onto this. Damn girl. That was great. And at 66 and lived as crazy as the next guy, not much excites me anymore. This excited me.

[@malcolmironmonger]

ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@bruceellenburg429]

@malcolmironmonger several years ago I went to a middle school talent contest. A 14 year old guy with 8 months experience playing played Eruption for his performance. He was quite good to not have a lot of time playing

[@jamesmurphy1678]

Phenomenal. Eddie would be impressed.

[@Plowguitarist]

WOW!! Incredibly done.. and it really didn’t hurt the way she filled out that awesome outfit either.. that was a bonus ..🥰🥰

[@SamuraiMasenko]

"I wanted to sound like Eddie." I had that problem for most of my teenage years. In this case, your hard work paid off! You absolutely succeeded. Insane project.

[@NinaDiGregorio]

Thank you!

[@142horizon]

Wow❤... And whenever someone does Eddie - he lives again🥲💥... He is Alive🎸in your notes.🙏✝️

[@fukenbiker]

​@@NinaDiGregorio yes but let me thank you also, this gets a subscribe!! FknA

[@jacquesraymond6892]

Eddie VanHalen would have been flabbergasted... BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@bruceellenburg429]

@jacquesraymond6892 if I had red roses I'd throw them at the phone....lol

[@maxinedavieds6104]

Eruption is my favorite of all time. Beautifully done!

[@sicfukferrara8002]

This is beyond ordinary talent. This is superhuman talent. You're incredible. Thank you .

[@mfin-dave]

That's amazing...Eddie would love it. !!!!

[@hsp8601]

Good job. My mom and I listened endlessly to Sandy.🤟💪👍✌️

[@JoeSykes1776]

HOLY ERUPTION BATGIRL!!! I'M SENDING THIS TO MY FRIENDS. MMMYEAH❤

[@pdloder]

OHH MY GOD!! I just fell in love at first listen!!! This is the best version since the original! 🤩🤩😍😍😍

[@Eric-t8c3c]

Holy moly. That is the coolest thing I have ever seen! This is amazing and immensely musical. ❤

[@christophermunoz9276]

Incredible! Can't say I've ever seen a violin with frets 😮Bravo Nina!

[@JamesJones-w7d]

More like a guitar with a bow.

[@ssdtrain1]

That was incredible!!! NEVER have I seen that before..

[@timreeves4776]

Younger people might not really appreciate how FUCKING AWESOME THAT WAS!!

[@stevog5826]

Okay, guys.... do the same thing as she did, but on a guitar using a bow and post it... let's see how close you come to that sound..... Man... Sooo many haters out there. Great job, young lady ! 👏 👍 🙌 💪 👌

[@alanhicks3361]

100%

[@fredwerza3478]

Jesus Effin' Christ --- this woman blew me away! 🔥🎻🌋

[@thor7564]

Probably the best Eruption cover 👍🏻

[@hakaiderjuju9384]

DAMN!!!🫢😮 THAT WAS FKN INSANE!!🫢🥰👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@warrenmedley3488]

Eddie would be floored if he was alive to hear your version. Great job!

[@petemitchell4690]

Unbelievable !!! The word talented isn't strong enough to describe her level of skills ! This is what Rock n' Roll angels sound like !!!

[@eandatoo]

This is the closest to the actual studio version I’ve ever heard!!!!! She f_ckin NAILED It!!! Holy Sh!t!!!!

[@DanielLozano-wb5vp]

Waiting for "You Really Got Me" to come on! 😂 Fantastic performance🎉

[@kevinalexpeek4020]

Seriously, after so many years of classic rock radio, you can't unhear them not together.

[@punknugget561]

Always desired to have a violin sound just like an electric guitar. Now we have and with such power and finesse. Thank you!

[@ZYGTropicals]

This is NOT a violin, not even close! This is a miniature guitar used with a bow! Violins don’t have frets, they don’t have a neck anywhere even near that long and violins don’t have that many strings! And violins do not use that kind of strings! It’s a mini guitar played with a bow.

[@billhahne2879]

Mastery. Sheer cosmic joy. To those who'd chide her for using effects/pedals, two things: Eddie used effects and pedals, too. Modern rock guitar wouldn't exist without these tools. The way she sustains notes with the bow is something a guitar cant do well (if at all) without effects. Yet she had to recreate a sound that was produced on a guitar. In this way, she's getting the job done with even less effects than the original while also performing a genius transition of mimicry across instruments. Next level achievement here.

[@ChadPrestonOfficialThree]

There are sections of this that sound exactly like you're picking the notes! Incredible. Way to persevere. 👍👍

[@harrydrury4734]

Massive love right here ! would like a thousand times , if I could

[@Tom-ok2rh]

That was the coolest thing I’ve seen in a long time..very nice

[@frankhiggins9408]

Eddie would be proud saying she nailed it 🤘

[@SkepticalLlama]

All right, so I’m a lifelong fiddle player. I was all ready to not be impressed. My mind is actually blown. The tapping part is perfection. Amazing work. Actually amazing.

[@BeowWulf]

Wow. To me, it sounded like a Steve Vai interpretation of Eruption on Eddie’s rig. Impressive!

[@rubenfortes378]

Gotta say I was not expecting the tapping! Kudos!👍🏽

[@Frankie_B68]

Ciao Nina! This was absolutely incredible. You look incredible, your clothing is out of this world, and your playing is breathtaking. Eruption changed my musical life, and 46 years later, to hear your rendition played so amazingly, gives me a huge smile. Grazie Nina. You make this italian very proud. Eddie is smiling down as well I'm sure.

[@MK-oz2lf]

now I'm waiting for YOU REALLY GOT ME to kick in

[@ericfaley9019]

Wow I’m blown away!

[@johnradebaugh-ss3xy]

Je**s Ch**st !!! That never gets old ! I hit replay twice before leaving this comment. Nice job ! Thank you !

[@NinaDiGregorio]

Thank you!

[@DystopiaFatigue]

Girl! You really got me goin'!

[@jamesbrummett6739]

I just have no words to say except….. mindblown🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@BuckeyeNationRailroader]

Eddie is up in Heaven smiling at what you did. He would be thrilled to hear this.

[@snoproblem]

It's the finale that gets me every time, that powerdive makes my breath shudder. 😳

[@Arthurbitt68]

Absolutamente fantástico 🤘🇧🇷🤘🇧🇷

[@brendanswift6755]

That was just f*****g insane!!

[@PinballPreparedness]

If I wasn't watching a video, I would have sworn it was EVH. You NAILED it!

[@TheNudeBrewer]

1> That was AMAZING!!!! 2> If you haven't read all she wrote in the description-- read it. Her tribute to EVH is better than what the Grammys did. But, admittedly, that's not saying much.

[@jerryabrowne]

I took your to and read the bio. Great story. 🎶

[@fentonweastell1151]

Best eruption cover ever😀🤘👍

[@raynman686]

I am truly in awe. This is amazing. Van Halen I was the first rock record I received from a friend during my freshman year in high school thus starting my journey to the heavens.

[@GaryBuchanan]

This is amazing. Right down to the Frankostrat-inspired outfit!

[@michaelmattson4708]

That was incredible!

[@richardmitchell8213]

Oh my GOD !!! That was amazing !!! Still can’t wrap my head around how good that is. Wow !!!

[@lemmy9809]

Thats the best ever cover i have ever heard..omg ❤️ 💕 💓 wow awesome ❤❤❤❤

[@michaelj3959]

That was friggin' bad ass! And a violin with frets? That's unusual. It's like a little guitar.

[@davidrichter9164]

When your parents want you to take violin lessons, but you want to rock. Outstanding!!

[@tyryztoll]

To pull off the riffs is one thing, but to capture the unmistakable sonic tone and power of the original recording is another altogether. I'll toss in another "wow" and let the rest weigh in....

[@NinaDiGregorio]

thanks!

[@thomasrodriguez7803]

Wow! You gotta give it to her. 👍🏻 RIP Eddie.

[@VictorAlbertoCabreraSanchez]

Desde México, Magnanime ejecución, la considero todo un homenaje a EDDIE, quien ha de estar viéndole y aplaudiendole desde el Cielo, Vientos por Ella.

[@DavidBrown-zs1ic]

Oh that is just incredibly good and if you if you close your eyes you wouldn't even know she was on a violin

[@davidkirby-jx9xp]

How many times have I watched this? Yes

[@hollis3853]

AWESOME SAUCE!!! MS. NINA YOU ARE THE BOSS... I love your chops and musicianship on that electric violin. You Rock... And Inspire...