Joe Satriani is WRONG! THIS is Van Halen MOST DIFFICULT Guitar Riff!

Joe Satriani said that "Mean Street" is Eddie Van Halen's most difficult (and impossible!) riff to play.. well he's wrong! The pedals I used to get Van Halen tone ⬇️
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🤘 Thanks for watching. If you liked this video you may also like videos by Music Is Win, Nik Nocturnal, Niko Slash, Cole Rolland, Jared Dines, Rob Scallon, Paul Davids, Rob Chapman, The Gastube and Febbre Da Chitarra.
#vanhalen #joesatriani #guitarriff

[@DaniloVicari]

What's the Van Halen riff that drives you the craziest?! Let me know!🤘🏻👇🏻

[@msr1645]

All of them :) Girl Gone Bad always gives me trouble

[@guilhermeferraz1332]

I think Spanish Fly.....i dont know why....for that´s a crazy one!! And of course Riff drom Humasn Being!!

[@jeffdubuque3755]

the song cant this stuff no more crazy chords.

[@adamk.mademewatchthis8622]

Listen to the actual chorus riff to Amsterdam (no vocals) and it’s INSANE, the rhythm part is so DIFFERENT. Theres early footage of this riff while he’s working on it in the studio, such an Interesting riff!

[@paulburton5150]

The tapped intro to Hot For Teacher. It's not a difficult riff but my little stubby fingers can't cope with the 3-7-12T stretch 😂

[@left0verture]

It’s the old joke: how many guitarists does it take to change a lightbulb? Just one. The rest stand around saying “yeah, well I could have done it better.”

[@NeilAloha]

😂

[@lashashapira3406]

[@nickmitchell6443]

mmm

[@CarlosSchmidt101]

Hahahahaha !!!!

[@robrobuck932]

I found out all my friends always played a song differently

[@nickblundell9990]

The scary thing is EVH was a teenager when he came up with this!! Guy was a colossus R.I.P

[@BPoweredLove]

Ed was something else. Inhuman. Superhuman. Not even joking. It sort of makes sense that he didn't live to be 90 or something. These types of people wreak so much havoc (in this case, musical awesomeness) and the go out quickly.

[@Swanlord05]

EVH eye hand and ear coordination was off the charts insane.....he was wired different

[@michaelkeudel8770]

Joe doesn't sit around playing Van Halen songs everyday, it was an on the spot answer with less than 5 seconds of thought to answer the question.

[@michaelcantinieri7890]

For sure man...I agree .this guy doesn't know shit..

[@troyrizzi2713]

Agreed. He is also more technical and doesn't use a lot of percussion while playing. So that song is new for him. He's basically amateur when it comes to playing that style.

[@michaelkeudel8770]

@@troyrizzi2713 He spent most of his life writing and rehearsing HIS OWN SONGS, not playing in a VH Tribute band or performing those songs live. I've been playing over 40 years, and I jam out whatever I'm in the mood for at the moment, doesn't mean I sit and practice one guitarists songs over and over again.

[@troyrizzi2713]

@@michaelkeudel8770 yup. Exactly.

[@JBGoode-zx7pp]

Give Satch 2 hours with it - or 20 minutes even.

[@dplunk13]

Nice job, Danilo. Ben Eller argues that Hang Em High is another riff that is nearly impossible to play because of the swing element on top of the speed.

[@DaniloVicari]

Yeah that could might as well be because of the exact reason, uncle Ben is not wrong!😁

[@j1shot2]

I've seen that Ben Eller video too but if I had to guess who can pay it right other than Wolfie I'd say Pete Thorn gives it a good go

[@sjung66510]

Agree with the above comment about Hang'em High. Re: I'm the One, I think Phil X plays it pretty close to the original.

[@butcho7492]

Satsuma can play it, but he's one of the VERY few.

[@StephGV2]

@@j1shot2 With regards to I'm the One, Jacob Deraps is another one. He does it while actually singing the song live. I think Satriani can do it, since he has a lot of the same kind of swing on Satch Boogie, if only big name guitarists are relevant.

[@merliphlan2]

Totally agree with you, the swing of I'm the one is just insane 😅

[@DaniloVicari]

It is! 🥲

[@johnegan4762]

Conceptually, the intro to Meanstreet seems among the most inventive licks of all time. Eddie gets credit for a lot of those. When Joe answered this question he was talking to Howard Stern and his audience. Thank you for posting this and reminding me of how great EVH is.

[@DaniloVicari]

Agree, and that's why I said it's one of the most "confusing" intro I've ever learned. If you think it was made in '81 it's something super different and innovative. Eddie was the best

[@andrewwasson6153]

Great video! I agree with you. The intro to “I’m the One (show your love)” is crazy. I haven’t attempted to learn it since the late 80’s. I think I need to try and learn it again.

[@ctsguitar]

I’ve always struggled with Hang ‘em High. Eddie’s rhythm was next level!

[@Afeller]

I want to point out one thing about ain’t talkin bout love- when you play the intro, I notice you are kicking in the phaser for the last three notes (c, b, c). Ed actually used a flanger for those three notes. The phaser comes in during the solo.

[@poseidon3032]

I didn't have anything but the amp when I was learning that so I did pinch harmonics for the last 3 notes

[@tommilitello198]

Wtf cares.you have issues to fell the need to point something that trivial.you’ll never make it as a musician like that

[@papacasc]

The intro to Hang’m High. Same deal with the swing. Impossible

[@jeffnobles214]

agree. Hang'em High is nuts fast. I think they sped up the tape.

[@gustabartok]

Excellent video and GREAT playing! I think "ain't talking 'bout love" intro is played with a flanger.😁

[@Highcastle_of_Tone]

So cool you made this video. I’ve seen so many covers that get everything right except the groove, which is essential for this tune. You and Phil X are the best I’ve heard (besides Eddie himself).

[@RyanConnell5150]

I like that when you were demonstrating the pedals you panned the guitar mostly to the left just like on the old VH records.

[@davespin9034]

In my 20’s in the 80’s I could pick up a lot of Van Halen. I’m the one always baffled me, there’s a lot going on and a lot at speed.

[@stephenevans968]

I'm defending Joe here. 5am broadcast, no setup or rehearsal, amp settings where they sit. Asked to play something difficult written by someone you spent most of your life listening to under pressure.... Y'all overanalyzing this shit. I bet Eddie would agree.... PLAY LIVE AND LOUD , LAY IT OUT AND AND FIND YOUR OWN SOUND!!! (it will keep you too busy to criticize someone else doing the same!!)

[@federicob.6304]

Grande! Fin troppo modesto, e la battuta sul "crying" mi ha spezzato. Comunque bel video su due pezzi pazzeschi, e la tua versione di I'm the one è davvero forte!

[@geneticrex]

Just when I think I have the swing nailed, I listen to the album and cry.

[@george-wg6ug]

There is a full isolated guitar track on yt of 'im the one'. Its scary. Sometimes when im feeling brave i try to keep up with it, but fail every time.🥴

[@DaniloVicari]

Yep, I actually listened to the whole isolated track a couple of times and it's incredibly inspiring!

[@Fast2Whls]

I love the way you look at things. Humility. We try our best to emulate our heroes, but respect that they cannot be duplicated. Ed had something special that can't be replicated; it was creative genius and FEEL.. RIP.

[@RyanConnell5150]

I knew before I started this video you were gonna say the actual hardest was I'm The One. I've heard about how infamously difficult it is to get just right.

[@mookyyzed]

I think to many musicians rely on "schooling". Remember, Eddie taught himself. His natural talent and curiosity created his sound. I think too many musicians rely on what they're being taught. He didn't do that at all. He hears something or thinks of something and thought, "I'm going to make that sound happen", then figured out a way to do it. He ignored limitations thru teaching, and embraced imagination and experimentation. Again, his natural talent helped in every aspect of his journey.

[@Iron_Thunderstorm]

The-Art-Of-Guitar made a video not too long ago of how he learned to play the riff Joe referenced (Possibly right around when you dropped this video). P.S. Your compilation of playing various EVH riffs was downright amazing and inspiring

[@billd7183]

I completely agree with your opinion. Been practicing “I’m the one” for about 3yrs now and I’m in the same boat as you speed wise.

[@DaniloVicari]

I hope you'll get some better results than mine haha

[@tfbattag]

Me too! Getting better, but eh....One ting that seems to help is tapping my foot and rocking the guitar back and forth a bit. It adds some imperfection to it. I got that from watching Jacob Deraps do it. His, IMHO, is probably the best I've seen.

[@kevinkiso4579]

Crikey, I would bet that must of us here could forego the ultra slow demonstrations. Very, very good by the way.

[@dave64k]

Nice post Danilo and term swing is a good explanation. I wonder also if it had something to do with the way Ed held his pick too which always struck me as a bit different. My vote goes to Hang 'Em High too for the same reason.

[@blairbyrd4279]

I gotta say I’m rarely impressed by EVH fan videos, but this shit was on point. If Satriani’s head falls off, Sammy should give you a call. And your rendition of “I’m the One” was stage worthy.

[@slater331]

Just found you, Danilo, and I'm hooked! Great job!

[@christophershell1609]

Dude, I finally saw this to watch --- as a HUGE VH fan since the beginning and definitely without a doubt, my favorite band of all time. Huge props to you that sounded freaking awesome. I have heard other people TRY to play those riffs and absolutely shit the bed. Hats off to you Sir!!!!

[@SandBoy408]

Think that Tosin thumb picking technique is more difficult, but at that time it was a riff from another planet...still today.

[@tommytorres]

Wow you're amazing. Brings back so many memories. Eddie is the reason I became a musician. Long live the king.

[@Steve-ps6nq]

The 5150 over drive was the best investment I have ever made. Sold like 3 other pedals because I will never use them again and now my rig is just running that, the phase 90, Mxr zakk wylde chorus.

[@DeadShred9]

Pretty damn good on The One your swing was very good ! Keep working on the fluid picking hand movement .

[@DaveManleyguitar]

One thing that allows him to play that riff with that feel is the way he holds his pick, he hold it with his middle finger and the way he anchors his hand, allows him to execute that triplet feel with the swaug 8th note

[@museacmount7883]

Complimenti Danilo, non è facile fare un video non scontato sul Re🤟🏼 e complimenti anche x come suoni! Per me il livello di Van Halen è quasi tutto assai difficile ma che ne pensi dello "swing" o groove di Hang'em High?! Ciao, Marco

[@robjackson1600]

HE WAS ASKED ON THE SPOT ON LIVE RADIO. LOL Put yourself in his shoes. HAHAHAHA

[@da324]

Exactly, without ever really practicing it. I'm sure Joe could nail it with some practice.

[@Falconryder]

You're serious? You think up until that moment Satriani had had no time or reason to contemplate which of Eddie's riffs were hardest to play? Did you no realize why Joe was there in the studio that day with the rest of VH?

[@pjc4425]

With no practice @ 6am In the morning lol Anyway videos such as these with Eddie want to be giving Joe flack are funny dumb.

[@gringochucha]

Great video. I feel like people don't highlight the importance of the swing feel to Van Halen's music enough.

[@tommilitello198]

Lol I’ve seen it mentioned over and over on lesson videos

[@gringochucha]

@@tommilitello198 Dunno, I’ve never really watched lesson videos for VH songs. I just mean the general music conversation. Cheers.

[@dunesbra]

Yes, obviously I'm The One and Hang em High because of the swing and the speed...AND the "Eddie factor"... I've always had a hard time with Beautiful Girls. It's a slower swing but still has that Eddie factor that's tough to mail. It's an internal thing, hard to duplicate. He's definitely the kind of swing.

[@rejg153]

Wow man !!!! You are good.... don't worry speed comes with practicing over and over and over and over and over and over and over again....cheers man!!!

[@blockboygames5956]

Fantastic sound you have there. Just to be super picky, there is noticeably more chorus wash effect on the right than the left channel. But thanks for an interesting and cool video. Great playing too!!

[@Falestal]

Yeah, I can hear what you mean. You have a little more "space" in your "swing/Shuffle" compared to Eddie. His Swing is a bit tighter with not as much space. This is just how diffrent people express the swing. Thats why no drummer swings exactly the same to the pocket.

[@DaniloVicari]

Precisely, and I don't think it's related to just practice or different techniques, it's the way Eddie felt the swing and played it. He was incredible

[@huguesgarrigues1277]

Beautiful groove you had on the first song. You had my head boucing 👍 Honestly i'm not even trying the VH stuffs cause i'm lazy af. I wouldn't even try to emulate him, it's such an instinct player with a f....in' groove.

[@145lenny]

Superb video Danilo ! Great playing and a fantastic analysis.

[@tvelasquez718]

100% correct my friend. And Phil X is one of my favorite Guitarists also. Excellent Job 🎉

[@lloydsarnowski6986]

Little Guitars (Pt.2) is the hardest. As you hold the pick normally you have use your middle,ring & pinky to arpeggios the chord shapes.

[@archundiacesar42]

Good job!!! Me gustó el sonido que obtuviste con los pedales. Saludos desde la ciudad de México 😎👍

[@jordanrussell-howard9491]

I think the main reason most struggle with the main riff of this song is just down to having limited experience with swing rhythms. Ed and Al grew up on a lot of jazz and music that's swung, and inherited it in their music. It is quite unusual for a hard rock band to "swing". Today, most young guitarists starting out on the instrument, that want to play hard rock and heavy metal, will mostly learn songs with fairly "straight" rhythms... because that's most of classic rock and heavy metal. They don't encounter many songs with swing rhythms, because it's not common for these genres... so when they go to learn a song like 'I'm The One' they make it sound like a typical metal riff! They then quickly give up, claiming it's "impossible to swing like Ed" which I think is a bit silly. It's not that they can't do it, it's more down to their limited experience with "swung" rhythms. All you have to do is want it... time and patience will get you the rest of the way there...

[@fabriziosolinas]

Bel video. Peccato che manchino i sottotitoli in ita. Hai fatto un lavorone....come sempre. Bravo

[@jonathanfeve9846]

excellent job Danilo congratulations !!

[@DaniloVicari]

Thank you so much!!

[@LockSpaz]

Nice to finally see someone play Ain't Talkin' about Love correctly. ETA: 'I'm the One' is possibly his most badass tune ever, and it just doesn't get the recognition it should.

[@SombraPiloto]

I really need to get a red Striped Series EVH. My white Striped is awesome but nothing compares to the Frankie paint.

[@kennynunez6792]

Joe (Satch) is a humble guy and is being super respectful of Eddie, props to him. My Mount Rushmore of the Greatest I have ever heard: Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eddie Van Halen and Joe Satriani. I think there is a famous saying: "Innovate dont Immitate." I believe that was part of Eddies frustraion in the early days, as many cats were copying his style and not neccesarily adding to the pot.

[@mmelkku4944]

Deraps does a perfect cover of mean street intro and everything van halen

[@d3w4yn3]

HOLY SHNIKEYS!!! Okay, so maybe you are doing it wrong, but I'd be pretty happy if I could do it wrong like you are doing it wrong! GLORIOUS!!!

[@bigpapamanman1550]

I'm The One and Hang 'Em High have always been a huge struggle for me to play because the fast alternate picking is just not at my level and you have to swing them too.

[@curtvogue5720]

Great job! You played it really well. Another one that has swing that a lot of players don't realize is Hang 'em High from Diver Down. It sounds like straight time but it's not. Ben Eller did a great video on it. Swing at warp speed... only Eddie could really do it like that.

[@Bob1014ify]

Had to come back and say I would love to hear you try and play some of Joe's more amazing solos.

[@alphalifestyleacademy]

that was the first van Halen song I tried to learn. I gave up and went to runaround instead.

[@BPoweredLove]

5:30 Dani! BROOOO! EVH incarnate!!

[@anthonyb5279]

I never had a hard time learning "Im the one." I got it right away I guess the swing has to be in you. 5150 I had to practice for days just to get it right just once.

[@BrandonJohnston-d6m]

Honestly I feel like when the drums finally came in you actually played it spot on. It’s not an easy riff to start off on without any other instruments to give you guidance as the how the cadence of the strumming pattern should be.

[@Cestariarts]

Exactly, you said it all my man, right in the beginning "in my opinion", that's all.

[@SilverSurfer5150]

I think EVH is the only rock guitarist who could release an album of guitar riffs and isolated guitar tracks only and the album go number one. The guy was a certified axe-monster!

[@JIMJAMSC]

These YT how to vids can show a guitarist in excruciatingly step by step detail how to recreate a 40+ year old riff with amazing accuracy,, BUT. One thing left out is the MAGIC that EVH had that sound in his head. He then pulled it out of his consciousness and made it happen through his fingers. That to me cannot be taught and is the truly "difficult" riff to pull off. The one not written or transposed but comes from within.

[@MackAxyzz]

'hang em high' is way harder than both of those to play precisely like EVH 😎

[@NitroModelsAndComics]

As much as I would like to agree I cannot. Eds toughest song is without a doubt Hang Em High. He throws the Kitchen sink at that song. It showcases every technique he ever pioneered in one song. Listen and you will see. And the swing? Off the charts.

[@ppuntrotzooizooi7692]

GREAT!!! Really awesome!! Difficult but you got it! Wauw. There is another guy to check: Deraps. He is a VH master also. Have a good one. a VH fan, for life and beyond.. 🇳🇱

[@johnplaystheguitar123]

Has anybody ever put the midi tab of the riff into DAW and then applied a swing percentage to see where eddies was?

[@ultimatedriversofmachinery]

Bro you fucking killed that

[@dannyh773]

I don’t play guitar. But I was in high school when Van Halen came on the scene. How he had so much fill in his rhythm I never understood. But it sounded awesome. It was like to opposing forces dancing with each other. Oh no Sammy. David was the better singer for that style of play.

[@johnmayse4647]

The Pedals sound Fantastic!!! Both songs are monsters created by the best Guitarist Ever. RIP Eddie Van Halen

[@zackdaniels6858]

Well done SIR.

[@bluejuice7229]

Eddie would play so far behind the beat on some of his songs. It's really hard to fathom but it's where all the groove comes from. Mind warping torture ... .

[@5150JAM]

the hardest part is the fast scale after....you did it perfect....still stuck on that part......what is your opinion on Jake E Lee? my fav Ozzy player

[@jeffs4760]

Satch said that as a figure of speech on the show. But great video

[@lucistheband6540]

GREAT JOB! Don't agree with Joe either! When I head him say it with Sammy, my first thought was 😮😮?? "I can't believe you're saying that!"..The technique EVH uses is very unorthodox to SAT, but no excuse to say he can't do it. Great video and sound

[@nordlandak6853]

Eddie Van Halen was like Mozart. Just on another level…

[@user-xt7rs8md7p]

Nice! Eddie started on piano and drums… as I did… very rhythmic instruments The rhythm is the easy part for me… it’s the guitar stuff that’s very hard lol

[@KendoSwordsman]

I think Joe says what he says probably because the technique is very distant from what would be his comfort zone. Pair that with the actual pattern and timing and it's a bit of a pig to nail. My guess is for players who do more slap oriented stuff, it probably comes to them more easily. It's a real feel related issue for him if I had to guess.

[@kittykubbyhole]

Dude! You Rock! It’s like watching Eddie

[@SammyDavisGuitar]

I wonder if holding the pick with your middle finger and thumb like Eddie will make it easier to play I'm The One.

[@tdz69]

Never cared much for the INTRO to Mean Street. But the song itself….thats one of the nastiest riffs of all time. The band was killing it.

[@UseTheSupeRsonic]

Same here. That intro gets all the attention, but it was probably just some doodling around that Ed did. The song rock but the intro never really grabbed me the way it does for other people

[@SheaRecordmetal]

What? No way, that intro “to this day” still gives me Goosebumps . But Mean Streets is such a great tune.

[@EddRocker5150]

Try "Hang 'Em High" 😘

[@DaniloVicari]

it would be the same as I'm the one so I can't play that one either hahah

[@EddRocker5150]

@@DaniloVicari no, invece l'intro di I'm the one l'hai suonato molto fedele all'originale, complimenti! È molto difficile renderlo così, bravo!

[@DaniloVicari]

Ah scusa non sapevo fossi italiano😁 Comunque grazie mille! Sei super gentile ma non è ancora giustissimo purtroppo 😭

[@adriancampbell8310]

Excellent playing!

[@das250250]

Please let us not argue such trivial matters .... How about we agree that each player finds different aspects of what Eddie does difficult due to our own inabilities ,difficulties. It's safe to say Eddie himself found some things difficult to do and he was more motivated with what he could do naturally with his hands and ears. You rarely see Eddie try on other people's work if ever. It's also safe to say that Eddie possessed incredible finger precision and coordination and made many gymnastics on the guitar seem so basic . His right hand gyrations holding that pic right on its tip at the strings and his precision gave him ample time to play with timing and swing . The precision and muscle control allowed him that pleasure . Eddie also had his brother who was no small part to this timing as Alex would tailor the timing to suit Eddie's interpretations. The timing wasn't clock work it was emotional and human and that's what gave their sound such incredible dynamics and excitement . That excitement was reflected into the singers who amplified the joy of playing. We only see these combinations like van Halen once in a generation. Eddie was very special. "Ohhhh Jimi"

[@johnb4024]

Joe was kind of caught off guard with that one. He could have done a much better job if he had the time to configure his amp for it.

[@DavidMadeira29]

To me Satriani was quite right and you're not stiff or else, in that other case you're only missing the right delay timing preset. Namastè.

[@stevereese6488]

Ed played a lot of intros off beat with extra beat on what most player play four notes but Ed played 5 because he didn’t start on beat 1. Ed and Alex had that in common and Alex played to Ed’s rhythm, so did Micheal Anthony. So to play “like” Ed which really no one can, don’t play like a classically trained musician. Same thing goes for SRV. If you get close be happy with that. The magic is in those legendary musicians hands.

[@andreshernandez9434]

Sounds amazing

[@54454tgftfggg]

Such a Great Song the Intro is cool but the main riff makes your hair stand up.

[@richarddonegan4666]

Come on man we don't want to argue with Joe Satriani. There are exceptions check out Satsuma....He can play EVH and anything else under the sun....😮 Watch him do every lick of We Are Stars....😮

[@davidharebo]

Joe Satriani teached Steve Vai how to play guitar, Joe Satriani taught Kirk Hammet as well

[@danielabilez3619]

I believe he was demonstrating the difficulty alone. Each piece of music has it's nuances

[@mrhyde2250]

What was the signal path here?

[@steveme8284]

Girl gone bad is intense. Took me forever to learn it.

[@killacrush3437]

And nice job bro!!!

[@friedohubert4138]

It's relative right or wrong. Joe said what is difficult for him. Doesn't have any relation whatsoever with whether you could play the riiff exceptionally. Dont' you think that perhaps for the last 30+ years Joe didn't put much time into it because he got his own thing?

[@erikweis6527]

It takes a one-of-a-kind human being to come up with this kind of stuff. EVH forever.

[@bruceniblett959]

Sounds nice. Wish you used the floyd