Yankee Rose Guitar Lesson - Steve Vai - Guitar Masterpiece On Eat 'Em And Smile With David Lee Roth

In this video I demonstrate how to play Yankee Rose. This is a great song off of David Lee Roth's Eat 'Em And Smile album. Steve Vai plays some amazing riffs and parts that to this day still hold up and mesmerize guitar players. I do my best to replicate and explain what Steve is doing in this song. I hope you enjoy it!

[@flashy5150]

I saw Steve, Billy, Gregg and Dave play this at Maple Leaf Gardens, the best concert I ever seen in 53 years. Those guys were f’n amazing LIVE. “Cinderella” opened for them,on their “Night Songs” debut tour, they were frikken awesome. The whole concert was by far the best I’d ever seen. I remember on the intro to this song, Dave at a back, second stage and he was telling Steve what to say on the guitar. Dave was saying “ Stevie .. say Toronto kicks asssss” and Steve was doing it on his guitar. Gosh, how I would love to see a concert like them again.

[@flashy5150]

I remember, was in my buddy’s room. We were sitting around, listening to Q107 in Toronto on his stereo. I heard “This is David Lee Roth’s new song”. At the time, we had no internet, just magazines and I didn’t know what Dave was doing after leaving VH. So, I was surprised. Then I heard this song. The next day, I told my buddy from school, “we gotta get DLR tickets”. We did, and the both of us had the greatest time ever.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

That was one of the best times of my life too. Eat em and smile tour was amazing. 🤩

[@cantstartafire]

Dude! This song is a bear, thanks for doing this. I've wanted to get a handle on this for decades.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You’re welcome! I hope this works and helps you out! 🎸😎🤟🏻

[@P3t3rPizzarelli]

A bear?

[@cantstartafire]

@@P3t3rPizzarelli It's an expression where I'm from. It means really challenging.

[@ligamentpull1]

This track remains groundbreaking and helped propel Vai to Stardom and into the next stratosphere. Vai sense of humor, quirkiness, and Zappa influence strongly feel set him apart from all the others.

[@The_Macaroon]

Woah! Great song. This put Steve Vai on the map!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Yeh, it launched him into the stratosphere. 🙌🎵

[@ligamentpull1]

Absolutely, along with the Guitar Duel scene in the movie " Crossroads".

[@Swanlord05]

God blessed video .....put Vai on the map for me.... that was one of the first MTV videos he was in when I was a lil black boy😂

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I discovered Alcatraz much later in his career oddly enough. Crossroads was my gateway. Then Flexable ... and BAM... Eat 'em and smile!

[@CarlosSuga]

Tks man! It's a amazing class!!! Great teacher

[@Savoy1984]

I never get sick of guitar tricks, every time I think I seen every possible combination something new just appears, hearing a guitar say my name David never gets old, I have to count the frets also, ta for the video.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man! I enjoy these things too. Lots of fun and crazy to play. 😎

[@Olavarronsen]

My favorite David theme!! I don't have a level and I will never be able to play this but I have really enjoyed seeing how you have explained everything and played it 🤤🙌👏👏👏👏

[@petewhitten3778]

Marty, Thanks for this awsome lesson. It’s definitely one of the great Steve and Dave tunes , love it 🎸🎸😎👍

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man. It's a tricky intro but a lot of fun to work out. This song was always a mystery to me until I decided to break it down. It's pretty straight up rock n roll. But Vai has such flair. Like magic.

[@Jackie_Rosewood]

Superior tutorial Marty!!🤘🏻🤘🏻🎸🎸

[@satchrules101]

Very cool lesson ! Thank you bro !

[@DHgtr1]

Hi Great job..esp the intro...I remember when that album came out...What a band that was...Thanks....Dave

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much! I had a great time working out these parts. Yes, amazing band and times!!

[@AndyK.23]

Well done to get ANY of Vai's insanity right Marty!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks! I wasn’t sure how to approach this song. Been thinking about it for while. Structurally the song is quite basic, but Steve decorates it with stuff that is so “him”. And he just approaches stuff with such chaos and theater wrapped in technique. It’s really crazy but cool.

[@joeaverage4286]

Love your channel! Have learned so much! Glad to see those views climbing. Rock on, brother!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you! I’m happy people seem to like the content. I’m trying to create stuff we all would enjoy. 🙌 I appreciate the comment and support man!

[@harryman5747]

Really digging all the lessons! Awesome!🤘

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks, so glad to hear! 😎🙌

[@muleblues71]

I'll take a glazed doughnut....And a bottle of anything.....to go!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Ha!! I wish the movie would have come out… but then we may not have had the Eat Em And Smile era like we have it now! Cool times man!! 😎🙌

[@TomGrubbe]

Thanks for this lesson. I could never figure out all those imbellishments he adds to that G chord in the verse. This is really a simple but extremely well written and catchy song!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're welcome, glad it helped man! 🤟🏻😎

[@Dontchangemynameok]

Just when I thought everything that could be done on guitar was done, Vai comes along and blows up my mind.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

He sure did! Almost made me question why I was starting to play back then!! But it resulted in inspiring me and pushing me harder.

[@bmac5085]

Oh yes. Iam looking forward to watching this later 😀

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Have fun man! Thanks!!

[@leswadley6792]

Yayyyy, always hacked this up! Thank you for posting!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You’re welcome! Hope this helps to some degree! 😎🙌🎵🎵🎵

[@bksweet6331]

BtW, love the Green GJ 🤘🎸 too !

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

🤟🏻😎🤟🏻

[@bksweet6331]

Thanks for your Passion & Hard work. We All appreciate your genuine love for everything you do . . . 😎🎸

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you kindly!! 😁🙏

[@Koffieleuter]

Another awesome post!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you 🙏 😎🙌

[@sixstringer3783]

Probably the hardest player to emulate Steve is like no other ! Great job Marty very ambitious 👍🤘👏

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks! This one required a couple days of messing with! I appreciate it. 🙌

[@robg8784]

great lesson ! love the gj2 Guitar !

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much!

[@rrdee8138]

Love Steve Vai. I grew up with Billy Sheehan my neighbor took me to watch talas practice at a place called music mall in Buffalo. In the mid seventies when I was a kid it was amazing

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

What a great story! I am originally from Ithaca NY. I’ve met Steve several times and actually got to play on a show with him several years ago. He’s a great guy. Ive met Billy a couple times. Most recently with winery dogs. Very humble and gracious man.

[@Just_Some_Dude]

Excellent man!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks Frankie! 😎🤟🏻

[@coachp7486]

Thanks for sharing ! Going to have to try this song out for myself. Tuff task. Liked your blue floral JEM link as well. Have an older RG550 fr the 80’s. Many hours on it and would love to upgr to a JEM like the blue floral model. Great stuff. Keep up the great work ! 👍🏽

[@JoeR203]

The best line from the song is "Guess who's back in circulation". I think that was his way of saying "I'm here! And I don't need Van Halen."

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I love that line too! I thought the same thing. Bravado on his part. Great times and memories. 😎

[@edsnotgod]

Meanwhile Ed conceded that "only time will tell if we stand the test of time"

[@lehmusic2675]

The Different Kind of Truth...I heard you missed us!

[@WickedFesterBand]

Great lesson! Well done!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks you! This one was hard to explain (and learn as well!). 😎🤟🏻

[@TheMojoDojo]

That was really great man! That’s tough to ear it out note for note but you got it down. Keep it up!!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks! I am happy to hear you liked it. 😎🤟🏻

[@patricetremblay2456]

Great tuto ❤

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you 🥂

[@kraigkappler1852]

Freaking mind blowing 🤯🤯🤯. Man 🤘🤘🔥🎸i love Steve Vai!! . Very creative guitarist. I think he used lexicon pitch shifter /chorus rack unit & Along with some rack mounted delays . To back in the day

[@gokhanersan8561]

That tone is so far, it’s killer man.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much man! I really appreciate that. 😎

[@gokhanersan8561]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker I meant “fat” tone, beefy:) That G+L is looking good, too.

[@johnnyronci]

Fantastic video and lesson ...and playing...and tone!! Absolutely incredible all around bravo!! What model pickups are in your Green Meanie model used here? Oh and what amp and or fx are you running with it?

[@adrian_V99]

Great video and mighty fine guitar, Marty. I just might mod one of my 80s superstrats into a dual, splittable HB.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much!! I appreciate you watching man. I like the split coil options. Provides a lot of versatility. 😎

[@standingvertical3048]

I can't expect you to actually own this 1 Marty. Sorcery was correct when you said it. Steve in my opinion plays like no other player out here. He indeed is very strange, and has the ability to play things no 1 else can. This is why he commands the stage when he is on it.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You’re so right man! He’s a wizard!! 🧙‍♀️🪄🎸

[@edsnotgod]

Ralph Macho smoked Vai on guitar and went on to be bigger than Bruce Lee on one leg

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@edsnotgod 😂😂😂

[@tonym2513]

@@edsnotgod Cobra Kai Never Dies!!!

[@kennethmeeker6369]

I seen him n the eat em and smile tour in San Antonio Texas but I knew of him from Alcatrazz him and yngwie from bootleg cassettes from import vinyl stores . That was the days you wore out cassettes learning new songs ,

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I saw that your with Tesla opening up for them. What a show man. Steve and Billy were monsterous. It was scary, amazing and jaw dropping. The whole show! Very impressionable moment.

[@kennethmeeker6369]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker yea Tesla is great band as well .

[@skippydog7053]

Can you do a lesson on a fixed bridge? And then from tab books compared to your version?

[@Santacroce73]

Great job Brother!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much! This one was hard! And quite intimidating.

[@Santacroce73]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker all the credit to you for even attempting it. That sh#t scares me and you really brought out his sound. Well done. Great song. Great band.

[@OHSteve5150]

Excellent! Glad I found your channel! Would you be able to post Ladies night in Buffalo, or Big Trouble??? ✌🏻🤟🏻

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man! I've been thinking about those. Such amazing tunes for sure. Lots of prep. 😅

[@markgrant1302]

Everyone knew Steve Vai from the crossroads movie when they saw him in the Yankee Rose video... eat em and smile was released about 4 month after the film was back in 1986...

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Not really. Guitar dudes maybe. Crossroads certainly helped launch him and opened the door for him with this band. I happened to catch Crossroads by chance in a theater with a friend and his parents. Total chance. I would have never heard of him before Roth if not for that random moment we chose to see Crossroad at a matinee. I’m know I’m not the only one.

[@firststep7750]

Loved the lesson. Thanks. I would've liked it, if you played the entire song first thus giving any subscribers who don't know the song an understanding of it before the lesson starts. It would also give your students the ability to play along with you once they've learned the song which would help with views.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I totally understand. I always try to present stuff in chunks but I see your point. Thanks for watching!! I really appreciate it. 😎☮️

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

Cool shredding guitar! Cool shredding! What make/model is it? I don’t recognize the logo and I’m looking at a phone-screen, so I can’t really get a gander.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

This is a GJ2 which was a company Grover Jackson used to own a few years ago. It’s a “green meanie” model.

[@papablue3015]

I'm sorry the 1st. part did Vai say the dingo ate my baby? lol! Thanks Marty! another great lesson!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Haha!! I often have speculated what Steve said with his guitar before Dave says “well let me roll up on to the sidewalk and take look here”

[@brandonjackson5865]

Every week you bust out another sick fiddle man . I love your Green Meanie tribute there. Have you seen Judah guitars , you probably have their in Chattanooga but they’ll take a new So Cal and relic it to a green Meanie or bones guitar and they look sweet they’ll also take a Mexican striped EVH and put the mojo on it too . I don’t know if they’re still in business but their website was still up about a month ago.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man!! I have heard of Judah but never checked them out. Hmmm… I need to! Glad you caught the green meanie!! 🤟🏻. Thanks for the support bro!

[@DsmCustom-Guitars-Music5150]

That g harmonic might be on the 23 or 24th fret? If no one's pointed that out. Which I'm sure they have.

[@DsmCustom-Guitars-Music5150]

Can't say for sure. because I used to have a JEM 555 but it was sadly lost to a fire😢. I wanna get the floral blue and black one. But as of now I only have a Kramer and a Stratocaster. Which only have 22 frets. But I'm sure it would be easy enough to find out.

[@dausblack2585]

Marty,Do you have your volume up? Seems lower than usual.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I may have? I mix the stuff later and have been trying to mix the audio with a little less clipping. Hard to gage sometimes!

[@colinTW]

Awesome! Plus, you might be Ben Eller's dad

[@rrdee8138]

Hey Marty sorry to bother you but have you done a lesson on. The best of both worlds or black and blue two of my favorite songs if not I'd really be interested in those thx. And it must have been amazing to play with Steve Vai I'm sooo jealous love your lessons and magazine reviews thx

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Yes! No problem man… Best of both worlds is here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3rcqWSCrdWpb7c On one of my videos with Van Halen intros I show the intro to black and blue. I do need to do the whole song though! I think I need to do a video about my experience with Vai. Also when I took an Alien Guitar Secrets class with him. 😎

[@rrdee8138]

Definitely that would be awesome thx

[@rrdee8138]

Thx marty and tell skipper I said hi he's like me lives to play but shy doesn't want anyone watching him I totally understand skipper for president

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@rrdee8138 will do! I’m meeting him for pizza for lunch tomorrow. Then we’re gonna drag a couple big amps out on the deck I do believe!!! 🥼🔬🤟🏻😎

[@rrdee8138]

Does that mean another dimed out video I love those but don't break your amps not worth it lol

[@nikospaleologos3907]

Now do the Jason Becker version please.

[@Ganbakodon]

the first chord is actually: E - X A - 3 D - 3 G - 0 B - 1 E - 1

[@forelectricstring8833]

At first I was very confused thinking you were Ben Eller 😂

[@jeffgagawood3741]

Marty!!! 😂

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

🤟🏻😎🤟🏻🎵🎵🎵🤟🏻

[@rivroyerr]

4:30

[@Motleymick]

Do you still have your blue Ibanez Jem 77P?? kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaSniXmXpMyWfrM

[@bluwng]

Grover Jackson guitar the real Jackson

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Yes sir!!! 😎🤟🏻🎵🎵

[@Swanlord05]

Dude its a hard song rhythmicly

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You ain't jokin man. Vai was a wizard filling in those pockets!

[@Swanlord05]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker ...he really is an eccentric player....out the box Alienware psycho mind!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@Swanlord05 I agree man. Gotta love it!!

[@davelelonek5598]

Friendly suggestion: Play it first before starting the lesson