The MEAN STREET Intro Was IMPOSSIBLE Until I Tried This "Guerrilla" Practice Trick!

[@maromaro1337]

I don't know why, but I never thought of practicing this thing on the guitar turned backwards, hahaha. It made me learn the pattern in minutes. Thanks dude!

[@bradzillarocks]

The way you figured it out reminds me of how Chris Liepe on his channel demonstrates vocal techniques like "HUUUUHHHH" or "pick up something heavy", where you are just making noises but learning how your body feels and how the airflow works when you make the noises, then you translate those into your delivery as you sing to add grit or compression or whatever.

[@michaelmione]

Really like that people like yourself are starting to break this down more on YT. There is a lot of nuanced stuff going on here and goes to show how developed and out there Ed was musically. Thank you!

[@geraldhartley]

I don't have any aspirations of being able to play this, but I watched every second of your video! haha You're such a great teacher and down to earth guy. You really make it seem possible! Thank you!

[@time3947]

I love how people want to troll Satriani for trying to do this on Howard Stern without knowing the backstory of that show, especially when they can't even play like Satriani themselves. Actually Andy Wood had the best response to it all right after people posting their trolling of it/ First, that show was done almost at the last minute and Satriani was nearly playing it all on the fly. They had had maybe 15 minutes together the day before to work out a few things. If people cared to look into things, they would know that Satch had been making paintings for auctions at galleries and Sammy literally called him up with this idea while he was in the middle of doing a painting. That call may have taking place a few days to a week before that appearance on Howard Stern that everyone want to skewer him for. So, figure in his schedule of going to these art shows, he may have had a couple of days at most to learn those songs on his own, prior to meeting with the rest of the guys to try and get things worked out for that 15 mins or so. Second, and this is a big one people seem to forget..... nearly a year before when it was leaked by Jason Newsted that there might be a VH tribute tour, BOTH Alex Van Halen and DLR talked to Satriain as the guy to be the guitarist in it. The most important 50% of the original Van Halen wanted Satriani as the guitar player for the tribute tour that they were contemplating at that time. I think that says all you need to know about the guitar player who should do it and the people who wanted him in it. If they cared to look at some more recent interviews with Satch, they will see how serious he is taking the upcoming tour. He is having an amp specially built to get the tone that he thinks will be most useful is getting EVH's guitar tone on the bulk of the VH catalog. While he was always a big fan, he tried not to learn or play like EVH, as to not try and sound like him, like a lot of other players when he was on the scene. As he has said in interviews, he will be working on that right after the Satch/Vai tour concludes. So, we will see how it all plays out (ha!) in a few months. Cheers, Tim

[@rallumonslefeu3451]

You shouldn't spend energy trying to educate foolish assh0les, this is MHO. Many people think they're great musicians just because they've once immortalized on video a great sequence shot in their bedroom. They have no idea what it's like to be onstage in front of 20,000 people, and take them all in the palm of your hands for the love of music. Satriani is a legend, and there's a reason for that. These days the world we live in sucks ; it's idiocracy at its peak.

[@rivermclean8914]

I saw Joe Satriani trying to play this. Hell yeah dude! I’ve considered learning but my scatter brain will not cooperate with me lol. Keep rocking dude!

[@Zakk_Ross]

Nice job! I recently learned this intro (not up to full speed) and the tapped harmonics are my favorite! So fun

[@Zakk_Ross]

I love the irony of a satriani song helping you! I also practice the pattern just by thumping my lap or desk like you probably do when practicing drums:)

[@DrAL00isin]

Certainly many of you have listened to flamenco guitar, some of the more accomplished use a lot of slapping and percussion. I thought I might give it a go and decided I’d have to make a deal at the cross roads to get all that down. It just doesn’t feel like “normal” playing, so props for putting in the work.

[@Guitarmacist]

Thank you thank you thank you! The RHYTHM is the star of this riff. You nailed it! I finally got it down! 🤘💪😎

[@mjcs6399]

It just sounds so incredibly cool.

[@jimifiano4403]

Dude I’ve been playing guitar (professionally) longer than you’ve been alive lol and this is the BEST explanation of this intro EVER !! Thanks for breaking it down !!

[@footsoljier6468]

I love Mean Street. It was the first Van Halen song I ever heard and that intro with the lick at the end freaked me out!

[@NikilyMusic]

This intro sounds so coool! I wanna play it too!

[@hugginjohnny5934]

Absolutely Brilliant breakdown of that intro and expertly taught. This is definitely a masterpiece of your channel. Well done!!!! I now have a least a chance after many years to take a final shot at this, wish me luck. All the best ❤

[@kanerm5945]

Love the guitar man

[@rohankshetrimayum1049]

Woah that Kramer guitar is just 🔥🔥

[@HannahCope88]

Love this intro! Newly striped guitar looks awesome! 🤘🏻🔥 I've got my They Live! shirt on today too 😊. One step at a time reminds me of What About Bob and "baby steps" 🙂 Love that MJ song, listened to him a ton as a teen!

[@psimoes.guitar]

This was the only video on KZbin that actually helped me improve on this. Thanks Mike.

[@Affzer]

Might have to give this song another go! It is such a cool song.

[@keithcummings3260]

If you can get your hands on Satch's Sufing With The Alien tab book, the Performance Notes to Midnight gave me practice tips to train the rhythm of the intro into my fingers away from the guitar...like what Mike shows by turning his guitar around to train the rhythm into your fingers. Just a tip for those who want extra credit.

[@ganzyjam7828]

It’s often overlooked how amazing EVH rhythm was,his inner meter was incredible Take a moment and just listen to his rhythm guitar playing on those first few albums where the overdubbing is minimal. He was a freak of nature and he composed it all as well.

[@lonelydwightfrye]

I was always missing the first finger on the fret hand muting the strings. Great video.

[@allboutthemojo]

Brilliant 👏

[@riximus]

I slowed the playback speed down to 0.5 to get the pattern right but couldn't stop laughing because you sounded drunk at that speed

[@kephers]

Interesting how you come up with things to help you figure the easiest way to learn it and play it! I saw your video on LZ Rock n Roll that too was excellent!

[@RonSavage01]

Sweet guitar!!!!

[@FPSJesus]

Back of the neck reminds me of Lacquer Head by Primus.

[@TranzparentMethods]

I'm surprised I've only seen one comment thus far mentioning Les Claypool. Just study Les Claypool and this intro wouldn't be so difficult.

[@sbphillips177]

Thank you tremendous help/insight

[@BillLarkinmusic]

Almost like Flamenco ! But i am invisible and so are my comments... yeah it's like a complex paradidle drum riff. Maybe Alex helped or it was just Ed's drum and piano influences too. Or just mucking about one day and found it? Great lesson thanks!

[@musicbychanc3]

holy cannoli this video is greatly timed I'm learning this song

[@BillBraskyy]

The very beginning of the video where you were playing the guitar part, like I wasn't paying attention to my phone, so I wasn't aware of what video was coming up next to the playlist, but whenever I heard that I thought it was rock bottom by UFO at first lol like perhaps a cover, or a live version or somebody was playing a variation of the riff. That would actually be a pretty cool song to discuss, especially the live version where Michael Schenker played (Hamburg, 1981, the video I'm thinking of is like 13yo i think) 🤙🏿

[@fivefingerfullprice3403]

Great video bro! I actually got it, you're a great teacher!

[@retropuffer2986]

Very informative.

[@Silly_puppy_shorts]

dude ive been trying to this for months this video helped so fast

[@supernothing77]

I think there is such a carry over in techniques with different instruments.. speaking of Midnight. I gave up on it for awhile after chipping away at it everyday (almost everyday). started playing keyboards more, then came back to it and my right hand was so relaxed, strong and fluid. also practiced it like you did (when my left elbow was sore). I would slap my hand on the strings then tap with my right in rhythm

[@michaeldineenSG2018]

Edward came up with that rhythm intro slap from Alex drum break on Light Up The Sky. Part is identical.

[@tommaveety3139]

So cool 😎

[@krystian_went8537]

awsome

[@waukman1967]

Awesome video!! This is why you’re one of the best on KZbin!

[@PajamaPantsStudios]

Big thing that made it easier for me was playing the top 2 not like a tap, but like hammering an artificial harmonic. It’s at the 12th fret, so it sounds damn near the same anyways to my ear.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

I tried that too, I swear I tried everything, but if you slow down the original you hear him mashing those notes. Doing the harmonic idea though will improve your quickness which is great and whatever works is gold either way. :)

[@PajamaPantsStudios]

That definitely makes sense why I gravitated towards that side of the technique then. I was so focused on playing it at tempo! Weirdly enough, I always played it with JUST my index. I never alternated with my thumb. So hats probably why I had to fudge it a little to get the speed.

[@ricopaxton]

Very well explained! Thx, man!

[@dbern939]

Awesome, genuine tips, thanks alot

[@durangodave]

i just noticed you have really long fingers which im sure makes playing guitar easier for you than those of us with big hands but stubby fingers

[@mikedtubey]

Great Job Brother!!! also love the job you did on that kramer. Did you do the kramer build and paint job yourself or bought it!

[@Danjoker.]

Very impressive.

[@drammisgiuseppe3933]

Damnn that guitar 😍😍

[@mosthighguitarguy]

Man i don’t know why i didn’t check out more of your videos before now . Admittedly I have only seen a few till now. But man i really dig the way you relate to things on guitar and relate guitar to other things ! Love the guerrilla practice regiment ! Dude that Jimmys Chicken 🐔 Shack is frikn sick !! What a cool sound and u nailed it on that tele ! I bet u have a cool guitar community going here ! Im definitely subbing if im not already subbed! 😁 Thanks for this cool ass breakdown ! Fascinating!

[@rickmoore4482]

Best Mean Street tuition video ever! Also that Kramer is just awesome! Searched for it everywhere but can't find it. Is it available for sale anywhere or is it a one off custom?

[@TheArtofGuitar]

One of a kind. 🎸👍

[@eddiejr540]

I always said if you can tap it on a table than you can transfer it to guitar …I count it like: 1 and 2 and 3 and tap tap…but insanely fast 🤘

[@InsaneWayne355]

As soon as this popped up, I knew you'd be referencing that Howard Stern video with Satch.

[@notay]

4:50 MOPS Mean Street + On Base Percentage + Slugging

[@davedecker1725]

That's the thing about Eddie Throw the rulebook out the F#@n window

[@zaturnneo]

Man, Ozark is such a good show.

[@DoubleDguitar]

I have wondered if Joe made the Midnight/Mean Street connection, he is already so close with that pattern.

[@bmg2040]

Slappa da guitar

[@rocco5572]

bro how do you do the let hand thump. not matter how ligh i press, a note always rings out due to my low action

[@cartergleason836]

One of the bands u covered in fix this band, apocalypse made a single u should check it out

[@nathancarr4692]

4:10 sounds nearly identical to the opening of Mr.rager by kid cudi😳

[@JJvienneau]

Man I love that Kramer!! Joe Satriani can't play that right! 🤣👍

[@jeremysteffen7853]

Nothing better than Classic Van Halen.

[@carlosbueno5497]

It's funny how you brought up Satriani's technique as he was a "failed" drummer just like Eddie was before they both switched to guitar.

[@porky379]

Mike, What Ozark episode are you on?

[@SkyeDanner-hu4sy]

What guitar is that?

[@Edaloy27]

When the aliens get here and ask what rock n roll is -Mean street.

[@gpm4166]

Tom Morello would be a good candidate for this

[@markpell8979]

Watch Tommy Emmanuel. Like EVH, he's explored almost every sound a guitar can make playing it percussively. Tommy isn't a rocker but I bet if you showed him this technique or played Mean Street for him and asked him how to play the intro he'd figure it out almost instantly.

[@Spacemutha]

Satch was called out on the spot, who knows when the last time he played it was? And maybe, just maybe he was like secretly thinking I can’t just nail it. These guys who posted videos after probably practiced it for hours and did 100s of takes. That’s my take.

[@carloslozada470]

Satch bloows

[@anshkothary2658]

noicee

[@damfunk.]

Like anything else.. it just takes time.

[@mylogify]

Looks easy but, not so much when doing I think hahahah :D

[@Biggerbyte]

Funny. I do that to my bat every day. I can beat the shit out of my guitar now.

[@Phantasm1]

ok

[@FenriRock]

Man that guitar is sexy

[@shanedingz]

It’s almost a paradiddle

[@philfrank5601]

If you play this in perfect time, 16th notes...you will never get it to sound like the record. It's a very short lick, and Ed makes it swing, especially when he hits the 12th fret E twice in a row. Trying to play it straight makes it robotic and odd, which is kinda how Joe made it sound months ago. For Ed, it's natural. For us?...not so much.

[@tonycompeau2170]

Eddy started with dumbs Alex had guitar. They switched.

[@codychickadee5095]

Awe man is this the vid that's getting hit? DLR's team or what? Wolf's? Sad news.

[@schifoso]

Sure, but can you play at 280 and chew gum at the same time?

[@Flippityflop2350]

Plus you have womens hands - that helps

[@Ravenstorm163]

It's not that hard The song I'm the one is way harder

[@CoolGamingChannel632]

ok bud