Series Introduction (Guitar Lesson)
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Series Introduction
Join Andy as he takes a look at the style of one of the most influential guitarists of all time: Eddie Van Halen. In the series introduction, Andy gives us a taste of what is to come in the series.
Taught by Andy Whitehead in Style of Eddie Van Halen seriesLength: 3:00Difficulty: 0.0 of 5
Video Subtitles / Captions
Supplemental Learning Material
Style of Eddie Van Halen
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsAndy Whitehead takes a look at the style of one of the most influential guitarist of all time: Eddie Van Halen.
Lesson 1
Series Introduction
Join Andy as he takes a look at the style of one of the most influential guitarists of all time: Eddie Van Halen. In the series introduction, Andy gives us a taste of what is to come in the series.
Length: 3:00 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Everybody Wants Power Chords, Part 1
Andy starts off by looking at Eddie's rhythm playing, specifically his use of open position power chords.
Length: 8:18 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Everybody Wants Power Chords, Part 2
Pushing the envelope: that's what this dotted quarter note feel is all about. Join Andy as he shows us another driving Van Halen style power chord riff!
Length: 7:24 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Everybody Wants Power Chords, Part 3
Now Andy takes a look at a common technique that Eddie employed: adding single notes to power chords.
Length: 4:53 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Everybody Wants Power Chords, Part 4
Continuing with the power chord theme, Andy adds in some sliding single notes to a cool power chord riff.
Length: 5:03 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Sliding Power Chords
Sliding power chords around the neck is a common theme in Eddie's playing. Andy takes some familiar shapes and moves them around to create a cool riff!
Length: 5:35 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Mixed Chords
In this lesson, Andy combines power chord shapes with other types of chord shapes. It's really the best of both worlds ;).
Length: 4:24 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Power Chords with Open Strings
Now Andy takes common power chord shapes and gives them a tweak by letting certain open strings ring along side them.
Length: 6:19 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Full Barre Chords, Part 1
Now we transition from power chords and open power chords to full barre chords. These chords and their variations bring some different colors to the canvas.
Length: 6:46 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Full Barre Chords, Part 2
Andy shows us a slight variation on lesson 9 that adds even more variety to your barre chords!
Length: 5:10 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Barre Chords With Single Notes, Part 1
Adding single notes to smaller barre shapes is the focus of this lesson. Eddie used this sort of technique on some classic Van Halen songs!
Length: 6:41 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Barre Chords With Single Notes, Part 2
A very Eddie sounding riff punctuates this lesson that looks at adding single notes to barre chord shapes.
Length: 6:43 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Power Chords and Natural Harmonics
Integrating natural harmonics and power chords is a common Eddie technique. In this lesson, Andy has us working on a very cool riff that does just that!
Length: 7:57 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Pinch Harmonics
Pinch harmonics are a big part of some of the crazy sounds that Eddie gets out of his guitar. In this lesson, Andy shows us how to achieve this sound.
Length: 4:40 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Pinch Harmonics Exercise
Here's a short lick for you to practice your pinch harmonics that we learned in the previous lesson!
Length: 4:14 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Symmetrical Scale, Part 1
Eddie had a unique way of playing certain scales. Some of these scales were very uniform in their fingering across the fretboard, thus the term - Symmetrical Scale. Here is the first in a series of 3...
Length: 6:03 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Symmetrical Scale, Part 2
In the second symmetrical scale, Andy shows us a fast and furious lick that is really reminiscent of Eddie!
Length: 4:56 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Symmetrical Scale, Part 3
In the third symmetrical scale, Andy returns to some tapping to illustrate the lick.
Length: 5:40 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Major Scale Lick
In this lesson, Andy shows us a cool, ascending major scale lick that will prove to be useful in lots of musical situations!
Length: 5:42 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Minor Pentatonic Scale Position
A trill, a minor pentatonic scale and a bluesy bend make up this lick in the style of Van Halen!
Length: 4:34 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Minor Pentatonic Blues Scale
This riff may have it's origin in the Chuck Berry style, but it's one that Van Halen used a lot!
Length: 7:17 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Pentatonic Scale Lick in Octaves
Here's a fun lick Andy will show you that gives you great practice at jumping from one end of the fret board to the other.
Length: 6:11 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Minor Pentatonic Tapping Lick
One of the techniques that Eddie is best known for is of course, his two handed tapping technique. In this lesson, Andy shows us a Van Halen-esque tapping lick using notes in the minor pentatonic scale.
Length: 6:04 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Tapping Adjacent Pentatonics
More tapping on tap here.... Andy shows us a lick that uses adjacent pentatonic notes on the fretboard.
Length: 5:52 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Tapped Harmonics Part 1
In this lesson, Andy shows us a staple of Eddie's repertoire: Tapped Harmonics.
Length: 5:54 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Tapped Harmonics Part 2
Tapped Harmonics Part 2 has a very rhythmic riff that Andy is going to show us that has a similar vibe to "Mean Streets" by Van Halen.
Length: 7:31 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Tapped Harmonics Part 3
Building on the lick from the last lesson, Andy continues with more tapped harmonics.
Length: 4:15 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Tremolo Picking
Here's a technique that Eddie uses a lot in his playing. A bit tricky, but with practice it's a technique that anyone can do!
Length: 4:04 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Tapping With Open Strings
In this lesson, Andy shows us a tapping lick that uses open strings, and mulitple notes on one string.
Length: 5:29 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Tapping on Multiple Strings
Andy now takes the pattern we learned in the last lesson, add a little to it, and puts it in a musical context for us.
Length: 4:59 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Tapping and Shifting Positions
In this lesson, Andy shows us a cool ascending tapping lick that moves through various positions.
Length: 8:50 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Eddie's Gear
In the series finale, Andy briefly discusses Eddie's gear and gives us some advice as to how to recreate his basic sound.
Length: 5:30 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
About Andy Whitehead
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Originally from Amarillo, Texas, Andy began recording and touring as a guitarist with the indie/progressive band, TORGO!. They released their debut album, Choose Your Own Adventure, in 2010. While Andy majored in music at Amarillo Community College, he studied classical and jazz guitar.
Originally from Amarillo, Texas, Andy began recording and touring as a guitarist with the indie/progressive band, TORGO!. They released their debut album, Choose Your Own Adventure, in 2010. While Andy majored in music at Amarillo Community College, he studied classical and jazz guitar.
Andy received a Bachelor's of Music with an Emphasis in Instrumental Jazz Studies from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. He performed in UNC's big bands, small jazz combos, jazz guitar ensemble and vocal jazz ensembles.
Andy teaches for multiple music lesson companies and also has been ranked in the top three musicians and teachers in Arvada, CO by Thumbtack.com. In addition, he writes educational music articles and blogs. Andy performs regularly for events, restaurants, and musicals as a guitarist in a variety of styles. Andy teaches for multiple music lesson companies and has been ranked in the top three musicians and teachers in Englewood and Arvada, CO by Thumbtack.com
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