Hi Dweezil , really enjoying re listening to all of the podcasts - love the Fair Warning episodes - I still wonder if Ed had explored the slap/tapping on meanstreet further - where did he come up with the idea - love your thoughts on the frequency creating patterns too. I've re discovered thin picks too - thanks - having used something the thickness of a tomb stone for the past 10 years !!! . Have you considered approaching Donn Landee to take part in the podcasts ? Did Ed ever tell you where he conceived the idea to hook up a variac to his amp ? That alone is a standout moment of genius.
Glad you're enjoying the series! I've been trying to get Donn Landee to agree to come on the podcast. That would be fantastic. I will probably get into the variac stuff in the episode on reverse-engineering the brown sound.
Is there any discussion about geeky stuff like Ed's string tunings/intonation? I wanted to know what the fine adjustments Ed made to various strings. Dweezil alluded to Ed's B string being tuned differently but didn't say how much (assuming flat a few cents?) Are there others? G string?
I've read this:
"I think what they are trying to say is basically this....
He tuned his b string to be a perfect major 3rd harmony (which is what its supposed to be anyway but will alway be a few 'beats' out of tune) for tunes that he was using a lot of 'A' shaped barre chords,....but would then tune, for instance, the B string 1st fret to be a perfect 4th to the G string [again, the way its normally tuned except made the 4th interval beat less.
In other words- you can never have these two notes ......
[CORGAN] you know, now that you speak of Ed's influences (and thanks for the Mammoth tracks def hear Tony in Ed's soloing, something I feel he took much later into his career when you hear him play those fast b3-2-1 trill-type of licks that Iommi > codified in Sabbath), at 1:22:00 in the Corgan podcast, that solo beginning of 'Push Comes to Shove' really reminds of a Holdsworth/UK-era kind of thing. Aside from the tone, Ed never really stacked fourths/fifths (harmonics tapped) like that before but if that doesn't sound like 'In the Dead of Night', then I'm down the rabbit hole already!
I think Ed was a fan, at least, helped him out in those days get noticed, etc.
edited: ah cool at 1:33:45 you talk about that very thing.
re: the Billy Corgan podcast, at 1:10:00, on that intro during the Van Halen - Unchained - 6/12/1981 - Oakland Coliseum Stadium, it's actually EDDIE that goofed (not Roth). Eddie comes in the verse too soon and then recovers back to the main riff for Roth to enter.
It's funny because after that discussion, just to be sure, I checked it out again and realized that it was EVH who came in early. Dave was on point! That's the most unique version of Unchained for that reason.
Wow. Nailed it Dweezil. Music now is a background to most people’s lives and at least prior and up to the 90s, it was CENTRAL to a social gathering. Didn’t matter the band. If you and your friends were on the same page in regards to an artist or band, the music was what we flocked around.
Runnin' With The Dweezil has helped reignite my love for not only Van Halen, but the electric guitar itself. I have been taking my own playing more seriously since I started tuning in. I have been practicing music theory more and learning how to improve my guitar tones. I really appreciate how observant of a listener you are with Edward's playing, Dweezil. The discourse and insight that you share with each guest really makes this podcast so special.
Good episode, Dweezil - thanks. "Girl Gone Bad" is my favorite VH song, and to me it is the reference standard for the truth that Ed plays to Al, and vice-versa. I'm reading Greg Renoff's "Van Halen Rising," and it made a lot of sense to learn that Al played piano and guitar as well as drums. The bottom line is on "Girl Gone Bad" in particular Al knows EXACTLY what Ed was playing, note for note. I love the custom-fit between the guitar and drums.
On a completely randon note, what do you think of your Dad's album "Jazz from Hell"? It's my favorite FZ album, believe it or not. Thanks, Tim
While I can't really rank VH songs as there are just so many great tunes, "Girl Gone Bad" is always up there in my world and I feel like it is a buried treasure in the VH catalog. Ed used to describe some of VH's music as "Falling down the stairs and landing on your feet". "Girl Gone Bad" epitomizes that feeling for me. Actually, a better analogy I think is that I'd say that song feels more like a locomotive train that is going to go off the tracks, but never does.
It's a very complex song. Many skills are required to be able to play it. tricky chord inversions and picking techniques plus odd syncopations and accents. It's pretty amazing that Dave was able to write lyrics to the song and make it work. It could have easily been an instrumental song.
Just subscribed to this series today and listened to the first episode. Also inspired me to sit and really listen to VH1 again. Such a great album, guitar tones that we all dream of (bring on the Reverse Engineering episode). I'm unusual as I think that EVH was at his peak as a guitar player during the Roth years but I actually prefer the Hagar era albums. Can't wait to listen to all the episodes.
Hi Jim, Yes, you can still post. All you have to do is post a video from your profile page on my site. It will be loaded into the community video section.
I had totally forgotten that Little Guitars was played on a mini Les Paul! I had a "centerfold" of it hanging on my wall back in the day...this series has really jogged my memory. Thanks for that!
Been thoroughly enjoying this series. In the spirit of Diver Down, just wanted to share a clip of “The Full Bug” I shot from the 2012 tour. Was blown away at how Ed could still pull this off 30 years after the album came out.
I came to Van Halen via Queen back in the 80’s. Queen albums were all about variety and the variety of songs and sounds on Diver Down made it one of my favourite Van Halen albums back in the day. I still have a soft spot for it and it contains some of my favourite VH tunes...Secrets, Hang em High, Full Bug. A classic
I’d like to petition to have Dweezil remaster these albums. Is it just me or are the sound bites of the songs coming through even better sounding than the originals?
On some occasions in these episodes I have made some slight adjustments to the eq for the tracks in order to bring out certain details. I've mostly done it with the live bootleg stuff because those typically need help to sound better.
What I would really like to do is mix some Van Halen classic albums in Atmos! That would be amazing and so much fun!!! Full on 3D Van Halen!
Another great episode! Mark was super cool and was a great guest. Hearing all these great musicians that you bring aboard gush over Edward is so heartwarming. Gives me a sense of validation to why I’ve always exclaimed that Van Halen was the greatest band ever and that Edward has no equal. But one of the best parts of all these episodes is you Dweezil. Your enormous fandom and immense love and respect for Eddie brings me so much joy to listen to and at times brings me to tears. Thanks again for all your doing for fans like me. Like always, I can’t wait for the next episode.
Just finished the Diver Down episode. Just great stuff always felt like that album while panned had such good playing on it. Even with all the covers it sounds like VH. Ed always made it his own and I have nothing but respect for that. That double neck on Secrets fascinated me. The live guitar I think had a Danelectro neck and I always felt like that “U” shaped head stock was about to snap. And having seen Ed live at a tribute to Les Paul at the Brooklyn academy of music with Jan Hammer, Tony Levin & Jerry Marotta in 1988, I’m reminded of what you and Mark talked about Ed could only sound like VH with Alex. It was a great tribute but It felt different. When he played with Alex, Mike and eventually Wolf, it felt dangerous. Thank you again for giving us this gift and perspective on all these recordings. I would love if this was a permanent program on Premier Guitar, Volume XM or a Netflix series. Who do we have to talk to about that?
Wow im happy be here ☺️
I took a mobile light, lookin' for a moonbeam, whoa
Yeah, ya stand in line, ya got lost in a jet stream
No mookmeat or moople was injured in that lyric.
Hi Dweezil , really enjoying re listening to all of the podcasts - love the Fair Warning episodes - I still wonder if Ed had explored the slap/tapping on meanstreet further - where did he come up with the idea - love your thoughts on the frequency creating patterns too. I've re discovered thin picks too - thanks - having used something the thickness of a tomb stone for the past 10 years !!! . Have you considered approaching Donn Landee to take part in the podcasts ? Did Ed ever tell you where he conceived the idea to hook up a variac to his amp ? That alone is a standout moment of genius.
Hi Rich,
Glad you're enjoying the series! I've been trying to get Donn Landee to agree to come on the podcast. That would be fantastic. I will probably get into the variac stuff in the episode on reverse-engineering the brown sound.
[GILBERT] yep, 'Spanish Fly' is in standard tuning, but dropped down a whole step on a nylon string
Is there any discussion about geeky stuff like Ed's string tunings/intonation? I wanted to know what the fine adjustments Ed made to various strings. Dweezil alluded to Ed's B string being tuned differently but didn't say how much (assuming flat a few cents?) Are there others? G string?
I've read this:
For more information on how Eddie actually tuned, please check out my forum post on the subject:https://www.vhlinks.com/vbforums/threads/62695-Van-Halen-tunings-with-Peterson-strobe-tuner-reference
[CORGAN] you know, now that you speak of Ed's influences (and thanks for the Mammoth tracks def hear Tony in Ed's soloing, something I feel he took much later into his career when you hear him play those fast b3-2-1 trill-type of licks that Iommi > codified in Sabbath), at 1:22:00 in the Corgan podcast, that solo beginning of 'Push Comes to Shove' really reminds of a Holdsworth/UK-era kind of thing. Aside from the tone, Ed never really stacked fourths/fifths (harmonics tapped) like that before but if that doesn't sound like 'In the Dead of Night', then I'm down the rabbit hole already!
I think Ed was a fan, at least, helped him out in those days get noticed, etc.
edited: ah cool at 1:33:45 you talk about that very thing.
re: the Billy Corgan podcast, at 1:10:00, on that intro during the Van Halen - Unchained - 6/12/1981 - Oakland Coliseum Stadium, it's actually EDDIE that goofed (not Roth). Eddie comes in the verse too soon and then recovers back to the main riff for Roth to enter.
Hi JT,
It's funny because after that discussion, just to be sure, I checked it out again and realized that it was EVH who came in early. Dave was on point! That's the most unique version of Unchained for that reason.
Wow. Nailed it Dweezil. Music now is a background to most people’s lives and at least prior and up to the 90s, it was CENTRAL to a social gathering. Didn’t matter the band. If you and your friends were on the same page in regards to an artist or band, the music was what we flocked around.
Runnin' With The Dweezil has helped reignite my love for not only Van Halen, but the electric guitar itself. I have been taking my own playing more seriously since I started tuning in. I have been practicing music theory more and learning how to improve my guitar tones. I really appreciate how observant of a listener you are with Edward's playing, Dweezil. The discourse and insight that you share with each guest really makes this podcast so special.
I totally agree, it's inspiring. I've been digging into my new EVH and messing with tone as well. These podcasts are awesome!
Good episode, Dweezil - thanks. "Girl Gone Bad" is my favorite VH song, and to me it is the reference standard for the truth that Ed plays to Al, and vice-versa. I'm reading Greg Renoff's "Van Halen Rising," and it made a lot of sense to learn that Al played piano and guitar as well as drums. The bottom line is on "Girl Gone Bad" in particular Al knows EXACTLY what Ed was playing, note for note. I love the custom-fit between the guitar and drums.
On a completely randon note, what do you think of your Dad's album "Jazz from Hell"? It's my favorite FZ album, believe it or not. Thanks, Tim
While I can't really rank VH songs as there are just so many great tunes, "Girl Gone Bad" is always up there in my world and I feel like it is a buried treasure in the VH catalog. Ed used to describe some of VH's music as "Falling down the stairs and landing on your feet". "Girl Gone Bad" epitomizes that feeling for me. Actually, a better analogy I think is that I'd say that song feels more like a locomotive train that is going to go off the tracks, but never does.
It's a very complex song. Many skills are required to be able to play it. tricky chord inversions and picking techniques plus odd syncopations and accents. It's pretty amazing that Dave was able to write lyrics to the song and make it work. It could have easily been an instrumental song.
Just subscribed to this series today and listened to the first episode. Also inspired me to sit and really listen to VH1 again. Such a great album, guitar tones that we all dream of (bring on the Reverse Engineering episode). I'm unusual as I think that EVH was at his peak as a guitar player during the Roth years but I actually prefer the Hagar era albums. Can't wait to listen to all the episodes.
Thank you Dweezil
Hi Chris,
Thanks! Welcome to the community. There's a lot more stuff coming!
Hi. Can we still submit vids taking about the series ? If so where do we post it??
thanks. Love what your doing and the general love and admiration for the MAN
Hi Jim,
Yes, you can still post. All you have to do is post a video from your profile page on my site. It will be loaded into the community video section.
Thanks for your help!
The UFC uses Intruder to open all their main card broadcasts for years. Dana White demanded it of the DJ cuz he's a huge Van Halen fan.
I had totally forgotten that Little Guitars was played on a mini Les Paul! I had a "centerfold" of it hanging on my wall back in the day...this series has really jogged my memory. Thanks for that!
Been thoroughly enjoying this series. In the spirit of Diver Down, just wanted to share a clip of “The Full Bug” I shot from the 2012 tour. Was blown away at how Ed could still pull this off 30 years after the album came out.
Thank you for sharing it...so GREAT!!!!
That is fantastic! Thanks for sharing it!
Thanks for sharing !!
The solo breakdown portion between Eddie, Mike & Al in “The Full Bag” always reminded me of the The Allman Brothers Band song “Kind Of Bird”...
another wonderful episode!
I came to Van Halen via Queen back in the 80’s. Queen albums were all about variety and the variety of songs and sounds on Diver Down made it one of my favourite Van Halen albums back in the day. I still have a soft spot for it and it contains some of my favourite VH tunes...Secrets, Hang em High, Full Bug. A classic
I’d like to petition to have Dweezil remaster these albums. Is it just me or are the sound bites of the songs coming through even better sounding than the originals?
Hi Craig,
On some occasions in these episodes I have made some slight adjustments to the eq for the tracks in order to bring out certain details. I've mostly done it with the live bootleg stuff because those typically need help to sound better.
What I would really like to do is mix some Van Halen classic albums in Atmos! That would be amazing and so much fun!!! Full on 3D Van Halen!
Another great episode! Mark was super cool and was a great guest. Hearing all these great musicians that you bring aboard gush over Edward is so heartwarming. Gives me a sense of validation to why I’ve always exclaimed that Van Halen was the greatest band ever and that Edward has no equal. But one of the best parts of all these episodes is you Dweezil. Your enormous fandom and immense love and respect for Eddie brings me so much joy to listen to and at times brings me to tears. Thanks again for all your doing for fans like me. Like always, I can’t wait for the next episode.
Mr. Zappa,
Just finished the Diver Down episode. Just great stuff always felt like that album while panned had such good playing on it. Even with all the covers it sounds like VH. Ed always made it his own and I have nothing but respect for that. That double neck on Secrets fascinated me. The live guitar I think had a Danelectro neck and I always felt like that “U” shaped head stock was about to snap. And having seen Ed live at a tribute to Les Paul at the Brooklyn academy of music with Jan Hammer, Tony Levin & Jerry Marotta in 1988, I’m reminded of what you and Mark talked about Ed could only sound like VH with Alex. It was a great tribute but It felt different. When he played with Alex, Mike and eventually Wolf, it felt dangerous. Thank you again for giving us this gift and perspective on all these recordings.
I would love if this was a permanent program on Premier Guitar, Volume XM or a Netflix series. Who do we have to talk to about that?
Rob