Steve Vai’s original Eruption transcription

wddonalds

Some interesting background on Steve’s 1984 transcription of Eruption plus the original manuscript of the tab:

https://jasobrecht.substack.com/p/steve-vais-handwritten-transcription?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=posts-open-in-app&utm_medium=email&r=anwxj&triedRedirect=true

hollywoodrox

That was great  thanks for sharing 

Danny1969

I remember listening to Eruption time and time again trying to figure out what he as doing. Some of it might seem obvious to younger players now but at that time he was the only one doing all those snarling dog pull off licks and the more difficult bits. The tapping part I got easy because you can hear the notes clearly and it's more melodic rather than aggressive. 

Steve transcribed that from cassette, nowadays we can loop it, slow it down etc. I bet he would have killed for those features back then. 

To this day I don't think anyone has got as much aggression into a guitar as EVH did. We can all play it now but I haven't heard anyone quite get the feel that EVH has on it. It's a mixture of youth, coke and virtuoso 

monquixote

Danny1969 said:

To this day I don't think anyone has got as much aggression into a guitar as EVH did. We can all play it now but I haven't heard anyone quite get the feel that EVH has on it. It's a mixture of youth, coke and virtuoso 

I remember a video about it by I think Phil X where he said that a lot of EVHs stuff is virtually impossible to copy because although you can technically play the notes and for a modern shredder it's all pretty basic stuff there is something about the phrasing and a kind of swing that he adds to everything that is almost impossible to replicate.

Danny1969

monquixote said:

Danny1969 said:

To this day I don't think anyone has got as much aggression into a guitar as EVH did. We can all play it now but I haven't heard anyone quite get the feel that EVH has on it. It's a mixture of youth, coke and virtuoso 

I remember a video about it by I think Phil X where he said that a lot of EVHs stuff is virtually impossible to copy because although you can technically play the notes and for a modern shredder it's all pretty basic stuff there is something about the phrasing and a kind of swing that he adds to everything that is almost impossible to replicate.

Yeah that swing IS the thing .. his dad was a jazz clarinet player and those VH boys were sitting in on those  gigs around 67 to 72 absorbing all that stuff like sponges .... that's the kinda schooling no ones going to get from watching Youtube videos  

CaseOfAce

Danny1969 said:

monquixote said:

Danny1969 said:

To this day I don't think anyone has got as much aggression into a guitar as EVH did. We can all play it now but I haven't heard anyone quite get the feel that EVH has on it. It's a mixture of youth, coke and virtuoso 

I remember a video about it by I think Phil X where he said that a lot of EVHs stuff is virtually impossible to copy because although you can technically play the notes and for a modern shredder it's all pretty basic stuff there is something about the phrasing and a kind of swing that he adds to everything that is almost impossible to replicate.

Yeah that swing IS the thing .. his dad was a jazz clarinet player and those VH boys were sitting in on those  gigs around 67 to 72 absorbing all that stuff like sponges .... that's the kinda schooling no ones going to get from watching Youtube videos  

not to mention the numerous top 40 club gigs they did in the early 70s covering a whole variety of styles.

As regards Eruption - you can see how it came about - Eddie messing about with first position Am pentatonic on the neck, throwing in outside notes during soundchecks or rehearsal (at deafening volume). Plenty of people were doing that sort of thing in the 70s I guess - but it was the complete wild abandon and virtuosity that Van Halen possessed that made it different.

JasO

wddonalds said:

Some interesting background on Steve’s 1984 transcription of Eruption plus the original manuscript of the tab:

https://jasobrecht.substack.com/p/steve-vais-handwritten-transcription?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=posts-open-in-app&utm_medium=email&r=anwxj&triedRedirect=true

Thank you for sharing this link! I'm glad I'm able to share this Steve Vai document, as it always struck me as something special. 

digitalkettle

JasO said:

wddonalds said:

Some interesting background on Steve’s 1984 transcription of Eruption plus the original manuscript of the tab:

https://jasobrecht.substack.com/p/steve-vais-handwritten-transcription?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=posts-open-in-app&utm_medium=email&r=anwxj&triedRedirect=true

Thank you for sharing this link! I'm glad I'm able to share this Steve Vai document, as it always struck me as something special. 

Nice one Jas...it's a piece of art!

maw4neu

I'm fortunate ( or old enough ) to have witnessed Van Halen supporting Black Sabbath way back in 1978 . . There was the 4 of us, all best mates, as close to the stage as was humanly possible, to watch one of our favourite groups of the time, namely Black Sabbath  . . .

We got in nice and early to stake our spot . . . . We had no idea who the opening support act was, but it was an absolute stonking performance by Van Halen that night, they were on another level, their performance was faultless and tight as a drum . . Sadly, Black Sabbath were mediocre that night, or just OK at best . . .  Eddie was on fire . . . when he played Eruption, no one moved, everyone just stared at this genius of a man . . . what a night ! ! ! 

Yorkie

Danny1969 said:

Steve transcribed that from cassette, nowadays we can loop it, slow it down etc. I bet he would have killed for those features back then. 

My record player wants to have a word. 

jpfamps

monquixote said:

Danny1969 said:

I remember a video about it by I think Phil X where he said that a lot of EVHs stuff is virtually impossible to copy because although you can technically play the notes and for a modern shredder it's all pretty basic stuff there is something about the phrasing and a kind of swing that he adds to everything that is almost impossible to replicate.

I think that is bollocks of the highest order.

The two phrases "for a modern shedder it's all pretty basic stuff" and "EVHs stuff is virtually impossible to copy"  would seem to highlight a certain level of cognitive dissonance here.

If you can't get it to sound right you aren't a good enough.player.

So it obviously isn't "all pretty basic stuff".

What to me made Van Halen the great player we was was his musicality; everything he played just sounded great, even when playing at full chat. 

He also wrote great riffs too.

Van Halen had a great rhythm section that really grooved; a feature often missing from the shred guitar genera.

In addition Van Halen made music that people wanted to listen too. 

They sold 56 millio albums in the US alone.

I would hazard a guess that this probably exceeds the sum total of all other albums in the "shred" genera.

axisus

maw4neu said:

I'm fortunate ( or old enough ) to have witnessed Van Halen supporting Black Sabbath way back in 1978 . . 

A pal of mine went to see that tour. They took one look at Van Halen in spandex and headed back to the bar apparently! He regretted missing the band ever since!

Evo

I do love VH. 

Eddie was that wonderful contrast of technical virtuoso with great musical understanding, and a rock n roll chaos goblin that decided to completely rewrite all the rules about how the guitar should sound. 

wddonalds

In a similar vein I bought Chris Brooks’ Viking Shred course and it is excellent. I reckon it is even more in depth than Swedish Shred Secrets. If you like Chris’ other instructional material then I’m sure you’ll like this as well. 

monquixote

jpfamps said:

monquixote said:

Danny1969 said:

I remember a video about it by I think Phil X where he said that a lot of EVHs stuff is virtually impossible to copy because although you can technically play the notes and for a modern shredder it's all pretty basic stuff there is something about the phrasing and a kind of swing that he adds to everything that is almost impossible to replicate.

I think that is bollocks of the highest order.

The two phrases "for a modern shedder it's all pretty basic stuff" and "EVHs stuff is virtually impossible to copy"  would seem to highlight a certain level of cognitive dissonance here.

If you can't get it to sound right you aren't a good enough.player.

So it obviously isn't "all pretty basic stuff".

What to me made Van Halen the great player we was was his musicality; everything he played just sounded great, even when playing at full chat. 

He also wrote great riffs too.

Van Halen had a great rhythm section that really grooved; a feature often missing from the shred guitar genera.

In addition Van Halen made music that people wanted to listen too. 

They sold 56 millio albums in the US alone.

I would hazard a guess that this probably exceeds the sum total of all other albums in the "shred" genera.

I think you have missed the point Phil X was making entirely.