5150 by Van Halen
Released as the title track of Van Halen's 1986 album 5150, the song opened a new era for the band with Sammy Hagar as vocalist, bringing a harder-edged, stadium-friendly sound that defined mid-80s rock. Eddie Van Halen's performances on this track showcase his fearless approach to technique, from aggressive power chords to rapid tapping that became a signature element of the era.
Recorded during a period of high creative energy, 5150 cemented Van Halen's comeback and influence. The title itself, a nod to Eddie's nickname and a bit of studio lore about his personal life, has echoed through guitar circles for decades, emblematic of where virtuosity and showmanship meet in mainstream rock.
🎸 Want to know the techniques, practice tips, and lesson details? Scroll below the lesson!
What You'll Learn
In this lesson you will learn the driving main riff built on palm-muted power chords and a tight two-note motif, the verse and chorus rhythm parts, and the signature tapping-infused intro. We'll break down the fret-hand shapes, discuss phrasing and dynamics, and then tackle the fast solo with hammer-ons, pull-offs, and scale runs. You'll also explore tone ideas to get close to Eddie's iconic grind and how to mute unwanted strings to keep the groove tight at speed. Watch for tricky parts like precise palm muting, clean string muting between riffs, and keeping timing rock-solid while the hands are busy with tapping.
Intermediate; prior skills in power chords, clean palm muting, alternate picking, and basic two-hand tapping will help you master the riffs and solo.
🎸 Techniques Used
Practice Tips
- 💡Break the main riff into four-bar sections and loop each at a slow tempo with a metronome before gradually increasing pace.
- 💡Isolate the tapping intro and practice it slowly with exact fret positions, coordinating left- and right-hand motions for clean taps.
- 💡Focus on muting precision: keep unwanted strings quiet with deliberate palm and fretting-hand muting to maintain a tight, percussive sound.
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