NDRU said:

Thank you. Tapping is a playing technique but I've seen people on here refer to it as a "trick". There's no trick to strumming a pick up and down a string and there's no trick to placing a finger in the fretboard and doing a pull-off. Eddie's a bad dude; with or without the tapping.

BlaqueKnight said:

You're right, it's not a trick, but people dismissing it as one is actually kind of a compliment.

It's almost like they are calling it magic, like they can't accept that it's real. But it is real, he does it right in front of our eyes & ears.

I'd love to just listen to Eddie Van Halen on an album without a singer... I've never been able to enjoy rock vocals much.
[Edited 11/20/06 21:16pm]

NDRU said:

Everyone and his mother/father can play the "Eruption" tapping part - but just remember how innovative it was at the time. And it (tapping in general)must still hold some credence, 'cause cats like Vai, Satch, Bettencourt and Reb Beach (one of my faves) make it an integral part of their respective styles.

As a musician myself, I've always loved EVH's riffs/rhythm playing and interplay with Alex just as much as his lead playing. Eddie Van Halen is an all-around great musician. Most of us old-heads around here realize these things - it's just the young'uns that sow the signs of disrespect, not unlike many pro athletes who don't show an appreciation for the past...

JesseDezz said:

also people who just don't like that style of music. I can understand that, and they spawned a lot of shitty imitators, but to dismiss people so obviously talented as Eddie or Steve Vai says to me a person's not listening.

And you're absolutely right about him being an all around musician. His most popular songs--Jump, Panama, Jamie's Crying--I can't even picture the guitar solos in my head, but the songs themselves are great.

I love EVH - an absolutely awesome player, and he really changed the way I looked at guitar. What sets him apart is his completeness as a guitarist - his rhythm and lead playing is equally excellent, unlike many of the guitarists he spawned, who lived only for the widdle. I could listen to EVH rhythm all day - the guitar track behind the solo on Feel Your Love Tonight is one of my favourites.

I can't understand the hatred of tapping - it makes no sense at all to deny yourself an entire dimension of the instrument. As well as allowing you to make ridiculous jumps on the fretboard, it also makes for some excellent and brutal co-ordination, stamina and strength practice. My favourite piece of EVH tapping is the little run on Judgement Day, where he's using some bizarre overhand technique, tapping with both hands, muting the strings tapped with the fretting hand with the little finger. It's an absolute beast to try and master. I also love some of the other techniques he devised, especially the volume fades/delay on Cathedral. No EVH, no Tom Morello.

Lastly, I can't think of a guitarist (apart from the obvious Leo Fender and Les Paul) who's had more of an impact on the design of the instrument itself than EVH. The Floyd Rose, the pickup designs, the removed tone control - all good stuff. Not to mention the mighty 5150, and those excellent Kramer, Music Man and Peavey guitars.

I actually don't feel qualified to judge these matters and I don't even try, and I am a musician. Having said this, I give credit where it's due.

I can't even imagine how the first Van Halen album sounded to people when it first came out.

He's unbelievable, and if possible I enjoy his rhythm guitar playing even more. I read a quote somewhere from Zakk Wylde saying listening to EVH is like drinking the best tasting beer ever.

Rowdy said:

I second that

I think the coolest title for a tour has got to be the "Hide Your Sheep Tour"

Hey, tappers, what about Stanley Jordan, the jazz guy, who only taps on bass on all of his albums. Jazz people don't think what he's doing is a trick, and that's all he does is tap.

2freaky4church1 said:

Yeah, he plays guitar. I think he plays the basslines with his left hand and the melody with his right. He's amazing, though i wasn't crazy about his version of Stairway to Heaven

2freaky4church1 said:

http://www.prince.org/msg/8/209053


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431