My Mission: Eruption in 6-8 months.

**pvhawkeye08** · 03.14.07, 08:12 PM

Hey guys.. first of all I'd like to introduce myself
I'm Tyler (go by TK). I'm 17 and I've been playing guitar since um.. after new years (2 1/2 months). I'm very dedicated to the guitar and i practice at least an hour a day or sometimes even up to 3 hours (I think I hit that mark today...) and Van Halen has truly inspired me.

My dream as a guitarist is to play Van Halen's "Eruption" on stage.
...and my school's talent show is in about 6-8 months.

I haven't decided to take on this massive challenge until just recently, so so far I'd have to guess that I've practiced the solo for about 5-6 hours total, the only part being the tapping at the very end of the solo (probably the easiest section). I have the tapping till the end of the solo memorized, and can play it fairly well- i would be able to play at full speed except for the fact that my transfers between 3-note phrases aren't quite up to speed.

If you haven't heard/seen him already, there is a user on youtube that goes by the name of "guitarwannabee" (aka Craig) and I'm waiting to receive his DVD with detailed instructions and guides to playing popular van halen songs and solos including "Eruption", "Cathedral", "Aint talkin' bout love", and more.

The reason I posted this is because I was wondering if you guys have any tips/stories/suggestions/advice to give me? I'm not going for a perfect rendition of the solo, just as close as i can get so i can get some "wow"s

from the audience... Thanks

TK

**Duck** · 03.14.07, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by pvhawkeye08

Hey guys.. first of all I'd like to introduce myself
I'm Tyler (go by TK). I'm 17 and I've been playing guitar since um.. after new years (2 1/2 months). I'm very dedicated to the guitar and i practice at least an hour a day or sometimes even up to 3 hours (I think I hit that mark today...) and Van Halen has truly inspired me.

My dream as a guitarist is to play Van Halen's "Eruption" on stage.
...and my school's talent show is in about 6-8 months.

I haven't decided to take on this massive challenge until just recently, so so far I'd have to guess that I've practiced the solo for about 5-6 hours total, the only part being the tapping at the very end of the solo (probably the easiest section). I have the tapping till the end of the solo memorized, and can play it fairly well- i would be able to play at full speed except for the fact that my transfers between 3-note phrases aren't quite up to speed.

If you haven't heard/seen him already, there is a user on youtube that goes by the name of "guitarwannabee" (aka Craig) and I'm waiting to receive his DVD with detailed instructions and guides to playing popular van halen songs and solos including "Eruption", "Cathedral", "Aint talkin' bout love", and more.

The reason I posted this is because I was wondering if you guys have any tips/stories/suggestions/advice to give me? I'm not going for a perfect rendition of the solo, just as close as i can get so i can get some "wow"s

from the audience... Thanks

TK

Hey man, good luck learning the piece. You should probably ask the mods to move this to the "Guitar Room" for you though.

**MOJODOJO** · 03.14.07, 08:33 PM

This will probably get moved to the Guitar Room where it belongs buy here's my advice...take it slow piece by piece and ALWAYS practice dry (with NO effects). This way when you add the effects it's that much easier (kind of like a batter putting on a donut before he goes to the plate).

Here's my rendition...

Best of luck!

-Derek

**pvhawkeye08** · 03.14.07, 08:49 PM

my bad... i think i was only looking at the "van halen only forums" subpage instead of the home with ALL of the forums. oh well...

**Duck** · 03.14.07, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by MOJODOJO

This will probably get moved to the Guitar Room where it belongs buy here's my advice...take it slow piece by piece and ALWAYS practice dry (with NO effects). This way when you add the effects it's that much easier (kind of like a batter putting on a donut before he goes to the plate).

Here's my rendition...

Best of luck!

-Derek

Hey Derek - nice version, man! I enjoyed it.

**JasonG5150** · 03.14.07, 09:13 PM

i've been playing about 4 years, eruption isn't very hard just practice practice, but g/l n00b

**muffdiver** · 03.14.07, 09:22 PM

That MOJODOJO guy always impresses, fukin right man...

That Craig guy ain't too bad either, but shit, anybody named Craig must be a weiner.....

MOJO is the man 'round here, but he won't cross the border to the north cuz of a corndog kidnapping.....

**darthadv** · 03.14.07, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by MOJODOJO

This will probably get moved to the Guitar Room where it belongs buy here's my advice...take it slow piece by piece and ALWAYS practice dry (with NO effects). This way when you add the effects it's that much easier (kind of like a batter putting on a donut before he goes to the plate).

Here's my rendition...

Best of luck!

-Derek

spot on!

**fullbug5150** · 03.15.07, 02:53 AM

Originally Posted by darthadv

spot on!

people that I know who play it rec. mas finger exercises daily

**Double Down** · 03.15.07, 05:57 AM

Originally Posted by pvhawkeye08

Hey guys.. first of all I'd like to introduce myself
I'm Tyler (go by TK). I'm 17 and I've been playing guitar since um.. after new years (2 1/2 months). I'm very dedicated to the guitar and i practice at least an hour a day or sometimes even up to 3 hours (I think I hit that mark today...) and Van Halen has truly inspired me.

My dream as a guitarist is to play Van Halen's "Eruption" on stage.
...and my school's talent show is in about 6-8 months.

I haven't decided to take on this massive challenge until just recently, so so far I'd have to guess that I've practiced the solo for about 5-6 hours total, the only part being the tapping at the very end of the solo (probably the easiest section). I have the tapping till the end of the solo memorized, and can play it fairly well- i would be able to play at full speed except for the fact that my transfers between 3-note phrases aren't quite up to speed.

If you haven't heard/seen him already, there is a user on youtube that goes by the name of "guitarwannabee" (aka Craig) and I'm waiting to receive his DVD with detailed instructions and guides to playing popular van halen songs and solos including "Eruption", "Cathedral", "Aint talkin' bout love", and more.

The reason I posted this is because I was wondering if you guys have any tips/stories/suggestions/advice to give me? I'm not going for a perfect rendition of the solo, just as close as i can get so i can get some "wow"s

from the audience... Thanks

TK

Can I be a voice of reason here? I'm all for encouraging anybody on the guitar, but c'mon. You've been playing guitar for 3 months and you think you can pull off Eruption in 6-8 months?? Eruption??

We're talking about one of the most technically challenging pieces in rock history. Good luck and all, but you're setting your goals as high as they can be set, and in my opinion they couldn't be more unrealistic.

**travas65** · 03.15.07, 08:47 AM

Good luck with Eruption. It's a blast to learn and play, but your gonna need more time than you have to learn it. Let me suggest you tackle Panama for the talent show, or Ain't talkin bout love.

**Red** · 03.15.07, 10:04 AM

Dude, you'll know when the time comes whether or not you're ready. If that's what you want to do, go for it. Nothing wrong with making that your goal. Have fun.

**badkaraoke** · 03.15.07, 11:03 AM

Well it's too big a piece to bite off at once. I'm concerned that either you're going to fail and become discouraged or you're going to bullshit yourself into thinking you're playing the phrases right and become another hick who is more full of hot air than music. There are easier ways to feel a sense of accomplishment as a beginner.

I'd honestly work on the hammering on and pulling off exercises outside of the tune.

Eddie's not the hardest for requiring good picking but the legato pull offs and hammer ons are going to stress you out. You need to have a well developed pinky for some of the three finger pull off stuff.

Also, when you are executing messy sounding trills by Eddie Van Halen you don't have to exactly duplicate the ORDER of the notes most of the time...it's pretty messy sounding on the record and he never actually does the same thing in the trills as the record ever himself.

Have a guitar teacher with a good reputation look at how you are doing the basics and listen to what he is saying - holding the pick, picking technique and left hand technique are all stressed by this tune.

**pvhawkeye08** · 03.15.07, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by Double Down

Can I be a voice of reason here? I'm all for encouraging anybody on the guitar, but c'mon. You've been playing guitar for 3 months and you think you can pull off Eruption in 6-8 months?? Eruption??

We're talking about one of the most technically challenging pieces in rock history. Good luck and all, but you're setting your goals as high as they can be set, and in my opinion they couldn't be more unrealistic.

I understand the challenge.. really, I do- and I know it's not gonna be one of those "well that wasn't so hard!" deals- I'm willing to come home from school, baseball, w/e every day and practice section by section this piece for at least an hour or two. If it's not ready by show time, I won't be disappointed.. because at 6-8 months I should have SOME of it down at the rate I plan to practice and work at it, and I know that I could easily play Eruption in front of a crowd someplace else. But, like you said, I'm willing to set my goals as high as they can be set.

... and, no, i will not play this through if show time comes and if all i can play is half-ass. i want it to sound good... period.

Thanks for the comments, guys

**Mikey Metalhead** · 03.15.07, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by Double Down

Can I be a voice of reason here? I'm all for encouraging anybody on the guitar, but c'mon. You've been playing guitar for 3 months and you think you can pull off Eruption in 6-8 months?? Eruption??

We're talking about one of the most technically challenging pieces in rock history. Good luck and all, but you're setting your goals as high as they can be set, and in my opinion they couldn't be more unrealistic.

I disagree... if you are truly dedicated, its plenty of time. Ed writing that piece is the aw part, playing it is not hard at all compared to a lot of stuff out there. playing it well is hard and just takes practice.
its half tricks and the rest speed and effects. to a player experienced in rock guitar, it would not be considered that technically difficult.
the big issue will be, can you play it consistant and under the pressure of an audience without totally botching it.