Edward Van Halen - 'I'm The One' (Intro) - The Lesson!!! **Watch in 720p**

[Fernandez3995]

I have the MXR Phase 90 script writing, but mine has an LED. Is that good?

[YoBroMan]

@Fernandez3995 Sure! Dunlop makes 3 or 4 versions of the original and I think the LED one is the latest version. It's still made from the original circuit, so it still sounds the same. The LED just lets you know it's on...the older ones you had to listen to see if it was running. :)

Yo!

[chickabuka]

Thanks yobro, standard tuning? and thanks

[YoBroMan]

@chickabuka Yup, although Ed tunes down to Eb.

Yo!

[chickabuka]

@YoBroMan Thanks, a 1/2 step i can do, any tips to learning some of eddies easier songs to start out with, his playing trips me out, alot of open string stuff, confusing at first,

[YoBroMan]

@chickabuka The open string stuff is a bit tricky until you 'feel' the rhythm, then you'll be able to do it with your eyes closed. As for tips, I don't really have any. Just play, keep playing, play some more, and then when you done...pick it up and make sure you fingers bleed. :)

Yo!

[loveguitars]

Excellent

[jmist123]

you should be in a band

[YoBroMan]

@jmist123 LOL!! I played in a band on Sunset in LA during the heyday of the 80s metal/glam scene; The Roxy, The Whisky, Gazzarri's, The Troubador, Marque Club, Jezabels...hanging at The Cathouse on Tuesday's....all the cool places. It was a blast...seems like a different lifetime ago. :)

Now I'm too old and the industry has changed so drastically. Breaks my heart.

Yo!

[YodaVanGrindey95]

What guitar is this!?? Looks fab!

[YoBroMan]

@YodaVanGrindey95 I built this guitar in 1981/82. It's an Aria Pro explorer ZZ series body, neck from Charvel (now part of Fender), Aria stock humbuckers and original Floyd Rose prototype. I soldered the pots and switches myself, ran a ground to the Floyd to get rid of buzz (changed the sound for the better). But, it won't stay in tune, the neck shifts all the time. However, it sounds great so I'm not going to change anything because i don't want to destroy the tone.

Yo!

[MOSKII58]

great lesson well thought out and presented

[IBZ1965]

WOW! The Phase 90 effect is dead on. I'm curious though, what kind of amp/preamp/cab are you using? Your basic tone is DAMN CLOSE to Ed's on the first album. I've always prided myself in being able to come "pretty close" to THAT tone using my modded JCM800 2203 and an MXR 10 band EQ going into the front of the amp. But DUDE! You nailed it! GREAT JOB!

[YoBroMan]

@IBZ1965 Thank you for the kind words, it's much appreciated. I have old stuff; a 1982 Marshall JCM 800 2203 with the original 6550s still in it. A Marshall straight cab with 4 65 watt celestions, I have the back off so the sound can "breath". I run a Boss analog delay, an Alesis Microverb, a Boss Overdrive pedal (the yellow one that was make in Japan), and the scripted Phase 90 reissue.

That's it, nothing special.

Yo!

[IBZ1965]

@YoBroMan You know what? I WISH I could cop EVH's FEEL the way you have. IMHO, it's not so much about the gear as it is about "the hands"...Dude, honestly MAD PROPS from an EVH fan (and guitar player) since '77...Good on 'ya!...Thanks for all you do!

[beautifulsarah100]

The picking on this song is very difficult. I've never heard an accurate cover of it. Good job, though, dude. You have some excellent moves and ability.

[MOSKII58]

@beautifulsarah100 look again there are several cats who play this tune as EVH does...the dude w/ the PRS does a great improvisational version as well. some to check out: EddieAte Dynomite & DougFCKNSteele .

[123jozef]

Every rocker gets accused of not being able to shuffle or swing on this song... including muah...

[hummarstra]

timing fail. You gotta swing it brotha!

[stratthead]

This is my favorite VH tune. I never hear folks do it right. Eddie swings. I think you have the notes right but still gotta get the feel. Gotta be loose, bro'. Peace.

[greatvalue7]

@stratthead please chek out aint talkin/im the one video from greatvalue7 need some views comments somthing thanx

[redbullmx29]

I can play it but not that good

[colebundybusters]

Faike timings bad it would e beliveble but the timing was bad

[05rsx]

Another video that not correct .The notes are there but the timing and feel is not even close.

[greatvalue7]

@05rsx please chek out aint talkin /im the one video looking 4 some veiws any views

[greatvalue7]

@05rsx please chek out aint talkin /im the one video looking 4 some veiws any views from greatvalue7

[DexterKnows]

Nice stuff! Your vids remind me of when back in the late '70s and early '80s, I'd sit in front of my mother's huge record player and put the albums on 16rpms to figure this stuff out. Nice job.

[takeuchitb007]

cool video man! I've been trying to play this song for a while now.. The opening lick is tricky as hell.. The swing feel to this song is very important to nail to make it sound right.. It's a tricky one.. I have a video of my attempting it.. I'm not using my Ibanez with the Floyd, i'm using my Strat with no trem arm so I can't do the whammy parts.. Tell me what you think bro..

Keep rockin!!!

[greatvalue7]

@takeuchitb007 please chek out greatvalue7, aint talkin /im the one video please comment looking for some veiws

[peterpetersnbg]

free lessons.. and lessons that are pragmatic an easy to learn .. what more could one want.. simply brilliant and thanks a lot

[YoBroMan]

@peterpetersnbg  'pragmatic', I like that...just as long as it's not being used as a noun. :)

[peterpetersnbg]

@YoBroMan whats important is here is is that your helping people. ( unless you have some sort of you tube guitar teaching scheme up your sleeve like Mr Piano man Sean.... you should slow things down a tad though when explaining the notes` i kept having to scroll back and still couldnt see.. ( maybe because ime below intermediate ) you sound and look good  though ! and very thankfull for this lesson !

[YoBroMan]

@peterpetersnbg Thank you for the kind words, It's much appreciatee. I'm just passing along the knowledge I have accumulated. It's a bummer YouTube limits us to 10 minutes of video, I try to get everything in within that timeframe which is why it's a little rushed. For Eruption and a few others, like Vai's Building The Church, I'll break it up into multiple vids because there's just too much information for a single 10 mins. :)

...yup, you read that right. Those are coming. ;)

Yo!

[dragonninjafighter]

great lesson!!

but i need help on the lick that starts on 0:08,i can play the lick with my left hand but for some reason i cant pick it....... advice? (i've also tried slowing it down, doesnt help with my picking)

[YoBroMan]

@dragonninjafighter Picking can be a bitch!! LOL!! The only advice I have is to play it SLOWLY...and just figure out some pattern of picking it that works for you. Other then that, I'm not sure I have any other advice for you. Sorry.

Yo!

[dragonninjafighter]

@YoBroMan lol thanks man

[nn567]

Thanks for this video. having a hard time getting this up to speed. Your playing is so clean.

[codyjt5150]

do you think you could do the solo lesson for 5150, i asked a lot of other people but for some reason they hate sammy hagar era songs because they think its gay (WTF?!) . That solo is very badass. if you could i would appreciate it

[YoBroMan]

@codyjt5150 I hadn't planned on any Sammy era stuff, but I'm getting lots of requests for 'Summer Nights' and '5150'. So, I've put them on the list. However, I don't have a lot of time to play, record and put stuff up. I'm lucky if I get 10 hrs a month to play total. So, be patient...I'm working on it. :)

[WeDieBold]

@YoBroMan yah i only like the 5150 album from hagar but i dont know why ppl dont use guitar pro or go out and buy tabs it helps you get a little better understanding the written form of the song and being able to see the notes and chords its just a better learning process

[YoBroMan]

@WeDieBold - If you want to become a great player, ear training is the only way. You need to be able to 'visualize' by ear, what's going on and translate that to your fingers. Tab, written music, etc...there's definitely a place for it, it's also important. But...ear training. It's #1 on the list, and it takes years to develop. That's why there are so few great players.

Just my humble opinion (I'm a nobody so you can take all of this with a grain of salt)

Yo!

[pskibobby]

the arpeggio lick that you start on c# is wrong sorry buddy...

[YoBroMan]

@pskibobby There's a C# in that lick? Really?? How should it be played? Help a Bro out...

[HARUKEN007]

Cool!!!

[damygeebo]

...good job, man!

[DavElectr0]

Great instructional, thanks for posting this! You are right, it is all in the attack, no amount of great guitars/amps/effects can do it for you. Having said that, please check out my cover if you get a chance! Keep rockin!

[elvisdustin]

nice guitar

[wishwizard100]

Wow. Great lesson. Thanks for posting!

[LiveAtBathroom]

Awesome dude, you took your time for doing this, we all appreciate it.

[SubGunner]

Damn i gotta get me a camera like yours Yo,

This is one bad ass tutorial man. Nice clear vid and sound.

[frankenstrat25]

and i hate this new lay out its laggin alot words arent even appearing sometimes

[frankenstrat25]

i wish i cud do that my parents flip when the computers on for an hour

[frankenstrat25]

how long does it take you to upload the vids it takes me an hour or 2 for a standard quality vid

[YoBroMan]

I set the upload then then go to sleep!! LOL!!! It takes a LONG, LONG time, I don't stick around for it. I just come back in the morning.

Yo!

[1313motley1313]

@frankenstrat25 takes me 10 min

[Jokr6915]

Damn iit, your such a good teacher, im gonna have to suscribe!!

[pebberbrown]

Now this guy knows what the F is going on! What a fantastic lesson! Clean crisp clear and HD is unbelievable. Tone on the guitar is FAT and PURE. He slows down enough so people can see EXACTLY how to do it. TEN STARS!!!!

[YoBroMan]

Thank you!!! :)

Yo!

[stupidstil]

the beginnin shuffle it other than that well done

[5150RDH]

One of the all-time best VH tunes, as well as my favorite one to play! Good job man, sounds good!

[monkface]

Yeah just a tiny bit of criticism. It doesn't sound like you are swinging the low A enough. The previous commmenter remarked that you have to shuffle it and I agree. It's being played too straight. Get ahold of a tascam or something that slows it down and keeps it in pitch and really hear the swing of those notes. It's impossible to describe here! But great and fun vid nonetheless!

[Trooperx0]

Hes doing an 8th note and then a double strum on the A string. It's suppose to be an 8th and then triplet on the A string.

[monkface]

Well it's not a strict triplet. More like a triplet with the middle note unplayed. It's a long short short, long short short feel. At the tempo it's going at it almost doesn't make a difference! But it gives it that bounce. It's kinda subtle sure but it makes a difference. Once you listen at half speed you really hear it.

[Trooperx0]

It is. I've slowed down the song. It's long and then a triplet. The middle note in the triplet isn't even muted or anything, its just a down up down stroke or normal triplet.

[monkface]

There is no triplet in the phrase at all. You have two groups of 4 eighth notes. If you play a strict triplet anywhere in there you are throwing off the rhythm and syncopation. If you play long then a triplet you throw it off. If you play a triplet then the next note you throw it off. What it consists of is long short short long or three A's followed by an A on the 4th string 7th fret and then three more open A's and the G on the 5th fret. but those three open A's have to be long short short B4

[monkface]

The first real triplets occur only when he does that crazy open pull off riff before starting the rhythm over again. To play a triplet anywhere else will throw off the feel and ruin the whole point of saying this has to shuffle.Yes there are 3 notes played on the open A but it is not a strict triplet. It's Long short short then the next A an octave higher. Slow it down some more and listen again. If I could I would post me playing it but I don't have a way to do that.

[stupidstil]

u gots to shuffle brother

[bucktheusa]

he dried it out for the lesson i think

[jspartacus]

He plays it like a robot. Gotta shuffle it for sure. That's the hard part, it's easy otherwise.

[saugat805]

is the guitar tuned half step down e flat?

[YoBroMan]

Ed tuned to Eb, or close to it, on this tune.

As for me, I usually just tune up and go, I rarely use a tuner. From what I remember with this video, I'm around Eb, but not right on.

Yo!

[foreveralive]

Very nicely done.....I'm really impressed. I hope that you have it in mind to offer instructional videos for other VH songs as well. If you plan on doing other VH tunes, I'd like to be the one who recommends the tunes that you perform :)

[YoBroMan]

Thank you!  It's been a difficult year, haven't had time to post anything recently but my New Year's resolution is to post on a regular basis in 2010.

I plan on doing anything and everything; more VH, Vai, Dime, Rhoads, theory, exercises, tricks, techniques, etc. I plan on posting some stuff of my own, live from the LA club days, should be fun.

Feel free to suggest whatever you want, don't limit it to VH. I'll see what I can do. Promise. ;)

Yo!

[foreveralive]

@YoBroMan

Just off hand, I'd suggest Rock & Roll Hoochie Coo by Rick Derringer to start.

[YoBroMan]

Aw, man! I used to play that tune in a cover band back in the late 70s/early 80s as a 12-14yr old little punk! LOL!!

I hadn't planned on recording anything like, but if you want a little help we can exchange a few emails on here and I can point you in the right direction.

Yo!

[MusiciansQuarters]

All yours vids are simply awesome, this song is a bear to play, you got to swing that thang in the beginning if not it doesn't sound correct. keep up the great work, thank you for sharing!

[rpals9]

i hate people like you lol you make it look so easy but i will never be able to play that....great job on the song

[frankenstrat25]

the quality of the vid and ur playing made me jizzz

[Rizzy55]

About my last post..I hope I didnt come off condescending because all your videos are really well done. Such an excellent job. Im just tryin to help get some more fire into your play. Im actually guessing that your own solos have plenty of fire but because these are not your own solos your playing more carefully(and because its instruction)

[YoBroMan]

No, not at all!! You're right, no attack!!! LOL!!!

Playing like Ed is very difficult because of his attack on the strings, his slurred triplets and his ability to cram 5 notes in a space only made for 4 notes...and make you believe only 4 notes were played!!! Plus, his tone, his Phase 90, his amp and the way his guitar contributed to his sound...he's very difficult to copy. ;)

I actually respect that fact you noticed the lack of attack. It shows you have a good ear. ;)

Yo!

[jspartacus]

Yeah, you're totally right! I've only seen *maybe* one person play a Van Halen solo note for note perfect ever. Lots of people try, but Ed's phrasing and note choices are so bizarre that it's damned hard to play what he does exactly. Ed has undercurrents of shuffle, boogie, and funk in his playing, yet nobody talks about that. They only see the most superficial elements of his playing. King Edward is truly one of a kind. Great job.

[takeuchitb007]

Very well said! Nice to see somebody else who gets his playing other than the "superficial" tapping stuff.

[EightShotAmericana]

Show your stuff, Rizzy55. Post a vid of some of that raw "attack" so we can all see what you mean.

[Rizzy55]

Good video.

But your missing Eddies attack. Ed is very violent and even reckless with his picking hand and pick.

I would suggest forgetting about the theory of "The least movement on the right hand the faster you can pick". That works for John Petrucci's style not EVH . In fact, because Im only a little younger than Ed, I cant play technical because I copied his recklessness.

Because his Marshall had only medium gain He hits and digs the strings real hard. Its a 70s thing due to the gain

[BlackWolfgang70]

great videos here ! i'm an italian van halen fan addicted ! ... you videos are of help ! 5 stars ! post more stuff of van halen !

[JManGuitar5150]

What type of guitar is this?

[YoBroMan]

I built this guitar in 1981. It's an old Aria Pro explorer body, a neck from Charvel in San Dimas, some humbuckers along with an original Floyd Rose prototype. I solder everything myself. The biggest problem is keeping it in tune because the neck wants to shift all the time. When it does, I have to give it a good bump to get it back in tune.

Yo!

[3jvh]

wow man! your like amazing, such a good and specific teacher. quick fingers by the way, you make it easy ROCK ON man!

[YoBroMan]

Thank you for the kind words. I figure I might as well pass along what knowledge I have to anyone who wants to learn the RIGHT WAY to play this stuff. ;)

Check back often because I'm going to try and get a few more good vids up over the next few weeks.

Keep playing and enjoying yourself,

Yo!

[SHTAjET]

мая вашу не понимать)

[dragonninjafighter]

Nice!

I play it kinda different though

Keep those videos coming!!

[mittenrox]

good job!

ps.cool guitar.

[dragnrider9]

dude nice stuff im 14 and ive been learning guitar for a year now and this is way awesome been wanting to learn this for awhile.thx.also nice guitar i also build guitars and that my next one dude cool vid.

[YoBroMan]

Very cool! Keep learning, playing and having fun, that's what it's all about. Subscribe to my channel because I'm putting up 2+- vids/month. I'll have every solo on the first VH album (except Little Dreamer & Feel Your Love) up by summer...including Eruption. I'm just saving that one for last so when people visit, I'll have lots of vids up. ;-)

Feel free to shoot me an email from time to time and let me now how you're doing! I love to talk music/guitar.

Yo!

[mforristall]

If that was a pussy, it'd be beat the fuck up right now.

[YoBroMan]

LOL! I love you, Man! I'll be in San Fran soon and we'll have to hang...just give the munchkins to the wife. Make sure to come down for NAMM in 2010, I know we'll have a ball.

L8er!

Yo!

[rustybirdcage]

holy fucking epic guitar man, where did you get it??

[YoBroMan]

The Phase 90? I'm actually close personal friends with a few people at Dunlop and it was sent to me as a gift. The box is part of their 'authentic' Iine of products which I believe is now available for purchase...if not now, then within a few months. It's not actually THE box from 1974 but a reproduction from the same company that made the original.

Yo!

[rustybirdcage]

i was actually talking about the guitar itsself, it's fuckin sikk

[YoBroMan]

Oh, LOL! Back in 1981, after Eddie, the thing to do was to build your own. The body is from an old Aria Pro explorer guitar, the neck is from Charvel...yes, the same company in San Dimas where Ed got his guitar parts. They're not there anymore, they're part of Jackson now. I have an original prototype Floyd Rose along with two humbuckers. I soldered everything myself and had to rig the neck to make it fit.  In fact, the neck regularly shifts and I have to 'bump' it back in tune. LOL!

Yo!

[colin1262]

well taught lesson.. Thumbs up !

[Vandelay737]

Thanks, Bro. I have the tab for this song, but it really helps seeing it played up close. Great job.

[rckrdude07]

Oh man been wanting to learn this for some time but always put it off. This might just be enough motivation. Thanks!

[fender51503]

Absolutely great lesson! Thanks so much man for all your videos!!You rock!

[guitartate92]

nice lesson

[deah70]

thanks this is a great song