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Van Halen - 5150 - Guitar Lesson

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Van Halen - 5150 - Guitar Lesson

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Van Halen - 5150 guitar lesson video
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5150 album cover
5150
1986 5:43
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Van Halen Hard Rock 1986 A minor
Capo Advisor 0 A minor · Original key

5150

"5150" is the title track from Van Halen's 1986 album of the same name, the band's first record with vocalist Sammy Hagar following David Lee Roth's departure. The album reached number one on the Billboard 200, marking a new era for the group. For electric guitarists, the track is a strong example of Eddie Van Halen's melodic riff-writing and tonal approach during the mid-1980s, offering insight into how he adapted his style within a more polished, keyboard-driven production context.

  • The album title '5150' comes from Eddie Van Halen's home studio name, itself derived from a California police code for a mentally disturbed person.
  • Running just under 5 minutes and 43 seconds, the track gives guitarists extended time to study Eddie's phrasing and layered arrangement techniques.
  • The 5150 album was the first Van Halen record to hit number 1 on the Billboard 200, surpassing even the band's landmark 1984 album.
Gibson ES-335
Guitar

Gibson ES-335

Eddie Van Halen pulled a Gibson PAF humbucker from a ES-335 to load his original Frankenstrat, giving him a low-output pickup that maintained clarity during lightning-fast tapping and legato runs despite heavy gain.

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)
Amp

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)

Eddie's 1968 Marshall Plexi Super Lead, run through a variac at 90 volts, created his legendary 'brown sound' by pushing power tubes into sweet, spongy saturation at gig volumes, defining his harmonic sustain and responsiveness.

Soldano SLO-100
Amp

Soldano SLO-100

Eddie adopted the Soldano SLO-100 as a tonal alternative to Marshalls, delivering the high-headroom, articulate gain he needed for his finger-tapping technique while maintaining clarity in complex legato passages.

Peavey 5150
Amp

Peavey 5150

Eddie co-designed the Peavey 5150 to capture his signature tone in a modern platform, offering three channels from clean sparkle to crushing high-gain with EL34 power tubes for dynamic responsiveness across his entire playing vocabulary.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Eddie employed the Dunlop Cry Baby wah strategically on select solos, using it to add vocal-like expression and sweep to his lead lines without relying heavily on effect-driven tones.

MXR Phase 90
Pedal

MXR Phase 90

Eddie's MXR Phase 90 script-logo version created his signature swirling, vocal sweep on 'Eruption' and 'Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love,' becoming one of rock's most identifiable effect tones through minimal, tasteful use.

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