Creator Area
Sign in Creator Area

Van Halen - Panama Pt.2 - Chorus, Verse & PreChorus - Guitar Lesson

Practice Studio

Van Halen - Panama Pt.2 - Chorus, Verse & PreChorus - Guitar Lesson

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

Not in tune?

Select a Loop

Start of your loop
End of your loop

Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key E major
Van Halen - Panama Pt.2 - Chorus, Verse & PreChorus guitar lesson video
Guitar 365
Guitar 365 Top Contributor
YouTube: 1.6Msubs 365Kviews
Creator Page →
·
–50¢ 0 +50¢
· Tap to start

Your browser will ask for microphone permission.

Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
AI tone preset

AI-selected preset based on genre and era — adjust the knobs to taste.

Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
Listen on Spotify
Van Halen Hard Rock E major
Capo Advisor 0 E major · Original key

Panama Pt.2 - Chorus, Verse & PreChorus

"Panama" by Van Halen is a hard rock classic from the band's catalog, widely recognized for its driving rhythm, powerful chord progressions, and Eddie Van Halen's signature guitar work. Learning the chorus, verse, and pre-chorus sections gives electric guitarists a solid foundation in the song's structure while capturing the raw energy that made Van Halen a defining force in rock guitar. It is an excellent study in riff construction, rhythmic precision, and dynamic shifts between song sections.

  • Eddie Van Halen's guitar tone on 'Panama' is a benchmark study for players exploring high-gain rock sounds.
  • The song features distinct riff personalities across its verse, pre-chorus, and chorus, useful for understanding song dynamics.
  • Practicing these three sections separately helps guitarists develop smooth transitions between rhythmically different parts of a full rock arrangement.
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.

Recommended for You