Van Halen - Right Now - Famous Riffs - Guitar Lesson

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Van Halen - Right Now - Famous Riffs - Guitar Lesson

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Van Halen Hard Rock F major
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Right Now - Famous Riffs


"Right Now" by Van Halen is a rock anthem built around a distinctive piano-driven riff that translates powerfully to electric guitar. Co-founded by Eddie Van Halen and his brother Alex in 1972, the band became legendary for Eddie's innovative guitar work. Learning the famous riffs from this track gives guitarists insight into Van Halen's melodic rock style, blending clean tones with expressive phrasing that defined an era of rock music.

  • Eddie Van Halen was the primary guitarist and songwriter for Van Halen, co-founding the band with his brother Alex in 1972.
  • The iconic riff from 'Right Now' showcases melodic simplicity, a great entry point for guitarists exploring Van Halen's catalog.
  • Van Halen's style combined clean melodic lines with high-energy rock, making their riffs both accessible and technically rewarding to study.
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.