Van Halen - Little Guitars - Guitar Lesson

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Van Halen - Little Guitars - Guitar Lesson

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Classic Rock

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Van Halen Hard Rock A minor
Capo Advisor 0 A minor · Original key

Little Guitars


"Little Guitars" is a track by Van Halen, the rock band founded by brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen in 1972. The song showcases Eddie Van Halen's versatility, blending delicate acoustic-style fingerpicking with his signature electric guitar work. For guitarists, it offers a rewarding challenge beyond pure hard rock, demonstrating how dynamic contrast and nuanced technique can coexist within a single arrangement.

  • The song features a classical-influenced intro section, making it a rare fingerstyle showcase in Van Halen's largely hard-rock catalog.
  • Eddie Van Halen was also a keyboardist and backing vocalist, reflecting his broad musicianship beyond electric guitar.
  • Van Halen was co-founded by guitarist Eddie and drummer Alex Van Halen, establishing a sibling rhythm section at the band's core.
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.