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Van Halen - Pretty Woman - Guitar Lesson

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Van Halen - Pretty Woman - Guitar Lesson

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Van Halen - Pretty Woman guitar lesson video
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Van Halen Hard Rock A major
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Pretty Woman

"Pretty Woman" by Van Halen is a hard rock cover of the classic Roy Orbison song, originally written by Orbison and Bill Dees. Van Halen's version transforms the 1964 pop hit into a showcase of aggressive riffing and Eddie Van Halen's signature guitar work. Learning this track gives electric guitarists a direct look at how a simple song structure can be rearranged around raw power and tone.

  • The original Roy Orbison version spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964.
  • Van Halen's cover demonstrates how classic pop melodies can be reinterpreted through high-gain electric guitar arrangements.
  • The song was co-written by Roy Orbison and Bill Dees and first released on Monument Records.
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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