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Van Halen - Spanish Fly - Guitar Tab

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Van Halen - Spanish Fly - Guitar Tab

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Van Halen - Spanish Fly guitar tab video
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Van Halen Hard Rock A minor
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Spanish Fly

Spanish Fly is an acoustic fingerpicking solo by Eddie Van Halen, featured on Van Halen's second studio album Van Halen II, released in 1979 on Warner Bros. Records. It serves as a nylon-string counterpart to Eruption from the debut album, showcasing Eddie's two-handed tapping technique applied to a classical guitar context. For electric guitarists, it offers a rare look at how Van Halen's signature tapping vocabulary translates beyond the electric instrument, making it a rewarding study in technique and musical range.

  • Spanish Fly uses two-handed tapping on a nylon-string acoustic guitar, demonstrating the technique's versatility beyond electric guitar.
  • The track appears on Van Halen II, which sold nearly six million copies in the United States as of 2004.
  • Like Eruption, Spanish Fly functions as a solo instrumental interlude, highlighting Eddie Van Halen's technical individuality within a full band 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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