Van Halen – She's The Woman Guitar Lesson Breakdown

Learn how to master the guitar fireworks of She’s The Woman by Van Halen with this detailed note-for-note lesson at LickLibrary. This track showcases a plethora of essential rock guitar techniques that will elevate your playing to new heights. Whether you’re aiming to expand your musical vocabulary or simply want to emulate Eddie Van Halen’s legendary style, this lesson is packed with both the rhythmic precision and virtuosic flair that made Van Halen iconic. Jamie Humphries breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Song and Its Players

She’s The Woman originally dates back to the early 1970s, but it was re-recorded for Van Halen’s 2012 album A Different Kind of Truth, marking a celebrated reunion with original vocalist David Lee Roth. On guitar is the unparalleled Eddie Van Halen, a true revolutionary whose innovations in tone, technique, and style redefined rock guitar forever.

Eddie’s influence extends across generations of guitarists — from shredders to blues-based players — thanks to his pioneering work with two-handed tapping, harmonics, rhythmic complexity, and unparalleled fretboard creativity. His playing on She’s The Woman is tight, punchy, and packed with nuances that offer a goldmine of learning opportunities for aspiring players.

Song Breakdown and Techniques

Power Chords and Open-String Riffs

The track opens with a driving riff built around power chords and cleverly incorporated open-string riffs. These elements give the song its punchy, anthemic quality. Mastering power chords helps players build hand strength and tight rhythm skills — essential for rock and metal guitarists.

Open-string riffs, on the other hand, enhance dexterity and improve accuracy in right-hand picking. They're a great way to inject freshness into your rhythm playing, and Van Halen's use of this technique showcases how dynamic it can be in rock songwriting.

Palm Muting and Syncopated Rhythms

Throughout the verses and riff sections, palm muting adds that unmistakable "chug" that gives riffs more definition and groove. This technique helps guitarists gain better control over dynamics and timing.

Additionally, the use of syncopated rhythms challenges your sense of timing and feel, encouraging more rhythmically engaging playing. It’s a powerful tool for players looking to develop tighter and more interesting rhythm guitar parts.

Slides and Hammer-Ons

Eddie uses expressive slides and hammer-ons to make his licks more fluid and vocal-like. Slides can add movement and drama to lead lines, while hammer-ons help develop finger independence and speed, crucial for fast, smooth runs.

Pull-Offs and Trills

The solos and fills make use of rapid pull-offs and trills. Pull-offs help enhance left-hand strength and fluidity, especially when combined with hammer-ons. Trills — quick alternations between two notes — are a great drill for building finger endurance and expressive phrasing.

Tapped Harmonics

A signature Eddie Van Halen technique, tapped harmonics add a harmonic layer to single-note lines and chords. Learning this technique improves fretboard awareness and finger control, opening up a range of unique sonic possibilities.

String Bending and Vibrato

Eddie’s expressive leads in She’s The Woman feature confident string bending and controlled vibrato. Bending improves ear training and helps players achieve a vocal-like quality in their leads, while vibrato gives notes emotion and depth — a key characteristic of any mature guitarist's style.

Pinched Harmonics and Bluesy Bends

Subtle pinched harmonics and bluesy bends appear in Eddie’s lead phrasing, adding a snarling attitude to the solos. These techniques sharpen your picking hand precision and give your playing more character and bite.

Why Learn This Song?

Learning She’s The Woman is more than just mastering a killer Van Halen track — it's a lesson in controlled aggression, groove, and expressive lead work. This song delivers everything a rock guitarist needs: tight riffs, dynamic shifts, and lead guitar gold. It’s also a fun, engaging way to develop multiple guitar techniques in a musical context rather than dry practice drills.

Guitar Techniques Used

Here’s a list of guitar techniques featured in this lesson. Click the links to explore each one in more detail:

• Power Chords
• Open-String Riffs
• Palm Muting
• Syncopated Rhythms
• Slides
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Trills
• Tapped Harmonics
• String Bending
• Vibrato
• Pinched Harmonics
• Bluesy Bends

Dive into the She’s The Woman guitar lesson now at LickLibrary and start channeling your inner Eddie Van Halen today!