So This Is Love? by Van Halen

Master Eddie Van Halen's Groove-Driven Hard Rock Style

So This Is Love? is one of the standout tracks from Van Halen's 1981 album Fair Warning, showcasing Eddie Van Halen's incredible ability to blend infectious groove, blues-inspired phrasing and technically demanding lead guitar into one unforgettable performance. While often overshadowed by some of the band's bigger hits, this track is packed with subtle rhythmic ideas, expressive lead playing and inventive chord voicings that make it an essential study for any rock guitarist.

In this comprehensive note-for-note guitar lesson, Sam Bell breaks down every section of the song in detail, helping you accurately recreate Eddie's unmistakable tone, feel and phrasing. From the swinging rhythm guitar work through to the expressive solo, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the techniques that helped redefine modern rock guitar.

Whether you're looking to improve your rhythm playing, expand your lead vocabulary or simply learn one of Van Halen's finest deep cuts, this lesson provides everything you need to perform So This Is Love? with confidence.

Intro & Main Groove

The opening riff immediately establishes the laid-back swing feel that gives the song its unique identity. Rather than relying purely on speed, Eddie focuses on rhythmic precision, subtle accents and carefully placed muted notes that create an infectious groove.

This section teaches you how to lock into the shuffle feel while maintaining clean articulation and consistent timing. You'll also learn how Eddie combines open strings with chord fragments to create movement within relatively simple chord shapes.

Verse Rhythm Guitar

The verses feature a masterclass in groove-based rhythm playing. Eddie avoids overplaying, instead filling the spaces around David Lee Roth's vocals with tasteful embellishments, muted strums and carefully voiced chords.

Learning these rhythm parts develops your ability to play dynamically while remaining tightly locked to the rhythm section. The subtle phrasing and relaxed timing are every bit as important as the notes themselves.

Chorus Guitar Parts

The chorus opens up harmonically while maintaining the driving rhythmic feel established in the verses. Strong chord work combines with tasteful embellishments and melodic fills that help lift the arrangement without becoming overly busy.

You'll discover how Eddie creates excitement through chord movement, rhythmic variation and carefully chosen fills that perfectly complement the vocal melody.

Guitar Solo Breakdown

The solo perfectly demonstrates Eddie Van Halen's ability to balance technical brilliance with melodic storytelling. Rather than relying on relentless speed, he mixes blues vocabulary, expressive bends, fluid legato runs and carefully phrased melodic ideas.

Every phrase is explained slowly and clearly, allowing you to understand not only what Eddie plays, but why each phrase works over the underlying harmony. Attention is also given to his timing, vibrato and note choice, helping you capture the musicality behind the performance rather than simply memorising the notes.

Palm Muting

Throughout the rhythm sections, palm muting plays a huge role in shaping the groove. Eddie constantly varies the amount of muting to create contrast between tight, percussive passages and more open chord accents.

Learning this technique improves rhythmic control, picking accuracy and overall groove, allowing your rhythm playing to sound tighter and more professional across many different rock styles.

Alternate Picking

Several lead passages and fills require clean alternate picking to maintain consistency and articulation. Eddie's picking hand remains relaxed while delivering impressive precision.

Developing alternate picking improves speed, timing and accuracy, helping you perform fast passages with greater confidence while reducing unnecessary tension.

Legato

Many of Eddie's melodic phrases make use of smooth hammer-ons and pull-offs that create effortless flowing lines. His legato playing allows notes to connect naturally while maintaining excellent clarity.

Studying these phrases helps improve left-hand coordination, finger strength and fluidity, making your solos sound smoother and more expressive.

String Bending

Expressive bends appear throughout both the fills and solo, often reaching pitch with remarkable accuracy. Eddie's bends are always musical, adding emotion rather than simply acting as technical flourishes.

Practising accurate string bending develops ear training, finger control and expressive phrasing that can transform your lead guitar playing.

Vibrato

One of Eddie Van Halen's greatest strengths was his instantly recognisable vibrato. Wide, confident and perfectly controlled, it gives sustained notes incredible vocal-like expression.

Working on this aspect of the lesson helps you develop stronger note control, better sustain and a far more expressive lead guitar voice.

Slides

Slides are used extensively to connect chord shapes, move between lead phrases and create smooth transitions throughout the song.

Mastering slides improves fretboard awareness and helps your playing become more fluid, allowing phrases to connect naturally without sounding mechanical.

Bluesy Phrasing & Chromatic Ideas

Although So This Is Love? is a hard rock song, much of Eddie's vocabulary comes directly from blues guitar. Small chromatic passing notes, blues-inspired bends and tasteful phrasing give the song its unmistakable feel.

Studying these ideas teaches you how to add colour and personality to your own solos while improving your understanding of melodic phrasing beyond simple scale patterns.

Eddie Van Halen's Influence

Eddie Van Halen remains one of the most influential guitarists in rock history. While he's often celebrated for revolutionary techniques such as tapping and breathtaking speed, songs like So This Is Love? highlight another side of his musicianship—his exceptional rhythm playing, deep blues roots and remarkable sense of groove. His innovative approach changed the way generations of guitarists approached both rhythm and lead playing, inspiring countless musicians across rock, metal and beyond. Studying this song offers valuable insight into the musical ideas that made Eddie one of the greatest guitarists of all time.

Techniques Covered

The following guitar techniques are featured throughout this lesson:

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Slides
• String Bending
• Palm Muting
• Power Chords
• Chord Progressions
• Bluesy Bends
• Chromaticism
• Syncopated Rhythms
• Sustain