Classic Albums - 1984

Guitars Lessons by Jamie Humphries

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"1984" by Van Halen - A Guitarist's Perspective

Released on January 9, 1984, Van Halen’s 1984 is the sixth studio album by the American hard-rock giants. It was the last Van Halen album until A Different Kind of Truth in 2012 to feature lead singer David Lee Roth, who left in 1985 following creative differences and as of 2019, the final full length album to feature all four original members.

Eddie Van Halen, the lead guitarist, is renowned for his exceptional guitar playing. His contribution to this album is a fascinating blend of various guitar techniques, scales, and solos that has greatly influenced subsequent generations of guitarists. Let's dive into the album, song by song.

In this course, LickLibrary veteran, Jamie Humphries walks you through the many highlights of each song from this hard rock gem, one phrase at a time, including all of Eddie Van Halen’s legendary guitar parts from the tracks; “Hot for Teacher,” “Panama,” and the iconic, “Jump.”

Guitar Lessons In This Course

Guitar Lesson 1: "1984"

This instrumental synthesizer intro leads into "Jump." Though it doesn't showcase Eddie's guitar work, it sets the tone for the album.

Guitar Lesson 2: "Jump"

In "Jump," the guitar solo is built around the A major scale, featuring a blend of string bending and two-handed tapping. Eddie's use of arpeggios in the solo creates an exhilarating effect, combined with syncopated rhythms that underpin the song's infectious groove.

Guitar Lesson 3: "Panama"

"Panama" features an E minor pentatonic scale and offers a scorching solo where Eddie uses tremolo picking and rapid legato lines. The solo consists of a blend of hammer-ons, pull-offs, and tapped harmonics that make this song a real highlight.

Guitar Lesson 4: "Top Jimmy"

The E major scale is prominent in "Top Jimmy." The solo showcases vibrato, string bending, and trills, creating a melodic and expressive lead part that stands out in the mix.

Guitar Lesson 5: "Drop Dead Legs"

Built around the A minor scale, the song includes unison bends, power chords, and a solo filled with pinch harmonics and sweep picking, adding a sizzling tone and texture.

Guitar Lesson 6: "Hot for Teacher"

The blistering track "Hot for Teacher" involves palm-muting and alternate picking techniques. The solo incorporates chromaticism and harmonics, creating a speedy and vibrant showcase of guitar prowess.

Guitar Lesson 7: "I'll Wait"

This song features the use of octave melodies and harmonized dual guitar lines. The solo builds on the C# minor scale, using slides and pre-bends, adding an emotive touch to the composition.

Guitar Lesson 8: "Girl Gone Bad"

With the G minor scale as its basis, this song's solo features dive-bombs, whammy bar tricks, and galloping rhythms that create an intense musical experience.

Guitar Lesson 9: "House of Pain"

Built around the E minor scale, "House of Pain" offers a gritty solo employing double-stop bends, open-string riffs, and bluesy bends, ending the album on a high note.

Eddie Van Halen's Contribution

Eddie Van Halen's playing on "1984" showcases his extraordinary ability to blend technical virtuosity with musicality. His use of various scales, masterful solos, and blend of different guitar techniques makes this album a landmark in rock guitar playing.

Techniques used in this album:

NB: PERFORMANCE FOOTAGE NOT INCLUDED WITH THIS COURSE

Features multi-angle high quality video lessons

A screenshot of a guitar tuition course by LickLibrary A screenshot of a close-up of a guitar instructor explaining a fretboard.

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Technical Details

  • Code

    RDR0595

  • Artist

    Van Halen

  • Media

    Online Stream, Download, 2x DVD Set

  • Media format

    PAL Only

  • Genre

    Rock, 80's Rock

  • Skill level

    Expert, Suitable For All

  • EIN No

    5060088826423

  • TAB NOT Included

  • NB: If purchasing as 'DVD', please ensure that your DVD player fully supports the 'Media format' (PAL Only) that this product is available in, as indicated above.

About The Tutor

Tutor Profile

Jamie Humphries

Jamie is one of the mainstays of LickLibrary, having a stream of hugely successful best selling DVDs, Jamie is best known as Brian May's sideman who he's played shows with all over the world. Aside from this Jamie is a hugely popular clinician working all over the world with Ernie...

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