Eddie VanHalen

Song : Eruption by VanHalen

Lesson by: Jeff Williams (jeffwilliams@worldguitar.com)

Finger Tapping Example

This exercise is based on a sixteenth-note triplet patten; one tapped note, then two fretted notes. Once you've grown comfortable with the pattern, it's quite easy to change the notes within the pattern, and therefore changing the harmonic content of the notes played. For example, if the right hand frets the B note, and the left hand plays the notes E and G, then the pattern suggests an E minor chord. However, by simply raising the tapped note a half step, the notes become C-E-G, which suggests a C major chord. Once you've conquered "Eruption", try going back and playing the chords spelled out by each of the triads, and you'll notice that the harmonic progression remains constant whether it's played as single notes or full chords.