Classic Albums – Van Halen II

Van Halen II – A Guitarist’s Perspective
Van Halen II, the second studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, is a repository of exceptional guitar work, demonstrating the virtuosic talent of lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Released in 1979, the album retains the raw energy of their debut while incorporating a more refined approach to songwriting and technique. This review will delve into each track’s guitar-specific elements to appreciate Eddie’s remarkable musicianship.

Released in March 1979, one year after the band’s debut album, Van Halen II staked out new ground for Van Halen stylistically, from the head-turning and dramatically paced riffage of “D.O.A” to the supremely accessible pop influences of “Dance the Night Away.”

In this course, LickLibrary’s Sam Bell walks you through the many highlights of each song from this essential album one phrase at a time, including Eddie Van Halen’s unforgettable guitar riffs and lead lines from tracks such as; ‘Somebody Get Me a Doctor,” “Dance the Night Away,” and the iconic “Spanish Fly.”

Guitar Lesson 1: “You’re No Good”
A cover track to start, “You’re No Good” manifests Eddie’s innovation with its chromatic-infused rock groove. The intro’s wailing, dissonant dive-bombs serve as an audacious opener. The song maintains a steady rhythm with the heavy use of palm-muted power chords, exhibiting Eddie’s mastery over rhythm guitar alongside his lead capabilities.

Guitar Lesson 2: “Dance the Night Away”
“Dance the Night Away” offers an infectious riff that mixes open-string riffs with alternate picking for a jaunty rhythm part. Eddie uses a major scale for the joyful melody lines and employs harmonics at the end of the phrases to embellish the rhythm guitar. His solo reveals extensive use of string bending and pull-offs, delivering a catchy and melodious tune.

Guitar Lesson 3: “Somebody Get Me a Doctor”
A hard rock track through and through, “Somebody Get Me a Doctor” highlights Eddie’s proficiency in bluesy bends and pinched harmonics. The song combines power chords and pentatonic scales, especially within the solos, showing Eddie’s aptitude for melding blues and rock.

Guitar Lesson 4: “Bottoms Up!”
“Bottoms Up!” starts with a galloping rhythm guitar part, before launching into a minor scale-infused melody. Eddie displays his talent for sweep picking and trills in this fast-paced solo, integrating them seamlessly into the song structure.

Guitar Lesson 5: “Outta Love Again”
This track showcases Eddie’s advanced two-handed tapping technique. Along with octave melodies and double-stops, he employs this to add flair to the rhythm part, displaying his innovative approach to guitar.

Guitar Lesson 6: “Light Up the Sky”
A display of power chords and syncopated rhythms, “Light Up the Sky” is a heavy, uptempo track. Its intricate guitar solo incorporates pre-bends and rapid-fire pull-offs, showing off Eddie’s technical prowess.

Guitar Lesson 7: “Spanish Fly”
As an acoustic solo piece, “Spanish Fly” demonstrates Eddie’s impressive finger-picking abilities. Using flamenco-like rhythms and harmonics, it is a stark contrast to the rest of the album but showcases Eddie’s versatility as a guitarist.

Guitar Lesson 8: “D.O.A.”
“D.O.A.” features a heavy main riff built around power chords and slides, creating an aggressive rock sound. Eddie’s solo includes a combination of alternate picking and tapped harmonics, further proof of his guitar wizardry.

Guitar Lesson 9: “Women in Love…”
A melodic track with a focus on arpeggiated chord progressions, “Women in Love…” features Eddie’s harmonics extensively. His lead work employs legato technique and two-handed tapping, adding to the song’s layered texture.

Guitar Lesson 10: “Beautiful Girls”
“Beautiful Girls” offers a feel-good rock sound, with the main riff using slides and pull-offs on a major scale. The use of double-stop bends in Eddie’s solo is a highlight, adding bluesy overtones to this rock anthem.

Eddie Van Halen’s contribution to this album is profound, demonstrating a blend of technical proficiency, innovative technique, and a keen sense of melody. His inventive use of techniques such as two-handed tapping and his ability to seamlessly integrate blues and rock elements provide the backbone to the album’s distinctive sound.

Guitar Techniques Used in Van Halen II
Vibrato / Alternate Picking / Legato / Tapped Harmonics / Double-Stop Bends / Pinched Harmonics / Trills / Chord Progressions / Harmonics / Pull-Offs / Power Chords / Palm Muting / Two-Handed Tapping / Sweep Picking / Pre-Bends / Hammer-Ons / Double-Stops / Slides / Open-String Riffs / Bluesy Bends / Octave Melodies / Galloping Rhythms / Arpeggiated Chord Progressions / Finger-Picking / Dive Bombs

NB: PERFORMANCE FOOTAGE NOT INCLUDED WITH THIS COURSE