Classic Albums – 1984 (Van Halen)

“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
• Jump
• Panama
• Top Jimmy
• Drop Dead Legs
• Hot For Teacher
• I’ll Wait
• Girl Gone Bad
• House Of Pain

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
• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Tapped Harmonics
• Double-Stop Bends
• Unison Bends
• Pinched Harmonics
• Trills
• Tremolo Picking
• Chord Progressions
• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• Two-Handed Tapping
• Sweep Picking
• Slides
• Dive Bombs
• Harmonics
• Pull-offs
• Pre-Bends
• Open-String Riffs
• Whammy-Bar Tricks
• Bluesy Bends
• Octave Melodies
• Galloping Rhythms
• Chromaticism