17 Best Van Halen Songs to Learn on Guitar: Rock On

Hey fellow music lovers and aspiring DJs! I’ve got something special for you today – a curated list of the 17 best Pearl Jam songs that’ll make a fantastic addition to your playlists.

Here are the best Van Halen songs to learn on guitar that you can check out:

List Of Best Van Halen Songs to Learn on Guitar

Best Van Halen songs to learn on guitar in a list format:

“Eruption” (Van Halen, 1978)

Eruption, penned by Eddie Van Halen himself, is a landmark of rock guitar. It’s an instrumental track that showcases Eddie’s signature finger-tapping technique. The song’s place on Van Halen’s debut album speaks to its iconic status.

“Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” (Van Halen, 1978)

Written by the whole Van Halen band, Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love from their debut album combines punk rock’s energy with an unforgettable guitar riff. This song is a must-learn for aspiring rock guitarists.

“Jump” (1984, 1984)

Jump is the synth-led megahit from Van Halen’s 1984 album. However, Eddie’s guitar solo adds depth and rock ‘n’ roll flair. Authored by the entire band, it’s an essential track to learn.

“Hot for Teacher” (1984, 1984)

Hot for Teacher, another Van Halen group composition from the 1984 album, showcases a blistering, rhythmic guitar part. This song is perfect for practicing intricate riffs and solos.

“Panama” (1984, 1984)

Another band-authored classic, Panama, also from the 1984 album, offers one of Eddie’s most catchy guitar riffs. It’s a fast-paced track with lots to offer for rhythm and lead playing.

“Unchained” (Fair Warning, 1981)

Unchained, from the Fair Warning album, is a song Eddie Van Halen wrote. It’s revered for its driving rhythm part and memorable guitar solo.

“Runnin’ with the Devil” (Van Halen, 1978)

Runnin’ with the Devil from Van Halen’s debut album is a whole band composition. It’s a great song for learning palm-muted rhythms and simple but effective solos.

“Dance the Night Away” (Van Halen II, 1979)

On Van Halen II, the band delivers Dance the Night Away, an upbeat rocker with a catchy riff and an infectious chorus. It’s perfect for mastering rhythm guitar parts.

“And the Cradle Will Rock…” (Women and Children First, 1980)

And the Cradle Will Rock… from Women and Children First, another band-authored track, is a great introduction to Eddie’s use of effects pedals.

“Beautiful Girls” (Van Halen II, 1979)

Beautiful Girls from Van Halen II serves up beach vibes and a happy-go-lucky feel. It’s perfect for mastering those major pentatonic scales.

“I’ll Wait” (1984, 1984)

I’ll Wait from the 1984 album, co-written with Michael McDonald, is a pop-rock track where you can practice playing chords and solos simultaneously.

“Atomic Punk” (Van Halen, 1978)

On their debut album, Atomic Punk showcases Eddie’s innovative use of the electric guitar as a percussive instrument.

“Spanish Fly” (Van Halen II, 1979)

Spanish Fly, an Eddie Van Halen instrumental from Van Halen II, is a must for anyone looking to master fingerstyle on electric guitar.

“Mean Street” (Fair Warning, 1981)

From Fair Warning, Mean Street offers a complex opening tapping sequence followed by a hard-hitting riff, perfect for those looking to challenge their technique.

“Somebody Get Me a Doctor” (Van Halen II, 1979)

Somebody Get Me a Doctor from Van Halen II, has an infectious groove and a bluesy riff. This band-authored track is a must-learn.

“Little Guitars” (Diver Down, 1982)

On Diver Down, Eddie’s Little Guitars is a tribute to flamenco, demonstrating that rock guitar can have a softer side too.

“5150” (5150, 1986)

Finally, 5150, the title track from their 1986 album 5150, offers Sammy Hagar-era Van Halen. This song, co-written by the band with Hagar, will help you master harmonics and melodic soloing.

Fun Facts: Best Van Halen Tunes to Learn on Guitar

“Eruption”

Eruption is famously one of the greatest guitar solos of all time. It was initially just a guitar warm-up exercise for Eddie that producer Ted Templeman happened to overhear and decided to include it on the album.

“Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love”

Eddie Van Halen initially thought that the main riff for Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love was too simple and was playing it in a tongue-in-cheek manner. However, it turned out to be one of the band’s most popular songs.

“Jump”

Interestingly, Jump is Van Halen’s only #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The synthesizer part was written before the rest of the song. Eddie had to convince the rest of the band to include it, as they were more guitar-oriented.

“Hot for Teacher”

The music video for Hot for Teacher was one of the most requested on MTV at the time of its release. It’s set in a school, and features a kid-version of the band causing chaos.

“Unchained”

During Unchained, you can hear producer Ted Templeman saying, “Come on, Dave, gimme a break!” and David Lee Roth responding, “One break, coming up!” This was a genuine outtake from the studio included for its humor.

“Spanish Fly”

Spanish Fly is a fascinating display of Eddie’s guitar prowess. While he was known for his electric guitar skills, this track showed he could make an acoustic guitar “fly” with equal flamboyance. It was reportedly recorded in one take!

“I’ll Wait”

I’ll Wait was a departure from the typical Van Halen sound, featuring more keyboards. It was co-written by Michael McDonald of The Doobie Brothers, making it a unique collaboration in the band’s discography.

“5150”

5150 is the title track from the first Van Halen album featuring Sammy Hagar on vocals, after David Lee Roth left the band. The title is a reference to California’s welfare code for involuntarily confining someone deemed a danger due to mental illness – an inside joke about their wild lifestyle.

Ready to channel your inner Eddie Van Halen? With these iconic tunes under your belt, you’ll be wowing audiences in no time. Keep rocking, and let the music guide you!

Thanks for reading.

TBone