Beats Workin' Sheet Music Preview

Beats Workin': Authentic Guitar TAB

Van Halen

Item: 00-PS-0013583

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Description
The album that Van Halen fans have waited almost 30 years for is here and the boys did not disappoint. This is a full-on return to the unabashed rock god glory of Eddie's supernatural guitar and David Lee Roth's impeccable front man persona. Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone magazine says, "As for Diamond Dave, the gods only made one of him, because they couldn't take the competition." This book includes complete note-for-note guitar TAB transcriptions of every song on the album. Titles: Tattoo * She's the Woman * You and Your Blues * China Town * Blood and Fire * Bullethead * As Is * Honeybabysweetiedoll * The Trouble with Never * Outta Space * Stay Frosty * Big River * Beats Workin'.

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Additional Details
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 146
SKU: 00-PS-0013583

More about this title

About the Composer: Edward Van Halen

Edward Van Halen transformed rock guitar in the 1970s and 1980s through innovations in technique, tone, and songwriting that influenced generations of players. His work with Van Halen defined an era of hard rock, and his contributions to guitar pedagogy extend far beyond his performances; his playing became a standard of excellence that serious guitarists study and emulate.

Why we love this

This TAB transcription gives intermediate to advanced guitarists direct access to the exact lines Eddie played, note for note, making it possible to study his approach to tone, phrasing, and technical execution across a full album. The 13-track collection spans enough variety in tempo, tuning, and style that students encounter genuine challenges in rhythm reading, pick control, and dynamics rather than exercises in single concepts.

What to expect

Raw, energetic hard rock with technical demands that balance speed and precision against feel and tone manipulation. The album moves between arena-rock anthems and tighter, groove-based songs, keeping the energy high while requiring different approaches to phrasing and control.

Who it's for

Intermediate to advanced rock guitarists seeking to decode Eddie's playing directly from the source material. Players interested in hard rock technique, timing precision, and the relationship between notation and recorded performance will benefit most from this transcription.

How to get the most out of it

  • Study the recorded album alongside the TAB to hear how Eddie voices chords and shapes notes with the amp; the tab alone won't capture his tone control and feedback management.
  • Break longer phrases into sections and lock the rhythm with a metronome before increasing tempo, especially on tracks with syncopated rhythms and palm muting.
  • Pay attention to tuning notations for each song; several tracks use alternate tunings that change the feel and texture of standard shapes.
  • Work through rhythm figures as a separate step from lead lines; getting the groove locked makes learning solos much more musical.

How to use it

Assign individual tracks as technical studies for advanced guitar students preparing recitals, or use the collection as a semester-long transcription project where students learn songs they genuinely want to master. Rock band programs can draw from this material when building electric guitar credibility in the ensemble.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading and executing note-for-note guitar TAB transcriptions at tempo
  • Managing alternate tunings and tuning changes between songs
  • Controlling tone and dynamics through pick technique and amp interaction
  • Interpreting rhythm figures with syncopation and palm muting
  • Translating recorded performances into playable technique

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