Runnin' With The Devil: Authentic Guitar TAB

This folio gives your students 30 tracks from one of rock's most influential bands, all presented in accurate, playable tab. The collection spans their catalog intelligently, mixing the pyrotechnic showcases (Panama, Eruption context pieces) with the groove-based anthems and accessible rock songs that made Van Halen radio staples. Learning these songs builds both technical facility and an ear for what makes rock songwriting memorable.

Confident, sometimes flashy, always purposeful. These are songs built on guitar riffs that announce themselves, played with the kind of clarity and presence that makes you want to turn up the volume. The energy feels earned rather than forced, grounded in blues-rock fundamentals even when Eddie's playing ventures into uncharted territory.

Guitar students who've graduated past beginner method books and are ready to tackle songs with real technical and musical substance. This works especially well for players in the intermediate-to-advanced range who want to build speed, precision, and stylistic awareness through iconic rock repertoire.

• Lock the rhythmic pocket early. Many of Van Halen's grooves sit slightly behind the beat; spend rehearsal time nailing the pocket before worrying about speed.
• Pay close attention to Eddie's use of the whammy bar in these recordings. The tab should indicate when pitch bends occur, but the exact timing and depth of vibrato make the difference between playing the notes and capturing the character.
• Work the tonal variations. Eddie switched between clean tone, mild overdrive, and heavier distortion depending on the section. Recreating those shifts will make your arrangement breathe.
• Identify the signature riffs early in your rehearsal process. Several of these songs open with instantly recognizable guitar motifs; nailing those in the first eight bars sets the whole song up for success.

Assign these throughout the year as technique-builders and morale boosters. Many students will recognize several titles instantly, which makes motivation immediate. You might spotlight one song per month in a rock repertoire unit, or assign individual tracks for solo performance studies once students demonstrate competency with reading tab and executing the notation with accuracy.

• Reading and executing guitar tab with accuracy and musical intent
• Recognizing and reproducing syncopated rhythmic figures in a rock context
• Understanding Eddie Van Halen's signature techniques (vibrato control, pitch bending, harmonic clarity)
• Developing right-hand consistency for both rhythmic comping and lead passages
• Building speed and precision without sacrificing tone
• Analyzing riff construction and how melodic ideas serve a song's identity