Eddie Van Halen was one of the most influential and innovative electric guitarists of all time. He rose to fame as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the legendary hard rock band Van Halen. Known for his unique and aggressive playing style, Eddie pioneered many groundbreaking techniques and sounds that inspired generations of guitarists.
One of the defining characteristics of Eddie’s guitar tone was his unorthodox approach to tuning his instruments. Rather than using standard tuning, Eddie opted for a range of altered alternate tunings that allowed him to achieve rich, resonant chords and enabled him to play dazzling runs and solos up and down the fretboard.
Eddie’s Standard Tuning
For much of his career, Eddie’s go-to tuning was Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb, commonly referred to as “Eddie Van Halen tuning” or “EVH tuning.” This tuning is essentially a half-step down version of standard tuning, with the lowest and highest strings each tuned down one semitone from E to Eb.
Eddie gravitated toward this tuning because he felt it was easier on the guitar strings and allowed him to play with less tension on his left hand. The slightly reduced string tension enabled Eddie to bend strings more easily and gave his guitar tones a distinct warm, round quality. The lower overall tuning also lent itself well to the heavy, blues-inspired hard rock style Eddie pioneered.
Additional Tunings
While Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb was Eddie’s most widely used tuning, he often experimented with alternate tunings both in the studio and live. Some other tunings Eddie employed frequently included:
- D# G# C# F# A# D# – Essentially a full step down from standard tuning
- D G C F A D – Also known as “drop D tuning”
- Eb Ab Db Gb B E – Similar to his standard Eb tuning but with the high E string at regular pitch
- Eb Ab Db F Bb Eb – Creates an sus2 power chord voicing when strumming all strings
Eddie also occasionally delved into more radical tunings, such as all fourths or all fifths tunings, to achieve specific sounds. For example, on Van Halen’s cover of The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me,” Eddie tuned his guitar to Eb Ab Db Gb B E for a tighter, crunchier tone to fit the song.
Tapping and Special Tunings
In addition to using alternate tunings for conventional guitar playing, Eddie also developed original tunings specifically to facilitate the tapping technique he popularized.
Eddie’s tapping approach involved using both hands to fret notes and hammer strings on the fretboard to rapidly play ascending and descending runs. To accommodate this two-handed fretting approach, Eddie conceived tunings like C# F# B E G# C# that essentially converted the guitar into a 6-string bass with an extra high C# string.
This enabled him to tap huge intervallic leaps across all six strings with both hands without needing to stop and switch position. Eddie’s custom tapping tunings allowed him to play dazzling runs and patterns that would be impossible with standard tuning.
Not Just the Tuning
While Eddie’s guitar tuning was an essential ingredient in his signature sound, it was just one piece of the puzzle. His tone and technique were products of his unique ability, custom guitar gear, and unorthodox playing approach.
In terms of gear, Eddie often used vintage guitars like Gibson Les Pauls and Fender Stratocasters modified with custom humbucker pickups like the famous “Frankenstrat” guitar he built by hand. His amp setup was equally unorthodox, involving heavily modified Marshall amps paired with Variac voltage regulators to produce his thick, sustaining distortion.
Eddie also employed unique performance techniques that complemented his tuning approach. In addition to two-handed tapping, Eddie extensively used innovations like tremolo picking, finger vibrato, pinch harmonics, and dive bombs with his customized Floyd Rose tremolo bridge.
When combined with his tuning modifications, these techniques enabled Eddie to conjure previously unheard sounds from the electric guitar and usher in the modern rock guitar era.
The Brown Sound
The core philosophy behind all of Eddie’s tonal tinkering was achieving his legendary “brown sound” – the rich, thick, resonant guitar tone that defined early Van Halen recordings. He famously spent years obsessively modifying his equipment and experimenting with tuning to hit upon the elusive brown quality.
According to Eddie, achieving the brown sound was all about “tone, tone, tone.” Between his tuning manipulations, custom gear, and aggressive playing technique, Eddie was able to emphasize complex overtones and harmonics to produce singing sustain and vocal-like phrasing. The brown sound was born out of Eddie’s relentless search for harmonic complexity and guitar tones that sounded more like a human voice.
Influence on Guitar Tuning
Eddie’s experiments with alternate tunings opened radical new creative doors for rock guitar. His pioneering approach made alternate tunings more accessible and acceptable in mainstream hard rock.
Previously, altered tunings were often seen as an esoteric technique reserved for niche genres. But Eddie demonstrated the expressive power of tunings like “EVH tuning” for heavy rock music. Following his lead, altered tunings filtered into metal, grunge, and other heavy styles, becoming core parts of the rock guitarist’s creative toolkit.
Beyond introducing alternate tunings, Eddie also normalized the use of “drop” tunings, where only one or two strings are lowered from standard pitch. Eddie’s frequent use of tunings like drop D normalized their sound. After Eddie, drop tunings became a near-ubiquitous shortcut for rock guitarists seeking a heavier, detuned sound without fully retuning their instrument.
Thanks to Eddie’s influence, manipulating guitar tuning became an essential means for guitarists to craft distinct tones and textures. He pioneered the concept of tuning as a malleable creative tool, not just a static convention. Eddie proved the sonic value of breaking out of standard tuning conventions, inspiring generations of players.
EVH’s Tuning Legacy
Eddie tragically passed away in 2020 at the age of 65, but his musical DNA is embedded in rock guitar forever. His willingness to buck standard tuning and tirelessly experiment with alternate approaches changed the instrument, opening the floodgates of expression.
Whenever a hard rock or metal guitarist uses a dropped or alternate tuning, they are channeling the creative spirit of Eddie and his quest for the perfect tone. His brown sound aesthetic of rich, resonant guitars still defines rock guitar tones today. Even subtle vibrato and pinch harmonics are now core stylistic elements thanks to EVH.
In a fitting tribute, Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie’s son and Van Halen’s current bassist, has adopted his father’s signature tuning for his solo work. The EVH legacy lives on through players who carry Eddie’s torch and continue evolving the electric guitar’s potential through imagination and innovation.
Decades after erupting onto the scene, Eddie’s tuning techniques and tonal ideals still ring out from dive bars to stadium stages. Through his tuning ingenuity and boundary-pushing approach, Eddie changed the electric guitar’s voice forever.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about Eddie Van Halen’s guitar tuning:
What was Eddie Van Halen’s standard tuning?
Eddie’s most common tuning was Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb, a half-step down from standard tuning. This is known as EVH or Van Halen tuning.
Why did Eddie Van Halen tune differently?
Eddie tuned down for easier string bending, reduced tension, and a warmer, rounder tone. His tuning enabled his signature style and sound.
What guitars did Eddie use his special tunings on?
Eddie used his EVH and other alternate tunings on his iconic “Frankenstrat” guitar, various Gibson, Fender, and Kramer models, and custom EVH brand guitars.
Did Eddie use other alternate tunings besides EVH tuning?
Yes, Eddie also frequently used full step down, drop D, all fourths, all fifths, and other custom tunings for specific textures and tapping licks.
Why was Eddie’s tuning so influential?
Eddie made alternate tunings acceptable in mainstream rock. He pioneered tunings as creative tools, inspiring generations of players.