"Wolfgang Van Halen breaks down the two distinct methods he sees in Eddie Van Halen's signature guitar technique, which he labels as 'Eruption' and 'Hot For Teacher' - and guides on how to master these iconic playing styles"
Wolfgang Van Halen, the son of legendary rock musician Eddie Van Halen, has shared a demonstration of the slapping technique in his band Mammoth WVH's hit song "The End". During the demonstration, he explained two distinct approaches to tapping, which he differentiates between two of Eddie Van Halen's most famed guitar solos - Eruption and Hot For Teacher. The slapping rhythm in "The End" is reminiscent of the slapping riff in Van Halen's 1981 hit, "Mean Street".
Wolfgang uses his guitar pick in the crook of his third finger for the slapping and popping technique. He hits the A and G harmonics at the seventh fret percussively in the slapping rhythm. The open E string is hit first, followed by percussive hits with each hand.
Interestingly, Wolfgang revealed he has stopped listening to his father's music. However, the influence of his father's style is evident in "The End", especially in the explosive lead run during the intro, which shares similarities with the intro of "Hot For Teacher".
Wolfgang recorded the slapping riff in "The End" on Eddie's iconic Frankenstein guitar. The music producer with whom he produced the recording of the song is not explicitly mentioned in the available search results.
The full video of Wolfgang demonstrating the slapping technique in "The End" is available for viewing. He joined Ola Englund to demonstrate how to play his new Mammoth single "The End". Wolfgang, being an authority on all things Van Halen, provided a detailed breakdown of the technique, explaining that it involves slapping with the thumb and popping with the first and second fingers.
In a conversation with Ola Englund during the demonstration, Wolfgang also spoke about taking a career risk covering Van Halen songs with Dave Grohl. He wrote the slapping part for "The End" as a bass slap part but was advised to perform it on guitar.
Comparisons between "The End's" slapping riff and Van Halen's "Mean Street" have been made, highlighting the influence of his father's music on his own work. The end phrase of "The End" syncopates with a drum flam for added tightness, adding another layer of complexity to the song.
Despite distancing himself from his father's music, Wolfgang continues to honour his father's legacy through his music, showcasing his own unique style while paying homage to the iconic sounds of Van Halen.
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