I’m the One by Van Halen, from their debut album (1978), is an early showcase of Eddie Van Halen’s complete guitar vocabulary — blues-influenced phrasing, explosive speed, two-hand tapping, and the natural musicality that made him the most revolutionary guitarist of his generation.
About This Lesson
The debut Van Halen album announced Eddie to the world and I’m the One demonstrates the full range of his early style. Blues-rock vocabulary delivered at unprecedented speed, combined with his newly developed tapping technique — it was like nothing anyone had heard before.
What You Will Work On
- Early Eddie Van Halen vocabulary — blues-rock phrasing at rock speed
- Two-hand tapping introduction — EVH’s revolutionary technique
- Fast pentatonic runs — speed and feel in equal measure
- Blues-rock bends and vibrato — the foundation beneath the technique
- Natural, musical phrasing — EVH always sounds like music, never just exercises
Tips for Learning
- Listen to the debut Van Halen album in full — it is one of the greatest guitar records ever made.
- Study the tapping technique in isolation before incorporating it into phrases.
- Focus on the blues-rock feel beneath the speed — it is always present.
- Compare early EVH with later EVH to hear how his style evolved.
WANT TO MASTER THIS SOLO PROPERLY?
Private Rock Guitar Lessons via Zoom — Diego Fonseca
Rock & metal specialist with 20+ years of teaching. Students across the US and Canada. I will build a lesson plan around the music you actually want to play — solos, technique, theory.
✔ Free 30-min trial lesson ✔ US & Canada timezones ✔ $240/month · 4 lessons
Fill out the form and Diego will reply within 12 hours.