Stompin 8H Tab

by Van Halen
2,157 views, added to favorites 30 times
Difficulty: advanced
Tuning: E A D G B E
Capo: no capo
Author guitar-_-life [a] 31.
1 contributor total, last edit on Aug 18, 2022
STANDARD TUNING:  E, A, D, G, B, E.
 
 
 
V.H. STOMPIN 8H V.H. ON S.N.L. IN 1987
 
 
Intro
 
   Key of: E
 
Ok for those of you who don't know what this is.  Its an improv jam that V.H. did with the
 
Saturday night Live band back in 87.
 
 
V.H. is using a Digital delay, reverb, and a Harmonizer in this piece.  However, you will not
 
need the harmonizer.  If you set up the delay the way I suggest.  If you have a harmonizer
 
you can use it.  You want a doubling effect.  Either way its not a necessity.
 
NOTE ON TUNING:  Here is the deal with the tuning on this.  For those of you who have the video
 
Ed is tuned to a standard tuning.  My transcription for this was done with my guitar tuned flat.
 
In most cases you won't need to transpose any notes because its in the key of E and that's where
 
I transcribed it.  The main chord pattern is an E to an A.
 
My suggestion is rather than worry about the tunings and stuff like that, you use this as a lesson
 
on Ed's improv soloing.  Take away some of the tricks and riffs and use them in your own playing
 
or to add ideas to your soloing.  If you want to play along with the video great.  But, most of you
 
out there don't have this video.  So, think of this a great big lesson on Eddie V.H..
 
Delay trick opening:  With the volume knob all the way down.  Sound the harmonic indicated.
 
Then bring it down with the bar by reaching under your neck and using your left hand
 
to bring the bar down.  Then with your right hand slowly turn up the volume knob and
 
bring the bar up at the same time and rate of speed.  Slowly.  Once the volume knob is
 
up all the way, pull up on the bar a little.  Repeat the process for the next measure as well.
 
He does this two times in the opening to this jam.
 
Your delay setting is 2.5 to 3 moderate repeats at 350 to 400 milliseconds.  No more, no less.
 
My guitar is tuned flat on the audio lesson, V.H. is standard tuning on SNL.
 
 
Intro:
 
 Your delay setting is 2.5 to 3 moderate repeats at 350 to 400 milliseconds.  No more, no less.
My guitar is tuned flat on the audio lesson, V.H. is standard tuning on SNL.
 
 
e|-----------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------|
G|-5h------4-h(11)---4^1-h(9)----4-h(11)---------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
 
e|-------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------|
G|---4^1-h(16)---slowly release this bend----------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|
 
Turn off the DELAY at this point.
 
Now we get to some serious jammin'.
 
I'm going to transcribe the leads V.H. is doing.
 
Later there is a part where V.H. is jamming the main rhythm riff with
 
G.E. Smith and the band.  I will tab that when we get to it.  Its a mean
 
STOMPIN riff.  Remember this is flat of Ed if you're in a standard tuning.
 
Most of the notes will match up because I transcribed it in E but some
 
may be a half step off.
 
Delay off and here we go with V.H.'s leads.
 
e|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--17--20^1/2--17------20^1-20^1.5-20^2--release bend quickly----|
G|----------------19----------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------|
 
This is a cool little speed picking section.   Its pretty classic V.H..
 
You need to do this very very fast and its important to get the note
 
on the 15th fret 3rd string in there.  This is a scale V.H. loves.  But,
 
that note is key..  Otherwise it won't sound like V.H..  Adding in a
 
flat 5 in a scale is something that really creates the V.H. sound on
 
speed picking.  In this case the key of E he does a Bb in the scale
 
which is the flat 5.
 
e|--12------------------------------------------|
B|------15^1~----12-14-12-15-12-14-12-----12----|
G|------------------------------------15--------|
D|----------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------|
 
e|--------------------------------------|
B|--12-14-12-15-12-14-12-----12---------|
G|-----------------------15-------------|
D|--------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------|
 
The ending to this speed picking thing, is this little riff.  Kind of a broken
 
hammer on feel.  If you've never heard this before that's ok.  You can
 
use this scale to give you ideas for you own solos in the key of E.
 
e|------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--11-14-12-11----11-12-11--14-11--12------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------7a.h ~-7a.h ~------|
A|------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------|
 
Only pick the note in bold.
 
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--20^1w.b---17--20w.b-20^1w.b---bring down slow--17-20--17~------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
 
No delay on this tap harmonic sequence but, you are alternating with bent
 
notes and released bends to create a back and forth effect we did earlier.
 
See audio lesson for help with all these tricks.
 
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--7^1-h(10)--release bend-----7-h(14^^)-7^1-h(12)-release bend---7-h(14^^)---|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 
e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--7^1-h(12)-release bend---7-h(14^^)-7^1-h(12)-release bend---7-h(14^^)---|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 
e|---------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------|
G|--7^1-h(19)-release bend slowly and vibrato--------|
D|---------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------|
 
Big stretch hammer ons and pull offs here.
 
e|--7-10-12-----------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------|
 
This section is all with the whammy and pull offs.
 
E--12-10-7--release-20--20^1-20^2~------|
G---------------------------------------|
D---------------------------------------|
A---------------------------------------|
E---------------------------------------|
 
Similar to the earlier section where we bent the note up and
 
released the bend slowly while picking.
 
e|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--12^2.5-----slowly pick releasing the bend pick 11 times release bend slowly-------|
G|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 
Cool little scale down here.  Its hard to hear on the video but this
 
is what I heard and it seemed to work fairly well when I played along.
 
e|-------------------------------------------------------|
B|--10--12-10-----10-------------------------------------|
G|------------13-----13-10--12-10-----10-----------------|
D|--------------------------------12-----12-10--7~-------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|
 
e|-------12////-14////-15////-17////-19--22^1------|
B|--15^1-------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------|
 
e|--22^1--------------------------------------|
B|-------17-21-17--19^1-release-19--17^1------|
G|--------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------|
 
Rhythm section riff #1.  V.H. joins in.
This rhythm section is transcribed for a flat tuning.  If you have a copy of this
video and want to match Ed move this down 1/2 step.  If you are in a flat tuning
leave it where it is.  And you'll match him perfectly.
 
e|----------------------------------------|
B|--4^1/4------6------4-------------------|
G|--4^1/4------6------4-------------------|
D|--------6------6------6-4-6-4-----------|
A|----------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------|
 
e|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--4^1/4------6-------- 7--7--7------------------------------------------|
G|--4^1/4------6-------- 6--6--6------------------------------------------|
D|--------6------6-----4--4--4--------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------4--4--4--slowly release bend--20-20^1-~------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 
Only pick the notes in bold.  The others are sounded by the bend itself.
Really whine that last note, bend the hell out of it.
 
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--22-20--22^1-22-22^1.5-22-22^2-~--release slightly------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 
Cool little tap sequence here.  Gliss at the end and pull off to that last note.
 
e|--(18)-11-14-(16)-11-14-(18)-11-14-(16)-11-14--(18)---gliss----14~-----|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
 
///// mean to trem or speed pick the notes indicated.
 
e|--------------10//-12////-14////-16////-17////-19////--20^1---|
B|--11-14-14^1/4------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------|
 
e|-------------------------------------|
B|--20-22^1-19-20-20^1--19^1-~---------|
G|-------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|
 
Rhythm break #2  Couple of cool V.H. fills here.
 
e|--------------------------------------|
B|--4-----6--------4--------------------|
G|--4-----6--------4--------------------|
D|-----6-----6--4-----6-4-6-4-----------|
A|--------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------|
 
e|---------------------------------------------|
B|--4-----6------------- ---12h-w.b 2 hits-----|
G|--4-----6------------12h---------------------|
D|-----6-----6----12h--------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------|
 
For this trick.  Dive bomb the open 3rd string.  Then as you bring
 
the bar back up hover your finger over the fret to sound a harmonic
 
and bring that up with the string.
 
e|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--4-----6--------4------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--4-----6--------4-------------0---dive-5h w.b-----5^1a.h scream--whammy it.--|
D|-----6-----6--4-----5----12---9-----------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 
I did not tab out this whole 2nd rhythm section just these couple cool parts.
 
From here go back and jam the 1st rhythm section from earlier with the
 
chord hits.   V.H. throws in a few screams off the 4th fret 3rd string bent up
one step and add in some whammy bar to it.
 
Ending leads.  Outro.  Band stops, its just Ed.
 
e|----------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------|
G|--6^1-(13)-6^1---slowly release bend.---------|
D|----------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------|
 
This ending section is tapping from hell.  Its great stuff.
 
I will help you with this on the audio lesson.
 
e|--(19)-16-(19)-16-14-12--(19)-16-(19)-16-14-12----|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------|
 
e|-----------------------------------------|
B|--(19)-16-(19)-16-14-12------------------|
G|-----------------------(19)-13~----------|
D|-----------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------|
 
e|------------(21)-16-19------------(21)-16-19------------(21)---gliss--19---|
B|--(21)-16-19------------(21)-16-19------------(21)-16-19-------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 
e|--------17////-18////-19////-20////-21//--22^1--release bend slowly--|
B|--19^1---------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 
Nice an easy with these.  In a half time feel.
 
e|------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--4----6----9---10---11-----19^1--release bend quickly-19---|
G|--6^1--8^1--11^1-12^1-13^1----------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------|
 
Crazy little capo with the right hand trick here.  Something Ed took from
 
the Steve Vai school of crazy guitar endings.
 
You're going to make a capo with your right hand by barring it across all
 
the strings on the fret indicated.  Then do the pull offs and hammer ons.
 
Your right hand will act like a capo and allow open strings to be where the
 
bar is instead of open.  This opens up some weird pull offs and huge
 
scale downs.
 
The right hand capo notes are the notes in parenthesis on the 12th fret.
 
e|--(12)------------19-16-12------------------------------------------|
B|--(12)---19-16-12-----------19-16-12-19-16-12-19-16-12-19-16-12-----|
G|--(12)--------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--(12)--------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
 
e|--(12)----------------------------------------------------|
B|--(12)----------------------------19-16-12----------------|
G|--(12)---19-16-12-19-16-12-19-16-12----------19-16-12-----|
D|--(12)----------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------|
 
e|-------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------|
G|--19^1--16--19^1---------------------|
D|-------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|
 
Final ending is just this harmonic whammied and drawn out.  Classic V.H.
 
Live ending type thing.
 
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--5h --with whammy bring this harmonic down and back up a couple times---|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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Stompin 8H – Van Halen
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"Stompin 8H"
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5 comments
schecter725
Was just looking through the VH database of tabs on here and randomly came across this tab. I remember seeing this on SNL after downloading it off of Lime wire (that's how long ago this was) and never knew it was called this or that there would be an actual tab for it! Nice. Always cool coming across stuff like this.
0
schecter725
I was just looking through the VH tab database on here and came across this for the first time. Never knew there was an actual tab for it. Lots of great ideas here you can incorporate into your playing. I remember watching that SNL clip from a video I downloaded off of Limewire, that's how long ago this was. Thanks for the post.
0
schecter725
whoops. posted twice
0