Eddie+Van+Halen

As you research your selected guitarist, you will need to note some specific information from his or her life and career. Include the following in your final writing: Details for your written assignment:
 * Introduction
 * Biography
 * Discography
 * Legacy
 * Conclusion

Your Name (First Name, Last Initial): Fraser N. Type Your Essay Here! :

Eddie Van Halen's playing style is his own. Nobody before him played the way he does; since Van Halen became popular, many do. Eddie Van Halen invented and mastered playing the frets, which is when you use both hands' fingers on the frets. Sometimes this is called tapping. Eddie also mastered incorporating elements of classical music into his playing.

Eddie Van Halen was born in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He was born to a professional clarinet player and a professional saxophone player. He only has one brother, Alex. As a kid, his parents wanted him and his brother to be concert pianists. He took lessons on how to be a concert pianist. When he and his family moved to Southern California, he stopped playing the piano and started playing the drums, which he taught himself how to play. His brother got better than he was did at playing them and Eddie didn't like that, so he started playing the guitar, which he also taught himself how to play. His first guitar was a $70 guitar with four pickups. While in high school, he and his brother played in bands they created, such as Broken Combs and Mammoth. As they became more popular Eddie, Alex, and the rest of the band chose the name "Van Halen" to be their band's name, after David Lee Roth, who was the lead singer, suggested it because it sounded cool. The band has been playing all over the world since then and still is.

One album that Van Halen has released is their debut album, simply titled "Van Halen". One song that Van Halen has recorded is "Eruption". Eddie was influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and Eric Clapton, which have, at one time, been called the world's best guitarist. The types of music that influenced Eddie are rock and roll, rock, and classical rock.

Eddie Van Halen has influenced many famous guitarists, such as Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Moore. The legacy that Eddie has left to the world of music is to be yourself in your music and to have your own style. He has changed the musical world because playing the frets has become quite common.

I think the most important facts that I learned about Eddie Van Halen are that he started playing the drums at first, but stopped due to his brother playing the drums better than he did. Another important fact I learned about him, is that he was influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck. Also, I learned that the album "Van Halen" was the first album that the band, Van Halen, recorded.

Works Cited

Sources : Include the source information for all of the articles or web sites that were used to complete your project. Source information is found at the end of each article in iCONN.They should also be listed in alphabetical order by the first word of the source citation. sample: "Carol Kaye." //Contemporary Musicians//. Vol. 22. Detroit: Gale, 1998. //Gale Biography In Context//. Web. 8 Jan. 2012. "Selected Websites on Carol Kaye's Life and Works." //Gale Biography in Context//. Detroit: Gale, 2008. //Gale Biography In Context//. Web. 8 Jan. 2012.

Your Source List: "Edward Van Halen." //Newsmakers//. Detroit: Gale, 1985. //Gale Biography In Context//. Web. 17 Oct. 2012.

Guitarist Research Notes Table
//cells will expand as you enter your findings// || Rock || His parents wanted him and his brother, Alex, to be concert pianists. He, at first, wanted to be a drummer. His brother got better at it and he switched to guitar. ||
 * ** Information Feature ** ||= **Your Findings**
 * The guitar style I am researching is: || Rock and Roll ||
 * The artist I am researching is: || Eddie Van Halen ||
 * This guitarist lived from || January 26,1957-Present ||
 * Describe the guitar style you are researching. || Hard Rock ||
 * What kind of musical training did the guitarist have? || He taught himself how to play the guitar. He originally wanted to play drums, but his brother, Alex, got better than him at playing the guitar, so Eddie started to play the guitar instead. ||
 * What types of music influenced this artist? || Rock and Roll
 * Name some musicians who influenced the guitarist you are researching. || Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix. ||
 * Has this guitarist played more than one style? If so, what other styles? || No he has not played any other style. He just plays hard rock. ||
 * What type of guitar does this musician play? || A Stratocaster-shaped guitar body that had a sound similar to the Les Paul. ||
 * What are some interesting facts about your guitarist’s childhood? || He was born in Nigmegen, Netherlands
 * What did this guitarist do before he became famous? || He played drums, until his brother, Alex, got better at it than he was.

He took piano lessons until he quit to play hard rock || Eddie is a millionaire and owns two Lamborghinis ||
 * List two interesting facts about the guitarist’s life. || Eddie remains very close to his parents
 * List two albums or songs your artist released, the dates they were released and why they are important. || The album "Van Halen" released in 1978. This is important because it is the first album the band Van Halen produced.

The album "5150" released in 1984. This is important because it is the last album the original band made. By "the original band," I mean the same band members who were the ones who basically created the band "Van Halen." || What do you like about his/her style? || Guns N' Roses I like that there style is original and not taken from someone else. ||
 * Who is playing this style of music today?
 * What legacy has this guitarist left to the world of music? || To have your own style and be yourself in your music. ||