VH Hang em High

[strat78]

Thought I would post this here for old times sake. Finally fixed my drum machine so I was able to put this together. Pretty hard VH song. I must admit I was hangin by my fingernails the whole time even though this is a very slow version. I've always known this song as "Where Were You" from 1977 bootlegs and not the more anticeptic Hang em High. I tried to get Ed's old club sound, but I have had trouble getting my usual VH tone from the PODxt, should have taken notes in the past. I put a couple of older mp3's in for comparison.

[paulscape]

Awesome! Like listening to this one - dont even need the vocals...listened to classic VH so much my imagination sung DLR for me. Great solo too mate.

At first I thought the guitars sounded a tad distant in the mix but listening to it a second time I think it gives it a nice live feel.

Cheers

[jimmerwoo]

That was just straight up amazing Strat! I know people sometimes diss on the guys who play covers and try to sound like famous guitarists but you set yourself apart in a couple of ways...

1) You have truly studied the style of EVH at an almost chemical level. You know the formula (even though there doesnt appear to be one with EVH!) and have made it an art form in the same way impressionists hone their imitations to get exactly like the people they are imitating (.,.and no one gives them a hard time!)

2) You can still play things your own way if you want to as this cover shows. Great improvisation while still keeping the spirit of this song.

I was trying to teach myself this one, but immediately got caught at the intro, its tough to play. I wanna know if I'm getting it right.

d= down u= up
E-------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------
D-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-7-----
A-------------------------------------
E-7-7---7-7---7-7---7-7---7-7---------
. d u d u d u d u d d u d u d u d


E-------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------
D-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-7-----
A-0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---------
E-------------------------------------
. d u d u d u d u d d u d u d u d

Is that how it works? That to me is the smoothest way to play, but i gotta practice it to build up speed. Or is it easier to make a huge stretch and fret the B on the A string (cos then you arent skipping over a string to hit the 7th fret on the Dstring)

[Revraz]

Great job

[strat78]

Some people restore Mustangs and El'Camino's for a hobby, I like playing old songs on old guitars Thanks for the kind words you guys! So, when playing that main riff I found it easier to just stick to the E and D string because it keeps the picking hand doing one pattern. It's a strange riff because you have to get it right into the slot or the whole thing falls apart (I lost it in that last break after the solo). Here is how I played it. The emphasis should be on hitting the note on the D string really aggressively and trying to ping it.

d= down u= up
E-------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------
D-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-7-----
A-------------------------------------
E-7-7---7-7---7-7---7-7---7-7---------
d u d u d u d u d d u d u d u d


E-------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------
D-----7-----7-----7-----7-----7-7-----
A-------------------------------------
E-5-5---5-5---5-5---5-5---5-5---------
d u d u d u d u d d u d u d u d

[jimmerwoo]

Thanks Strat... I realised my "d u d"s werent lined up in my earlier post...so I went and edited it.

Off to practice now!!

[Bigrockjamie]

Man, this was great!

[Scott Parnell]

Awesome jammin from you as always strat. great hearing you again.

[EVH1979]

how about posting the backing track.

[strat78]

Originally Posted by EVH1979

how about posting the backing track.

Nice. I remember you from around the time of the September VH competition. No, don't think I'll post the backer.

[strat78]

Thanks Revraz, Jimmerwoo, Bigrockjamie and Scott. This song was allot of hard work, but alas I played it way too slow. I went back and spent a day rerecording the bass and drums at the right tempo, but have not had a chance to record the guitar again. Oddly enough the main riff flows much better when you play it really fast. I did not want vocals on this because the Hang em High vocals and melody sound lame to me and the "Where Were You" lyrics are stupid but the melody is better.

[ron3271]

Loved it man its good to back online again listening to killer tunes like this i just updated my pod xt live so hopefully i will post soon i havent played in a while once again really good listen

[LypsLynch55]

Originally Posted by strat78

Thought I would post this here for old times sake. Finally fixed my drum machine so I was able to put this together. Pretty hard VH song. I must admit I was hangin by my fingernails the whole time even though this is a very slow version. I've always known this song as "Where Were You" from 1977 bootlegs and not the more anticeptic Hang em High. I tried to get Ed's old club sound, but I have had trouble getting my usual VH tone from the PODxt, should have taken notes in the past. I put a couple of older mp3's in for comparison.

Ah, haha! What a good time this was! I always have a smile when I listen to your songs P! And like I said in that email "Now are you doing "Hang em High" or "Where Were You (Last Night)?" Hehe. I guess knowing your penchance for the good ole "Club Days", I knew it would be the latter. I agree with you, the vox in "Where Were You" have a very fun feel to them, but they are weak and the "Hang Em High" ones are even worse, like Dave couldnt be bothered to write good stuff. I heard that even pulled the lyrics for "Secrets" off a post card! Secrets is still one of the most under-rated and BEST Van Halen songs ever IMHO.

Anyway, this is one where you just have to hit "Record" and go for broke. Ed's pretty aggressive in that riff. I guess I have too much Hetfield in me, because when I play "WWY/HEH", I downpick the whole intro riff. Put it doesnt sound right. Uppicking the alternate notes doesnt sound right either. Another one of Ed's licks that only Ed can play. And if you listen to "Where Were You" off the demo, he steps on the Phaser, so it sounds even faster!

Anyway, great job, better than a mere mortal like me could do and thank god you got that drum machine fixed!

P

[LypsLynch55]

This is a quick example of how I play it.

[jimmerwoo]

What's the "where were you" VH song you are talking about? And what Album is it from? I've never heard of it.