Premier Guitar features affiliate links to help support our content. We may earn a commission on any affiliated purchases.

Gallery: Van Halen Live Gear 2012

Inside Eddie and Wolfgang''s rigs.

EVH Wolfgang Stealth
Eddie played this graphite-colored Wolfgang Stealth equipped with an ebony fretboard, a titanium D-Tuna, and a large red kill switch for most of the show. The tape surrounding the bridge pickup is to prevent the high E string from catching under the pickup.

When PG caught up with Van Halen before their April 27, 2012, performance at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, the only thing more thrilling than getting a guided tour of Eddie’s and Wolfgang’s rigs from their techs, Craig DeFalco and Jim Survis, was getting to sit through soundcheck and hear Ed, Wolf, and Alex pound out flawless versions of classics such as “Unchained” and “Runnin’ with the Devil.” Sadly, we can’t share the unreal listening experience with you—but we can share our great shots of their gear. Enjoy!

Want the world to know about your pedalboard? Got a great story to tell about it? Fill out the form below for your shot at being in Premier Guitar's March issue! Not everyone will be used, so be sure to say why your pedalboard stands out. And be sure to include good hi-res photos of your board!

Read MoreShow less

Billy Doyle of Man/Woman/Chainsaw

Photo by Ella Margolin

Guest picker Billy Doyle of Man/Woman/Chainsaw joins reader Eddie Carter and PGstaff in musing on the joys of playing music.

Question: What’s the most rewarding aspect of playing music for you? Photo by Ella Margolin
Read MoreShow less

Gallagher’s road worn Strat in play in the cover of his 1972 concert album.

How the Irish guitar virtuoso got a unique tone with a factory-stock Strat.

Hello and welcome back to Mod Garage. In this column, we’ll take a closer look at the very unique sound of the famous Rory Gallagher Stratocaster and discuss why it sounded so outstandingly good.

Read MoreShow less

Saxophonist Charlie “Bird” Parker’s challenging version of a 12-bar blues is one of his most enduring contributions. Learn how to navigate these tricky changes by combining bebop and blues.


Chops: Intermediate
Theory: Intermediate
Lesson Overview:
• Use IIm–V7 progressions to add interest to a blues progression.
• Combine the blues scale with Mixolydian and Dorian to create swinging phrases.
• Increase your rhythmic awareness by using triplets and syncopation.


Click here to download a printable PDF of this lesson's notation.

A big part of the bebop spirit was learning how to navigate through seemingly unrelated chords at speedy tempos. Saxophonist Charlie “Bird” Parker was a pioneer in the bebop movement and he combined his love of the burgeoning style with a deep appreciation for the blues. It’s easy to look at bebop in 2017 and think of it as a complicated and overly intellectual genre, but adding in a blues sensibility can make the changes a bit more approachable.

When looking at a traditional I–IV–V blues, there’s not all that much harmonic information to outline, so bop players like Parker would add chord substitutions. His composition “Blues for Alice” is an example of what’s become known as “Bird Blues.” The changes Parker used on this tune of become so accepted that other composers have written contrafacts—a different melody written on the same changes.

Read MoreShow less