Song Rig

Mean Streets

Eddie Van Halen · Fair Warning · 1981

Tone Overview

What Makes This Sound Unique

The intro is unlike anything recorded before it — Eddie taps natural harmonics across all six strings in a rhythmic percussive pattern that creates cascading bell-like tones with no fretting. This is not standard two-hand tapping: it is an entirely original technique using the fret positions of open-string harmonics as tapping targets. The main riff that follows is pure brown sound.

Signal Chain

1"Frankenstrat" (natural finish, maple neck)
2Marshall Super Lead 100W (modded)
3No effects for harmonic intro

Amp Settings

Gain / Volume7

Bass6

Mid7

Treble7

Presence6

The harmonic tapping intro requires no distortion — natural harmonics ring cleanly even through a saturated amp because harmonics produce less fundamental energy. The amp can be set normally for the riff that follows. The clean-tap into dirty-riff contrast happens on the same amp setting.

Technique

How to Play It

Map the natural harmonic nodes on each string: 12th fret (octave), 7th (perfect 5th), 5th (2nd octave), 9th (major 3rd). The tapping hand bounces across the strings in a rhythmic pattern, striking each harmonic position lightly — more like a vibraphone mallet than a fretting motion. The motion is closer to a tremolo-bar technique than standard tapping. This is one of the most technically demanding intro passages in rock.

Budget Alternative

Achievable With

Any electric guitar — natural harmonics work on any instrument regardless of pickups or amp. The challenge is entirely technical: developing the right-hand bouncing rhythm across the harmonic nodes. No special gear required for the intro; standard brown sound amp for the riff.

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