"Eruption" has long been THE gateway piece into the world of high-tech modern rock guitar playing. Mastering its intricacies and demands is an alluring prerequisite for any guitarist today, as it contains a veritable lexicon of must-know face-melting licks. But careful, once you do, you’ll be addicted to the shred. Eruption is in dropped Eb tuning. Be sure to tune all your strings down one half step before jumping in.

Ed Van Halen stretched the boundaries of hard rock further with “Get Up.” This track featured his innovative use of a Steinberger Trans-Trem guitar and one of his most driving power rock riffs.