Several interesting things about the Van Halen thing:

1. Way back in the day, I remember when Jump! came out - Eddie was getting bored playing the geetar and he often played the signature keyboard parts of this song, both the chords and the arps, on keyboard. People had thought he had lost his way, etc. I think the original MTV video for the song shows Eddie laying down the chords on keys. Then he switches over to the tapping guitar solo, but he also plays the o.k. keyboard synth solo as well in the video back a long time ago.

2. Eddie plays some songs with the guitar tuned down to Eb (not uncommon). Lots of speculation that a guitar tech handed a wrongly tuned guitar to Eddie. This is quite likely, since the bass guitar part is not out of tune with said backing recording or MIDI data. If there was a MIDI key signature/tuning issue or a sample playback issue, then the bass would also be out of tune with the keys. To my ear (last time I paid attention to listening through the whole mess), I seem to recall the bass being in tune with the keys - pointing to the guitar being out of tune all by it's lonesome. Someone with some fancy FFT software could actually sort this - if it really mattered to anyone.

3. If it wasn't a youtube video, and recorded like alot of early VH records were mixed, it would be really easy to FFT the thing - The early VH records almost always had Eddie's guitar panned hard to one side (can't remember which), even when it really wasn't a channel shortage issue at the studio. It was almost like trying to make live records sound like a concert experience in the first 10-20 rows on the main floor.

Lastly, just thinking back to some of those 'real' VH hits - it's really too bad that David Lee Roth whacked out and the whole drunkenness and debauchery of the band shot themselves in the feet. They were a GREAT rock band in their heyday. Some inventive musicianship, lot's of stage presence with flash and bang with Davids vocals and athleticism, a tight 4 piece, undeniably great hooks, etc. Too bad they couldn't keep it together. I wonder what they would be cranking out today?

I wasn't really allowed to listen to them - and I understand why. Lyrics clearly not in line with my morals. But man, some GIANT sounds in some of those nasty songs. "Runnin' With The Devil"; while absolutely against my moral fiber - sounds incredibly tasty to my ears. I think the chord phrasing that Eddie uses in the chordal hook of that song ranks in the top 5 of all time giant rock guitar triumphantness (I know, not a word).

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