SECRETS by Van Halen
From the 1982 album _Diver Down_
Transcribed by DanAmrich@aol.com
As with most early VH, tune your guitar down a half-step to Eb across the board (high
to low: Eb, Ab, Bb, Gb, Db, Eb) in order to play in tune with the record.
Dan
DanAmrich@aol.com
Version 1: The Eddie Van Halen "Right" Way
The opening chord (as best as I can tell--the bass doubles on the low E string, and
your ear's mileage may vary)
NOTE: This intro chord is plucked in 6/4 time.
E -------------|-------------|-------------|--------------|
B -5-5-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-5-5--|
G -------------|-------------|-------------|--------------| play this pattern twice
D -7-7-7-7-7-7-|-7-7-7-7-7-7-|-7-7-7-7-7-7-|-7-7-7-7-7-7--| (total of eight measures)
A -------------|-------------|-------------|--------------| drums join final measure
E -5-5-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-5-5--|
Opening and main verse riff
"She ain't waiting 'til she gets older..."
v--Use pinky to hit 9th fret while still holding barre chord
E ----------5----9---9---------------------3------2--------|
B -8-7--5-5---5----5----6-5--3-3---------3--------3--------|
G -7-7--7-6-------------5-5--5-4------------------2--------|
D -7-7--7-7-------------5-5--5-5------------------0--------|
A -5-5--5-5-------------3-3--3-3---0-2-3-----2-0-----------|
E ---------------------------------------------------------|
v--Bend slightly (1/2 step) here
E ----------5----9---9-------------3--------3----------------|
B -8-7--5-5---5----5----6-5--3-3---3-3-5b-3---3--------------|
G -7-7--7-6-------------5-5--5-4-----------------------------|
D -7-7--7-7-------------5-5--5-5-----------------------------|
A -5-5--5-5-------------3-3--3-3-----------------------------|
E -----------------------------------------------------------|
"Aw, aw, aw, got that rhythm..." (0:40)
v--Slide the chord up two frets
E --------3-------3-------3--------7-/-9-----------------------------|
B ----------3-------3-------3------8-/-10----------------------------|
G ---------------------------------7-/-9-----------------------------|
D -------------------------------------------------------------------|
A -0-2-3-------2-------1-------0-------------------------------------|
E -------------------------------------------------------------------|
E --------3-------3-------3----------------7-/-9---------------------|
B ----------3-------3-------3------6-/-8---8-/-10--------------------|
G ---------------------------------5-/-7---7-/-9---------------------|
D -------------------------------------------------------------------|
A -0-2-3-------2-------1-------0-------------------------------------|
E -------------------------------------------------------------------|
"She's just lookin' good..." (0:58)
E ---7-/-9----9--\-7--------------|
B ---8-/-10---10-\-8--------------|
G ---7-/-9----9--\-7--------------|
D --------------------------------|
A --------------------------------|
E --------------------------------|
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/v/van_halen/secrets_tab.html ]
"You know how sometimes, you've got to run..." (1:40)
Eddie does this bit with a stocatto strumming that is better heard than explained
no slide! --v
E ---------------------------------------------------------------------|
B -------6-/-8---8-\-6---6-/-8-/-11----6-/-8---8-\-6---6-/-8--6--------|
G -------5-/-7---7-\-5---5-/-7-/-10----5-/-7---7-\-5---5-/-7--5--------|
D -------3-/-5---5-\-3---3-/-5-/-8-----3-/-5---5-\-3---3-/-5--3--------|
A ---------------------------------------------------------------------|
E ---------------------------------------------------------------------|
"You're running blind..." (1:48)
I am almost certainly wrong/incomplete here; it doesn't sound full enough
E -------------------------12--------------------------------------|
B --15-\-13--15-\--------------15-\-13--15-\-17--17----17----17----|
G --14-\-12--14-\-14-----------14-\-12--14-\-17--------------------|
D ----------------14--14-12-------------------------17----17-------|
A -----------------------------------------------------------------|
E -----------------------------------------------------------------|
E -----------------------------------------------------------------|
B --15-\-13--15-\-10---13--12--------------------------------------|
G --14-\-12--14-\-9------------------------------------------------|
D ---------------------14--12--------------------------------------|
A -----------------------------------------------------------------|
E -----------------------------------------------------------------|
E -----------------------5-/-7-/-10-/-12-/-14----------------------|
B ----6--6-/-8--8--------6-/-8-/-11-/-13-/-15----------------------|
G ----5--5-/-7--7--------5-/-7-/-10-/-12-/-14----------------------|
D -----------------------------------------------------------------|
A -----------------------------------------------------------------|
E -----------------------------------------------------------------|
(the rhythm under the solo is a variation on the segment above)
Ending (3:11)
v-- natural harmonics
E -----------3----3-------3--------5---------------------------------|
B ---------3--------3-------3------3-------------------------<7>-----|
G ---------------------------------2------------------<5>------------|
D ---------------------------------0------------<5>------------------|
A --0-2-3-------2------1---------------------------------------------|
E -------------------------------------------------------------------|
Version 2: The Dan Amrich "Obviously Wrong But More Comfy" Way
Main verse riff:
E -3-2--0-0-0-----0-------1-0--3-3-----------3------2---------|
B -3-3--3-2---2-----2-----1-1--3-3---------3--------3---------|
G -2-2--2-2-----2---------0-0--5-4------------------2---------|
D -0-0--0-0---------------0-0--0-0------------------0---------|
A -----------------------------------0-2-3-----2-0------------|
E ------------------------------------------------------------|
This is what I've always used and it's a hell of a lot easier to play, so long as you
don't mind it being totally wrong from what's on the record. :)
