Mean Street Van Halen backing track and tabs

Van Halen - Mean Streets

Tune down 1/2 step

t l t l t l t t l t l t l t t t (the t is for tapping, Ed uses his thumb for the low
e|--12--------12-----------12--------12--------| E string and his index
B|--12--------12-----------12--------12--------| finger for the high E and B
G|---------------------------------------------| strings, the l is for a
D|-----*----*----*-------*----*----*-----------| left hand slap against the
A|-----*----*----*-------*----*----*-----------| strings)
E|-----*-12-*----*-12-12-*----*-12-*----12-12--|
{this intro is repeated about 6 times in a crecendo}

t p t p t p t p t t t t p h
e|------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------|
D|-------12^5---------------------------^7--|
A|--12^5------10^5-12^5---------------------|
E|----------------------12-12--12--12^5-----|

t p t p p # p # #h t# t# t p h
e|----------------------------------------------| (# are natural harmonics
B|----------------------------------------------| created at approximately
G|-----------------4^0(4)(5)--------------------| the fret(), t# are
D|-------12^5^0(5)--------5^7(12)7(11)------^7--| harmonics tapped at the
A|--12^5----------------------------------------| fret () )
E|-------------------------------------12^5-----|
{repeat all of last two bars}

t p t p t p t p t t t t p h
e|------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------|
D|-------12^5---------------------------^7--|
A|--12^5------10^5-12^5---------------------|
E|----------------------12-12--12--12^5-----|

t p t p p h p # h h t# t# t# t# t# p
e|----------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------^4^0(4)^5--------------------------------|
D|-------12^5^0(5)---------5^7 (12)-(11)-(10)-(11)-(12)-^0--|
A|--12^5----------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------|

h t# t# t# t# t# h p
e|-----------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------^5^--|
G|------------------------------------^5^--|
D|-----------------------------------------|
A|--^7--(10)--(11)--(12)--(12)--(14)-------|
E|-----------------------------------------|

h t# p t# h t# p t# h t# p t# h t#
e|-------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--^7-(19)-^5-(17)-^7-(19)-^5-(17)-^7-(19)-^5-(17)-^7-(19)----|
G|--^7-(19)-^5-(17)-^7-(19)-^5-(17)-^7-(19)-^5-(17)-^7-(19)----|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|

p h p sl feedback !!tremelo dives!!!!
e|----------------------------------------------|
B|--^5^7^5~4------------4--(4)------------------|
G|--^5^7^5~4------4-----------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------|

(palm mute lightly) h p
e|---------------------------------|----------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|-------------0--------------|
G|--5----------5-------------------|--5----------0--------------|
D|--5-7---7--5---7---7------5^7^5--|--5-7--7-----0--------------|
A|-----------------------7---------|----------7-----------------|
E|---------------------------------|----------------------------|

h p # # # # # # # #
e|--------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------|-----------------(5)-------------(12)-----|
G|--5----------5------------------|--5-----------------(5)---(7)--------(12)-|
D|--5-7--7---5---7---7-----5^7^5--|--5-7--7----5-(5)------(7)---(12)---------|
A|----------------------7---------|----------7-------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|------------------------------------------|

palm mute.....
e|-----------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------|---------------------------------|
G|--5--------------------------|--5---------5--------------------|
D|--5-7--7--5-5-7--7----5^7^5--|--5-7--7--5---7-7-5-5-5-5--------|
A|--------------------7--------|--------------------------7-7-7--|
E|-----------------------------|---------------------------------|

(Ed uses an MXR Phase 90 and rubs
the palm of his hand against the
strings above the bridge pickup) At night
e|--------------------------|-----------------------------------|
B|--------------------------|-----------------------------------|
G|--5-----------------------|--*-*-*-*-*-*-*--5-----------------|
D|--5-7--7--5-5-7--7-----5--|--*-*-*-*-*-*-*--5-----------------|
A|--------------------7-----|--*-*-*-*-*-*-*--------------------|
E|--------------------------|-----------------------------------|

I walk this stinkin' street,past the crazies on my block and I
A.H. palm mute....
e|----------------------------------|------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------|------------------------------------|
G|----------------------------------|------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------|------------------------------------|
A|--3^0--0---------3^0---0----------|--3^0--0-----3^0--0-----------------|
E|------------3--------------0---3--|----------3----------3-3-3-3^0-0-0--|
{this is similar for the rest of this and the other verses}

see the same old faces and I hear the same old talk.
And I'm searching for the latest thing, a break in this routine
I'm talkin some new kicks, one's like you ain't never seen.

this is
home___ this is
p p sl. p p sl.
e|------------------------------------|------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------|------------------------------|
G|-------------5----------------------|------------7-----------------|
D|-------------5----------------------|------------7-----------------|
A|--3^0-0-0-0--------------3^0-0-3~5--|--3^0-0-0-0--------3^0-0-3~5--|
E|------------------------------------|------------------------------|

Mean street Yes, ah,
p p pick slide
e|---------------------------------|-------------------------------|
B|------------6--------------------|------------10-----------------|
G|------------5------------10--12--|-------------9-----*~----------|
D|-------------------------10--12--|-------------------*~----------|
A|--3^0-0-0-0----------0-0--8--10--|--3^0-0-0-0--------*~----------|
E|---------------------------------|------------------------12~----|

Home the only one I
p p sl. p slide
e|------------------------------|-------------------------------|
B|------------------------------|-------------------------------|
G|------------5-----------------|------------7-------7-7--------|
D|------------5-----------------|------------7-------7-7--------|
A|--3^0-0-0-0--------3^0-0-3~5--|--3^0-0-0-0--------------------|
E|------------------------------|-------------------------~15~--|

know______________ And we don't

e|--------------------|-------------------------------|
B|-----------3--------|-------------------------------|
G|-----------2--------|-------------------------------|
D|--2--------0--------|-------------------------------|
A|--0-----------------|----2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2----------|
E|--------------------|----0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0----------|

worry 'bout tomorrow, 'cause we're sick of these four walls
Now what you think is nothin' might be something after all
Now you know this ain't no through street the end is dead ahead
The poor folks play for keeps down here, they're the living dead

{back to the chorus}-{play all but last bar}

(again use MXR Phase 90 - by the way a flanger is a close sound)
sl sl p p sl sl sl
e|--------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
B|--8~10--10--------~10---7--7----------|------8~10-10-------------12~13-----|
G|--------11--11-*--~-9---7--7--7^5-----|-----------11-*-11~12-----11~12-----|
D|---------------*------------------7^5-|--------------*--9~10-----------0-0-|
A|-10~12--------------------------------|--0-0-----------------0-0-----------|
E|--------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
{this is played a total of four times with some improvization}

(solo begins on last bar and to save me a couple of hours, I would suggest
that you just improvize this in the A pentatonic minor scale)

See, a gun is real easy
< volume swell
e|----------------------|---------------------------|
B|----------------------|---------------------------|
G|--5-------------------|--(5)----------------------|
D|--5-------------------|--(5)----------------------|
A|----------------------|---------------------------|
E|----------------------|---------------------------|

in this desperate part of town
< volume swell
e|----------------------|---------------------------|
B|----------------------|---------------------------| {simulate these
G|--7-------------------|--(7)----------------------| four bars for the
D|--7-------------------|--(7)----------------------| rest of the
A|----------------------|---------------------------| interlude}
E|----------------------|---------------------------|

turns you from hunted into hunter
You go an' hunt somebody down
Wait a minute, Somebody said fair warning
Lord strike that poor boy down!

sl
e|-------------------------------|-----------------------------|
B|-------------------------------|-----------------------~7----|
G|--5----------------------------|--(5)---------------5--~7----|
D|--5----------------------------|--(5)---------------5--~7----|
A|--0------0-------0----0---0-0--|------0--0---0--0-0----------|
E|-------------------------------|-----------------------------|

sl
e|------------------------------|--------------------------|
B|--(7)-------------------------|--(7)---------------------|
G|--(7)-------------------------|--(7)-------------7~5-----|
D|--(7)-------------------------|--(7)-------------7~5-----|
A|-------0----0---0----0---0-0--|-------0---0---0----------|
E|------------------------------|--------------------------|

e|----------------------------|-------------------------|
B|----------------------------|-------------------------|
G|--(5)-----------------------|--(5)--------------------|
D|--(5)-----------------------|--(5)--------------------|
A|-------0---0---0---0---0-0--|------0---0----0----0----|
E|----------------------------|-------------------------|

{again this is simulated through the outro with improvised leads on top in A pentatonic minor}

Van Halen - Mean Street

First of all this is very advanced stuff so be prepared. There are a lot of brief notes
the intro for obvious reasons. The intro makes this song what it is. I can’t even play
right. Having said that this tab is quite accurate & will help a lot I’m sure. Yes It
me a good while to tab this so please rate etc. Thanks! Contact me at:
rattlehead.coolio@hotmail.com

[Intro]
e|-12t---------12t-------------12t---------12t------------|
B|-12t---------12t-------------12t---------12t------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----x-----x-----x---------x-----x-----x-----x----------|
A|-----x-----x-----x---------x-----x-----x-----x----------|
E|-----x-12t-x-----x-12t-12t-x-----x-12t-x-----x-12t-12t--|
*This is done by tapping the 12th fret of both the high e & B strings together with the
finger & then slapping the strings with the left hand (denoted by “x”) & then tapping
12th fret of the low E string with the thumb, slapping the strings with the left hand &
on. This bar is played about 6 times.

e|-----------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------|
D|-------12tp5-------------------------------h7--|
A|-12tp5-------10tp5-12tp5-----------------------|
E|-------------------------12t-12t-12t-12tp5-----|
*This is done by a bunch of taps & pull-offs. Then a hammer-on of the 7th fret of the D string.

H H H H H
e|---------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------4p0-4-5--------------------------|
D|-------12tp5p0-5-----------5h7-12t-7-11t-------h7--|
A|-12tp5---------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------12tp5-----|
* “H” are natural harmonics created at the fret.

e|-----------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------|
D|-------12tp5-------------------------------h7--|
A|-12tp5-------10tp5-12tp5-----------------------|
E|-------------------------12t-12t-12t-12tp5-----|

H H H H H
e|---------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------4p0-4-5--------------------------|
D|-------12tp5p0-5-----------5h7-12t-7-11t-------h7--|
A|-12tp5---------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------12tp5-----|

e|-----------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------|
D|-------12tp5-------------------------------h7--|
A|-12tp5-------10tp5-12tp5-----------------------|
E|-------------------------12t-12t-12t-12tp5-----|

H H H H H H H H
e|-------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------4p0-4-5------------------------------------|
D|-------12tp5p0-5------------5h7-12t--11t--10t--11t--12t--p0--|
A|-12tp5-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|

H H H H H
e|------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------h5p0--|
G|------------------------------h5p0--|
D|------------------------------------|
A|-h7--10t--11t--12t--12t--14t--------|
E|------------------------------------|

H H H H H H H H
e|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-h7-19tp5-17t-h7-19tp5-17t-h7-19tp5-17t-h7-19t-h5h7p5\4~-(4)--d~~~~~~~--|
G|-h7-19tp5-17t-h7-19tp5-17t-h7-19tp5-17t-h7-19t-h5h7p5\4~-(4)--d~~~~~~~--|
D|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------|

[Pre-Verse]
e|--------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------0---------|
G|-5--------5---------------5-------0---------|
D|-5-7-7--5---7-7----5h7p5--5-7-7---0---------|
A|-----------------7--------------7-----------|
E|--------------------------------------------|
PM|-------------------------------------------|
*Softly palm-Mute

H H H H H H H H
e|-----------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------5----------12-------|
G|-5--------5---------------5--------------5---7-------12----|
D|-5-7-7--5---7-7----5h7p5--5-7-7---5--5-----7---12----------|
A|-----------------7--------------7--------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
PM|----------------------------------------------------------|
*Softly palm-Mute

e|---------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------|
G|-5------------------------5-------5----------------------|
D|-5-7-7--5-x-7-7----5h7p5--5-7-7-5---7-7-5-5-5-5----------|
A|-----------------7------------------------------7-7-7----|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|
PM|---------------------------------||---------------------|
*Softly palm-Mute & then full palm mute at the gap of the palm Mute.

e|-------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------|
G|-5--------------------x-x-x-x-x-x-x--5-----|
D|-5-7-7--5-x-7-7----5--x-x-x-x-x-x-x--5-----|
A|-----------------7----x-x-x-x-x-x-x--------|
E|-------------------------------------------|
PM|------------------------------------------|
*Softly palm-Mute
*A type of phaser is used (denoted by “x”) & this is done by rubbing the strings over
bridge pick-up.

[Verse 1]
H (x4)
e|-----------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|-3p0-0----3p0-0--------3p0-0----3p0-0----------------------|
E|--------3--------0-3~---------3---------3-3-3-3p0-0-0-0----|
PM |-------------------|

[Chorus 1]
e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------5-----------------------7-------------|
D|-----------5-----------------------7-------------|
A|-3p0-0-0-0----3p0-0-3/5--3p0-0-0-0----3p0-0-3/5--|
E|-------------------------------------------------|

e|----------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------6-----------------------10---------------|
G|-----------5------10-12------------9-----X\---------|
D|------------------10-12------------------X\---------|
A|-3p0-0-0-0----0-0-8--10--3p0-0-0-0-------X\---------|
E|---------------------------------------------12~----|

e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------5----------------------7---7-7--------|
D|-----------5----------------------7---7-7--------|
A|-3p0-0-0-0----3p0-0-3/5—3p0-0-0-0----------------|
E|-------------------------------------------/15\--|

e|-------------------------------|
B|----3--------------------------|
G|----2--------------------------|
D|-2--0----------------------9---|
A|-0------7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--7---|
E|--------0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--0---|

[Verse 2] same as [Verse 1]

[Chorus 2]
e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------5-----------------------7-------------|
D|-----------5-----------------------7-------------|
A|-3p0-0-0-0----3p0-0-3/5--3p0-0-0-0----3p0-0-3/5--|
E|-------------------------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------------1-3-3-1~---|
B|-----------6-----------------------10-------------|
G|-----------5------10-12------------9--------------|
D|------------------10-12---------------------------|
A|-3p0-0-0-0----0-0-8--10--3p0-0-0-0----------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------|

e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------5----------------------7---7-7--------|
D|-----------5----------------------7---7-7--------|
A|-3p0-0-0-0----3p0-0-3/5—3p0-0-0-0----------------|
E|-------------------------------------------/15\--|

e|--------|
B|----3---|
G|----2---|
D|-2--0---|
A|-0------|
E|--------|

[Bridge]
(x4)
e|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B|-8/10--10-----------------------|-8/10--10-----------------------|
G|-x/x---x---------------7p5------|-x/x---x----------------12/14---|
D|-5/7---7-----12/14--14-----7p5--|-5/7---7-----12/14--14--10/12---|
A|----------10-10/12--12----------|----------10-10/12--12----------|
E|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|

[Solo]
H H H H H H H H
e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|-7(9)-(9)-(9)-(9)-(9)-(9)-(9)-(7)~~~-5---7p5-----|
D|---------------------------------------7-----7~--|
A|-------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------|

H H H H
e|----5-8-6-5----7-10-8-7----------------------|
B|---5----------7---------10-8-7-------8-7-8~--|
G|--5----------9-----------------9-8-7---------|
D|-8-------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------|

e|-----19-17-15-14-17-15-14----15-14--------------------|
B|-/15----------------------15-------17-15-14-----------|
G|--------------------------------------------17-15-14--|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------|

e|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-15(16)-(16)-12-15(16)-(16)-12-15(16)-(16)-12-15(16)-(16)-12------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------15t~~~~~~--|
A|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| mess with the whammy here |
e|-15(17)(15)-13-15-|-15p12h15p12h15p12h15p12h15p12-|--|
B|-----------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------|

e|-------------------------------------15t~~\---|
B|-------------------------------------15t~~\---|
G|-------------------12----12h15p12-------------|
D|-15-12----12h15p12----15----------15----------|
A|-------15-------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------| End Solo

[Verse 3]: Same as [Verse 1]
[Chorus 3]: Same as [Chorus 1]

[Interlude]
volume swells (x4)
e|-----------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------|
G|-5-------------------7-------------------|
D|-5-------------------7-------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------|

[Outro]
*For the next part add strumming of the open A string with the swells of the interlude.
Here’s an outro riff used:
e|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-3(3)------5(5)-6-(6)--8-(8)-10(10)-11(11)-------13(13)-14(14)-15(15)-------------|
G|-5(7)~~~~~~7(9)~8(10)~10(12)~12(14)~13(15)~~~~~~~15(17)~16(18)~17(19)-20(22)~~~~--|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

*The rest is just a lot of tremolo that fades out!
Is it me or does the outro sound similar to that infamous part of Guns N' Roses' Rocket
you know th one!;)

Enjoy or else!

************************************

Tablature Legend:
t - tap
x - muted note
h - hammer-on
p - pull-off
H - Harmonic
~ - Vibrato
PM|-| - Palm-Mute
t~ - tremolo
d - dive-bomb
?(?) - Bend(to whatever is in the brackets)
/ - Slide up
\ - Slide Down
* - Brief Note
X\ - Pick Slide

************************************