Celebrate David Lee Roth’s Birthday with a Van Halen–Style Lick

This October 10th marks the birthday of David Lee Roth — “Diamond Dave,” the flamboyant frontman who brought Van Halen’s music and stage show to life.

While Roth is celebrated as one of rock’s most charismatic singers, his career has always been defined by the guitar heroes around him — most famously Eddie Van Halen, whose groundbreaking playing turned Van Halen into a guitar revolution.

A High-Energy Van Halen–Inspired Lick

To mark Roth’s birthday, we’ve prepared a free interactive exercise from our 100 Extreme Rock Licks for Guitar collection:

• Style: Eddie Van Halen–inspired, capturing the flair of Roth’s classic era

• Technique: legato runs combined with wide string skips to create a fluid yet angular sound

• Scale: rooted in the pentatonic framework, expanded for maximum reach and drama

• Sound: smooth but unpredictable, giving that explosive, high-energy feel that defined early Van Halen

• Skill Level: great for intermediate to advanced players looking to improve legato control and accuracy across strings