Paul Gilbert‘s guitar virtuosity is widely admired by many, notably his own peers, including even the late Eddie Van Halen. EVH apparently once asked Gilbert to become the guitar teacher for his son, Wolfgang, who is currently known for his music with Mammoth.
Eddie Van Halen Asked Paul Gilbert to Give His Son Guitar Lessons
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EVH is widely appreciated not just as a fantastic guitar player but also as an inspiration for many players to this date. His style, tone, and creativity continue to influence new generations of guitarists. However, even with his unmatched skills, Eddie himself understood that teaching guitar could be a completely different challenge. This side of him was shown in a story recently shared by his son, Wolfgang Van Halen, who recalled how his father once reached out to Paul Gilbert for help.
During an interview with Guitar.com, Wolfgang shared that his dad, the legendary Eddie Van Halen, once called up Paul Gilbert and asked him to give Wolfgang guitar lessons. Wolfgang recalled with a laugh,
“My dad was a great guitarist but a terrible guitar teacher — he’d tell you that himself. He even called Paul Gilbert one time and asked him if he would give me a lesson, and he laughed his ass off.”
Wolfgang added that while his father was one of the most brilliant players ever, teaching wasn’t really his thing.
“He’d just go, ‘Do it like this.’ And I’d be like, ‘Well… how?’ You’re at such a different level that you don’t even think in the same way.”
This story gives a small look into the relationship between father and son, and how Eddie recognized that teaching required a different kind of skill set. It also shows the respect he had for other talented guitarists, such as Paul Gilbert, whose teaching ability was already well known within the guitar community.
Paul Gilbert’s Legacy as a Guitar Teacher
PG is not only known for his incredible speed and precision as a player but also for being one of the most respected guitar teachers in the world. Before gaining fame with Racer X and Mr. Big, Gilbert studied and later taught at the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT) in Hollywood, where he became one of its youngest instructors.
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His teaching career continued through the years with many popular instructional videos, magazine columns, and workshops around the world. He’s also been teaching online for over a decade through ArtistWorks, where he offers detailed video lessons and gives personal feedback to students through their “Video Exchange” system.
Gilbert’s lessons cover everything from simple picking exercises to advanced techniques and musical creativity. His easy-going teaching style and clear explanations have made him one of the most trusted and influential guitar educators.
Many modern players cite him as an inspiration, including highly skilled younger guitarists like Mateus Asato and Matteo Mancuso. In fact, Mancuso even released a tribute piece titled “Paul Position” in honor of Gilbert’s influence on his playing.
It’s easy to see why Eddie reached out to Gilbert back then — not only because of his technical ability but also for his reputation as a patient and effective teacher who continues to inspire guitarists worldwide. If you are keen to know more about Paul’s current project or lessons, go check out his official website for more details.
Gilbert himself is also a big fan of Eddie and has never been shy in admitting the late maestro’s influence. After EVH’s passing, PG was also seen recording a cover of Van Halen’s hit track, ‘Jump’, which saw him playing guitar and singing, while his wife, Emi, plays the keyboard.
As for Wolfgang, he is continuing the Van Halen legacy with his own band, Mammoth, which has been well-received by the rock music world. The band has already released three albums: “Mammoth WVH” (in 2021), “Mammoth II” (2023), and the latest one, “The End” (2025).
