In this video, I show you how I play Alice Cooper’s Eighteen on guitar and harmonica.
I go through the guitar chords, the signature riff and the rhythm to how that’s played, the 2 different vocal parts to the chorus, the harmonica part including the key I’m using and what I’m doing on that and then finally we’ll play through the whole song. I hope you enjoy.
Eighteen – Lesson on Guitar and Harmonica – Guitar Chords, Harmonica Tabs, Lyrics, Sheet Music, MP3 Downloads and More
Quick Facts
- Alice Cooper’s breakout hit from the 1970 album, Love It To Death
- Alice Cooper was originally born Vincent Damon Furnier on February 4th, 1948, the son of a Church of Jesus Christ preacher
- According to legend, in search of an appropriately shocking band name, Furnier turned to a ouija board. He later claimed the board told him he was the reincarnation of a 17th-Century witch named Alice Cooper.
“Just because I cut the heads off dolls, they say I must hate babies. But it’s not true. I just hate dolls.”
Alice Cooper
Sheet Music
I’m looking…
If you find a source for Eighteen sheet music, please let me know.
Guitar Chords, Lyrics, Harmonica Tabs
Eighteen music and lyrics are property and copyright of their owners and provided for educational purposes and personal use only.
The following is my transcription of my version of this awesome song.
Eighteen
Harmonica Intro – C harmonica
Am Bm C D
5 5 5 5
Em C D
5 -4 -3 -2 -3 -2 2 2 2 2 2
Em C D
Lines form on my face and hands
Em C D
Lines form from the ups and downs
C D
I’m in the middle without any plans
Em C D
I’m a boy and I’m a man
Em C D
I’m eighteen and I don’t know what I want
Em C D
Eighteen I just don’t know what I want
Em C D
Eighteen I gotta get away
Am B
I gotta get out of this place
C D
I’ll go runnin’ in outer space again
Em C D
I got a baby’s brain and an old man’s heart
Em C D
Took eighteen years to get this far
C D
Don’t always know what I’m talkin’ about
Em C D
Feels like I’m livin’ in the middle of doubt
Em C D
Cause I’m eighteen I get confused every day
Em C D
Eighteen I just don’t know what to say
Em C D
Eighteen I gotta get away
Solo over Am section
Am Bm C D
Em C D
Whoa lines form on my face and my hands
Em C D
Lines form on the left and right
C D
I’m in the middle the middle of life
Em C D
I’m a boy and I’m a man
Em C D
I’m eighteen and I like it
Em C D
Yes I like it
Em C D
Oh I like it love it like it love it
Em C D
Eighteen Eighteen Eighteen Eighteen and I like it
Video Transcription
Hi George here. Welcome to this video where I show you how I play Alice Cooper’s Eighteen on guitar and harmonica.
I’m going to go through the guitar chords, go through that signature riff and the rhythm to how that’s played. There’s 2 different vocal parts to the chorus and I’ll show you each of those. Then I’ll go through the harmonica, the key I’m using and what I’m doing on that. Then finally we’ll play through the whole thing.
Starting off with the guitar chords. It starts in E minor, then goes to C, to D and back to E minor.
The chords for the bridge are A minor, B minor – if you can’t play B minor with the barre then you can play it in open position, C, and D.
Ok, for the opening riff we’re starting in E minor and going to play the sixth string open and sound the E and then strum the chord. So that’s beats 1 and 2. Then pick sixth string open, E, then F# which is sixth string second fret, to G – sixth string third fret and then we’ll play A which is 5th string open. Then we’re going to play the C chord to D.
So the counting on this goes 1 2 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 3 & 4.
Now Eighteen, the chorus. The first time you go through it, the chorus starts on E. Eighteen and I don’t know what I want. The second time through, the chorus starts on G. Eighteen and I don’t know what I want, Eighteen I got to get away.
Ok. So it starts on two different pitches. The first time through it starts on the E, the second time through starts on G.
Ok, now for the harmonica, the song is in the key of Em which is the relative minor to G. I’m not playing a G harmonica, however, I playing a C so I’m playing like second position and that gives me the notes I need just for that little intro run that goes on. So, I like to do that at the beginning and sometimes in the middle and sometimes at the end.
So one thing I like to do with this song is you can make great use of dynamics. So, it’s got this opening riff and that sounds great and you can play that loud and then when the verses come in, you can bring it down, just tone it down a bit, and then slowly build until you get back to the chorus and kinda let it loose again.
OK, so let’s try that. Let’s play through this, keep in mind the dynamics and just have some fun.
Alright, so that’s Alice Cooper’s Eighteen. That’s how I play it on guitar and harmonica. I hope you enjoyed the video and can use it to put that great song together.
See you next time. Have a great day. Peace.
really well played sir and quite different from the one played by Scott
Shriner & The Forest Rangers!
Ok, look, is this out of focus or is it my computer? Regardless, this seems
so great – shame about the focus!
I need glasses!
Thanks so much!
AWESOME LESSON!!! Thanks heaps and heaps for this great teaching –
inspiring teacher and let their be ROCK!
try playing the C harp in 5th position / E minor and it sounds fantastic
Thank you George, Brilliant Lesson!! I appreciate it with all of my heart
chief.
quality lesson learning this has revived my love for this song
muy bien..
Nice! Thanks for posting!
Thank you very much for the lesson and the transcription! It was very helpful 😉
thanks!
Hey George how bout train in vain by the clash guitar and harp would b great
Thank you. I appreciate the pictures of the chords. I hate when goons don’t.
much appreciated
well done sir.
Badass
Most comprehensive lesson I have ever seen on youtube. Thank you
Wicked
Pal! You are great! Easy and direct lessons. Thanx!
Right on, you’re welcome.
Tell your friends.
Cheers, George
wow, so happy I found this video! Thanks a lot!
Thanks alot !, Im only just now starting to build repertoire Aha I did everything backwads 😛
If you break the measure down into sixteenths you count it as 1e&a 2e&a 3e&a 4e&a. Downbeats and & are down stroke,d. e and a are up stroke, u.
Over this section I am playing 1 2 a 3 & 4e& = d d u d d d u d
Make sense?
Peace
What rhythm is used for the part Aminor , Bminor , C major, Dmajor ??
Tres bien.
I’m French, and I inderstand your lesson !! Thank you very muck !!
Hi S&J. Thanks. I appreciate it. Cheers, George
This is GREAT !!!
S&J
Right on. Glad you enjoyed it.
very nice bro!…..thnx
cool, thanks
Alright George, that sounds class, loving the harmonica touch there also.
Right on. You are welcome. Gotta love some of that old classic Alice. Especially the Love It To Death Album
Perfect lesson! A better explanation is impossible! Thanks alot!
ugh, just thanks so much, you helped me alot<333
Alright, that’s the goal. Thanks alot.
Great video lessons. You explain the songs very well.
I am not worthy !! your last name should be Greatman ! thank you so Much Jerry
Hey Lowell. You know if you signed up to my newsletter on my website you would have known this was coming… and what’s coming next
[..YouTube..] @rastablues1 Hey Lowell. You know if you signed up to my newsletter on my website you would have known this was coming… and what’s coming next
[..YouTube..] @rastablues1 Hey Lowell. You know if you signed up to my newsletter on my website you would have known this was coming… and what’s coming next
Your help here, in what you share…is so Awesome and Free…..If only Alice wrote …I’m 48 ..and I don’t know what I wanT!….Keep up the good worK!
Thanks davey-do.
[..YouTube..] You’re a madman, George!!
Next to “eclectic” in the dictionary…is a picture of you. Nice job.
Lowell
[..YouTube..] You’re a madman, George!!
Next to “eclectic” in the dictionary…is a picture of you. Nice job.
Lowell