• Song:

    Fire In The Hole

  • Artist:

    Van Halen

  • Album:

    3

Fire In The Hole by Van Halen


Note: Eddie is using a Wolfgang Special equipped with a Steinberger
Trans-Trem tremolo. He changes tunings in different places in the song.
During the main riff (played in the intro, and the verse) he locks the
tremelo up one whole step (F#). Then in the pre-chorus, and chorus, Eddie
lowers the tremelo into standard tuning (E). Finally, during the outro,
he drops the tremelo 2 and 1/2 steps (B).

Key:
h = hammer-on 
^ = strike string with edge of pick over bridge pickup
p = pull-off 
v = vibrate string
x = mute string completely and pick, creating a percussive sound
/ = slide edge of pick down string, creating a scratching noise
~ = let string ring
b = bend string
r = release string from bend

Intro:
F#|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|---------------------------------3----3-3-------------------------------|
 A|---------2----2-2----------------2----0-0---------------0~-0~-----------|
 E|---------2----2-2----------------0----0-0-----0-h-2-h-3~-----3-p-2-p-0~-|
 B|---------0----0-0---------0-h-3-----------------------------------------|
F#|--0-h-3-----------------------------------------------------------------|

F#|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|----------------------------------5-----------------------------------x-|
 A|------------------2-----2-h-5-p-2---2-h-5-p-2--------------2----2-2---x-|
 E|------------------2----------------------------0v----------2----2-2---x-|
 B|--2b3r2-p-0-------0-------------------------------3--------0----0-0---x-|
F#|------------3-p-0-----------------------------------3-p-0---------------|

F#|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|---------3----3-3---x-x-------------------------------------------------|
 A|---------2----0-0---x-x----------0~----------------------2--------------|
 E|---------0----0-0---x-x--0-h-2-3---3-p-2-p-0-------------2--------------|
 B|--0-h-3---------------------------------------2b3--------0--///////////-|
F#|---------------------------------------------------0-h-3----///////////-|

F#|--^-^-^-^-^-^-^-|
C#|--^-^-^-^-^-^-^-|
 A|----------------|
 E|----------------|
 B|----------------|
F#|----------------|


Verse:
     In a word to           the wisdom tooth     To tell, or not the
F#|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|---------------------------------3----3-3-------------------------------|
 A|---------2----2-2----------------2----0-0---------------0~-0~-----------|
 E|---------2----2-2----------------0----0-0-----0-h-2-h-3~-----3-p-2-p-0~-|
 B|---------0----0-0---------0-h-3-----------------------------------------|
F#|--0-h-3-----------------------------------------------------------------|

     truth (yeah)                                     So open up
F#|------------------------76----54-------------------------------------|
C#|-----------------------------------543-(2-1)----------------------x-|
 A|------------------2-----76----54------------------------2----2-2---x-|
 E|------------------2--/5------------543-(2-1)-----------2----2-2---x-|
 B|--2b3r2-p-0-------0---------(3)---------------------------0----0-0---x-|
F#|------------3-p-0----------------------------------3-p-0---------------|

     and say ahh-men        Rinse cup, and spit again
F#|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|---------3----3-3---x-x-----------------------------------------------|
 A|---------2----0-0---x-x----------0~-----------------------------------|
 E|---------0----0-0---x-x--0-h-2-3---3-p-2-p-0--------------------------|
 B|--0-h-3---------------------------------------2b3r2-p-0-------0-------|
F#|--------------------------------------------------------3-p-0---3-p-0-|


Pre-Chorus:
   Forked tounge in double speak          Pretty soon you just might...
E|-x---------x-5-4-4-------------------------------------------------------|
B|-x-2---2---x-5-5-5-4-4---------------4---------2---4-4-------------------|
G|-x-2---2---x-4-4-4-4-4---------------4---------2---4-4-------------6-6-6-|
D|-x-2---2---x-------4-4---------------4---------2---4-4-4-4---6-6h8-8h9p8-|
A|-x-0---0---x---------------5p2-2-2p0h2---------0-0-2-2-4-4--/4-4-4-------|
E|-x---0---0-x-----------5p2-------------0h3p0h5---------2-2---------------|

   Inhale before you begin                Your iron lung's a bag of wind
E|-x-3-3-3--3-2-2--------------------------------------------|
B|-x-3-3-3--3-3-3--2--------------------2--------------2-5-4-|
G|-x-0-0-0--2-2-2--2------------2-------2--------------2-4-4-|
D|-x-0-0-0--0-0-0--2------------2-------2--------------2-4-4-|
A|-x-x-x-x---------0------3p0-0-0-----0-0--------------0-2-2-|
E|-x-3-3-3------------3p0---------3~~-----0h2p0h3p03~~-------|


Chorus:
   There's a fire in the hole          Fire in the hole
E|-x--------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-x-3--5--3--5/8-/10------------------------8--------------------------|
G|-x-2--4--2--4/7-/9-------------------------7--------------------------|
D|-x-0--2--0--2/5-/7-------------------------5----9-77-55-44-22---------|
A|-------------------------------------3h5p3---3/-755-33-22-00---------|
E|--------------------3-6p5-3-5-3~~-5---------------------------0-3/5-0-|

   There's a fire in the hole     Fire
E|----------------------------------------------------------|
B|-3--5--3--8--10-----------------------8---5---------------|
G|-2--4--2--7--9------------------------7-----4-----/-------|
D|-0--2--0--5--7------------------------5-------2---/-------|
A|--------------------------------3h5p3-----------2-/-------|
E|-----------------3~~--6p5--3h5----------2-----------15\-|


Verse:
     Sweet 'n' sour,         filiblister         Faucet pouring,
F#|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|---------------------------------3----3-3-------------------------------|
 A|---------2----2-2----------------2----0-0---------------0~-0~-----------|
 E|---------2----2-2----------------0----0-0-----0-h-2-h-3~-----3-p-2-p-0~-|
 B|---------0----0-0---------0-h-3-----------------------------------------|
F#|--0-h-3-----------------------------------------------------------------|

     fresh 'n' bitter                                  Come on smile and...
F#|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|----------------------------------5-----------------------------------x-|
 A|------------------2-----2-h-5-p-2---2-h-5-p-2--------------2----2-2---x-|
 E|------------------2----------------------------0v----------2----2-2---x-|
 B|--2b3r2-p-0-------0-------------------------------3--------0----0-0---x-|
F#|------------3-p-0-----------------------------------3-p-0---------------|

     On a count of three    Ya got a mindful of decavities           Hey!
F#|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|---------3----3-3---x-x-----------------------------------------------|
 A|---------2----0-0---x-x----------0~-----------------------------------|
 E|---------0----0-0---x-x--0-h-2-3---3-p-2-p-0--------------------------|
 B|--0-h-3---------------------------------------2b3r2-p-0-------0-------|
F#|--------------------------------------------------------3-p-0---3-p-0-|


Pre-Chorus:
   Chew your words, lest you choke        You better watch your mouth...
E|-x---------x-5-4-4-------------------------------------------------------|
B|-x-2---2---x-5-5-5-4-4---------------4---------2---4-4-------------------|
G|-x-2---2---x-4-4-4-4-4---------------4---------2---4-4-------------6-6-6-|
D|-x-2---2---x-------4-4---------------4---------2---4-4-4-4---6-6h8-8h9p8-|
A|-x-0---0---x---------------5p2-2-2p0h2---------0-0-2-2-4-4--/4-4-4-------|
E|-x---0---0-x-----------5p2-------------0h3p0h5---------2-2---------------|


   Tongue tied in a tangled web           Your bile inside better left...
E|-x-3-3-3--3-2-2--------------------------------------------|
B|-x-3-3-3--3-3-3--2--------------------2--------------2-5-4-|
G|-x-0-0-0--2-2-2--2------------2-------2--------------2-4-4-|
D|-x-0-0-0--0-0-0--2------------2-------2--------------2-4-4-|
A|-x-x-x-x---------0------3p0-0-0-----0-0--------------0-2-2-|
E|-x-3-3-3------------3p0---------3~~-----0h2p0h3p03~~-------|


Chorus:
   There's a fire in the hole          Fire in the hole
E|-x--------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-x-3--5--3--5/8-/10------------------------8--------------------------|
G|-x-2--4--2--4/7-/9-------------------------7--------------------------|
D|-x-0--2--0--2/5-/7-------------------------5----9-77-55-44-22---------|
A|-------------------------------------3h5p3---3/-755-33-22-00---------|
E|--------------------3-6p5-3-5-3~~-5---------------------------0-3/5-0-|

   There's a fire in the hole     Fire
E|----------------------------------------------------------|
B|-3--5--3--8--10-----------------------8---5---------------|
G|-2--4--2--7--9------------------------7-----4-----/-------|
D|-0--2--0--5--7------------------------5-------2---/-------|
A|--------------------------------3h5p3-----------2-/-------|
E|-----------------3~~--6p5--3h5----------2-----------15\-|


Solo (Background guitar):
E|-----------3-3---------------------------------------|
B|-----------3-3----------------------2-2-3-3-2-2------|
G|-----------0-0----------------------2-2-2-2-2-2------|
D|-2-2-------0-0---------------2---2--2-2-2-2-2-2--2-2-| x2
A|-2-2-------x-x-----2p0-----0-2---2--0-0-0-0-0-0--2-2-|
E|-0-0-/-5p4p3-3-0h3-----3~~---0h3p0---------------0-0-|

Then it goes into just chords (when the drums start with the ride cymbal)
E5 G5 A5 (D5) E5 A5
E5 G5 A5

E|---------------------------|
B|---------------------------|
G|-4-5-4/7-5-4--5-4/7--9--9/-|
D|-4-5-4/7-5-4--5-4/7--9--9/-|
A|-2-3-2/5-3-2--3-2/5--7--7/-|
E|---------------------------|


Bridge:
F#|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|---------------------------------3----3-3-------------------------------|
 A|---------2----2-2----------------2----0-0---------------0~-0~-----------|
 E|---------2----2-2----------------0----0-0-----0-h-2-h-3~-----3-p-2-p-0~-|
 B|---------0----0-0---------0-h-3-----------------------------------------|
F#|--0-h-3-----------------------------------------------------------------|

F#|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|----------------------------------5-----------------------------------x-|
 A|------------------2-----2-h-5-p-2---2-h-5-p-2--------------2----2-2---x-|
 E|------------------2----------------------------0v----------2----2-2---x-|
 B|--2b3r2-p-0-------0-------------------------------3--------0----0-0---x-|
F#|------------3-p-0-----------------------------------3-p-0---------------|

F#|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
C#|---------3----3-3---x-x-------------------------------------------------|
 A|---------2----0-0---x-x----------0~----------------------2--------------|
 E|---------0----0-0---x-x--0-h-2-3---3-p-2-p-0-------------2--------------|
 B|--0-h-3---------------------------------------2b3--------0--///////////-|
F#|---------------------------------------------------0-h-3----///////////-|


Chorus:
   There's a fire in the hole          Fire in the hole
E|-x--------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-x-3--5--3--5/8-/10------------------------8--------------------------|
G|-x-2--4--2--4/7-/9-------------------------7--------------------------|
D|-x-0--2--0--2/5-/7-------------------------5----9-77-55-44-22---------|
A|-------------------------------------3h5p3---3/-755-33-22-00---------|
E|--------------------3-6p5-3-5-3~~-5---------------------------0-3/5-0-|

   There's a fire in the hole     Fire
E|----------------------------------------------------------|
B|-3--5--3--8--10-----------------------8---5---------------|
G|-2--4--2--7--9------------------------7-----4-----/-------|
D|-0--2--0--5--7------------------------5-------2---/-------|
A|--------------------------------3h5p3-----------2-/-------|
E|-----------------3~~--6p5--3h5----------2-----------15\-|

   There's a fire, fire, fire   A fire!
E|------------------------------------------|
B|-3--5--3--8--10-----------------------8---|
G|-2--4--2--7--9------------------------7---|
D|-0--2--0--5--7------------------------5---|
A|--------------------------------3h5p3-----|
E|-----------------3~~--6p5--3h5----------2-|


Outro:
 B|-----------3-3---------------------------------------|
F#|-----------3-3----------------------2-2-3-3-2-2------|
 D|-----------0-0----------------------2-2-2-2-2-2------|
 A|-2-2-------0-0---------------2---2--2-2-2-2-2-2--2-2-|
 E|-2-2-------x-x-----2p0-----0-2---2--0-0-0-0-0-0--2-2-|
 B|-0-0-/-5p4p3-3-0h3-----3~~---0h3p0---------------0-0-|


Lyrics
In a word to the wisdom tooth
To tell, or not the truth (yeah)
So open up and say ahh-men
Rinse cup, and spit again

Forked tongue in double speak
Pretty soon you just might spring a leak
Inhale before you begin
Your iron lung's a bag of wind

There's a fire in the hole
Fire in the hole
There's a fire in the hole (hey hey hey hey hey)
Fire

Sweet 'n' sour, filiblister
Faucet pouring, fresh 'n' bitter
Come on smile and say cheese
On a count of three
Ya got a mindful of decavities
Hey!

Chew your words, lest you choke
You better watch your mouth
Wash it out with soap. Yeah!
Tongue tied in a tangled web
Your bile inside better left unsaid

There's a fire in the hole
Fire in the hole (hey hey hey hey hey)
There's a fire in the hole (hey hey hey hey hey)
Fire!
Ah, shoot it!

(Guitar Solo)

Hey-hey-yeah!
Huh!
Yeah!
Hey-hey-yeah!

(hey hey hey hey hey)
There's a fire in the hole
Fire in the hole (hey hey hey hey hey)
There's a fire in the hole (hey hey hey hey hey)
Fire in the hole (hey hey hey hey hey)

There's a fire, fire, fire
A fire!
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