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Rush's Most Technically Difficult Song?


newworldman20
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QUOTE (rushfanNlv @ Feb 28 2010, 02:00 PM)
I would have to say something from HYF.  Something like Mission or Turn the Page.  Alex's stuff doesn't seem all that dificult on these albums I know but those other two guys were on fire IMO.

Pun intended? tongue.gif

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YYZ

the solo section of Freewill

the really fast break in The Spirit of Radio (especially the one midway through the song, where all three play it in unison.)

 

La Villa is a great piece, and it has it's moments of technical brilliance. But there are large segments of the song that are not technically demanding at all.

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On behalf of my band mates (who play most of the songs already mentioned):

 

Timing the outro solo of Freewill can be tricky.

All of the timing in La Villa with all instruments.

 

And not yet mentioned.....

 

Most of Jacobs Ladder with the keys, guitar and drums

The beginning of Countdown with the syncopation of the keys, drums and vocals

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I've never had a problem with Freewill at all. Maybe just been playing it so long?

 

Xanadu and La Villa require a ton of feel on the guitar. That's where a lot of guitarists fall short. A lot of soul in those pieces. Challenging on bass and drums, too at times.

 

Bass wise, Digital Man has always been a song where I have to warm up before I play. Can't go in cold at all. Very aggressive and some tough runs.

 

YYZed is challenging but never a doubt on it live. Too comfortable with it.

 

As Rush-2112 mentioned, Jacob's Ladder can be tricky. As familiar as I am I still don't know what the hell Neil is doing back there and you have to pay pretty close attention not to miss a beat. If you do... train wreck.

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You are right Kenny. If one let's Jacobs Ladder get away, it can very easily train wreck, and there is no recovering from that. :)

 

Lorraine - The music sounds simple but some of it is quite complex with many time signature changes and patterns. It's really fun to play :)

Edited by RUSH-2112
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I've never had a problem with Freewill at all. Maybe just been playing it so long?

 

Xanadu and La Villa require a ton of feel on the guitar. That's where a lot of guitarists fall short. A lot of soul in those pieces. Challenging on bass and drums, too at times.

 

Bass wise, Digital Man has always been a song where I have to warm up before I play. Can't go in cold at all. Very aggressive and some tough runs.

 

YYZed is challenging but never a doubt on it live. Too comfortable with it.

 

As Rush-2112 mentioned, Jacob's Ladder can be tricky. As familiar as I am I still don't know what the hell Neil is doing back there and you have to pay pretty close attention not to miss a beat. If you do... train wreck.

Squire probably couldn't handle it..... :D
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You are right Kenny. If one let's Jacobs Ladder get away, it can very easily train wreck, and there is no recovering from that. :)

 

Lorraine - The music sounds simple but some of it is quite complex with many time signature changes and patterns. It's really fun to play :)

 

Yes, I have read a few here say as much. It really is a shame that my ear is musically untrained. On account of that, I can't fully appreciate how talented they truly are.

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Here's a question: how can you tell if a musician is "technically challenged"? :laughing guy: By that I mean, they can play and don't go off-key, but they aren't intense musicians - just basic. Am I making any sense? I guess it is the difference between a real pro and an amateur. Those of you here who know your stuff, can you tell when you listen? Edited by Lorraine
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Here's a question: how can you tell if a musician is "technically challenged"? :laughing guy: By that I mean, they can play and don't go off-key, but they aren't intense musicians - just basic. Am I making any sense? I guess it is the difference between a real pro and an amateur. Those of you here who know your stuff, can you tell when you listen?

This may or may not help. My mother was the organist and pianist in my church growing up. She took probably 15 years of lessons and could play the notes on the page and you would swear she was a really good player. She talks to this day how she really isn't. She know a "talented pianist" when she hears one and points it out when we happen to be together at one of my dads singing shows. She will say how beautifully this or that person plays the organ or piano. I will say hey mom "you play great" and she is like no not like that, they have talent..... :huh:
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Songs that I've struggled with on guitar:

the tSoR intro

the solos for The Necromancer

Presentation solo

 

Xanadu isn't too bad.

La Villa is a bitch, but as mentioned most of it isn't too bad. The intro classical rundown is something I wont attempt as it will be futile for me. The rest of it I just about have. Probably because I've played it 2111 times. Maybe I'll finally nail it next time.

 

Being an old school Rush fan, I really don't play much of the new stuff (Signals on). I did pick up the tab book for Clockwork Angels however. Love it.

Edited by apetersvt
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It seems I recall Geddy said something about The Main Monkey Business being pretty challenging live.

Yeah, for the audience...

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It seems I recall Geddy said something about The Main Monkey Business being pretty challenging live.

Yeah, for the audience...

:syrinx: :D
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Here's a question: how can you tell if a musician is "technically challenged"? :laughing guy: By that I mean, they can play and don't go off-key, but they aren't intense musicians - just basic. Am I making any sense? I guess it is the difference between a real pro and an amateur. Those of you here who know your stuff, can you tell when you listen?

 

Certainly if you're a player, you can hear other players' strengths and weaknesses, particularly if you've been playing awhile yourself. Usually when I listen to someone play something I've played, I'm listening for how much confidence they have when they play that part/song. It's one thing to put your fingers in the right place at the right time (and make no mistake, that's a huge thing), but it's another to play the part without sounding stiff. To do that requires chops and confidence.

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It seems I recall Geddy said something about The Main Monkey Business being pretty challenging live.

Yeah, for the audience...

 

I always found this performance cool to watch..i dig it

 

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Here's a question: how can you tell if a musician is "technically challenged"? :laughing guy: By that I mean, they can play and don't go off-key, but they aren't intense musicians - just basic. Am I making any sense? I guess it is the difference between a real pro and an amateur. Those of you here who know your stuff, can you tell when you listen?

 

I've seen some average players that make simple stuff look challenging. The great players make the challenging look simple.

 

Some of it even when you are a good player you can't tell how difficult something is until you play it. There are a lot of cool riffs that sound difficult but aren't.

 

**cough* Squire *cough**

 

It's definitely easier to pick out talent when you're a good player though. Think of it like listening to someone speak French. I don't speak a word so I'm impressed they can speak another language at all. If you speak French fluently, you will notice if they're making sense, talking like a two year old or have a crappy accent.

 

Does that make sense?

Edited by KennyLee
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Here's a question: how can you tell if a musician is "technically challenged"? :laughing guy: By that I mean, they can play and don't go off-key, but they aren't intense musicians - just basic. Am I making any sense? I guess it is the difference between a real pro and an amateur. Those of you here who know your stuff, can you tell when you listen?

 

I've seen some average players that make simple stuff look challenging. The great players make the challenging look simple.

 

Some of it even when you are a good player you can't tell how difficult something is until you play it. There are a lot of cool riffs that sound difficult but aren't.

 

**cough* Squire *cough**

 

It's definitely easier to pick out talent when you're a good player though. Think of it like listening to someone speak French. I don't speak a word so I'm impressed they can speak another language at all. If you speak French fluently, you will notice if they're making sense, talking like a two year old or have a crappy accent.

 

Does that make sense?

 

Oui! Très bien dit.

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Here's a question: how can you tell if a musician is "technically challenged"? :laughing guy: By that I mean, they can play and don't go off-key, but they aren't intense musicians - just basic. Am I making any sense? I guess it is the difference between a real pro and an amateur. Those of you here who know your stuff, can you tell when you listen?

 

I've seen some average players that make simple stuff look challenging. The great players make the challenging look simple.

 

Some of it even when you are a good player you can't tell how difficult something is until you play it. There are a lot of cool riffs that sound difficult but aren't.

 

**cough* Squire *cough**

 

It's definitely easier to pick out talent when you're a good player though. Think of it like listening to someone speak French. I don't speak a word so I'm impressed they can speak another language at all. If you speak French fluently, you will notice if they're making sense, talking like a two year old or have a crappy accent.

 

Does that make sense?

 

Yes, it does.

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It seems I recall Geddy said something about The Main Monkey Business being pretty challenging live.

Yeah, for the audience...

 

I always found this performance cool to watch..i dig it

 

 

I used to be cold to this song but now I really love it.

 

I've also heard Geddy say that it's one of the most difficult songs that they do. That bass is super intense.

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