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Rush's Most Technically Difficult Song?


newworldman20
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Kid Gloves and Bravado are walks in the park and Vital Signs is surprisingly not difficult. The rest... yeah.

 

Playing bass and singing Circumstances is always something I have to really pay attention on. My favorite bass line also, btw. Busy, aggressive and melodic.

 

Bravado I was more referencing the drum parts towards the end. Like I said, I don't play but I've heard many a drummer say the ending section is incredibly difficult. Sad to hear Vital Signs isn't more difficult because I love it. The bass in that song is gorgeous. I just love everything about that song. It's one of my absolute favorites.

 

Here's a clip of us doing Vital Signs from the last show. The triggers and pedals keep it interesting but you can see how autonomous the main bass riff is. Like I said, tough to learn and get but once you got it, you got it.

 

Hey...nice job on Cut to the Chase!

 

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I always thought the drum intro to The Weapon would be difficult as well as the drums towards the end of Bravado.

 

Thoughts?

 

I'd agree, they're downright impossible for me but I'm no real drummer haha.

 

Turn the Page sounds pretty friggin' insane for Geddy (thinking of the bass line during the verses while he's singing). Especially back then when he had to actively play more keyboards and stuff instead of all the triggers of today.

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I always thought the drum intro to The Weapon would be difficult as well as the drums towards the end of Bravado.

 

Thoughts?

 

The weapon is one of my favourite songs to practice on drums because of that beat! I can pull off the into but the fast little rolls on the high hat is sloppy sometimes lol

 

The ending to Bravado is so cool but I don't think I've ever tried playing that one, I'm just happy watching Neil do it. The whole songs builds in complexity for Neil.. by the end it's just amazing. Ged even made a comment once about it stating it's the best.. Hell I just pulled up the quote lol

 

Geddy Lee (Guitar Player, November 1991): "Neil's parts are complex, too. Listen to the end of "Bravado". There's an example of limb independence that rivals any drummer, anywhere. The fact that he nailed that in one take blows my mind. In only four days, Neil and I had all the drums and bass parts down. When you record that quickly, you wonder if maybe some ugliness will rear its head two weeks down the road. There were only a couple of little moments that sounded a tad unsteady over all that work; we're able to live without them. Alex did almost all the guitars in about eight days." Alex Lifeson: "In the past, it took three to five weeks."

 

 

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I always thought the drum intro to The Weapon would be difficult as well as the drums towards the end of Bravado.

 

Thoughts?

 

The weapon is one of my favourite songs to practice on drums because of that beat! I can pull off the into but the fast little rolls on the high hat is sloppy sometimes lol

 

The ending to Bravado is so cool but I don't think I've ever tried playing that one, I'm just happy watching Neil do it. The whole songs builds in complexity for Neil.. by the end it's just amazing. Ged even made a comment once about it stating it's the best.. Hell I just pulled up the quote lol

 

Geddy Lee (Guitar Player, November 1991): "Neil's parts are complex, too. Listen to the end of "Bravado". There's an example of limb independence that rivals any drummer, anywhere. The fact that he nailed that in one take blows my mind. In only four days, Neil and I had all the drums and bass parts down. When you record that quickly, you wonder if maybe some ugliness will rear its head two weeks down the road. There were only a couple of little moments that sounded a tad unsteady over all that work; we're able to live without them. Alex did almost all the guitars in about eight days." Alex Lifeson: "In the past, it took three to five weeks."

 

Maybe if they'd spent more time on it, they'd have realized the production was going to suck by the end. Roll The Bones has always irked me for having relatively little actually wrong with the songs and music, but so much wrong with the production and mastering and whatnot.

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I agree with the bass on Turn The Page and a lot of stuff on PW,HYF and Presto.But a drummer I played with could not get Limelight and he was a brilliant drummer.Also I have struggled for years on getting one or two parts of Boons Bane to flow smoothly.With impending arthritis and incontinence problems I guess I am doomed to never getting it right.
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I always thought the drum intro to The Weapon would be difficult as well as the drums towards the end of Bravado.

 

Thoughts?

 

The weapon is one of my favourite songs to practice on drums because of that beat! I can pull off the into but the fast little rolls on the high hat is sloppy sometimes lol

 

The ending to Bravado is so cool but I don't think I've ever tried playing that one, I'm just happy watching Neil do it. The whole songs builds in complexity for Neil.. by the end it's just amazing. Ged even made a comment once about it stating it's the best.. Hell I just pulled up the quote lol

 

Geddy Lee (Guitar Player, November 1991): "Neil's parts are complex, too. Listen to the end of "Bravado". There's an example of limb independence that rivals any drummer, anywhere. The fact that he nailed that in one take blows my mind. In only four days, Neil and I had all the drums and bass parts down. When you record that quickly, you wonder if maybe some ugliness will rear its head two weeks down the road. There were only a couple of little moments that sounded a tad unsteady over all that work; we're able to live without them. Alex did almost all the guitars in about eight days." Alex Lifeson: "In the past, it took three to five weeks."

 

Maybe if they'd spent more time on it, they'd have realized the production was going to suck by the end. Roll The Bones has always irked me for having relatively little actually wrong with the songs and music, but so much wrong with the production and mastering and whatnot.

 

Typical Rush. Overthinkin everything. I miss the "1-2 album per year" days.. production seemed fine on those gems!

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I've been trying for over a year to get the air drums down to The Weapon.

 

Getting better but, out of Rush's entire forty year career, it is the only song that I marvel at how Neil was able to do it. Even with those headphones on keeping a certain beat for him.

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I know Tom Sawyer, Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres, most of Xanadu, and a lot of La Villa on guitar (I'm still learning them.) La Villa so far is the most technically challenging, but it's not too bad. Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres is actually surprisingly easy. That's just guitar though, I can comment on bass/drums/keyboards.
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I've been trying for over a year to get the air drums down to The Weapon.

 

Getting better but, out of Rush's entire forty year career, it is the only song that I marvel at how Neil was able to do it. Even with those headphones on keeping a certain beat for him.

 

You know it's played open handed right? Left hand mainly on the high hat and right hand on the snare if you're right handed (opposite from typical right handed playing).

 

And if I may say, putting that much time into air drumming makes you a REAL Rush fan. ..And part of the 10% ! ;)

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I've been trying for over a year to get the air drums down to The Weapon.

 

Getting better but, out of Rush's entire forty year career, it is the only song that I marvel at how Neil was able to do it. Even with those headphones on keeping a certain beat for him.

 

You know it's played open handed right? Left hand mainly on the high hat and right hand on the snare if you're right handed (opposite from typical right handed playing).

 

And if I may say, putting that much time into air drumming makes you a REAL Rush fan. ..And part of the 10% ! ;)

 

:wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub:

 

I don't know what "open handed right" even means in drumming. :LOL:

 

The reason why I love the song so much is because it is the only Rush song that I ever noticed where the three of them are musically going in three different directions I(seemingly) yet it all comes together. Neil's drums have nothing to do with Alex and his guitar, or Geddy and his bass.

 

I've asked on here how he did it without losing his concentration, which would be easy to do it seems, and lose his beat altogether.

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I've been trying for over a year to get the air drums down to The Weapon.

 

Getting better but, out of Rush's entire forty year career, it is the only song that I marvel at how Neil was able to do it. Even with those headphones on keeping a certain beat for him.

 

You know it's played open handed right? Left hand mainly on the high hat and right hand on the snare if you're right handed (opposite from typical right handed playing).

 

And if I may say, putting that much time into air drumming makes you a REAL Rush fan. ..And part of the 10% ! ;)

 

I've asked on here how he did it without losing his concentration, which would be easy to do it seems, and lose his beat altogether.

He does it by not looking at Alex, who TRIES to jack him up.
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I've been trying for over a year to get the air drums down to The Weapon.

 

Getting better but, out of Rush's entire forty year career, it is the only song that I marvel at how Neil was able to do it. Even with those headphones on keeping a certain beat for him.

 

You know it's played open handed right? Left hand mainly on the high hat and right hand on the snare if you're right handed (opposite from typical right handed playing).

 

And if I may say, putting that much time into air drumming makes you a REAL Rush fan. ..And part of the 10% ! ;)

 

:wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub:

 

I don't know what "open handed right" even means in drumming. :LOL:

 

 

I'll post a video for you...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

;)

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I've been trying for over a year to get the air drums down to The Weapon.

 

Getting better but, out of Rush's entire forty year career, it is the only song that I marvel at how Neil was able to do it. Even with those headphones on keeping a certain beat for him.

 

You know it's played open handed right? Left hand mainly on the high hat and right hand on the snare if you're right handed (opposite from typical right handed playing).

 

And if I may say, putting that much time into air drumming makes you a REAL Rush fan. ..And part of the 10% ! ;)

 

I've asked on here how he did it without losing his concentration, which would be easy to do it seems, and lose his beat altogether.

He does it by not looking at Alex, who TRIES to jack him up.

I don't know if you are serious or not, but I have noticed that Neil is just staring at something known only to him. I noticed Stuart Copeland doing the same thing in a Police dvd I have.

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I've been trying for over a year to get the air drums down to The Weapon.

 

Getting better but, out of Rush's entire forty year career, it is the only song that I marvel at how Neil was able to do it. Even with those headphones on keeping a certain beat for him.

 

You know it's played open handed right? Left hand mainly on the high hat and right hand on the snare if you're right handed (opposite from typical right handed playing).

 

And if I may say, putting that much time into air drumming makes you a REAL Rush fan. ..And part of the 10% ! ;)

 

:wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub:

 

I don't know what "open handed right" even means in drumming. :LOL:

 

 

I'll post a video for you...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

;)

 

Don't forget I can't watch videos.

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I've been trying for over a year to get the air drums down to The Weapon.

 

Getting better but, out of Rush's entire forty year career, it is the only song that I marvel at how Neil was able to do it. Even with those headphones on keeping a certain beat for him.

 

You know it's played open handed right? Left hand mainly on the high hat and right hand on the snare if you're right handed (opposite from typical right handed playing).

 

And if I may say, putting that much time into air drumming makes you a REAL Rush fan. ..And part of the 10% ! ;)

 

I've asked on here how he did it without losing his concentration, which would be easy to do it seems, and lose his beat altogether.

He does it by not looking at Alex, who TRIES to jack him up.

I don't know if you are serious or not, but I have noticed that Neil is just staring at something known only to him. I noticed Stuart Copeland doing the same thing in a Police dvd I have.

Nope not joking. He's keyed in on Geddy most of the time. Alex seriously messes with Neil and tries to make him laugh
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I've been trying for over a year to get the air drums down to The Weapon.

 

Getting better but, out of Rush's entire forty year career, it is the only song that I marvel at how Neil was able to do it. Even with those headphones on keeping a certain beat for him.

 

You know it's played open handed right? Left hand mainly on the high hat and right hand on the snare if you're right handed (opposite from typical right handed playing).

 

And if I may say, putting that much time into air drumming makes you a REAL Rush fan. ..And part of the 10% ! ;)

 

I've asked on here how he did it without losing his concentration, which would be easy to do it seems, and lose his beat altogether.

He does it by not looking at Alex, who TRIES to jack him up.

I don't know if you are serious or not, but I have noticed that Neil is just staring at something known only to him. I noticed Stuart Copeland doing the same thing in a Police dvd I have.

Nope not joking. He's keyed in on Geddy most of the time. Alex seriously messes with Neil and tries to make him laugh

 

He also wears headphones during This song to somehow help keep the beat but I could never understand why.. I think it's to prevent straying from that disco bass drum beat he keeps through the whole song.. or it could be a continuous loop of himself saying "don't look at Alex.. don't look at Alex.."

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Someone here told me that he is listening to some beat on those headphones that help him, but I still have a hard time understanding how he does it and how he manages to drown out Alex and Geddy who seem to be playing a different beat than he is. Even though I don't care for Neil, his talent is awe-inspiring.
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When he has the headphones on I believe it means he's playing to a click track. I know they don't typically use one but on songs with extended sequenced keyboard parts, like The Weapon, I think tehy're pretty much required. You can't change the tempo of the keyboard part so if Neil is even slightly off it'd be a train wreck!

 

Nowadays he wouldn't use headphones for these songs because they can run the click to his in-ear monitor.

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Someone here told me that he is listening to some beat on those headphones that help him, but I still have a hard time understanding how he does it and how he manages to drown out Alex and Geddy who seem to be playing a different beat than he is. Even though I don't care for Neil, his talent is awe-inspiring.

 

He's hearing a click in the headphones. Think piano lessons and metronomes.

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Open handed drumming is when instead of your right arm crossing over to tap the hi hat cymbal which is on your left,the left arm/hand plays the hi hat and the right plays the snare(for a right hand drummer).In easy terms he is not crossing his arms to keep time .A left handed drummer often plays that way if he is playing a right handed drum set up.Just to confuse things even further I am right handed but left footed.I have a drum kit set up in the shed.It is all arse about face.I won't go into details,I 'll stick to guitar. Edited by grasbo
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Open handed drumming is when instead of your right arm crossing over to tap the hi hat cymbal which is on your left,the left arm/hand plays the hi hat and the right plays the snare(for a right hand drummer).In easy terms he is not crossing his arms to keep time .A left handed drummer often plays that way if he is playing a right handed drum set up.Just to confuse things even further I am right handed but left footed.I have a drum kit set up in the shed.It is all arse about face.I won't go into details,I 'll stick to guitar.

 

So you would have to be ambidextrous?

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Open handed drumming is when instead of your right arm crossing over to tap the hi hat cymbal which is on your left,the left arm/hand plays the hi hat and the right plays the snare(for a right hand drummer).In easy terms he is not crossing his arms to keep time .A left handed drummer often plays that way if he is playing a right handed drum set up.Just to confuse things even further I am right handed but left footed.I have a drum kit set up in the shed.It is all arse about face.I won't go into details,I 'll stick to guitar.

 

So you would have to be ambidextrous?

 

I think that's what I said grasbo no?? And I'm not sure if ambidextrous is the right way to put it..you do need to be coordinated though..

 

And grasbo your setup sounds interesting.. reminds me of Ringo kind of.. left handed drummer on a right handed setup lol

Edited by MMCXII
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Collectlively maybe LaVilla or Free Will?

 

 

Turn the Page has a really tricky bass line.And the fact that Geddy sings over it is crazy.I believe he mentions it took him 3 months to work that up for the HYF tour.

 

Yeah this song is seriously tough live for Geddy. I love the Show of Hands version of it too. That extra keyboard blast (not on the studio version) on the first chorus (you know exactly what I am talking about) is so sublime.

 

I would say La Villa, Natural Science and a host of the Power Windows/Hold Your Fire stuff are the most technically challenging for the band. And considering the fact pre 2000's Rush they had the highest standard (and of course a little younger and in better shape) of performance of every note, riff, beat, cymbal crash etc it was amazing seeing them pull of these songs live. They always recorded with the intent of being able to reproduce almost every song live (they always left a production piece for one spot and back then it was songs like Different Strings, Witch Hunt, Losing It etc).

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Open handed drumming is when instead of your right arm crossing over to tap the hi hat cymbal which is on your left,the left arm/hand plays the hi hat and the right plays the snare(for a right hand drummer).In easy terms he is not crossing his arms to keep time .A left handed drummer often plays that way if he is playing a right handed drum set up.Just to confuse things even further I am right handed but left footed.I have a drum kit set up in the shed.It is all arse about face.I won't go into details,I 'll stick to guitar.

 

So you would have to be ambidextrous?

 

I think that's what I said grasbo no?? And I'm not sure if ambidextrous is the right way to put it..you do need to be coordinated though..

 

And grasbo your setup sounds interesting.. reminds me of Ringo kind of.. left handed drummer on a right handed setup lol

 

It's not so easy to do things with your left hand if you are right-handed. It must take a lot of practice before it doesn't feel odd doing it. But that's just me, and I have no talent, so what would I know? :LOL: :Neil:

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