How to Play Tom Sawyer by RUSH on Guitar
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ย. 2024
- Alex Lifeson walks you through "Tom Sawyer" on guitar. Thought to be a defining anthem for RUSH, the always candid Alex reported in an interview: "I winged it. Honest! I came in, did five takes, then went off and had a cigarette. I'm at my best for the first two takes; after that, I overthink everything, and I lose the spark. Actually, the solo you hear is composed together from various takes." So, there you have it.
40 years in, and he talks about his bandmates like brothers.
Don't get that often.
RIP Neil
@todd moore See: Journey
@@blakespinelli6969 Ross would not say so.
"I didn't know that was a C but apparently it is." Alex Lifeson's humbleness is awesome.
And he's waayyyyyyyy under-rated in the guitar world.
A private lesson from Alex, at the comfort of my home. I love the internet.
also, videos of dogs balancing themselves on beach balls
I’d love to have a beer with him instead but this is good too.
No doubt!!
Yeah technology is great until the AI takes over
@@ottogofast3882 OK Boomer
Total genius to be able to write such complex progressions and not even know the chord names totally priceless!!!
How have you got that name? did Brock no want it off you ?
Genius doesn't know how to do anything... it just does it!
Had to laugh when he seemed pleasantly surprised to have learned the 5th fret on the G string was C. I'd give a pound of my music theory for an ounce of his talent.
I learned by ear with no thought of theory. After I had been playing 40 years I delved into it and I can't solo as I could prior as I am trying to play the correct modal notes in any given scale and key. I learned I was crossing between them and coloring outside of the lines for years. As Alex demonstrated, it works. I was trying to discern what chords he was playing by what notes he was playing with his little finger. 5ths, 7ths, 9ths, 11ths?? It is maddening. I did learn to say 1st string through 6th string rather than E, A, D, G, B and high E. What if you aren't tuned to standard A440?
@@alwaysopen7970 it's not necessary, especially on the guitar. sometimes (in my opinion) it is even better not knowing the borders and forbidden things. there are many examples of that. I am glad the Beatles had no idea about what they are doing but they did great and came up with stuff, nobody ever did before. just trusting their feeling. Jimmy Hendrix was also like that, Eddie van Halen, just to name a few.
The most humble guitarist I've seen in my life
Federico Horn yes, he definitely is down to earth guy.
Until the vino takes effect ! Just kidding...but I want to visit his bar in Toronto.
Federico Horn Canadian guitarists. Jeff Waters is the same way.
"Maybe I should play it more like that?" So glad he kept doing it his way!
Its called being canadian...
we need more humans like Alex on this planet.
We are all over, just not in the public eye.
And he's wayyyyyyyy under-rated in the guitar world.
I dont play guitar, I cant read music... hell.. I dont even have a guitar or an instrument... yet, I'm here enjoying this. Thank you :)
Me too. It's like listening to a foreign language and being able to understand most of it, but totally unable to speak it.
As you can easily tel, Alex is just like you and me. Regular ol' guy that just loves to play guitar and he happens to play in, oh I don't know...the best most famous Prog Rock band of all time!!! Just the way he talks and engages the listener you can tell he has zero interest in impressing you with who he is and what he's done, he just wants to show us how he plays Tom Sawyer. Brilliant!
Yes, all three of the members seem humble and down to earth.
I remember reading an article about Rush in Maclean's, which is a Canadian news magazine, in the early 1990s. They interviewed the band, and I remember Alex talking about how he really enjoys the fact that he can just go to the supermarket or whatever and nobody recognizes him, but everyone recognizes Geddy. :)
NorthWriter reminds me of his “Panzers Deli” bit from “BTLS”!! 👍
lkeithf
maybe he's just like you and me in some personal way, but musically speaking, he is not.
I love that too!
I feel like he could be a friend, or a teacher, but in reality the guy is super badass, and one of the most influential guitar players of all times.
Funny thing, isn't it?
Clicked for a quick lesson ton Tom Sawyer. Stayed for 45 minutes of interesting history of Alex's playing.
Same! I'm doing a transcription for a client and just wanted to see a couple of voicings but he's such a good story teller I watched the whole thing.
17:40 - Interview ~ Tom Sawyer
19:05 - Verses ~ Tom Sawyer | Alex Lifeson
23:31 - Pre-Chorus ~ Tom Sawyer | Alex Lifeson
26:23 - Chorus ~ Tom Sawyer | Alex Lifeson
27:57 - Riff ~ Tom Sawyer | Alex Lifeson
30:30 - Solo ~ Tom Sawyer | Alex Lifeson
37:57 - Outro ~ Tom Sawyer | Alex Lifeson
40:26 - Performance of Tom Sawyer ~ Alex Lifeson
It always amazes me when musicians don’t know any theory, or very little but are just incredible. Legend
"...and you keep going, until you get sick of it" -- Alex
Matt Curley that was pretty funny
is Alex supposed to be revealing rock secrets like this? he'll get in trouble with the union ;)
Notice how he's playing this clean. This is the MOST crucial lesson of this lesson.
31:28 I agree with Alex. You CAN get too close to a solo and overthink it. Alex is not only a guitar legend in performance, but can teach gracefully as well. Thanks, Alex!
Absolutely. Why it's so important not to erase those first few takes no matter how much you think you might have missed the mark. Couple days later when you listen you hear the energy and often keep at least a few bits here and there. In the old days using tape we didn't have that luxury.
And he's waayyyyyyyy under-rated in the guitar world.
I admit that I actually cried during Natural Science on the Farewell tour. Portland Oregon. What a show. I’ll never forget it. My first Rush show was Signals tour in Germany. Thanks for all the years and years of great music Alex. It was the soundtrack to my life from 16 on to now 55.
I feel cheated. Saw them inly twice as I was put off by Geddys vocals for far too long. Should have seem them many many times. So damned good and so damned humble.
I think Alex is the most under-appreciated guitar player in musical history..!!! Boom I said it..!!!
Thats because he plays alongside the best bass player and drum player in history
I agree! You never hardly ever see his name on a list of the top 50, 100, etc. guitarists in our generation. Sad!
He seems like a very vanilla guitar player, nothing makes this guy stand out, and add to that he's playing next to Neil
@@righteousisthelord180 Obviously you care enough to respond LOL
Good one, Captain Cliché. This same comment is found beside most guitarist's names from famous bands, except for the super famous ones like Clapton, Beck, Page, Townsend, etc.
How much do I love having Alex Lifeson show me how to play Tom Sawyer.
Alex is a "humble" genius. His style is one-of-a-kind. I still love Rush, always will. I'm a designer, and their music influences me while I'm concepting visually. I can't thank them enough. This video was absolutely incredible!!!...
Alex's dialogue is very interesting and totally charming but the lesson begins at 19:37
True, we must all suffer 19:36 of Alex Lifeson... :)
Thx
And so amazing!!!
Thank you.
@@iVideosongs sarcasm noted 😆 lol Alex Rocks!!!!
The joy that Alex gets from playing is so fun to watch. I feel for Alex and Geddy...they lost a piece of themselves when Neil passed.
Alex taught him everything he knew.
Watching Alex re-discover the enjoyment of a "little melody" in his own guitar solo, in a song that has framed my own life, is pure joy.
Easily the most underrated musician in the last 30 years. All the sounds and songs he has wrote with the band is an art in itself. The songs that didn’t become hits are the ones to listen to because that’s where his best playing is
There there lmao
ALEX LIFESON, GEDDY LEE AND NEIL PEART.....
ROCK AND ROLL ROYALTY.....
My heroes!!
Godamn fkn legends. Was just talking about again how Alex is like the forgotten bandmate. Never understood it. Idc where ppl rank him, he's as good as any guitarist I've heard and a great, humble guy.
The Canadian holy trinity! Lol
For a "rock God" Alex is so laid back..I could listen to him reminisce for hours, so interesting..
when he's in the guitar store in Japan, wow....classic "laid back" as you say..... a must watch for all Lifeson fans. I'm sure you've seen it but for those who haven't, google it.
An amazing man even more so.
What a sweet guy. I also love that moment when he forgot that he’s rich. Haha. He’s on of my favs of all time
World class guitarist
World class composer
World class person
His sense of humor is great as well, him and Geddy worked so well together and of course with Neil. All of them are great men.
He's brilliant live, one of the best sounds out there. Also incredibly modest and likeable.
Well said!
What do you expect from Canucks
Fantastic instruction!
@17:37 Interview
@19:01 Verses
@23:28 Pre-Chorus
@26:19 Chorus
@27:53 Riff
@30:26 Solo
@37:52 Outro
@40:22 Performance
MetDet NC Thanks a lot bro
The process of arranging the song is amazing. When he's showing just the guitar parts it sounds... off. But put in the bass, drums, keyboard, voice, and they fill in the blanks of the guitar parts perfectly. It truly is an art.
I love Alex lol. he's so approachable and humble, remember this is the same guy who played those amazing innovative lines and solos on Freewill, Analog Kid, La Villa...Its so great to hear him wonder about what notes he's playing like a newbie almost, great guy and guitarist for the "best" band ever! Love his chord selections
If Alex had done one of these videos for every Rush song I'd watch them all. I'm not even trying to learn how to play them. So amazing to hear the actual legend break these songs down
What a Nice, down to earth, laid back man,,,,the kind of person you could have a drink with and just talk to for hours,,,, TY , Great video ! 😁✌💕
How awesome is the internet????? I'm not even a guitar player and I love this!!! Alex is a true artist in every way and has and does play music for all the right reasons. It is obvious he has not lost the passion for what he does after all these years (a feat in itself) and has found a way to share and give back to others in order to keep doing what he loves at this point in his career. Thanks Alex for all the great riffs and music that have made so many great memories in my lifetime (from childhood to adulthood).... Your the best!!! Keep Rockin!!!🤘🤩🤘
Alex sorry to hear about the passing away of Neil . He will be missed. RIP
Alex is the most underrated guitarist in history.
i'm gay
@@Josh-it6uy Do you want me to congratulate you for that ? I really don't need to know that . Besides, I'm spoken for . I've been married to someone of the opposite sex for 21 years .
@@Josh-it6uy I also am very, very happy. And I love you.
To be underrated, some people must think and say or suggest that you suck. Ive never heard anyone suggest that Alex Lifeson sucks. Who underrates him?
@@Josh-it6uy I knew it.
He certainly is the most likeable rock guitar God... Seems like he could be my neighbor even.
True! And I have to add, Peter Frampton seems very humble and gracious as well.
If he was your neighbor he would be.
22:23 Alex called it his "baby finger" and now his already-held position near the top of my list is cemented thusly.
His smile is so genuine. What a great guy.
My favourite musician out there. If only all gods were this humble.
As others have said, he's such a humble and soft-spoken individual. To have a group of people, let alone musicians, that found each other at the age they did and to work so well together for so long is amazing. Such a patient and thoughtful teacher, it doesn't surprise me that he, Geddy, and Neil were so harmonious together. The music world lost a master the day Neil passed. So it goes.
Guitar Genius! So humble and the fact he is sharing his time and talents so as to bring up a new generation and enhance the current generation of guitarists, is awesome! We are all being given the opportunity to be taught by arguably history’s best guitarist! Thanks Alex!
I might be biased, but Alex comes across as a totally fun, approachable guitar teacher. I play guitar but mainly watched this to move a bit away from the grief I'm still feeling over Neil. But the longer I watched, the more I got pulled in & I found myself laughing out loud out of pure fascination seeing him play the whole thing up close. (Esp. that one part w. the flurry of notes!) Thank you, Alex, for doing this! Thank you, Rush.
He's so good that the guitars just floating in front of him
hchoe741 strap of invisibility
That made me laugh more than it should hahahah.
Good advertising for prs
Ha!
It's a privilege for the guitar to just be invited to participate.
I can’t believe I just found this. Truly a gift to the Rush lovers and guitar players and wannabes of the world. Thank you Alex
There are no words that can describe what this band and each individual in this band means to me....RUSH has truly stood the test of time. RIP Neal Peart....The Professor....
I have been a Rush fan and huge Alex Lifeson fan for almost 40 years. Alex is not only a great and gifted guitarist that wrote an incredibly wide and diverse catalog of wonderful music, but he has his own entirely unique sound and style that is so expressive and musical. A really great musical talent and a very pleasant and down to earth gentleman.
It's so refreshing to see and hear from someone at the talent level with all the fame and fortune that goes with the success that Alex and Rush have attained to be so grounded and humble!!...It's truly amazing...I've loved Rush from the minute I heard them till present with "Tom Sawyer" being my favorite Rush Song!!...Without a doubt the most talented 3 piece band in history with such a unique sound there is no mistaken them whenever one of their songs are played. Thank you Alex for the lesson and your contribution to music industry...Truly someone the younger generation can look up too!
What makes this even more special is that if this was just a normal youtuber that could play guitar and did a great job showing us how to play it, we'd say " that was awesome man thanks." The fact that Alex Lifeson himself took the time to show us these parts in his unique humble way proves what an incredible person he is
I was thinking the same thing. This is pure gold.
“I didn’t know it was a C but apparently it is”. Humble Lifeson
I remember when Ricky kidnapped Alex and made him play Diane Sawyer.
lol the main reason I clicked on this video was to bring that up but you beat me to it
"That's April Wine."
That was an awesome episode!
I loved at the end when Alex forgives the boys for kidnapping him he shows Bubbles how to play Closer to the Heart.
Fuckin Rush, always talkin about some brain things or talking trees.
I'm a fan of Rush and Alex...he's such a particular and beautiful player. Love his playing.
What's weird is, his solo's have always been my favorite, but when he plays them without the band, they sound like arbitrary riffs, kinda floating around without purpose, and then he plays them over the music, and SPLA-BAP! There it is.
What an influential, humble, and down to earth guitar player and person in general.
Man. It's so funny, about the whole solo here. I've been listening to this song for about 25 years, and have always thought, "Man, I could never play that." In fact I've been listening to this album all day at work, waiting until I could come home and play guitar. I just found this guitar lesson, and realized how deceptively simple the solo is. I think because I've always heard the guitar solo with all of the other instrumentation on the track, and the solo has sounded way more complicated than it actually is. Alex is a phrasing master, and I so appreciate him breaking this down for us! Rush has never felt accessible to me until now!!
Yeah, when you take something simple and add that beautiful tone, and with the greatest bass player and drummer in the world, it sounds spectacular!
I know completely different sounds and styles, but realized Neil Young solos are similar (as far as simplicity) yet completely different styles. Simplicity is genius.
@@steveb9325 if it's really difficult and hard to play you're doing something wrong.That's the beauty of the guitar. The genius of the Beatles is that they always found a way to create something that sounded so nice to the ear, difficult to play and original but they made it easy to play so they could do it live. Even when they were not playing live anymore.
I had that epiphany today
There’s so much to say about this. I’d say mainly the whole thing made me chuckle all the way through. What a guy
This is amazing what a genuinely nice guy and great guitarist
Such a likable guy. What else can you say. Rush was my favorite band up through Moving Pictures. I come back to them later as well.
25:46 "And you keep going 'til you get sick of it" ...lol ...one of the most melodic guitarists in the world. Zero pretense. Unbelievable guy. Amazing band.
It's so funny that such a dynamic bad ass band like Rush has such polite soft-spoken members. Must be a Canadian thing.
Dude. I love this guy. What a really humble, great human being... at the same time one of (if not the) greatest guitarist/songwriter that has ever lived.
The most amazing thing about Alex is how humble he is. My favorite band is King's X & Alex is probably the number one inspiration of my favorite guitar player (Ty Tabor).
"Your listeners want to hear the song as it was recorded" ---YESSS! -- see, I never had the chance to record much original songs but I had plenty of chances and a blast playing covers for the times I did when I was a drummer; I have always tried to stay true to the songs I was playing and this is one of my strongest arguments with fellow musicians who like to "deviate' from the song original sound; why do a cover then if it is not representing the original song the way it was recorded and intended? Alex nailed with this phrase; to play everyday the same songs they recorded; they were in a way, doing "covers" of themselves. This is true for any band. I love it when I listen to a band live that takes interest and knows how to sound like the record. Don't you?
I totally agree, unless you take a song and break it down into something totally different and unique. A slight change is an insult to the writer. I remember a guitarist I played with "changed" a chord in a Beatles song because he thought it sounded "cooler" lol
Agreed!
everybody got to deviate from the norm
-Neil Peart
Oh my! The man himself playing his muse. That band is awesome Rush
Thank you Alex; Rush was the first concert that I ever went to (Piper with Billy Squire, Rush and Blue Oyster Cult) in 1976 (2112 tour). Thanks for all the awesome music!
I have been a Rush fan since 2112 came out. There weren't too many outlets for this type of information "back in the day" so I haven't heard Alex speak much.
Considering his skill and his impact on rock, I would have never expected that he would be so down to earth. Wow.
It’s almost like watching him create on the song for the first time. He’s a humble man and makes the song seem so simplistic showing us his creation, his patented invention parsee. He’s not just showing us how to play it but why he plays it the way he does including his inspiration and reason for going rogue or unorthodox. Like his point for creating an illusion of a second guitar to compensate a 3 piece band
im so impressed with how humble these guys are. I want to say they come from a time when humility was king. A day that i also remember
Look at the meat hooks on Alex Lifeson! his hands look like he just dry walled his house, no fancy manicure just a working mans hands!! So refreshing.
They call him the working man!
Massive mitts. But, unfortunately, you're also seeing symptoms of his psoriatic arthritis.
"Perhaps today you too will be influenced by another player." That's pretty humble considering how many people Rush has had an impact on for so many years.I'm 53 and was influenced by them over 40 years ago.
I remember paying to download this. I lost it down the years but so glad it's available online.
so cool he put in "non-conventional" chords in the beginning. Love how he said he wasn't even sure of the name of the chord, but man, iconic tune
ok, how many fellow guitarists, grew up in the 80's & have been playing this "mostly right"... but think it's so cool to see the chords Alex REALLY played??
They were one of my "big three" I learned on: Rush, Journey & Boston
Alex is a guy who.. for some reason... is a guy I just want to go hang out with. Such a gentle and genuine soul. Alex, I am so, so, so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine what you're going through. Thank you for everything you have done for all of us. We will always be in debt to you.
Honestly... Alex's guitar solos are so unusual I wouldn't even know who to compare him to. Maybe some Jeff Beck in there? Impressive. Inspiring.
Holdsworth was the big inspiration in late 70s/early 80s.
I am only now in my 52nd year realizing how talented these 3 guys were and are.
Watching this makes me happy!
Interviews with him are so wholesome. He seems so kind and genuine. Crazy talented rockin’ guitar player, but someone who seems so good. You just don’t see that. Seems like all 3 of them are (were, sadly, for Neil) really great guys. Love this band above all others.
"I'd be a very rich man if I had all those amps." -- Alex Lifeson
Should we tell him?
Psycho's Neighbor it is a funny remark, as you can tell this man is really not influenced by money, he has is feet on the ground, he learned the hard way and seems like a moral man
So creative and meaning to this band That's why the rule!!!
Today Alex taught me that I've been playing this song completely wrong for years. Thank you Alex.
If he heard you say that, he would probably say that maybe he has been playing it wrong, not you, he is so modest and nice.
I couldn’t imagine being a musician and not being influenced by Rush my whole life. One of my favorite things to do is put on live in Rio vapor trails tour. And play the guitar from start and turn around pick up my bass player from start to end. It’s so complex so fun.
I’ve done this 18 hours a day in the past. Thank you for all incredible music you have brought the world. Love you guys. With all my heart. And Steve Perry😁
My number 1 favorite guitarist of all time... Emotinal playing, abstract and colorful. Such a creative musician and a super cool dude as well
I love Alex's playing..they way he switches his fingers up to add a variable to whatever chord he's playing, feels like you're time traveling listening to him.
Alex thank you for this! I have been a Rush fan since the late '70's. Having the chance to see you teach your own songs is better than any fake book out there! Cheers mate.
I know Alex is also a guy that is a goofball (I mean that in the best possible way), but this series of videos he leaves me the impression of being the Mr. Rogers of rock guitar - hear me out okay? - Soothing, calming voice. Explains large, complicated things simply, no ego, humble but confident, great storyteller.
I Love his Knowledge of chords ... basically nada ... that Appeals to my Standards ...
Very kind of Lifeson to be so patient as to go through these songs so other musicians can learn.
"You wouldn't write a happy music song with dark lyrics."
*The Smiths want to know your location.*
Anything Tears for Fears ever released
Crippled inside by john lennon
Free Four-Pink Floyd
Foster the People: Pumped Up Kicks
Where the heck was the internet when I was trying to learn guitar in 1981???? Alex is the best. Thank you!
"I'd be a very rich man right now if I did have all of those old amps..." Okay, so a net worth of ~$50 million isn't rich enough? ;) Rush was/is the soundtrack to my life. I wish I had been older and wiser when I got to hang out with you guys on my 14th birthday backstage before you went on, at Radio City Music Hall in 1983. I was too star struck at the time unfortunately, but a memory I'll never forget.
RIP Neal Peart!
RIP, Pratt. You taught so much to so many.
How cool is this world!!!! I am listening to Mr. Lifeson explain his music! As Alex the master says..."I'm sure it's easy...." lol
It's funny, but he's right about the "pinch harmonic", you grab the guitar pick much closer to the tip and as you strike the note your thumb follows through and lightly touches the same string just after the pick. On an acoustic guitar it's not that noticeable, and if you were playing around on acoustic guitar and made that sound, you would almost consider it a mistake. But, with an electric guitar and amplifier turned up with a distorted sound, that same sequence of pick hitting the string followed by the skin of your thumb lightly touching the same string, gives you a glorious high pitched sound that is extremely satisfying and versatile, especially if you then bend the string with your fingering hand. It's a highly used trick that is used by many musicians in a plethora of signature ways.
When I figured out the "pinch harmonic" back in 1981, it was completely by accident, because it was the first time I'd had a proper amplifier and electric guitar with proper distortion, prior to that I'd only used my acoustic, or strummed a few chords on a friends guitar rig. When it happened, it was a complete accident, and after I realized what I'd done and retraced the steps to create it again, I began to realize what I was hearing in all sorts of songs and solos I'd heard. After you do it once, it's actually really easy to recreate, and in fact you can play entire songs with that high squealing sound (although that's boring). But Alex is right in saying that it's easy, because once you figure out what you would otherwise consider to be a mistake, it's very easy to replicate. Just remember to choke up on the guitar pick. You only want a slight sliver of your pick sticking out from your fingers, and then you ever so slightly touch the string with the flesh of your thumb, on the follow through after the pick rings out the note PINCH HARMONICS.
The smile at 43:25 says it all. To know that you've written a piece of music that will live forever is priceless. RIP Professor and Long Live Rush.
And I’d like to add.... Alex is a class act!
Brilliant video !! , Alex Lifeson is one of the best guitar players in the world , a team player , together with Lee & Peart made outstanding music appreciated & enjoyed by "real" music lovers. Very humble & professional musicians , unbeatable !! Great hug to Rush people and families , we pray for Neil and all of you in Canada !! Rush lives for ever !!!
Man, this was awesome! Alex has always been one of my favorite guitarists. His phrasing and free playing is a delight. I’d love just to strum my acoustic with him while sipping whiskey on back porch, somewhere.
Rush has a great sound. Nice baseline and clever words
Man , unbelievable! Alex is amazing and so calm, cool and collected about how good he is.
He honestly seems like a truly nice guy!
I like the fact that he shows it with clear tone :)
Just watched the entire video and realized that I've been smiling the entire time. It's so refreshing to see a person like Alex educate us. He seems like such a great person. Thank you for sharing.