A Farwell to Kings was the first Rush Album I've listened, after that I told my uncle about Rush and he spent a long time educating me and showing all his cds and dvds collection
Thank You ... Rush is THE soundtrack of my life ... Alex Lifeson will never be confused with a guitar shredder but he is certainly an exceptional guitar player and in my opinion one of the most innovative and creative guitar players ever ... 40 + years / one band and one solo recording ... I never get tired of listening to Rush ... never !!!
Same here. Got turned on to 2112 by my older brother and was hooked. Used to drive 140 miles from the sticks in Northern California to get every 8-track from "All the Worlds a Stage" through "Permanent Waves". Always played Rush in the bands I was in. If you could play Rush you could play almost anything. You'll not see anything like them again.
Mate, you can produce any number of Alex Lifeson lessons, and you‘ll always find a grateful audience 😀. Thanks for sharing the vid and the wirk that went into it - good stuff.
Lifeson brought heaven and nature together to sing through his strings. Absolutely brilliant. He is one of the greatest guitarists that we are blessed to have still walking on the earth.
I was also obsessed with BROON'S BANE since junior high/high school. Very hypnotic. Used to put in side two of Exit Stage Left (on cassette) in my box on my nightstand while going to bed every night. Hopefully by the time XANADU was ending I was asleep! Often not the case though. Thanks for this vid!
Same here, The TRIFECTA!!! Broon's Bane /The Trees /Xanadu all fit SO well together... and an aside, am I wrong in thinking Neil was using a Wah Wah pedal or a similar effect on the wood blocks in Xanadu? Just noticed it last night after after all these years.
I borrow a lot of Alex's chords and ideas when playing some pop songs live at small gigs and it's amazing the reaction of people who never heard of rush and many ask me what the hell was I playing and it was beautiful and unique, thanks big Al, what a genius
This is a big reason why A Farewell to Kings and Hemispheres are my two favorite Rush albums. I wish they did more pieces with classical guitar interludes.
Alex Lifeson is a beast. Under-Rated !!! Great guitar player. Lazer precision-live. He & EVH have been 2 of my biggest influences in the Rock genre. Alex is also a great guy. So humble. This was fantastic. Great job & performance.
In these times ... seeing this in my notifications was in one word...Joy! Thank you so much! When "Farewell To Kings" came out I was in the seventh grade. It made me obsessed with all things 12 string, and acoustic, as well as all things Rush! So much so, I think I was the last one to know when Van Halen one dropped! By the tenth grade I was playing Rush with bands at parties, (and people liking it!) it was a major badge of honor! I learned it all by ear. Now I see how it was really supposed to be played...awesome! I loved Broon's Bane so much I wouldn't even go near it. Yet I bought a nylon Taylor after asking the sales man if he knew Broon's Bane and he nailed it. Thanks for the inspiration and motivation and knowledge. I'm sure you've made many a day today!!!!!
Exit Stage Left was the first full album I heard from Rush that made me understand the greatness of the whole band. Love Alex's style of playing and is too often over looked. Thank you for the vid.
Lerxst is one of the reasons why I'm allergic to scale players/noodlers. He was always about melodies, textures, emotions and songs. One of my favourite players. Great lesson. Thanks.
Can never have too much Rush. Love the interesting content and the teaching approach is perfect - clearly show to play these things without overdoing it, just the right mix of theory thrown in all delivered with the most calming voice I ever heard.
Man Rush has and will always be my favorite band and with it my favorite musicians. This that you have put together is exactly what I have been looking for. Thank you!
I appreciate this very much. I kinda stumbled on this because of another guitarist mentioning a Spanish guitar. I knew that Alex brother in law played flamenco and thought maybe there might be a video of Alex playing a Spanish guitar. Well this was all very interesting and awesome to hear you play Rush. I agree Alex didn’t get appreciated as much as Neil and Geddy but we who know his talents love him. Im glad Alex is still playing. His Envy of None music is fantastic. Thank you
Nice to see Rivendell getting some love at long last haha! Massive Rush fan, loved this a lot. Broon's Bane had the safe affect on me. Also love the way it leads straight into The Trees on Exit Stage Left. Really enjoy your playing, thank you!
Thank you for the awesome video. I don't play but your way of teaching allows me to understand Alex's music and genius from what hooked me on their music as a child.
How could seven people down-thumb this video? It's fantastic! Alex probably never considered the in-depth theory behind what he played - he just played what sounded good to him and created these incredible songs.
Bravo Dave Brewster! As of today I can say I have viewed and given👍 to every CHORDPLAY video you have posted to date. I have been a student and teacher of the guitar for over 40 years and can honestly say your teaching techniques and pleasant demeanor are outstanding! There is absolutely nothing annoying about you as with so many online Instructors. 😃Cant wait to dive into your recordings on Bandcamp during this CoVid Woodshed Sabbatical. Thank you Dave!
My brother and I used to fall asleep listening to Farewell To Kings on 8 track. Need I say more? I still can't get enough of Rush and am forever bummed on the passing of the "new guy." As a guitar player it is hard to deny the classical influence that Alex has exhibited all of these years. I will always love these guys not only because of the awesome music but also because of how normal and down to life these guys have always been! Long live Rush....
Awesome! It was so great to hear such a detailed, look into the chord progressions. Specifically with attention paid to where the fingers are. That intro to closer to the heart, I know it's not supposed to be terribly difficult but if you don't hold your fingers correctly, it's a little harder. Also when playing at fingerstyle you're able to hit the a or the d, although with a guitar pick I can't quite do that. More Rush!
As a young drummer, I always focused on Neil's work with Rush quite a bit, but to me, the combination of Geddy's strange/unique voice and Alex's lush chords and riffs was the Sound of Rush, especially when I first heard them in 1981.
Alway's loved Alex Lifeson's playing. You do him great justice here. This was the fastest 18 min. of my day today. Could have watched another 18. Thank's!
I have to agree with your comment that you cannot wait for Alex to record a full acoustic album. I believe every Rush would covet it as their holy grail, I mean Alex is responsible for so much of the emotion and color that’s added to the orchestral and lyrical grandeur that is Rush. It couldn’t come fast enough for this 40 yr fan of Rush. I’m not a guitarist but you do big Al a big honour in this video- well done 👍
Thanks so much for your dedication to teaching and showing us guitar chords theory and the like in a relaxed way that's really in depth. thanks again...fyi I heard Rush in 1974 on "late night" television. I think it was "In Concert" which came on at 11:30 pm PST. Then at 1am it was either Don Kirshners "Rock Concert" on one channel or THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL. I was Hooked on Rush (then Pat Travers whom I saw both together in Portland Oregon in November 1978)
I remember these songs like it was yesterday. Amazing considering how much else I forget at my age. I was also fascinated with the classical intro to La Villa Strangiato on Hemispheres. Thanks David - awesome stuff!
8:12 Rivendell - the second chord in the progression, if you reverse the C and the B on the inner two notes (play the C on the G string and let the B string ring open) you'll find you don't have to move your hand from the position of the previous chord and you get that economy of fingering you were talking about. Great video!
This is a great lesson/show!! Alex’s whole approach to even his heavy stuff is based on selecting specific notes within the voicing of a chord - it’s obvious in his nylon stringed pieces, but you can translate that directly into Red Sector A or Camera Eye…the list goes on. I’d also love to hear him release an album of purely acoustic stuff, but in the meantime maybe you could do an episode playing some of his heavier stuff on the classical guitar?!? Good work dude, greetings from Scotland 🤟🏻👌🏻
As a kid I was in a Rush cover band, I played the bass my brother played the drums and our best friend played guitar. We could practically play the whole live album, including La Villa and a lot of other things. Now I'm playing the guitar, been playing the acoustic and I just got my first electric, and I don't know if I could even begin to play anything that Alex played, but thanks to your videos I'm going to give a few things a try
Thanks for showing this. One section that occurred to me is the opening to La Villa Strangiato which is played using a Spanish guitar on the album Hemispheres. It would be really interesting to listen to a classical album of Alex's. He certainly uses unusual chord progressions and compositions. Very baroque in style.
The high second part (5th fret) that puts the tag and turnaround on Broon is very cool. I bought the official music book hoping to get a glimpse of this tune, which doesn't truly give it a away, but will get you there if you use your ears. Great share ! I have a good friend that LOVES Rush but his sweet wife absolutely HATES them with all her heart! He and I would talk Rush and she would have to leave and find something to do for a hour or so.
Wow home run David you said it high school 78,79 Hemispheres I forgot about Broons bane have that same exit album and many more from high school was fortunate to have seen them many times over the years Alex has always been on my list of top players cool lesson 🤘👍
Thanks you mister. You made me relearn Closer after almost 40 years . And now Rivendell first time ever . Funny thing is I've been wanting to learn it since just this past month . Great music 👍
You are amazingly talented, do you offer beginner classical guitar lessons. You have so much knowledge. I recently came across your Randy Rhodes video simply beautiful guitar....
