The Bass Line That Separates the Good from the Great
Вставка
- Опубліковано 13 тра 2024
- Let's embark on the journey of one of the greatest instrumental songs ever. Of course, it's from Rush!
*Bass Freedom Mentorship is OPEN for enrollment until March 31st (or when the 20-student threshold enrolls. This is for you if you're ready to become a better bass player. Access the 400+ lessons curriculum called Step By Step and meet on Zoom with me as your teacher.
Watch the detailed video and enroll here: bassfreedom.com/mentorship-we...
0:00 Song Background + History
1:51 The Intro
3:45 The Transition
4:15 The Main Riff
5:57 The Fills Section
7:29 The Bass Solo Section
8:48 The Guitar Solo + Synth Section
10:18 My Thoughts
#rush #bassist #bassplayer #yyz
This is why RUSH will never be copied or outdated. They are truly one of a kind set of musicians. RIP Neil and God bless Geddy & Alex.
Amen
They truly are a band where there is no "best" member. They are all masters of their craft.
Truly awful!!! This is nothing but noise... How people confuse this with music is amazing..
@@48Ballen - I wholeheartedly agree! Truly awful Nothing but noise.
How people confuse this as coming from someone who isn't a hate-filled dweeb is amazing.
See how that works?
Rush is untouchable!! I have been a fan since I was 16 & I am 65 now!!
Great reaction and your bass playing is awesome.
You’re right Ged is a beast. As far as I’m concerned it doesn’t get any better than Ged, Al & Neil. Keep Rushing!! 🤘🎶💜
I used to like the song " Stereo" from Pavement and at some point the lyrics says:
’What about the voice of Geddy Lee
How did it get so high?’
I was thinking who the hell is Geddy Lee. I did my own research just out of curiosity and that s how I discovered Rush
I was blown away ! I instantly became a big fan.
This story happened in 2022, i was 49!
54 myself! Love Rush! Been listening since I was 14!
@@Boss_Tanakathat’s a great story!! Keep Rushing brother!!
Agreed Lisaharrison1031. I am 64 now and have been a Rush fan since their first album. Musical background in HS, and sang in a few garage bands since, had some fun with it.....Rush blew me away from the start. A lot of my cohorts were put off by Geddy's vocals but they fit! Seen them 6 times through the years and loved it. This UA-cam vid so perfectly illustrates how badass and tight all 3 of them are. RIP Neil, and best wishes Geddy and Alex.
You mean spirit of the radio correct@@Boss_Tanaka
Glad you chose a live performance. These three guys played like this night after night for 40+ years and killed it every single show, never phoned it in or slacked off. Just an awesome band. RIP Professor Peart.
Yeah they were a three ring circus, you never knew which one to look at.
If only they played rock and roll
@@1StinkyFinger Sorry they didn't live down to your baseness. For guys like you there's always Nickelback.
@@RCAvhstape Nickelback is worse than Rush! What's in that mellow Canadian water, ehh??? There is no rock and roll DNA there for sure.
@@gb6003 You also sound like a Nickleback fan. Or maybe Limp Bizkit is more your speed.
For anybody new to Rush, please watch the 'Rush In Rio' version of YYZ - it's fantastic, and the crowd knows ALL the lyrics! 😁
🤣🤣
When I was in my 20s I was a pretty good bassist and could play a lot of Rush songs, but damn, I never could play YYZ at the right speed. My fingers just couldn't move fast enough. Mad respect to any bassist who nails YYZ.
I’ve played 40 years and know a small part in closer to the heart. It’s the only Rush I know. I was doing Maiden, Metallica, Pantera, lol. So I have the speed, three and four fingers sometimes (double thumbing). I live in Neil’s hometown and grew up on Rush, so it’s ingrained in my head but not my hands 😂.
@@PhonePole68 Yeah, Rush basslines are extremely difficult. I remember how frustrated I was when I started first playing bass how I could only play a few of the simpler Beatles, Stones, Who, and Led Zeppelin bass lines. It took a few years to get to the point where I could play some of the easier Rush basslines. Not that there's anything wrong with simple basslines - I stopped playing entirely during my 30s and 40s and developed a repetitive strain injury. I can't use my left pinky and I can't play for too long, so the songs I play now tend to be fairly simple basslines, and I've developed a real love and appreciation for them. I try now to focus on playing in the pocket as much as possible (lol, I'm still not great at that) and trying to lock in with the drummer. Totally different to the "hey, look at me" approach I took in my 20s. But now it's just about having fun and enjoying myself, while back then it was super serious and obsessed with trying to get our band signed and quit our regular jobs, lol. Way less stressful this way.
@@jerejaco just found out my other shoulder is torn. The Who the real me I can do, or roundabout by yes. 13+mins of Rime of the ancient mariner np. Pain is bad at certain points, in some songs. I wanted an upright but that’s out of picture. No motorcycle, bicycle. And the wife complains about my limited positions 😂😂😂
I have tried for years to nail this. I can get the opening bit, and the first part. But can not hit the solos. I see kids (age 7) in UA-cam playing it, and I actually get annoyed. 😂
Same thing with the latter parts of Freewill, I have the first part of the solo, till he really takes off and I can only throw up my hands
This is possibly the best breakdown i've seen on YT regarding this tricky song. You cut to the chase and play it well then go on to tab it ...superb.
I really appreciate that! Thank you! More to come 🤘😊
I think Alex and Geddy play the guitar and bass like they're one instrument.
As a Canadian, I thank you for acknowledging the correct pronunciation of the song's title at the beginning: "Why-Why-ZED!!!"
I assume most Rush fans know the backstory, but for anyone who doesn't: YYZ is the location identifier for Pearson International Airport in Toronto. After months-long worldwide tours, the exhausted trio would always rejoice at the sight of their luggage tags displaying YYZ - it meant they were going home! What more inspiration do you need for composing one of the most badass prog-rock instrumentals of all time?
Also for pronouncing Peart correctly
@@marpsr For those of us who remember life before the internet, we grew up pronouncing his name "pert" like the shampoo. Also, Moog was pronounced like "moon" instead of "mogue". And YYZ was, if you were an American, yy "Zee". We only had album liner notes and magazine articles to go by, and there wasn't an army of pedantic a-holes correcting us every time we spoke.
Just who is Zed, and why is he being questioned? 😆
@@davidjorgensen877 All true. As well, they could hear the repeating Morse Code for YYZ coming from the cockpit as their plane would be on final approach into Pearson. It's that rhythm that inspired the opening.
“dash dot dash dash, dash dot dash dash, dash dash dot dot”
before Neil died, he sais in an interview that he was about to start learning to improvise cause as he said he s a compositional drummer. he always wrote exactly what he was gonna play in every song. imagine if he had the time to combine the two,....... R:I:P:
neil wrote all the parts for Rush's music, even the lyrics. he truly was a composer
Alex and Geddy wrote most not all but most of the music especially early on, but Neil had input on the drum sections obviously. @@DE-GEN-ART
Neil improvised a bit in his solos. He's talked about how no two nights were the same.
@@DE-GEN-ART Neil wrote the lyrics to almost every song, Geddy and Alex added the music
He continued to literally take lessons from drummers in different genres even at the height of Rush’s popularity. He was always adding to his skills.
I had to play intensively many hours a day for a couple of years before i was able to play like Geddy Lee. His style is just so powerful. But after my fingers got use to ripping of bass strings and crushing stones, it was so rewarding to play Rush style of bass lines.
An excellent breakdown of Geddy’s nifty play on that gargantuan instrumental, especially live. What a truly impressive display of his talent. In fact, Geddy is one of the most multi talented musicians in rock.
And imo, they’re the greatest trio EVER. I saw them live in ‘ 83 during the Signals tour, but they also performed every song from the Moving Pictures album. Will never forget that. Then again, Rush IS unforgettable !!
The WAL Mk 1 bass .. such a great tone and a great era for rush i think he toured with this bass on power windows hold your fire presto and roll the bones before going back to the fender
First time hearing Rush. This literally blew my mind!!!
Literally? Then how did you write that?
Welcome to the Rush lovers club. Pop in a CD or put on an album, crank it up, and rock out!! 😄
RIP you.
Most people say that about their "first time". Congratulations, you are no longer a Rush virgin.🤓👍
@@zwastiunburzy3688 C'mon now most Rush fans are virgins lol
I knew it was gonna be YYZ. But Geddy's piece on La Villa Strangiato (Hemispheres) is even more challenging.
Definitely. Not as well known though.
Saw Rush first time on the Permanent Waves tour in London my home town. Then at Wembley Arena for the Moving Pictures. They played the entirety of 2112 & my favourite instrumental La Villa Strangiato which Alex Lifeson is quoted as saying used to be their most difficult track to play live due to it’s changing timings.
Awesome band, for 3 guys, defo the best rock bassist & rock drummer of the modernity. Lifeson is superb also.
Dude, as sick as YYZ is, the thing about Geddy Lee is that he is playing crazy bass lines but then he is also singing across them. For example, Digital Man off Signals: listen to the chorus. It blows my mind how he is able to play that bass line and hold a lyric line that syncopates but holds the vocal notes at the same time. Nobody else can do this. He is just so good.
This song is so sick it made me barf! God I love YYZ...and so much Rush music!
@@davidprice6222yeah trying to play it guitar bass or drums it's badass
Subdivisions come out in this era. Man, that song kicks ass. Neil never repeats any fills. I love that song.
Lol to Dobby chillin' in the dark diggin' some Rush! Killer song, I will never get tired of hearing anything Rush. Geddy is the man!
Rush supplied the best value in musical entertainment in my lifetime. Imagine they fed our ears, our minds, and even moved our hearts. I cannot even express the gratitude i have for them being who they are. I may have stayed an extra year with my first girlfriend. We were not meant to be BUT we loved to hang out and listen to Rush and smoke a doob! Great times.
Great job here! I was lucky enough to get Alex’s Garrison acoustic from him back in 2009. RUSH forever!
Rush were such an astoundingly great band. Absolute professionals, too. I'm hard-pressed to think of another band that worked so hard to provide their fans with the best possible product. I recall an interview with Geddy where the interviewer asked him how he prepared his parts to play live, and his response was something like, "What the hell was I thinking when I wrote this??? Better get out to the woodshed and get practicing."
Love Rush, this song and your enthusiasm! Saw them live on the Signals, Grace Under Pressure, and Presto tours, amazing each time! I've been a fan of the band and YYZ since 1981, RIP Neil
The intro is the Morse code sequence for the letters YYZ...that's the Toronto Pearson Airport code that the band would hear broadcast in their headphones if they were in the plane's cockpit while approaching Toronto every time they were coming home from a trip.
It's a song about the thrill of homecoming.
Being a big Rush fan I have to agree with your assessment on how freaking good they all are as musicians. Your breakdown is awesome and very educational.
I have seen them 9 times live in their hometown! First show I saw was on March 24 1981 at Maple Leaf Gardens. The price on the ticket was $10.50 Canadian dollars. Just looked at the ticket. No words to describe how great these guys are. Been a fan since they started. To think, they played at the high school I went to. (a few years before I got there) One of the best, if not, the best power trio's EVER!
My first Rush concert was on the 2112 tour, with Max Webster opening.
For several years, they played Maple Leaf Gardens every New Years Eve! The show always sold out so quick, they always added a second show the night before, and for 4 or 5 years straight, I went to both! Sadly, I didn't get the chance to see them much in the last few decades, but thank goodness for the internet and youtube, we will always be able to enjoy their live performances for ever, right up to the end and the R40 tour! Master musicians all!!!
been a fan since '74. seen them 6 times, always loved the music, and still rock to them. Rush 4 ever.
Glad you clarified that it's Y.Y.Zead as RUSH is a Canadian band. It's Y.Y.Zee as translated by our U.S. compatriots.
Take off, hoser.
Zed
Zed rules !!. There is only one country I know where its pronounced Zee. Pilots and ham radio operators (even in the US) mostly say Zed (Zulu) to differentiate from Cee and Dee and Eee etc.
@@Snowdog070 Using the phonetic alphabet isn’t the same thing as just saying the letters. Pilots, ham, police, and military use words in place of just the letter names. You don’t say “ped” or “ed” or “ded” so why say “zed?” B, C, D, E, G, P and Z all have the same sound but you only differentiate one of them?
Last point taken but being an amateur radio operator myself I can say that even US operators mostly say Zed with Zulu being the worldwide phonetic expression for Z sometimes called NATO Phonetics, ie. Alpha, Bravo, Charlie etc. It is what it is. Only one country says Zee.@@rapid13
Well done! Great breakdown of this song and baseline! Incredible song!
This gig at Birmingham - I was there. The first time I ever saw them. Phenomenal.
I love that Wal bass sound!
greatest group of friends ever.
What makes Rush even greater in my eyes is the amount of pain they went through in their personal lives, and still they managed to create something so beautiful!
Awesome breakdown and playing man. And the tempo on this performance is merciless...
You earned my like!! Since I got nailed by the Delta virus in 2021 I think I played my Bass twice. Kinda got a spark but it's bed time. Great Job Andrew! May have to check out your channel! Peace 🕊️☮️♾️😎
Amazing demonstrations of the bass solos. This is a worthy performance to feature and thank you for the research and work you put into this.
Ah RUSH, the backdrop to my whole life. Thanks guys..
Great review - and unlike most music reviewers on Youtbube that do the ridiculous “oooh ahhh wow” commentary but couldn’t play or sing a note of it, I greatly appreciate the fact that you understand and explain the music theory - and can also play Geddy Lee’s amazing bass lines! Well done, sir. I’m a guitar player, but have shared this with my son, who’s a pretty decent bass player and I know will appreciate your analysis and playing skills.
Just one final comment… while your review is mainly focused on Geddy with kudos to Alex, I can’t let this comment go without recognizing the incredible percussion of the late, great Neil Peart - aka “the Professor”. These three Canadian boys made incredible music that will continue to be appreciated internationally for decades to come. 🇨🇦
Thanks a lot for saying that! I try very hard to both do the research AND be able to play it well. Means a lot!😊
It’s a Wal bass to answer your question at the beginning.
Literally came to the comment section to say this LOL 2:27
true dat. Cheers!@@bretwalker2295
Yeah, this lad wasn't even born when "hold your fire" album came out. That was the era.
@@bretwalker2295 Yep, me too.
Your enthusiasm is infectious! Thanks!
Fantastic breakdown! I've been following you on IG and just found your YT channel. I'm going to dive into more video now. Thanks for creating such cool content for us bass players.
Thank you. Loved the breakdown and your playing along to show the lines. Very cool.
GREAT VIDEO ! Thanks for making it !
Great work, love it!
This was a great video man. I liked and subscribed.
i also love how getty gets the nose involved to move the mic stand. The nose is awesome
This is the most informative, fascinating, and coherent breakdown or reaction video I've ever seen. You know your subject backward and forward, and you have a high level of speaking energy that projects enthusiasm gives excellent clarity and immediacy to your exposition. Now I goota go see more of your channel!
Thanks so much! Comments like this is the reason all the work put into creating these videos are worth it. More to come! Appreciate you! 🤘
@@BassFreedom I love your enthusiasm for this song and Geddy's playing. I see from the comments that this was some people's introduction to Rush. Thank you for that. The world must hear these three virtuosos.
Awesome breakdown, my man. Been a fan of Rush since I first saw them back in 1982 (my first-ever concert). You really nailed it, even the tone.
I'm in. Great coverage of a great song. Subbed.
Wow. Thanks for the analysis. I loved your bass playing. Impressive to see the isolated bass lines.
What fun!! great stuff. thanks!
"Btw, are you a bassist?". Regularly, after watching Geddy, I don't feel much of one, to be frank, lol. Grrrreat breakdown! Annnd, I'm suscribed...
The Mighty Rush - the gift that keeps on giving.
The Mighty Who and The Mighty Rush are two of the greatest bands, and certainly live they are the best. Cheers mate!
Crazy how this instrumental becomes a sing-along at every live show. I've seen it first hand many times. Love it!
Excellent video and review! Thanks for sharing. 👍 😊
Great video. Thank you.
Two things, you mentioned Dirk's hair, he called that his Racoon Hair phase. The second and more important, glad that you picked this particular video. I've always loved the Wal Bass years. I've been playing bass for over 38 years now and have YET to lay my hands on one, much less see one in person, aside from the concerts of course. I love the tone to them, and was somewhat successful in getting my Ric to come close, never did with my Fender Jazz. But the Wal's have such a distinctive sound, much like the Ric's, which I suppose why Geddy went for it back then. Well done on the breakdown! Thanks.
Dirk !!
Thank you thank you thank you. This is awesome.
Love RUSH my favourite band of all time, excellent video for bass player who want to learn this ionic song 👍✌️
Great analysis. Never got to see them live in Australia, we missed out, but have enjoyed all their records. Thank goodness for videos and youtube.
Know how you feel. I'm so glad that I heard them the first time in '76, but I also feel ripped off that they never toured our great country. RIP Neil Peart.
Been a big fan since 1978 and I remember Molly Meldrum mentioned the album Moving Pictures on Countdown in 1981 and talked of a possible tour which sadly never happened.
As a drummer I really enjoy playing (and listening to) material like this* and share your (and many people's) appreciation for just how great Rush was. Great analysis (without milking it out excessively) and great enthusiasm! Not that it's at the virtuosic level of this, but if you haven't discussed Andy Fraser's bass solo in Free's Mr. Big, that would be worth a look. The groove he, Koss, and Simon create is magic. There's a lot more to music than technical prowess and the feel those guys had was mesmerizing. Add Rodgers' amazing voice and stage presence and it blows your mind that Free wasn't even bigger than they were.
*OK, Rush had a unique sound but so I guess there's nothing quite "like" it, but King Crimson, Zappa, early Yes/Genesis, Mahavishnu, and many others all provide interesting challenges to any musician. It's too bad that prog waned in popularity but I'm sure it will be remembered/appreciated far longer than much of what's happened since.
I've been trying to get those solos for ages - this was the best instructional vid I've yet come across (and I've been looking!). Thank you!
Awesome Mark! Thanks man! 🤘
If it separates the good from the great only by playing, try to imagine creating it. They're superhumans.
Fantastic breakdown
Really good video about the three man jam band Rush. Such talented musicians. Rocking song. Good energy Andrew!
Been a fan since 1975 as an 11 year old from Canada. Started playing bass In '83 and in that same year I met Neil Peart's cousin at a house party in Blue River, BC of all places and he played some riffs on a 12 string guitar that blew me away. My one regret is never seeing them in concert
I have been practicing this song for the past 2 weeks since I met a guitarist to actually play this with, good to have this and for the intro, learning the morse code for Y and Z actually helped a lot, would recommend
“dash dot dash dash, dash dot dash dash, dash dash dot dot”
Nicely done!!
Alex is the guitarist that gave me so much inspiration way way back when Rush had not long stared. Thankyou for this breakdown on Geddys work on YYZ. Cheers.
excellent review - love musicians reviewing Rush as you really get it
Outstanding video… subscribed.
Big Rush fan here in the upper Midwest. Geddy Lee could have easily been the most popular musician in Minnesota for quite a few years. Huge Rush fan base there. Every time I see Geddy I still recall those days in the eighties.
Good breakdown. SO wish I'd had this when I taught the song myself by ear off the LP in the 80's.
Great breakdown of a legendary tune. I always thought the last run at the ending was also pretty epic.
Excellent job!
Andrew, I am not a bass or guitar player but I do enjoy Rush and have gone to several of their concerts over the years. This was a great breakdown review video. Very well done.
Thanks bro. I tried to record this one once before but where I was playing was higher on the neck. Gotta roll on this one again soon.
Cool breakdown!
I saw them live back in the 80s,,,it was pretty amazing
I was fortunate enough to see them 3 times.
I was 13. Saw them at the mid hudson civic center in poughkeepsie NY during the permanent waves tour.
It's a pretty.
Small place and they seemed to have all of their equipment from bigger shows there.
Totally one of the biggest impacts im my life at that point.
Easily one of the loudest concerts I have ever been to.
My ears were ringing for days.
But totally loved it
Great breakdown
Great job, Mr Freed
I was 16 when this album came out. After I bought it, and heard this song I was dumbfounded as to how 3 guys could possibly produce such a huge sound. Needless to say, I was the best air drummer on the block (Tom sawyer)... lol...... Cheers to RUSH. One of the greatest bands of all time!!! Thanks for being in our lives
I air-drummed to Tom Sawyer and Red Barchetta 12” single when at Uni in the early 80s - just loved Rush. Still do 🇨🇦🇫🇴
Excellent breakdown of a fabulous song I've loved since I first heard it on "Exit Stage Left" in the early 80's. Not having a technical musical background, your comments explaining not just Lee's bass but the overall composition including Lifeson and Peart's contributions gives me an even greater appreciation for the song and the band!
Thanks so much Tommy! 🤘
Your tone sounds great! Btw, saw this tour at the Meadowlands in NJ just a few rows off Geddy's side.
2:14 Can agree on the air drum effect at a Rush concert. I saw them play in Rotterdam in 2009 (I think it was) and there were dudes there who took their drum sticks just to air drum more convincingly.
I can't even watch anything about Rush without getting tears in my eyes. I really miss them.
Great vid. Subbed.
Awesome! I love RUSH 2!
This is Rush at their purist. Just 3 of the greatest musicians you've ever heard playing their rear ends off in perfect unison, unencumbered by lyrics and melody.
Great video! As far as the implied chording, I’m going to beg to differ. I’d call the first chord an A6 and the second a C6, although the notes are the same respectively as F#m7 and Am7. It just sounds to me as though they are starting on the root for each run. This song beautifully typifies a brisk walk through the Toronto airport, with its ecelectic set of sounds and moods. I met Geddy at a CD signing back in late 2000- he was very gracious- a true gentleman.
I've always been a huge fan of rush ever since I was a kid.
Great song, great musicians.
Great video.
Well, I thought I was a bassist until these whacky Canadians arrived on the scene! Amazing. Untouchable.
Loved your video, dude. Please, breakdown Coffeeshop from RHCP! Cheers!
I played yyz in high school. When I was 17. ❤
not a bassist (drummer) so 90% of your commentary went right over my head, but great video and insight into a concert I was at!! Can't wait to see Geddy back on a stage sometime, hopefully soon (saw his book tour in Wolverhampton but that wasnt the same)
I remember seeing them as a teen right when this album came out. After seeing the permanent waves tour, and hemispheres before it, we were all amazed to see them nail another long instrumental live. The musicianship and ability to multitask is unmatched.
Great video, and great analogy. Geddy's prowess is unmatched by anyone else I've heard. Rush's prowess is hard to beat for absolute musicianship by anyone. Yes comes close, but different style completely. I saw Rush only 6 times starting in Oct 77, and they were just amazing every time. There are bands who sound good on the record and suck live, many of them. Rush is one of those bands who manage to sound better live, than what comes out of those speakers in your living room. Their mastery of the craft is evident whatever song they decide to put up for consumption. It is sad that their days came to a close with the passing of Neil, but Rush will hold a place in my musical mind always. Thank you for the video.
The Morse code for YYZ was actually first heard during a Training flight with Alex a student pilot and his flight instructor with Geddy and Neil in the back seats... when Alex and his instructor tuned in the Identifier Neil heard the code and told Ged that would make a great rhythm. THis is how it was told by Geddy in an interview.