Geddy Lee genius??

[TheGreek]

https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/geddy-lee-rush-bass-isolated-tracks-genius/

Not my thing but others may be interested...

[BillyBass]

He is the bassist I admire more than any other, my bass hero if you like (followed by JJ Burnel).  I learnt Limelight over the latest lockdown, mainly using Songsterr bass tabs.  There is quite a bit of divergence from the Songsterr bass tab and the isolated bass clip in the link, particularly during the guitar solo, so that was useful for me to hear.  

I was told once that all online tabs have to include errors, for reasons of copyright?

I like the phrase 'traditionally flashier instruments' at the end of paragraph 6.

[Crawford13]

18 hours ago, BillyBass said:

I was told once that all online tabs have to include errors, for reasons of copyright?

I would say that online tabs tend to have mistakes because they tend to be made for free by amateur musicians, I'm sure there are exceptions. Most can get you in the ball park and you can let your ears do the rest, but in my opinion the sooner you can ditch them to use your ears exclusively the better. 

[SteveXFR]

I'm not sure about genius, that may be a bit of a strong word but definitely one of the greatest ever bassists.

I've been trying to learn Tom Sawyer and every time I think I'm almost there I realise I'm playing part of it all wrong because there's a variation in a riff or a slight change of rhythm 

[Jus Lukin]

-

Edited March 14, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

32 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

I'm not sure about genius, that may be a bit of a strong word but definitely one of the greatest ever bassists.

I've been trying to learn Tom Sawyer and every time I think I'm almost there I realise I'm playing part of it all wrong because there's a variation in a riff or a slight change of rhythm 

I saw this post pop up about a minute after @TheGreek posted it and that was my initial thought too.

I don't think Geddy would regard himself as such. He's a hell of a bass player and one I very much admire, but I'm not sure about musical genius - whatever that is even?

Edited April 5, 2021 by hiram.k.hackenbacker

[dmccombe7]

There aren't many musicians out there playing bass, keys, guitar, bass pedals and singing tho. And some of that at same time.

In my book that classes him as a musicial genius.

Then again i've been a Rush fan since 76 when i bought 2112 so i'm biased.

Dave 

[ubit]

55 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

There aren't many musicians out there playing bass, keys, guitar, bass pedals and singing tho. And some of that at same time.

In my book that classes him as a musicial genius.

This! I have been a fan ever since I went down the Friday market during school lunch hour and I bought 2112. I had no idea what they sounded like. I had just heard they were a heavy rock band. I was blown away and Geddy has always been held in Godlike status by me ever since.

[dmccombe7]

I read reviews of new album releases from relatively unknown bands 1976 in one of the music papers like Sounds or NME and there was Rush with 2112, The Police, Blondie were the ones that stuck out for me. It was down to either Rush or Police for me but something about the album cover stood out and i went for 2112. I have never been disappointed with that choice and they have entertained me ever since.

Dave  

[ubit]

Sounds was a great paper. I miss that. Then again we didn't have the internet then so that was how we heard about bands. I remember when Brian Johnston joined AC/DC, I bought Back in Black and it wasn't until I got home and stuck it onto my record player that I heard him for the first time. You don't get that kind of magic anymore.

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

Great memories. I still have loads of Sounds papers in the loft somewhere along with the first edition of Kerrang! magazine.

[dmccombe7]

2 minutes ago, ubit said:

Sounds was a great paper. I miss that. Then again we didn't have the internet then so that was how we heard about bands. I remember when Brian Johnston joined AC/DC, I bought Back in Black and it wasn't until I got home and stuck it onto my record player that I heard him for the first time. You don't get that kind of magic anymore.

Yep the anticipation of whether your purchase was a success or a flop. Had many a flop too right enough. I used to visit the import sections and see what i liked the look off and just go for it. That's how i came across Meatloaf and even Ultravox first albums too.

Dave

[dmccombe7]

2 minutes ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

Great memories. I still have loads of Sounds papers in the loft somewhere along with the first edition of Kerrang! magazine.

Forgot about Kerrang. Great stuff.

There used to be a small magazine that came out with song lyrics. Cant remember the name of it tho. ?

Dave

[dmccombe7]

This was it

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

I don’t remember that one Dave. When did that come out?

[dmccombe7]

Think i was buying it around 74. I specifically bought it for Queen Seven Seas of Rhye by Queen.

Dave

[2020Jazz]

2 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

There aren't many musicians out there playing bass, keys, guitar, bass pedals and singing tho. And some of that at same time.

In my book that classes him as a musicial genius.

Then again i've been a Rush fan since 76 when i bought 2112 so i'm biased.

Dave 

I'll second this. Many years ago my roommate had borrowed a VHS vid of Rush, I don't remember what tour or song, but there was a part where GL had a foot on a pedal, right hand playing keyboard, left hand hammering strings, while singing. Show me another bassist OR guitarist that can pull this off successfully, live no less. That's as close to genius as it gets.

[ezbass]

1 hour ago, 2020Jazz said:

I'll second this. Many years ago my roommate had borrowed a VHS vid of Rush, I don't remember what tour or song, but there was a part where GL had a foot on a pedal, right hand playing keyboard, left hand hammering strings, while singing. Show me another bassist OR guitarist that can pull this off successfully, live no less. That's as close to genius as it gets.

The very definition of multi tasking. I’m a late comer to Rush, Geddy’s voice always putting me off previously. Nowadays, having come to terms with Dirk’s vocal delivery, my day is always so much better when Rush are played on the radio. The era from Permanent Waves to Counterparts contains my favourite work (I’m odd for really liking Presto and Bones). All three of them are musical geniuses IMO, Neil Peart was just amazing and Lerxt is one of the finest rhythm guitarists in the World, even before you get to his lead work.

[dmccombe7]

I'd agree that all 3 are phenomenal and something that is often missed when discussing them is that they each trigger different effects and sequences themselves. According to interviews i've seen over the years they dont use automatic sequencers or effects and its the band who triggers them in some way. That's just another task they are completing along with the rest of what they do.

I have no idea how they are triggering these things.

Dave

[2020Jazz]

Just now, dmccombe7 said:

I'd agree that all 3 are phenomenal and something that is often missed when discussing them is that they each trigger different effects and sequences themselves. According to interviews i've seen over the years they dont use automatic sequencers or effects and its the band who triggers them in some way. That's just another task they are completing along with the rest of what they do.

I have no idea how they are triggering these things.

Dave

Alex does a lot of it (with pedals). If you study him in live videos you'll notice him stomping a pedal not preceding a lead or anything, so it's not an effect for his guitar...

[ezbass]

The Professor certainly triggered a number of things from one of those pad thingies.

[BigRedX]

4 hours ago, ubit said:

This! I have been a fan ever since I went down the Friday market during school lunch hour and I bought 2112. I had no idea what they sounded like. I had just heard they were a heavy rock band. I was blown away and Geddy has always been held in Godlike status by me ever since.

My experience was exactly the opposite. 

As a fifteen year old, I was intrigued by the gear porn cover of "All the World's a Stage", especially the Rickenbacker bass, having come across it in the new releases section during my Saturday record shop browsing session. Back at school on Monday I asked around my friends if anyone had any Rush albums and someone promised to lend me "2112" the next day. I eagerly put on the album when I got home on the Tuesday and only played one side (and maybe not even all of that). I just couldn't get past the weird singing voice.

[ezbass]

Spirit of Radio was first exposure to Rush, always liked it, so many changes of pace and style in one song, almost the epitome of prog. But like @BigRedX that voice was so Marmite and SoR remained the only track I could listen to. However, move forward a couple of decades or so and I started listening to Planet Rock and I was more and more exposed on Rush’s canon, particularly their ‘80s output. Then something just clicked, it wasn’t the bass playing, the drums or the fine guitar playing. Somehow, I managed to get past the high tenor and it all made sense, then Geddy’s voice seemed just right, especially as his ranged had dropped from the ‘70s. Of course now his voice has gone the way of most ageing singers, which is sad, but he just needs to adjust, with songs like The Temples Of Syrinx being left behind, or at least the original delivery.

[dmccombe7]

Rush were never everyone's taste and that's fine.

Bit like Led Zep for me. I just couldn't take to them. Mainly because i didn't like Jimmy Page's guitar style or sound. Move on 30 yrs and all of a sudden i quite enjoyed them altho it was probably down to a mate putting me on his guest list at a major venue for his Led Zep tribute band. Once i saw them live it got me interested in the original Led Zep. Still not a huge fan of JP but it suits that particular band.

Dave

[ubit]

7 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

Rush were never everyone's taste and that's fine.

Bit like Led Zep for me. I just couldn't take to them. Mainly because i didn't like Jimmy Page's guitar style or sound. Move on 30 yrs and all of a sudden i quite enjoyed them altho it was probably down to a mate putting me on his guest list at a major venue for his Led Zep tribute band. Once i saw them live it got me interested in the original Led Zep. Still not a huge fan of JP but it suits that particular band.

Dave

I am exactly the same with Zep. When I was in school I couldn't be bothered with them. When Bonham died everyone was in mourning and I was like, I don't really care that much. Later I started to appreciate them and downloaded all their old material. I love them now.