Alex Lifeson / Rush - Top 10 Greatest Guitar Riffs (The First 10 Albums)

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Hey all! I guess we could call this the centerpiece video here in Alex Lifeson month on my channel, as it was a bit more work putting it together than most other vids I've posted thus far. Certainly hope that you enjoy it, especially you Rush fans out there.
Cheers, KDA
Paypal tip jar if you're so inclined paypal.me/kellydeanallen?coun...
support for my channel on Patreon is always greatly appreciated as well. / kellydeanallen

Пікірлер: 148

  • @Charles53412
    @Charles534124 ай бұрын

    Alex has the largest guitar solo catalog than anyone else in rock music and one of the most underrated players to ever record. In my opinion, Alex, Geddy and Neil are the true G.O.A.T.s in rock music!

  • @JACKSHEENA
    @JACKSHEENA Жыл бұрын

    Excellent video! I will never understand why Alex is so underrated

  • @dr.p3637

    @dr.p3637

    Жыл бұрын

    No disrespect intended but I just don't think people do think Alex is underrated.

  • @JACKSHEENA

    @JACKSHEENA

    Жыл бұрын

    @@dr.p3637 none taken - unfortunately I have heard from many people that think otherwise. As a guitarist I try to explain to them he is a great guitarist but they think what he plays is simple because it is not at Eddie Van Halen / Randy Rhoads speed - sad

  • @timanderson9466

    @timanderson9466

    Жыл бұрын

    He’s not under rated. He’s more guilt by association because the critics always hated Rush. I once had full access backstage pass and stood 15 feet from him while soaking in the most incredible monitor mix I have ever heard. I listed from the sound guys location and it sound like shit compared their unbelievable monitor mix. That night was a thrill and I even got a pair of Neil Pearts USED drum sticks. I felt like such a teenager!

  • @Toonhead

    @Toonhead

    11 ай бұрын

    AMEN 👏🏾👏🏾

  • @Kidgloves1984

    @Kidgloves1984

    11 ай бұрын

    Probably because some people put him in the shadow of Geddy and Neil..and some people just don't know shit about playing guitar..

  • @danalmas6600
    @danalmas6600 Жыл бұрын

    From a fellow Canadian and Rush fanatic I can’t thank you enough for the time and attention to detail you put into your videos. Love the background info you provide as well. Keep up the great work, you’re the best!

  • @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks Dan! Glad you like it.

  • @CAP21
    @CAP21 Жыл бұрын

    So glad you picked "Red Sector A" at the last second. Great riff intro, with deep lyrics👍 Always loved the originality of that song.

  • @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    Жыл бұрын

    Amazing track for sure. You know, who writes songs about the Holocaust (and not in a thrash/death metal sense,) and manages to make it poignant, meaningful and touching.

  • @JohnEdgecombe-in9zp
    @JohnEdgecombe-in9zp Жыл бұрын

    Have always loved the guitar work on Red Sector A. Spent many hours as a lad figuring that one out!

  • @dr.p3637
    @dr.p3637 Жыл бұрын

    Truly loved watching this Mr. Allen. You are super talented and brought great justice to Alex's playing.

  • @petemeyers5342
    @petemeyers5342 Жыл бұрын

    Great video as always and great choices!

  • @eoinjennings519
    @eoinjennings519 Жыл бұрын

    Loving these videos I have been working most of these tracks last few years - trying to get the feel and sounds - he is tough to emulate - great job !

  • @Terry4345.
    @Terry4345. Жыл бұрын

    You can tell how much work you put into these videos. It shows. Great playing. Thank you!

  • @hkguitar1984
    @hkguitar1984 Жыл бұрын

    Fantastic, THANK YOU

  • @texasdevops3831
    @texasdevops383110 ай бұрын

    Absolutely brilliant man! Great choices and well played! Love that you've amped up the sound quality on Geddy's bass lines too. Cheers !!! :^ )

  • @johnmerrill4717
    @johnmerrill4717 Жыл бұрын

    Enjoyed this format

  • @davekogut8511
    @davekogut85116 ай бұрын

    This is really great. Thank you so much for your playing, your commentary and your selections from my favorite band over the last 42+ years

  • @doubled5383
    @doubled53836 ай бұрын

    You are crushing all these riffs. Great job.

  • @thiagomcdo
    @thiagomcdo3 ай бұрын

    Excellent job and perfect choices on each album. Thanks!

  • @Fred-vy1hm
    @Fred-vy1hm6 ай бұрын

    Man I love when I stumble across a video like this, if I didn't know it was you I'd swear I was listening to Alex play. Great job, subbed.

  • @nikblanchard9510
    @nikblanchard9510Ай бұрын

    Awesome video! and amazing tone sir. Well Done

  • @rUsHiSm
    @rUsHiSm3 ай бұрын

    *Nice Work!*

  • @markhorton1718
    @markhorton1718 Жыл бұрын

    This is an incredible series that you're doing, Kelly!! I can't think of any better way to pay homage to our guitar heroes. Your playing is amazing and alot of fun to watch and learn from!!! Thank You for sharing your time and talents with us!!

  • @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    Жыл бұрын

    My pleasure Mark, thanks for watching and following along. Having great fun doing it.

  • @shamayin
    @shamayinКүн бұрын

    Great great job!!! Thank you!!! I am happy that you have chosen Red Sector A!!!!!

  • @LudwigSC93
    @LudwigSC93 Жыл бұрын

    Great job! Melodic play and arpeggios are what makes him great. So beautiful.

  • @mjf1036
    @mjf10364 ай бұрын

    Beautiful work and selection from Alex's huge catalog of greats. ❤

  • @RonCraig-dy1qf
    @RonCraig-dy1qfАй бұрын

    Superb playing bub! Well done, and thank you. ❤️

  • @Yyz1971
    @Yyz197111 ай бұрын

    Great job!

  • @mablood
    @mablood10 ай бұрын

    Fantastic- my kind of stuff! I can sit or stand around all day and play AL.😀 You sound great.

  • @quincee3376
    @quincee337619 күн бұрын

    Awesome! I subscribed. Distant Early Warning is a very underrated Rush song and Lifeson really brings it even with the synthesizer. Just my 2 cents. Although i guess you're beginning of the song. But to me Distant Early Warning from Grace Under Pressure gets up and goes if that makes sense . Great stuff!!!! Thx.

  • @carlmoretonmusic
    @carlmoretonmusic5 ай бұрын

    Cool video. Just popped up on my feed. As someone who started playing guitar aged about 11 or 12 because I heard Alex playing on 2112, Alex has been probably my favourite guitarist of all time. I am now 56 and enjoyed many years as a musician and I can probably thank Rush for that. This is a great video. I sat on my sofa earlier with an acoustic and actually some of the parts came back to me.. Makes me want to re-learn some Rush songs again for fun. 🙂 Kelly, great playing, and I will say that sound you have on this video is superb. Nice looking PRS also. Thanks for taking the time to make the video, and I look forward to watching more of your videos. Cheers, Carl. UK.

  • @TommyC-nj2rt
    @TommyC-nj2rt10 ай бұрын

    I have been playing Rush songs since 1978. You are doing a great job on all of them. great tones and choices too.

  • @garyh.238
    @garyh.238 Жыл бұрын

    Great video all thru! And your take on Red Sector A was definitely the "Grand Finale"! Really nice work Kelly.

  • @atomicwedgie8176

    @atomicwedgie8176

    10 ай бұрын

    Grand Finale... the BEST riff he ever wrote, hands down!

  • @babagadoush1
    @babagadoush16 ай бұрын

    Great job.

  • @jwrobich
    @jwrobichАй бұрын

    Great video and playing! I’ve always loved Alex’s style and my fingerpicking is definitely influenced by him. Love your PRS too! Beautiful guitar.

  • @gregorymattice2702
    @gregorymattice2702Ай бұрын

    Good job!

  • @Dontfear365
    @Dontfear365 Жыл бұрын

    Love it and what you do. Alex, my inspiration from day one with 6 strings. Boy, I wish we had KZread back in the 70's could have learned much faster. Thanks to you...I have learned tricks, different and sometimes easier ways to play my favs. Except, Beneath Behind Between. My way is easier than the 3 bar pull off and sounds just as good LOL.

  • @derekbomar4232
    @derekbomar4232 Жыл бұрын

    THANK YOU ! stumbled across this luckily been jamming it all morning ( Thailand time). the again

  • @TheRealThomasPaine1776
    @TheRealThomasPaine1776 Жыл бұрын

    Red Sector A!!! Yeah,! Love the sound he gets on that song, you nailed it pretty well I'm looking forward to checking out the video on the tone that Alex gets

  • @timculp4126
    @timculp4126 Жыл бұрын

    Great choices. One and all.

  • @jricoc3475
    @jricoc3475 Жыл бұрын

    I concurred with all but two of your picks. I'd opt for "The Camera Eye" and "Kid Gloves", but there are no wrong answers when it comes to Alex ...

  • @yafreeaccount

    @yafreeaccount

    2 ай бұрын

    +1 kid gloves

  • @robert2948
    @robert2948 Жыл бұрын

    Great choices. Your axe sounds great.

  • @CalitranoN
    @CalitranoN5 ай бұрын

    Love it! Now I want to jam some rush grew up with them down here in Buffalo

  • @loveguitars
    @loveguitars Жыл бұрын

    Love this!🔥😍🙏

  • @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks mate! Love doing it, haha.

  • @mogsy2112
    @mogsy21128 ай бұрын

    12:46 I'm glad you included that part, also. After the tension created by the F, that A chord hits so hard.

  • @judithprudhomme1547
    @judithprudhomme1547 Жыл бұрын

    Amazing!!!

  • @sagomen3243
    @sagomen3243Ай бұрын

    What a brilliant video. This has inspired me re-learn a number of the Rush songs I used to play, after a 4 or 5 year hiatus from the guitar.

  • @mdu2112

    @mdu2112

    4 күн бұрын

    Go for it!

  • @Jermfrog
    @Jermfrog2 ай бұрын

    outstanding! very well done. understand your feelings about Grace but there is another filthy riff on there - Between the Wheels, which I consider some of Alex's best and also most radical work.

  • @cygnus-studios
    @cygnus-studios Жыл бұрын

    Great picks, and man you really nail the living hell out of all of them. If you tabbed these out into a book, you’ be a rich man.

  • @cygnus-studios

    @cygnus-studios

    Жыл бұрын

    Forgot to mention, I use Mackie monitors too. 😉

  • @markblackman2542
    @markblackman254210 ай бұрын

    I always knew Alex was a genius , looks so complicated , credit to you playing it !

  • @racebiketuner
    @racebiketuner7 ай бұрын

    Great picks. Anthem and La Villa Stragiato are two of my all time faves.

  • @Jhossack11
    @Jhossack11 Жыл бұрын

    Yes Indeed! That was Great!

  • @markmajewski191
    @markmajewski191 Жыл бұрын

    fantastic thanks

  • @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for watching Mark!

  • @hf8913
    @hf8913 Жыл бұрын

    Well, we *mostly* agreed... up until Grace Under Pressure. Your choice of Red Sector A was hard enough for me to agree with, but then you said it was the last album you liked for a long while - lol. Red Sector A is not, for me, a riff. Wonderful song and a bear to figure out for sure. All that said, very nice work! Alex is my very favorite guitarist and I've been learning his stuff for decades. I'm going to look to see if you have a 2nd 10 albums list right now! Subscribed.

  • @daveberry342
    @daveberry342 Жыл бұрын

    Witch Hunt is another good one. You play excellent, Kelly.

  • @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks Dave!

  • @TheRealThomasPaine1776
    @TheRealThomasPaine1776 Жыл бұрын

    This is awesome!! I'm trying to put together a medley and this nails a few that I wanted to use. I'll be watching every video when they come out! (What are you using as your editing program to remove the guitar?)

  • @timmytVA
    @timmytVA11 ай бұрын

    Neat to see the (ahem) progression from simpler single note and power chord based riffs to more complicated scales and voicings. And also the tonal changes from cranked Marshalls/Hiwatts to cleaner and more effects laden. Nice job. And like all good Canadians, there's a Traynor !

  • @samcoon6699
    @samcoon66992 ай бұрын

    Yep, Alex is a huge influence on my playing. Picked up a 335 although I think his was a 355. Anyway, great stuff!! Well done!

  • @yafreeaccount

    @yafreeaccount

    2 ай бұрын

    Alex played both. His 335 was his first “real” Gibson and he got the 355 “old whitey” in 1976 around the 2112 timeframe. But he played a bunch of other instruments during this time, borrowed axes and rentals, such as Ric 12 strings, Stratocasters, various acoustics, and such. I’ll bet your 335 sounds great!

  • @gyslainbeauchamp9241
    @gyslainbeauchamp9241 Жыл бұрын

    Your tone so good Man,you nails IT,fx user?🇨🇦

  • @tfoz2235
    @tfoz223510 ай бұрын

    Great choices and greatvplaying! While theres hardly any Rush songs I dont like, I have always personnaly felt La Villa Strangiato is an absolute musical masterpiece. The textures, rythems, build up, guitar solo, Neils parts....all of it, is just incredible.

  • @CC-qb9sm
    @CC-qb9sm Жыл бұрын

    Hello KDA, like all things guitar and KZread related currently, I am way behind on your Alex Lifeson month and very much look forward to catching up on all of this content sometime in the future. One tune I feel is underrated and feel the guitar work is great on despite the heavy keyboards is the song “Marathon” from the Power Windows album. So many great Rush tunes, so little time, but if your guitar Muse takes you there I’d love to see you take a look at this one. Take care Kelly.

  • @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    Жыл бұрын

    Hey CC, thanks as always man. Marathon is on the to-do list. Only 2 or 3 solos left to finish up before I have enough content to finish out the month.

  • @JamMan6string
    @JamMan6string Жыл бұрын

    Agree 10/10 and yes it came through that you had fun. btw - my Strat is not having fun with the Limelight solo. Wrong tool for the job I suppose. I once owned Zion Radicaster that I now regret selling.

  • @Kidgloves1984
    @Kidgloves198411 ай бұрын

    Great choices and great playing! I thought you were going to choose Circumstances from Hemispheres!

  • @davidb5122
    @davidb5122 Жыл бұрын

    Some you're playing to the song, and some you did your own backing tracks? And Spirit of Radio, was that ged, or cover.? Incredible work put into this video, quality content!

  • @dwaynejessome1728
    @dwaynejessome1728 Жыл бұрын

    Caress of Steel is my all time favourite Rush album would've loved the riffs in Necromancer - but I get your concept

  • @bobmcswigan6415

    @bobmcswigan6415

    20 күн бұрын

    Love Caresss. It's so hard to pick my favorite album. Generally, my favorite is the one I'm current listening to 😀

  • @timanderson9466
    @timanderson9466 Жыл бұрын

    Great video! Rush lost me after moving pictures because of the guitar being less prominent. There was short lived hope with Show Me Don’t Tell Me from Presto. And you are right, Caress Of Steel was and is incredible under rated. What I liked about it is that that album almost sunk them and they said fuck it, we’re doing another concept album.

  • @chatter7653
    @chatter765310 ай бұрын

    Cool!

  • @stephenjackson4392
    @stephenjackson439210 ай бұрын

    I have to say you are very gifted to play like Alex. You have greatly impressed me. I'm an old man now and have always dreamed of playing guitar but I just don't have the ability to learn.

  • @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    10 ай бұрын

    Thanks Stephen, appreciate that very much mate.

  • @Kidgloves1984

    @Kidgloves1984

    8 ай бұрын

    How do you know you have the ability or not if you have never tried..are you handicapped?

  • @Nile8765
    @Nile8765 Жыл бұрын

    i know this is about alex lifeson, but i would love to see more opinion rankings like rush albums ranked and solos ranked. Im loving this idea of a famous guitarist per month!

  • @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks mate, but it's a hell of a lot of work doing this, haha. Great fun though. Can't do this every month for a number of reasons I suppose. Don't want to alienate the subscribers who might not actually like that particular guitarist or their music for such a long stretch of time. I think once or twice a year, I can get away with it however, haha.

  • @michaelkahlke6155
    @michaelkahlke61557 ай бұрын

    Very nice job, and that's quite a nice selection of axes you used! I don't suppose you'd want to share what amp settings and guitar effects pedals and settings you used to get that tone on the songs you played? They all seemed quite close to actual to me.

  • @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    7 ай бұрын

    Well, you're in luck, because I made a video on that exact topic. kzread.info/dash/bejne/Y6dqzpmaqJbFhag.html

  • @peytoningram7961
    @peytoningram7961 Жыл бұрын

    Would love a tutorial on the second solo in Working Man. Your video on the first is really great

  • @extremelifeandlarydean1894
    @extremelifeandlarydean18945 ай бұрын

    Great vid Sir. You missed how Alex does his G# in Limelight & I think his G chord The Analog Kid. It’s been a while since I played it but it’s different than the standard bar chord with the open B & E

  • @markg996
    @markg99611 ай бұрын

    Alex Rules!!!

  • @joshuasydnee
    @joshuasydnee5 ай бұрын

    Love this,what gear you playing through?

  • @user-hp8uz5kr9t
    @user-hp8uz5kr9t3 ай бұрын

    The first 4 riffs sounded right out of the R30 overture. Cool

  • @escommentss
    @escommentss9 ай бұрын

    Great job! What rig are you using? Tone is awesome! On Xanadu, the part right after you stopped where it goes into 7/8 time is my absolute favorite part of that song!!

  • @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    9 ай бұрын

    For recording my videos I always use software. Pretty much exclusively bias FX2.

  • @lostinpa-dadenduro7555
    @lostinpa-dadenduro75558 ай бұрын

    Xanadu is so fun to play. It’s also my favorite Alex solo.

  • @TheRealThomasPaine1776
    @TheRealThomasPaine1776 Жыл бұрын

    Do you by chance have an ES355??? I'm working on matching the early tones, through Permanent Waves, but I also really want to do some of Grace Under Pressure, and for that album he was full into his Les Paul, so if you have any tips about how to recreate that Les Paul sound with the 355 that would be great!!!

  • @thebluesrockers
    @thebluesrockers Жыл бұрын

    Not trying to blow up your comments but I do have a couple questions. 1. What year is that PRS Les Paul? It's amazing looking. 2. What FX did you use to get that Red Sector A sound? That was completely mind blowing. I never knew Alex played that riff in between the chords like that. Did you use a pedal to turn off or change FX for the riff? Amazing job. Kelly you're like a freaking walking Juke Box.. I've watched you nail so many different tones & styles. I'll be fan for life.. Keep rocking & I'll keep watching.. Peace.. Joe

  • @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    Жыл бұрын

    Hey man! First question is that I don't know the year. 2014? I bought it second hand. Second question is, the only modulation effect is chorus. Intensity and width at about 11:00 with the speed at about 7:00. Marshall amp with the gain on about 4. Delay at 600 Ms with 3 repeats and some plate reverb. That's about it. Since I use software, I can't change pedals on the fly as I'm not set up with midi, so I'll play it through, then change anything I need to change tone-wise in post.

  • @thebluesrockers

    @thebluesrockers

    Жыл бұрын

    @@KellyDeanAllenGuitar thanks for the details. I really wasn't expecting you to say Red Sector A when you were talking about it. that really did blow my mind. again, great job..

  • @truckerkevthepaidtourist
    @truckerkevthepaidtourist Жыл бұрын

    How did he do the beginning runs in Chemistry from Signals.

  • @tonyogrinc6895
    @tonyogrinc68959 күн бұрын

    Can you do setting for his delay flange and phase shifting setting

  • @thebluesrockers
    @thebluesrockers Жыл бұрын

    outstanding choices.. I think I would love to hang out with you and listen to music all night. Come over to my house and DJ for me. hahaha.. Great video Kelly

  • @CalitranoN
    @CalitranoN5 ай бұрын

    For the early albums what did Alex lifeson use for effects ? Did he use distortion or chorus or flanger I assume he used echoplex

  • @user-ny2qt9dz8v
    @user-ny2qt9dz8v9 ай бұрын

    Yeah this points out some of the better things of the guitar playing that Alex lifeson actually does and picks out just about the most unique and best stuff he does

  • @hustler3of4culture3
    @hustler3of4culture3Ай бұрын

    Beneath the wheels has a pretty good solo too. 👍

  • @michaelkemper6334
    @michaelkemper6334 Жыл бұрын

    I would have loved to see Rush at the Real Gasworks bar on Young Street Toronto back in the day before they got a record deal.

  • @kremlinasset
    @kremlinasset Жыл бұрын

    Alright! Nothing at all against his solos but I was hoping you'd get to some riffs too! 🤘

  • @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    Жыл бұрын

    Well here ya go! Had great fun putting this together over the past 2 days.

  • @Richard-cq4kv
    @Richard-cq4kv Жыл бұрын

    Middle Finger Chord Is The Best Chord To Begin A Best Riffs Vid With🤘

  • @thecoderofyoutube
    @thecoderofyoutube5 ай бұрын

    Is that the ESL version of Xanadu you’re playing along to there?…

  • @MyCrazyDogs32
    @MyCrazyDogs32 Жыл бұрын

    On The Spirit of Radio, were you playing a G# power chord with open B and E Strings, or E/G# with open B and E strings?

  • @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    @KellyDeanAllenGuitar

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes. G# major chord with open b and e string.

  • @secretjourney4815
    @secretjourney481511 ай бұрын

    Isn’t the riff from Xanadu the inspiration for Slash in Paradise city???

  • @davidtimmerman3121
    @davidtimmerman31216 ай бұрын

    was with you up until the last, "between the wheels" is a MONSTER riff. oh, well loved the vid!

  • @jamesbrothers4222
    @jamesbrothers422211 ай бұрын

    I GOT BLISTERS ON MY FINGERS LOVE RUSH

  • @michaelflack4563
    @michaelflack45635 ай бұрын

    Rush are a superb example of musical synergy between its component members, that is, the whole unit is way bigger than the sum of its parts. Alex is not underrated at all, it’s just that he’s part of a band that as a whole unit are simply off the scale.

  • @paulanderson6511
    @paulanderson65112 ай бұрын

    That Xanadu opening arpeggio is so much like the Slash Sweet Child of Mine riff in feel and scale... Did Slash steal it? Well played though!

  • @i.p.knightly149
    @i.p.knightly149 Жыл бұрын

    13:12 The Hemispheres dilemma

  • @brucedickinson12
    @brucedickinson1211 ай бұрын

    Love caress of steel

  • @Shazeen82
    @Shazeen82Ай бұрын

    You missing the high E note in Spirit of Radio intro. It should be an upstroke the picking pattern is down down up. The pull off on the B string doesnt sound right.

  • @jamesbrothers4222
    @jamesbrothers422211 ай бұрын

    THAT WOULD BE COOL TO PLAY ALL THE BASS LINES TO THOSE TUNES

  • @charlesdauphin3324
    @charlesdauphin33242 ай бұрын

    personnally, i would've gone with The Weapon on Signals...

  • @brucedickinson12
    @brucedickinson1211 ай бұрын

    Before and after off first album is a cracker

  • @stephenjackson4392
    @stephenjackson439210 ай бұрын

    Yaaaa. You cant copy Necromancer mid riff 5.28 haaaa? LOL....JK Id love to hear ya try. So far you're awesome

  • @ericrdutton
    @ericrduttonАй бұрын

    XAAAAAAAAANAAAAAADUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

  • @hatefulconduct
    @hatefulconduct6 ай бұрын

    The answer to the commercial I got is cocaine.

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