Rush

[Roland_G303]

I remember being at a Best Buy with a couple of friends and they had the Guitar Hero on display.  My friends talked me into trying it thinking I'd be really good, because they knew I could play guitar.  I tried YYZ and it was way way harder than playing it on a real guitar !  We just laughed and that was the last time I tried one of those Guitar Hero things.

Patrick

[ChuckE99]

I sucked the first time I tried to play the guitar. I got really upset that you have to anticipate the notes and basically hit them BEFORE the beat. But then I took it as a personal challenge to be able to do it. I switched to using just the very top buttons on the guitar neck, so I could keep my fingers on the buttons, and it works a lot better. I still don't really like it that much, though.

[wakuhn1]

Ha, my 14 year old Josh and I had a guitar duel tonight!
He played guitar hero, and I played the tunes on electric up in the living room!

As we played YYZ, and he turned his back so he couldn't see the screen, so I closed my eyes! What fun! I played so many songs I haven't played in years.... Some Kiss, Kansas, Black Sabbath, oh man!

How technology changes the way way we play with our kids! 
Bill

[backer60]

With regards to Rush, like I said earlier to Chuck, WHY ARENT THEY IN THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME? Its like Chuck said,its because the R&R hall of fame is a JOKE. With regards to guitar hero, it may be the only video game I might get good at. I played the other night with my youngest son, who plays bass and vocals in a band. We ran though alot of stuff, and then one really hit me. Slow Ride by Foghat. Not the greatest tune, not the greatest band, but I grew up on Long Island, not too far from Port Jefferson and the Boogie Motel where they recorded. Lonesome Dave was a hero to alot of us younger guys, trying to just get the covers right, trying not to puke from stage fright,and trying to catch the eye of the occassional pretty lady. When we got halfway through the song, it hit me, Dave passing as young as he did, and how no matter how bad a band was, if he was in the club, he always cheered them on. I had to stop after that song....the world was a better place with Dave in it. If he's watching us now, he's gotta be sitting back, smiling, and drinking a Bud while our kids pay homage to a guy they never knew. Bill

[wakuhn1]

I would assume because they are Canadian, that doesn't matter, right? I haven't really followed  who has been inducted or not. When I heard some of the inductee's, I wonder who selects these folks???

As far as guitar hero, I REALLY STINK at the game! I can't used to the left hand technique! My son just laughs... oh well
The nice thing is that it will bring back many of the great old tunes for the younger kids to enjoy...
Bill

[backer60]

Jeez, I hope its not because they are canadian.....theres folks in there from other countries as well. I think because they didnt have that "Signature" top 10 album, a pile of 3 minute long hit singles, they didnt trash thier hotel rooms, marry starletts or get popped for drugs. I suspect strongly the voters of the R&R hall of fame spent most of thier time listening to the turtles, the association, and the monkeys. I know what you're saying about getting good at the game. Both of my sons can mop my butt in it....now break out the KISS pinball game....and we'll see who wins! Bill

[JohnS]

Anybody see "Chuck" on NBC, tonight? Very cool nod to Rush .

[backer60]

Its about time someone acknowledges them. Thirty odd years of great music and still no respect. What do they need to do to be noticed? Spontaneously combust? Maybe they'll eventually be discovered and purchased by Wal-mart like ACDC....THIER NEW ALBUM, ONLY AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL WALMART! Sorry, I lost it for a second... Bill

[ChuckE99]

I am surprised at the number of guitarists who list Alex Lifeson as a main influence. You expect drummers and bass players to worship Peart and Lee, but I always thought I was the only Lifeson fan. When I look back at many of the songs I've written in my life, I see Lifeson as a direct influence, both in my willingness to "write a song in a major key" and in his complex chord constructions.

Here's a pair of chords I put together. The first is a Gmaj+Dmaj combination, followed by an E7. The relationship between the chords is diminished, if the chords themselves are not, so the rest of the chords in the song build out dominant 7ths, but in diminished (3 half-step) arrangement, so you have E7, G7, Bb7 and Db7.

Thanks Alex!

[aliensporebomb]

I've seen the boys many times live between the 1980s to now.

He was more or less responsible for me getting into complex chords,
see http://pod.ath.cx/chords.html if you want some finger busters.