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Rush - Closer To The Heart - Guitar Lesson

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Rush - Closer To The Heart - Guitar Lesson

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Rush - Closer To The Heart guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

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A Farewell To Kings album cover
A Farewell To Kings
1977 2:52
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Rush Progressive Rock 1977 E major
Capo Advisor 0 E major · Original key

Closer To The Heart

"Closer to the Heart" is a rock song by Canadian band Rush, released in November 1977 as the lead single from their fifth studio album A Farewell to Kings. It became Rush's first UK hit single, reaching number 36 on the UK Singles Chart. For electric guitar players, the song offers a rewarding mix of clean arpeggiated passages and driving rhythm work, making it an accessible yet musically rich entry point into Rush's catalog.

  • The song was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010, recognizing its lasting cultural significance.
  • It was the first Rush song co-written by a non-member, Peter Talbot, a friend of drummer and lyricist Neil Peart.
  • "Closer to the Heart" charted in three countries, reaching number 36 in the UK, number 45 in Canada, and number 76 in the US.
Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Lifeson used the Stratocaster during the 'Moving Pictures' era for cleaner, thinner tones that contrasted with his Les Paul warmth, allowing him to access brighter textures within complex Rush arrangements.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

The Les Paul's PAF-style humbuckers and thick sustain were Lifeson's primary tool through the '70s and early '80s, delivering the warm, fat tone essential for Rush's heavy riffs and soaring lead lines.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

This premium Les Paul variant provided Lifeson with enhanced sustain and tonal depth during classic-era Rush, reinforcing the thick humbucker character that defined tracks on 'Hemispheres' and '2112'.

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)
Amp

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)

The Marshall 100-watt Super Lead cranked to breakup was Lifeson's workhorse amp in the '70s, delivering the crunchy overdrive and punchy aggression that cuts through Rush's dense instrumentation.

Orange Rockerverb
Amp

Orange Rockerverb

Used in later tours, the Orange Rockerverb's warm tube tones and built-in spring reverb gave Lifeson a more refined, spacious sound while maintaining the punch needed to compete with Geddy's keyboards.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Lifeson deployed the Cry Baby wah for expressive solo passages throughout Rush's catalog, adding dynamic vocal-like qualities to his lead work that enhanced emotional impact within progressive arrangements.

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