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Rush - Tom Sawyer - Guitar Lesson

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Rush - Tom Sawyer - Guitar Lesson

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Rush - Tom Sawyer guitar lesson video
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Chronicles (Remastered) album cover
Chronicles (Remastered)
1981 4:35
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Rush Progressive Rock 1981 E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

Tom Sawyer

"Tom Sawyer" is the opening track from Rush's 1981 album Moving Pictures, widely regarded as one of the band's most iconic recordings. Geddy Lee has called it the band's defining piece from the early '80s. For electric guitarists, the song is a rewarding study in Alex Lifeson's driving, syncopated riff work, tight ensemble playing alongside keyboards and complex drums, and the blend of hard rock power with progressive structure that became Rush's signature.

  • The main guitar riff is tightly locked with Neil Peart's syncopated drum pattern, making rhythmic precision essential for guitarists learning the song.
  • Alex Lifeson uses a mix of power chords and sustained single notes to complement the prominent synthesizer parts throughout the track.
  • "Tom Sawyer" opens Moving Pictures, Rush's 1981 album, and is considered a cornerstone of the Canadian trio's catalog.
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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