Rush - YYZ - Guitar Tab

Moving Pictures (2011 Remaster)

1981 4:26

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About YYZ

Few instrumental rock tracks demand as much from a guitarist as "YYZ" by Rush. The opening riff is built around the rhythmic pattern of the letters Y, Y, Z in Morse code, translated into a syncopated 10/8 figure that immediately tells you what kind of ride you are in for. In E minor and E Standard tuning, the piece sits in a comfortable range, but the real challenge is locking in with the relentlessly precise rhythm section while navigating the constant meter shifts. Alex Lifeson's parts move between chunky, palm-muted riff work and cleaner, more melodic lead passages, so your right hand needs to stay disciplined throughout. The fast sections around the 290 BPM pulse can feel overwhelming at first read, so use the Practice Toolbar to isolate the trickiest transitions and loop them slowed down until the picking pattern becomes automatic. This is a song that rewards patience: once the rhythm clicks, everything else falls into place.

• The signature opening riff is a direct translation of the Morse code for 'YYZ' into a 10/8 rhythmic figure, making the odd meter feel intentional rather than arbitrary.
• Palm muting is central to the main riff's attack, so focus on keeping your right hand consistent as the time signature shifts through the arrangement.
• Playing in E Standard tuning in E minor keeps the fingering approachable, but the real difficulty is maintaining rhythmic accuracy at a very fast tempo across the full track.