Rush - The Trees guitar tab
#
From: Jonathan D Simms
Here is the entire thing:
The Trees by Rush
The beginning of the song is a beautiful classical intro which on the
studio
album is fingerpicked. I personally favor the live version. But here goes:
First I'd like to outline the basic chord forms used and then I will
write
out the specific picking pattern. an "X" indicates that the string is not
used
D F#m C#m *A* E G A
E|2 E|2 E|4 E|5 E|0 E|3 E|0
B|3 B|2 B|4 B|5 B|0 B|0 B|2
G|2 G|2 G|6 G|2 G|1 G|0 G|2
D|0 D|4 D|6 D|2 D|2 D|0 D|2
A|0 A|4 A|2 A|0 A|2 A|2 A|0
E|X E|2 E|X E|X E|0 E|3 E|0
Bm A/Bm (a Bm chord with an A in the bass)
E|2 E|X
B|3 B|3
G|4 G|4
D|4 D|4
A|2 A|0
E|X E|X
All of these chords are pretty straight-forward except for the *A* chord.
I don't know if that's it's real name but it's the trick to getting
"The Tree's" to sounding right. By just playing an A chord in first
position (2nd fret), the upper notes are too low. So you move them up an
octave. The notes are (from lowest fretted note): E(5), A (1), E(13), A
(1).
So I guess this is officially a A13 (no 3) chord. Don't be so skeptical,
try it against the CD and you'll see what I mean (If not Hemispheres than
E.S.L.)
to fret the A13 (no third) chord i find it easiest to
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
E|-----=--1--=-----=-----=--4--=
B|-----=--1--=-----=-----=--4--=
G|-----=--1--=-----=-----=-----=
D|-----=--1--=-----=-----=-----=
A|-----=-----=-----=-----=-----=
E|-----=-----=-----=-----=-----=
in other words, barre your first finger on the D, G, B, and E strings and
lay your pinkie on the B and E strings on the fifth fret.
Note, hold the patterns listed above throughout your picking (the whole
chord). It allows for a ringing, sustained sound.
okay so here goes
(3/4 time)
D F#m C#m *A*
E|-2-----2H3P2----------2----4-----4----5-----5----------------
B|---3---------3------2---2----5-----5----5-----5---------------
G|-----2------------2------------6----------2-------------------
D|-0--------------4---------------------------------------------
A|---------------------------4----------0-----------------------
E|--------------------------------------------------------------
1 + 2 3 e + a 1 + 2 + 3 1 + 2 + 3 1 + 2 + 3
E G A Bm A/Bm Bm Rpt 3x then
E|-0-------0----3-----------------------2---------
B|---0---0---0----0----2------3-3--3----3--3------
G|-----1------------0----2----4-4--4-------4-------
D|-------------------------2------------------------
A|---------------------2------2-2--0----2--2-------
E|-0------------3---------------------------------
1 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 3
coda (slightly slower)
D A Bm
E|-\-2-2H3P2----\-0----------\-2---
B|-/-3-------3--/-2-2H3P2----/-3---
G|-\-2----------\-2-------2--\-4---
D|-/-0----------/-2----------/-4---
A|-\-0----------\-0----------\-2---
E|-/------------/-0----------/-----
1 2trplt3 1 2trplt3 1 (held)
Then:
F#mF#mF#mF#mF#mF#mF#mF#m
F#mF#mF#mF#mF#mF#mF#mF#m
G G G G G G G G
G G G G G G G G
A Bm
The trouble with the maples
G D A
and they're quite convinced they're right
A Bm
they say the Oaks are just too lofty
G D A
and they grab up all the light
A Bm
but the Oaks can't help their feelings
G D A
If they like the way they're made
F#mF#mF#mF#mF#mF#mF#mF#mF#mF#m
And they wonder why the maples
F#mF#mF#mG G G G G G G G G G
Can't be happy in their shade
AAAAA AAAAA AAA GGG F#mF#mF#m EEE
(for the following sections use chord voicings as spelled out in beginning)
D
There is trouble
F#m
In the forest
C#m *A*
And the creatures all have fled
E
while the maples
G A
scream "Opression"
Bm Bm A/Bm Bm Bm
and the oaks just shake their heads
D F#m C#m *A* E G A Bm Bm A/Bm Bm Bm
Bm
The next part was transcribed by Tony Z.
I got it from the FTP site syrinx.umd.edu in the rush/incoming directory
under the_trees.bridge
any complaints about the following section, please send to
anthonyz@cs.arizona.edu
Ok, the patterns here aren't quite note-for-note, but do outline the
chords
Alex plays, with the open strings (B,E) ringing over the top. Playing it
this way flows well, fits the part, and fools 99% of all loyal Rush fans
who hear it.
Hope this helps.
Tony Z.
% means repeat previous measure once then continue
E|-------------|---|-------0-----|---|-------------|---|------
B|-------0-----|---|---------0---|---|-------0-----|---|------
G|-----4---4---|-%-|-----------6-|-%-|-----3---3---|-%-|------
D|---4-------4-|---|-----7-------|---|---4-------4-|---|------
A|-2-----------|---|---7---------|---|-------------|---|-----
E|-------------|---|-5-----------|---|-2-----------|---|------
E|-------0-----|---|-------0-2-|-----0-2---|------------------
B|-----0---0---|---|-----0-----|-0-------0-|------------------
G|---6-------6-|-%-|---3-------|---3-------|------------------
D|-7-----------|---|-4---------|-----------|------------------
A|-------------|---|-----------|-----------|------------------
E|-------------|---|-----------|-----------|------------------
E|---------0-10------|---|-------1-------|---|-------0----|---|
B|-------0------0----|---|-----0---0-----|---|-----0---0--|---|
G|----11----------11-|-%-|---2-------2---|-%-|---6-------6|-%-|
D|-12----------------|---|-3-----------3-|---|-7----------|---|
A|-------------------|---|---------------|---|------------|---|
E|-------------------|---|---------------|---|------------|---|
E|-------0-----|---|------------------------------------------
B|-----0---0---|---|------------------------------------------
G|---1-------1-|-%-|------------------------------------------
D|-2-----------|---|------------------------------------------
A|-------------|---|------------------------------------------
E|-------------|---|------------------------------------------
Here's the main riff (5/4)
E|--------------------|---------------------------------------
B|--------------------|---------------------------------------
G|------0----0----0---|------0--------------------------------
D|----0-------------0-|----0------0----0----0----0------------
A|-12-----11---14-----|-12-----11---12---14---11--------------
E|--------------------|---------------------------------------
1st measure syncopates when Ged and Neil enter
E|-----------------------|------------------------------------
B|----0----0----0----0---|------------------------------------
G|---------------------0-|------------------------------------
D|-12---11---14---11-----|------------------------------------
A|-----------------------|------------------------------------
E|-----------------------|------------------------------------
okay now for the solo, this is pretty close
again by Tony Zimmerman
notation under notes
F- full bend R-release AH-artificial harmonic
H between- hammer
P between- pull
\ between- slide
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E|------------------------------------------------------------
B|------15-14-12----------12----------------------------------
G|-(14)----------14P12-14-12-14-12-14-14--14-----------------
D|--AH------------------------------F--F----------------------
A|------------------------------------------------------------
E|---------------E|------------------------------------------------------------
B|------------------------------------------------------------
G|-11-12-12-12-11-H-12-P-11-\-9-11-6-7-9-7-6-H-7-P-6----------
D|--------F---------------------------------------------------
A|------------------------------------------------------------
E|------------------------------------------------------------
E|-----------|-7-7-7-7-7-7--2-2-2-2--2-2-|-----------|-------4-P-2-P-0-|--
D|-0-0-0-0-0-0--0-0-0-0--2-2-|-----0-2-4-|-----------------|---
A|-----------------------0-0-|-2-4-------|-----------------|---
E|---------------------------|-----------|-----------------|--
3rd. rpt 4th rpt. then rpt here \/ 2x
E|-3-2-0-----|-----------|------------------------------------
B|-------3-2-|-----------|------------------------------
D|-----------|-----0-2-4-|------------------------------------
A|-----------|-2-4-------|---2-2---5---2-2--------------------
E|-----------|-----------|-5-----5---5-----2-2-2---------------
(here on in is me again)
A Bm
so the maples formed a union
G D A
and demanded equal rights
A Bm
the oaks are ju Bm
now there's no more Oak opression
G D A
for they passed a noble law
F#m (8th notes, 8 beats)
and the trees are all kept equal
G (8th notes, 8 beats) A
by hatchet, axe, and saw.
(ws etc.)
A great deal of work was put into this and I hope you enjoy!
Suggestions / Corrections can be mailed to jsimms@ic.sunysb.edu
Flames will only be accepted from Alex, Geddy, Neil, and Broon! :)
------
The Trees
Rush, from _Hemispheres_
transcription by
pat@jaameri.gsfc.nasa.gov (Patrick M. Ryan)
and
schaaphe@gin.serc.nl (Frank Schaapherder)
Notes:
The intro is finger-picked. This is left as an exercise
for the reader. ;-)
intro
D F#m C#m A
E G A Bm Bm A D Bm
D F#m
There is unrest in the forest,
C#m A
There is trouble with The Trees,
E G
For the Maples want more sunlight
A Bm Bm A D Bm
And the Oaks ignore their pleas.
The measure is 3/4 here.
D A Bm
--2-2_3_2---------------2------
--3-------3--2-2_3_2----3------
--2----------2-------2--4------
--0----------2----------4------
-------------0----------2------
-------------------------------
F# F# F# F# F# F# F# F# F# F# F# F# F# F# F# F#
G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G
A B
The trouble with the Maples,
G D A
And they're quite convinced the're right
A B
They say the Oaks are just too lofty
G D A
And they grab up all the light.
A B
But the Oaks can't help their feelings
G D A
If they like the way they're made.
F#
And they wonder why the Maples
G
Can't be happy in their shade.
(walking bass line)
A A A/G A/F# A/E
-0--0---0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0----------------------------------------
-2--2---2-2---2-2---2-2---2-2----------------------------------------
-2--2---2-2---2-2---2-2---2-2----------------------------------------
-2--2---2-2---2-2---2-2---2-2----------------------------------------
-0--0---0-0---X-X---X-X---0-0----------------------------------------
--------------3-3---2-2---0-0----------------------------------------
Time changing to 3/4 again (or 6/8)
D F#
There is trouble in the forest,
C#m A
And the creatures all have fled,
E G A
As the Maples scream `Oppression`
Bm Bm [a few times]
And the Oaks just shake their heads
repeat this chord scheme. Then play the Bm for two bars instead of
one and move into the solo. Get a drummer with woodblocks :-)
A B
So the Maples formed a union
G D A
And demanded equal rights.
A B
"The Oaks are just too greedy;
G D A
We will make them give us light."
A B
Now there's no more Oak oppression,
G D A
For they passed a Noble Law,
F# F# F# (you get the idea)
And the Trees are all kept equal
G G G (etc) A
By hatchet, axe, and saw.
