Riff of the Day: Territories (Rush)

Another bass riff; this one's from track 5 of "Power Windows" (1985). It's one of my favorites, because it took a while to figure out how Geddy Lee was getting the percussive "double" notes in the first part of the pre-chorus riff--and if I remember correctly, I figured it out from watching some disco or funk video or other.

It's easy once you get the basics, and he's used it before in songs like 'YYZ' ("Moving Pictures"). All you do is hit the first note with your middle finger, then quickly follow with the index finger--not in the typical "walking" style of finger-picking, but more like you're dragging your fingers, going for a percussive "pop," then muting the string with the fleshy part of your left-hand ring finger (which is already sitting on the A-string 7th fret, ready for the next note). Continue your right-hand motion by having your index finger pluck the A-string 7th fret. The next "double" is fingered with your left pinkie, but the right hand just does the same percussive "drag." It's not quite the same sound as simply playing a pair of clean 16th notes.

The entire basic riff is 2 bars, and there are two variations--the "A" and the "F" (for which note the riff ends on). The 14-bar pre-chorus just alternates between them--A, F, A, F, A, F, A.

I really like the sound Geddy's getting from his bass on this entire album; as I remember it, this was his first time recording with a Wal bass. It doesn't have the solid growling tone that his Rickenbacker has in the "Moving Pictures" album (which is by far my favorite bass sound of his), but it works for the song--and that's the important thing.

Tuning: Standard

Bass TAB

.......E...G.G.E.A.A.E.C.D.G.A...(A)
G--------|---------------------|------------|
D--------|-5-5---7-7-----------|------------|
A-----/7-|-----7-----7-3-5-----|------------|
E--------|-----------------3-5-|-(5)--------|
...........*.*...*.*..........~|~~
.......e.|.s.s.e.s.s.e.e.e.e.q.|.w


.......E...G.G.E.A.A.E.C.D.G.F...(F)
G--------|---------------------|------------|
D--------|-5-5---7-7-----------|------------|
A-----/7-|-----7-----7-3-5-----|------------|
E--------|-----------------3-1-|-(1)--------|
...........*.*...*.*..........~|~~
.......e.|.s.s.e.s.s.e.e.e.e.q.|.w

key:
/ slide up
~ tie
* accented/percussive note
s sixteenth note
e eighth note
q quarter
w whole