The Tom Sawyer Project

[pdp 9091]

Yes pdp 9091 is back. Ive been lurking around drummerworld for the past month or too but have not posted much since the end of the summer or maybe around the whole drummerworld off topic lounge revolution happening. But yes I am back and with my return I want to introduce to you guys my Tom Sawyer project. I am challenging my self to learn Tom Sawyer by Rush by the end of this calendar year (about 1 month and 1 week away). I will post a video every week to show my progress. I just recorded my first playing of Tom Sawyer a few minutes ago and I will be posting it soon.

[Mcbrain]

GOOD LUCK !!!!!

I am able to play a handful of Rush songs, However Tom Sawyer is one that is still out of my grasp...It's an amazing tune and still Neil's favorite to play on tour.........

[GPinney]

check this out, Tom Sawyer played by a band called Deadsy, they do a GREAT JOB, they dont have it on their myspace but you can download it on limewire or whatever, its a great version

That is one of Rush's biggest challenge. Spirit of the radio is probably the hairiest to learn correctly.

There is a dvd out that helps:

[pdp 9091]

Originally Posted by GPinney

check this out, Tom Sawyer played by a band called Deadsy, they do a GREAT JOB, they dont have it on their myspace but you can download it on limewire or whatever, its a great version

Yes ive heard Deadsy's cover a while back and I liked it alot. I remember it being alot heavier.

Originally Posted by Synthetik

That is one of Rush's biggest challenge. Spirit of the radio is probably the hairiest to learn correctly.

There is a dvd out that helps:

And yes Spirit Of The Radio is a hard one to duplicate. Theres this one guy that was posted by I think Nutha on here who played tom sawyer and spirit note for note and beat for beat on both songs.

Originally Posted by pdp 9091

Yes ive heard Deadsy's cover a while back and I liked it alot. I remember it being alot heavier.



And yes Spirit Of The Radio is a hard one to duplicate. Theres this one guy that was posted by I think Nutha on here who played tom sawyer and spirit note for note and beat for beat on both songs.

That's Johnny Sillers.

[pdp 9091]

Originally Posted by Synthetik

That's Johnny Sillers.

No it was definatly Deadsy's cover. I just downloaded it and I'm listening to it right now

[Class A Drummer]

Tom Sawyer is one of the hardest for me to play. I was never able to get through the whole song without playing in half time on the hats during the 16th note hi hat part. Actually i was never able to get through even half of it without doing half time. But i could probably go for longer considering my single stroke speed has increased dramatically since the last time i tryed it.

Originally Posted by pdp 9091

No it was definatly Deadsy's cover. I just downloaded it and I'm listening to it right now

I haven't seen Deadsy....I was just going by what was posted

Edit: I watched the one on youtube, and it was horribly distorted, but they sounded like they were dead on...besides the lack of audio quality.

[mikei]

I took up this project 6 months ago. I really wasn't ready. The 16th notes just killed me.

However, I have been practicing a lot over the last 5 months (lots of speed metal), and now, my 16ths are much easier.

I have been practicing exclusively with the Bob Rock sticks (really massive) during the last 5 months.

I just moved back to my Tommy Lee sticks and they are so light! I can now make it to the main drum break without a problem with my hand and wrist tiring.

The hardest part I encountered other than hand fatigue is the main beat played after the break played with the double time beats with the added snare accent that is played off the ride.

I believe within 2 months I will have it down. The main break I have down to where I only mess it up about 3 out 10 attempts. I even have the timing down with a metronome at various tempos.

Great song. Any rush suggestions for me after this one? One that wont kill me, but will challenge me and is fun?

Thanks

[Fat Elvis]

good luck PDP -- thats a great task. and even if you dont get it exactly before the end of the year, you can bet that you will be a better drummer because of it.

i will tell you that there is a drummer here in vegas in a band called Yellow Brick Road -- his name is James Sloan. Great drummer and they play a block of Rush when they play that usually is between 3-4 songs back to back -- rolling one into the other. Usually Tom Sawyer, Spirit of Radio and Limelight are included.... and they are note for note, beat for beat. it is truly impressive.

[timebandit]

YY

Originally Posted by mikei

I took up this project 6 months ago. I really wasn't ready. The 16th notes just killed me.

However, I have been practicing a lot over the last 5 months (lots of speed metal), and now, my 16ths are much easier.

I have been practicing exclusively with the Bob Rock sticks (really massive) during the last 5 months.

I just moved back to my Tommy Lee sticks and they are so light! I can now make it to the main drum break without a problem with my hand and wrist tiring.

The hardest part I encountered other than hand fatigue is the main beat played after the break played with the double time beats with the added snare accent that is played off the ride.

I believe within 2 months I will have it down. The main break I have down to where I only mess it up about 3 out 10 attempts. I even have the timing down with a metronome at various tempos.

Great song. Any rush suggestions for me after this one? One that wont kill me, but will challenge me and is fun?

Thanks

Yeah, at least try something thats a little more challenging,like Natural science or Digital man

Wow...I love this thread, it brings back great memories. This is actually the song that made me want to be a drummer 15 years ago. As soon as I learned a few basics I found a teacher and worked on this song for 4 months and finally got it. This is the song that started it all for me. Good luck buddy. You will eventually get it down. It's all practice.

[pdp 9091]

My first attempt at Tom Sawyer. This was recorded with no attempt to learn it at all. Just playing along by ear of what ive heard in the past of listening to it 29859865 times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ro1GaN0emI

[mikei]

Not bad. You are really smooth and relaxed.

You should go out and get the tablature for this song though. You will burn right through it! There are lots of little things that make the song what it is.

Post more recordings as you progress!

Take care!

Mike

[timebandit]

Yeah, mikei is definately rght. it's usually the small little accents or a certain way the song progresses, that make arush song destinctive. But, I suggest playing to the actual track itself. the lyrics and listening to the real song will definately help you.

[pdp 9091]

Originally Posted by timebandit

Yeah, mikei is definately rght. it's usually the small little accents or a certain way the song progresses, that make arush song destinctive. But, I suggest playing to the actual track itself. the lyrics and listening to the real song will definately help you.

Ya I probably should do that. What I was playing to was a drumless track from Music4Drums.net

[Just Drums]

Subdivisions was one of my favorites to play too.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Groove

Subdivisions was one of my favorites to play too.

Good luck!

Our band does a pretty darn good job of Subdivisions I think.........I have a recording of it, but hesitant to post because our singer "boo-boo's" ...but it's ok.....

Regardless.....love to do that too!!

[Fat Elvis]

hmmmm 10 days and no update. we want tom sawyer!!!!!