I am working on Rush’s Tom Sawyer. I’ve got the first part down pretty pat, until I get here:
I’m having a real hard time coming up with a fingering for this that doesn’t tie my fingers in knots or feel amazingly awkward. Here’s what seems to be working best for me:
D-7, middle finger
A-9, pinky
D-6, first finger
A-7, middle finger
A-5, first finger
E-7, pinky
I should say that I tend to play more Simandl with my first finger, middle finger, and pinky, rather than one-finger-per-fret, because my ring finger is a loser.
That’s how I started, but that run repeats over and over. It seemed easier to get the middle finger back on D-7 than my index finger. But yeah, playing it as you indicated does feel easier if it weren’t for that. The whole thing just feels super awkward to me.
I’d do just index and pinky and shift definitely not using middle finger on A-7 may be ring finger. It would be a stretch or me to use the middle finger, it’s just not my preference.
It’s a descending syncopated riff, I would just attacking on the way down the trick is just index the 7 and 6 the rest is pretty straightforward. It repeats like 20 times so the most simple route is a better route for me.
I practice T S at least 5 times a day and still often stumble with that workout riff. I use my fingers as independently as possible and never double finger any notes, ie; pinky and ring fingers together. Not saying its good form or not as many do it,
Anyway now Ill go watch some T S vids and see what others are doing.
Using the pinky on E-7 I find it a difficult transition back to D-7. Here’s how Ive been playing it.
D-7, middle finger
A-9, pinky
D-6, first finger
A-7, middle finger
A-5, first finger
E-7, ring finger
Depending on the songs and genres. If you like the most popular songs then YouTube is free. Guitar Pro 8 is pretty good.
Most accurate on the rarest and, no one listen to side B filler, then it’s Fiverr. You pay premium but you get premium products. I make a few of my own sheet and even tried making the tabs but it’s such a time consuming process if you don’t do it everyday.
Many types of genre, My fav list on songsterr include easier groove Reggae but mostly older prog, some older rock, ZZ top sometimes for warmup, Dig hard on Rush, Yes, all things Tony Levin.
Tabs Ive added, League of gentlemen, older simpleminds, Peter Gabriel, Prince, and Alex Harvey…
I just did Diamonds and Pearls live version, with Sonny T on the bass. That’s a great fun for me it took me a week to do the tab on GP8. The sheet was easy enough and it didn’t take long.
