The Trees Guitar Tab

Hemispheres Tabs:

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Rush - The Trees

        From the CD 'Hemispheres'
                Written by Lee/Lifeson/Peart
                Mercury/Polygram Records 822547-2

        Other tab was quite a bit lacking, so here is the full version.
Previously tabbed by Patrick M. Ryan  and Frank
Schaapherder . The key is D. Intro is played on
a nylon- 6-stringed acoustic. The rest of the song is played by two
electric guitars [in unison] with distortion and chorus. Intro courtesy of
Tony Kennedy  and Rich Soto 
with some further corrections by myself.

Jimmy Pena - jimmy@walrus.com

| = not a standard bar line; just used to separate music
~ = vibrato or held note
x = percussive note with no pitch; muted note
h = hammer on
p = pull off
s = slide
b = bend string up to indicated pitch/fret
r = release bend to indicated string/fret
/ = slide up from infinity
 = slide down into infinity
 = natural harmonic (lightly touch the string at fret indicated)
[5] = artificial harmonic (use thumb to follow through the pick attack)
[x35553] = fret box; this is a C chord - this is the same as standard
  tablature, only turned on its side. Tilt your head clockwise to read.
PM = Palm Mute; lightly touch the strings at the bridge with the edge of
        the fret hand

Chord legend for the chords played during the verses:

A5(I) : [x02255]         F#   : [244322]
B5    : [x244xx]         F#5  : [244xxx]
B/A   : [x044xx]         D    : [xx0232]
G     : [320033]         C#m  : [x46654]
G5    : [355xxx]         A    : [577655]
Asus2 : [x0220x]         Bm   : [x24432]
E     : [022100]         A5   : [x022xx]


[Intro]:
    D                   F#m               C#m
e:--2--------0--------|--2--------2-----|--4--------4--------|
B:-----3--------3-----|-----2--------2--|--------5-----5-----|
G:--------2-----------|-----------------|-----6--------------|
D:--0--------------0--|--------4--------|--------------------|
A:--------------------|--------------4--|--4--------------4--|
E:--------------------|--2--------------|--------------------|

    A                 E                 G        A                      
e:--5--------5-----|-----------0-----|--3-----------------|
B:-----5--------5--|--0-----0----0---|-----3-----2--------|
G:--------2--------|-----1-----------|-----------------2--|
D:--------------2--|---------------0-|--------------2-----|
A:--0--------------|-----------------|-------2---0--------|
E:-----------------|--0--------------|--3-----------------|

			[lyrics enter]
    Bm                   D                       F#m
e:------------2-|-----|--2h3p2--------2--------|--2--------2-----|
B:--3--3------3-|--3~-|---------3--------3-----|-----2--------2--|
G:--4--4--4-----|--4~-|------------2-----------|-----------------|
D:--------------|-----|--0------------------0--|--------4--------|
A:--2--2--0h2-2-|--2~-|------------------------|--------------4--|
E:--------------|-----|------------------------|--2--------------|

   C#m                   A                 E
e:-----------4--------|--5--------5-----|--0--------0-----|
B:--5-----------5-----|-----5--------5--|--0-----0--------|
G:--------6-----------|--------2--------|-----1-----------|
D:-----6--------------|--------------2--|--------------0--|
A:--4--------------4--|--0--------------|-----------------|
E:--------------------|-----------------|--0--------------|

    G        A           Bm                   D                         
e:--3-----------------|-----------2--|-----|--2--------3p2--------|
B:-----3-----2--------|--3--3-----3--|--3~-|--------3-------------|
G:-----------------2--|--4--4--4-----|--4~-|-----2----------------|
D:--------------2-----|--------------|-----|--0--------0----0--x--|
A:-------2---0--------|--2--2--0--2--|--2~-|----------------------|
E:--3-----------------|--------------|-----|----------------------|

    F#m               C#m                  A
e:--2--------2-----|-----------4--------|--5--------5-----|
B:-----2--------2--|--5-----------5-----|-----5--------5--|
G:-----------------|--------6-----------|--------2--------|
D:--------4--------|-----6--------------|--------------2--|
A:--------------4--|--4--------------4--|--0--------------|
E:--2--------------|--------------------|-----------------|

    E                 G        A           Bm                           
e:---------0-------|--3-----------------|------------2--|-----|
B:-0-----0---0-----|-----3-----2--------|--3--3--3---3--|--3~-|
G:----1------------|-----------------2--|--4--4--4------|--4~-|
D:--------------0--|--------------2-----|---------------|-----|
A:-----------------|--------2--0--------|--2--2--0h2-2--|--2~-|
E:-0---------------|--3-----------------|---------------|-----|
                                                                        
    D               A              Bm
e:--2--2h3p2-----|---------------|-----|
B:--3---------3--|--2--2h3p2-----|--3~-|
G:--2------------|--2---------2--|--4~-|
D:--0------------|--2------------|--4~-|
A:---------------|--0------------|--2~-|
E:---------------|---------------|-----|
                                                                        

Progression:

[Intro] x1 /w lyrics:

There is unrest in the forest; there is trouble with the trees.
For the Maples want more sunlight and the Oaks ignore their pleas.

Then:
         F#5
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
D:-------4-4-4-4--4-4-4-4--4-4-4-4--4-4-4----------------------------|
A:-------4-4-4-4--4-4-4-4--4-4-4-4--4-4-4----------------------------|
E:-------2-2-2-2--2-2-2-2--2-2-2-2--2-2-2--0-------------------------|

         G5
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
D:-------5-5-5-5--5-5-5-5--5-5-5-5--5-5-5----------------------------|
A:-------5-5-5-5--5-5-5-5--5-5-5-5--5-5-5----------------------------|
E:-------3-3-3-3--3-3-3-3--3-3-3-3--3-3-3--0-------------------------|


Strum each chord [see chord legend above for fingering]:

      A5(I)  A5   A5  B5  B5       B5      G    G  D       D    A5(I) A5(I)
The trouble with the Maples (and they're quite convinced they're right);

      A5(I)  A5             B5   B5 B5           G     D    D  A5(I) A5(I)
They say the Oaks are just too lofty and they grab up all the light.

         A5(I)     A5      B5   B5              G        D    D    A5(I)
But the Oaks can't help their feelings if they like the way they're made.

           F#5 (wallop)                   G5 (wallop)
And they wonder why the Maples can't be happy in their shade.

e:-5~----5--------5~------------|-------------------------------------|
B:-5~----5--------5~---5--------|-2------------2-2-----2-2-----2-2----|
G:-2~----2--2-2-2-2~---2--2-2-2-|-2------------2-2-----2-2-----2-2----|
D:-2~----2--2-2-2-2~---2--2-2-2-|-2--2--2---2--2-2--2--2-2--2--2-2----|
A:-0~----0--0-0-0-0~---0--0-0-0-|-0--0--0---x-------x-------x---------|
E:------------------------------|-----------3-------2-------0---------|

            D  D D       F#   F#          C#m C#m C#m C#m   A A A A
There is trouble in the forest, and the creatures all have fled,

                          (at the end of this line play some pick slides)
        E E E E E E     G  G  G   A5 A5    Bm    Bm  B/A    Bm    Bm
as the Maples scream "Oppression!" and the Oaks just shake their heads.

 (Repeat D-F#-C#m-A chord progression/pattern)

e:--0-0-0--0-0-0---3-3-3---------------------------2-----------------|
B:--0-0-0--0-0-0---3-3-3-------------3-3-3--3--3---3---3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|
G:--1-1-1--1-1-1---0-0-0---2-2--2----4-4-4--4--4---4---4-4-4-4-4-4-4-|etc
D:--2-2-2--2-2-2---0-0-0---2-2--2----4-4-4--4--4---4---4-4-4-4-4-4-4-|
A:--2-2-2--2-2-2---2-2-2---0-0--0----2-2-2--2--0---2---2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|
E:--0-0-0--0-0-0---3-3-3---------------------------------------------|

[Riff 2] - with flanger added

   Bm                                            A
e:--------------------------------------------|----------------------|
B:--------------------------------------------|--------2---2---------|
G:----4---4--------4--------4----4-------4----|------2---2-------2---|
D:------4--------4---4---------4-------4---4--|----2-----------2-----|
A:-2----------2----------2-----------2--------|--0-------------------|
E:--------------------------------------------|----------------------|

                       F#7(addB)                     A
e:------------------|-----------------------------|---------0--------|
B:--------2------2--|---------0--------------0----|------------0-----|
G:------2------2----|-----------3---------------3-|-------6------6---|
D:----2------2------|------4--------------4-------|------------------|
A:--0---------------|----4--------------4---------|----7-------------|
E:------------------|--2-------------2------------|--5---------------|

                       F#7(addB)
e:------------0------|------------0-----2-------------------0----2---|
B:--------------0----|------------------------0----------------------|
G:---------6------6--|--------3--------------------------3-----------|
D:------7------------|---------------4-----4------------------4------|
A:---7---------------|-----4--------------------------4------------4-|
E:-------------------|--2--------------------------2-----------------|

   D                                               F
e:--------0----10---------------0-----10--------|-----------1--------|
B:------7------------7--------7--------------7--|--------------1-----|
G:----7---------------------7-------------------|--------2-----------|
D:--0-------0-----0-------0--------0------0-----|--------------------|
A:----------------------------------------------|-----3--------------|
E:----------------------------------------------|--1-----------------|

                  A                                     E
e:----------1---|--------0------------------0---------|-0-------0----|
B:------------1-|-0----0-----0-----------2-------0----|-0--0---------|
G:-------2------|-2--2-----2-----2------------2-------|-1------------|
D:--------------|-2------------2-------2--------------|-2----2----2--|
A:----3---------|-0------------------0-------------0--|-2---------2--|
E:-1------------|-------------------------------------|-0------------|

e:---------------------0---------------------------------------------|
B:--0-----------------------0----------------------------------------|
G:--------1---------1------------0-----------------------------------|
D:-----2----------2------2-----2-------------------------------------|
A:-----2-------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-----0-------0-----------------------------------------------------|

[Riff 3] - This is in 5/4 (I HATE 5/4!)

e:-------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
B:-------0--------------0--------|-------0---------------------------|
G:-----0--------0-----0--------0-|-----0-------0--------0-----0------|
D:--12------11-----14------11----|--12------11----12-14----11--------|
A:-------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------|-----------------------------------|

        This is the pattern of measures and what chords are being played.
Each set of braces represents a measure. [Riff 3] is played once alone,
then along with these chords in this fashion. Remember this is 5/4.

 A5  (A5) A5 (A5) A5 (A5) A5  B5  A5  D5  A5  B5  A5  D5
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
          *       *       *   *   *   *  *** *** *** ***

 *  = Neil hits a crash cymbal
*** = Neil hits the ride & crash

Geddy repeats this 2 times; [Riff 3] is repeated 4 times along with it.

G:--------------------|------------------|--------------|--------------|
D:o-------------------|------------------|--------------|--0-0-0-0----o|
A:o-0--0--0--0--------|---2--2--2--2-----|--0-0-0-0-----|-------------o|
E:--------------2--3--|--------------2-3-|----------2-3-|----------2-3-|

[Riff 3] is played 4 times along with the solo:

[Guitar Solo] - Also in 5/4 time

e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G:-(16)r14~--------------7---6h7p6p0---0--2-[4]~~~---4--2h4p2p0--[9]~|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:----------0----2~~-------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|

e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:-15-[14h15p14]----------------12-------------(12)------------------|
G:---------------14-12---14--12----14-12--14b16----14b16-14~---11----|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|

                                                          6/4 time
e:------------------------------------------------------|------------|
B:------------------------------------------------------|------------|
G:-12b14------12--11h12p11s9--11~----6-7-9--7p6h7p6-4-6-|-7~--6h7h9--|
D:------------------------------------------------------|------------|
A:------------------------------------------------------|------------|
E:------------------------------------------------------|------------|

e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G:--6h7p6-4h6p4-2h4p2p0-2h4p2p0-2h4p2p0-2----------------------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|

(For reference: [Riff 3] is played 16 times total.)

[Riff 4]
    G                             G               A
e:--7--7---7--7-----7--7---7--7--2--2--2--2--2----------------------|
B:--8--8---8--8-----8--8---8--8--3--3--3--3--3---2------------------|
G:--7--7---7--7-----7--7---7--7--2--2--2--2--2---2--2---------------|
D:--0------0--------0-------------0-----0-----0---2--2--------0-2-4p0|
A:------------------------------------------------0--0---2--4--------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
                                                       PM----------|

e:--7--7--7--7-----7--7---7--7--2--2--2--2--2-----------------------|
B:--8--8--8--8-----8--8---8--8--3--3--3--3--3---2-------------------|
G:--7--7--7--7-----7--7---7--7--2--2--2--2--2---2--2---4--2--0------|
D:--0-----0--------0-------------0-----0-----0---2--2-----------4p2p0|
A:-----------------------------------------------0--0----------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|

e:--7--7--7--7-----7--7---7--7--2--2--2--2--2-----------------------|
B:--8--8--8--8-----8--8---8--8--3--3--3--3--3--2------8--7--5-------|
G:--7--7--7--7-----7--7---7--7--2--2--2--2--2--2--2-----------7--6--|
D:--0-----0--------0-------------0-----0-----0--2--2-----------------|
A:----------------------------------------------0--0-----------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
                                                     PM------------|

e:-7--7--7--7-----7--7---7--7--2--2--2--2--2------------------------|
B:-8--8--8--8-----8--8---8--8--3--3--3--3--3--2---------------------|
G:-7--7--7--7-----7--7---7--7--2--2--2--2--2--2--2------------------|
D:-0-----0--------0-------------0-----0-----0--2--2--------0--2------|
A:---------------------------------------------0--0--2--4--------0---|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|

[Riff 5]
   Bm   B5 Bm/A D5   A5    B5      F#
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:-3--3---------3-3--------------------------------------------------|
G:-4--4--4--4---2-2--2-2---4-4-4---3---3---3---2-2-------------------|
D:-4--4--4--4---0-0--2-2---4-4-4---4---4---4---2-2-------------------|
A:-2--2--2--0--------0-0---2-2-2---4---4---4---0-0-------------------|
E:---------------------------------2---2---2-------------------------|

[Strum as above]:

       A5(I)  A5    B5   B5 B5     G      D  D  A5(I) A5(I)
So the Maples formed a union and demanded equal rights.

      A5       A5     B5   B5           G    G    D    D   A5(I)
"The Oaks are just too greedy, we will make them give us light!"

            A5(I)  A5     B5  B5         B5    G       D  D  A5(I)
Now there's no more Oak oppression, for they passed a noble law.

Outro:

   F#5                             G5                            A   Asus2
e:----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:---------------------------------------------------------------2-2-0~-|
G:---------------------------------------------------------------2-2-2~-|
D:-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-2-2-2~-|
A:-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-0-0-0~-|
E:-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3--------|

         F#5 (wallop)                G5 (wallop)  A A  Asus2
And the trees are all kept equal by hatchet, axe, and saw.

Brought to you by the GUITARMASTA - http://www.guitarmasta.net

Source: GuitarMasta.net
http://www.guitarmasta.net/r/rush/.html

Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques


No Picture micheal Lead Player	#1 by micheal mceachern at Jul 1, 1972 at 5:39 PM EST
	i think about any group that is oppressed.

No Picture Alex Wanna Be	#2 by Alex Jurek at Dec 11, 1973 at 8:20 PM EST
	This song is clearly about class struggle. The Oaks represent the "haves" and the Maples represent the "have nots." The overall message of the song is that the Oaks, or Ruling Class, always get their way despite futile protests by the less priviledged classes. Social Darwinism is not dead.

No Picture KISS is the gre Average	#3 by KISS is the greatest at Sep 15, 1977 at 8:51 PM EST
	It's clearly a Rand inspired rant. They're complaining against forced equality where the achievers are forced to remain equal to the mediocre mob even though they're meant to be much more. Complaining against individual excellence being held back by jealous mediocrity... the usual. Just like Rand produced quite well written trash, I love Rush's music even if I don't agree with their politics in the least. I love how they use the symbolism of "Hatchet, Axe and Saw". I can't think of any other song that gets sarcasm across in quite the same way. murphyov: Social Darwinism is exactly what they're singing for.

No Picture MelissA Average	#4 by MelissA at Oct 19, 1979 at 2:23 AM EST
	Kudos to hargalaten for picking up on that sarcasm... I never caught that until I read about it just now... it really seems to add to the song.

No Picture cody Rhythm Player	#5 by cody watts at Mar 13, 1981 at 9:38 AM EST
	definately about the fight between races

No Picture Rhythm Player	#6 by riotsk8team001 (jason) at Jan 8, 1989 at 5:48 PM EST
	probably the only rush song where the lyrics grabbed my attention before the music, dare i say it. GO NEIL!!!!!!!!

No Picture Micke Lead Player	#7 by Micke Nordin at Sep 6, 1990 at 1:03 PM EST
	Geddy was born to sing this song to me it's about racism in a forest using maple trees and oak trees as the two races

No Picture michael Wanna Be	#8 by michael Dittrich at Apr 14, 1992 at 7:00 PM EST
	sorry, I just repeated what Garthnak wrote. I was getting tired of reading by then, and I felt like talking lol.... my bad :)

No Picture Kevin Average	#9 by Kevin turbyfill at Dec 14, 1992 at 3:23 AM EST
	These lyrics are high poetry. The meaning is actually very simple. We are not all equal in every way. Any attempt to artifically create universal equality is ultimately doomed to failure. But no matter how inequitable life becomes, death awaits us all. In the end, we all end up the same.

No Picture anthony Average	#10 by anthony clark at Apr 1, 1995 at 1:20 PM EST
	It is not about racism. You have to remember that Rush was a very libertarian band - this song is about the legal struggle between employees and businesses. The Maples are workers, and the Oaks are companies. The "light" is money. The workers are envious of the wealth of of the people who run the companies. They form a union and get the government to pass a law to force the companies to give them higher wages - thus, effectively destroying their employers (by hatchet, axe, and saw - the only way to get more light is by cutting the Oaks down). That's basically the real interpretation. Rush's album 2112, for example, is a rock opera version of Ayn Rand's book "Anthem". Ayn Rand was a dyed-in-the-wool capitalist, and would have agreed wholeheartedly with the sentiment of this song. I do, too.

No Picture batman Average	#11 by batman chum at Sep 20, 2000 at 6:36 PM EST
	I agree somewhat with the racism theory, but then again, it could be any group in the world. To me it represents the fight for equality and how no matter how hard we fight for it, we all end up in the same place in the end. Therefore, we are all equal in the eyes of our creator. Great song and even better in concert. Saw them in concert years ago and it was one of the best that I have ever been to.

No Picture Jamie Wanna Be	#12 by Jamie Smith at Apr 23, 2001 at 6:56 PM EST
	Neil Peart is a rationalist, very much inline with Rand's views, though different in some ways. This song is purely and anti-communist work, and is not meant to show sympathy for those engaged in class warfare. Agree or disagree with Peart's beliefs, this is the rationale behind the song's lyrics. As for Freewill, it is not just about religion but about anything unexplainable by science and reason. Religion, spirituality, tarot cards, fortune telling, etc.

No Picture niles Wanna Be	#13 by niles lewis at May 8, 2005 at 2:11 AM EST
	I just noticed something important about the lyrics today. In the beginning, the maples say the oaks are "just too lofty," implying they realize it's not the oaks' fault they are getting the lion's share of sunlight. After the union is formed, however, sentiment changes to "the oaks are just too greedy" implying the oaks have decided to take the sunlight for themselves. It shows how a dissenting underclass can miss the message entirely.