This was, honestly, the most difficult solo yet. Not because it’s hard, it’s just hard to teach. This solo is Alex Lifeson simply tearing it up. That means there are a lot of weird little bits that are a result of reckless shredding rather than measured efforts.
Sure, you COULD learn it note-for-note, but I highly doubt anyone would be able to do such a thing AND play it with the same visceral quality that Alex did when he first cut the track. It would be technically impressive, sure… but musically? Probably not. I’d much rather listen to someone rip their own solo here than desperately try to mimic Lifeson.
Not only that, but I’m afraid that if I WERE to attempt a note-for-note recreation of this, my playing would actually get WORSE from the process. I’d end up a bland technician… a guitar athlete… a stunt guitarist… and I’m not interested in that.
Sometimes you just have to let go.