Rockin' the Country w/ Joe Don Rooney - Feb 14 - Rascal Flatts' "Life Is a Highway"

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his month I'd like to talk about my playing on "Life Is a Highway," Rascal Flatts' cover of a song written by Tom Cochrane that we recorded in 2006 for the Disney/Pixar animated film Cars.
Previously released as a single by Cochrane in 1991, the song was already a big crossover hit, and it proved to be a perfect match for this all-ages movie, as it combines a positive message with a catchy country-flavored melody, a soulful uptempo rhythmic groove and some chunky rock rhythm guitar parts, onto which I put my own stamp and some country-rock-style leads. Our version of the song become one of our biggest hits, and it remains a concert fan favorite.
One of the things I love about "Life Is a Highway" is its swing-16ths feel, which is comparable to that of the classic Van Halen song "Beautiful Girls" and just makes you want to start bobbing your head and tapping your foot.

[@Rennieman11]

I could watch his playing all day, so smooth

[@JimHTM]

Leaping lizards Batman ! This guy is so clean and spot on.... look at his fingers for cryin out loud, they could wrap the neck twice ! OK you sold me for sure Mr Rooney.....Definitely more than his share of the Rascal equation. Great guitarists part of a band usually dont get the recognition they deserve, so Im glad to see this video and thank you very much for doin it for us ! BTW theres a guy named Drew Dawson that does a vocal cover of this song and most people might think its the original vocals .....so my point.........guitarists are just as unique as singers !

[@victorugalde3136]

Such a great player! Just love Joe's mixed style of country, blues and rock. His tone is through the roof!

[@stricknine8623]

What an absolute premium guitarist !!

[@jayteesgear]

Joe Don- you are one of THEE BEST brother! I’m 4 months clean n sober this weekend and I just heard you’re kickin butt as well! That lets me know God wants all us Rockin musicians at our Best!

[@skeetv123]

His tone is phenomenal, like holy shit

[@kirjian]

Smooth, effortless

[@joycefranz1404]

JOE DON IS THE BEST THERE IS. SMOKIN HOTTT!!

[@skully680]

What a great country guitarist .

[@ampguy66]

One of my fav movies. Love his playing !

[@Shornetastic]

Was noooooot expecting that solo from Rascal Flatts haha NICE. Totally above my expectations; will have much to learn from this.

[@bridgettefarley7796]

wouldn't expect anything less from Joe, after all he is an Okie! like many other great artists

[@r.llynch4124]

GREAT song GREAT guitar player

[@andrewarriola6127]

His tone is dirty but smooth and warm....nice

[@tuurbeerens8890]

the best cover !!!!! i love this

[@stenic2]

Love this song and your playing it!

[@connorkern2568]

RASCAL FLATTS I LOVE YOU FROM 2006

[@jamesdeininger3759]

4:47 - That little chromatic lick was so cool. Lot more going on in this than I thought.

[@shae482]

Can you all please have him come back and do more of these videos?!?!

[@Rocksoup77]

Excellent guitar work, and tone!!

[@ignatiusevanprabasworo6934]

I love this song since i am 5 years old

[@tayelassiter366]

I love the guitar solo

[@shamus248]

1:17 that's what Rascal Flatts music is to me

[@jacobhazelett2267]

Same. Rascal Flatts has always helped me through my life when I'm sick, mad, depressed and I love them so much I have seen the band 4 times and I might go back in August.

[@carlosluis6680]

great buddy, thats really awsome.

[@Mheramb]

If nobody noticed, his guitar is tuned D♯-G♯-C♯-F♯-A♯-D♯, for those of you, who wants to play along :)

[@daveturner860]

+Mheramb or in other words...tuned down a half step....

[@thundertv1431]

3:20 is when the music starts

[@MrEmohdee]

ROCK ON

[@dannyboyblue1111]

That vibrato!!!

[@joes5150]

Sorry to hear that this will be rascal Flatts last tour this year after 20 years but excited to hear and see what joe don Rooney will do on his own with hopefully some solo work

[@ITSJUSTME500]

Definitely more than just a pretty face!!!! Such talent! Thats a third of why Rascal Flatts is all that AND a bag of chips!!

[@vashisl33t]

Im not even into country but this song is amazing love it.

[@Ladytulips]

Every time the camera pans in I can't help to look at well... Ya know. But best country guitarist hands down (and sexist!). He inspires me to be who I am today I love u Joe Don Rooney!

[@justinphimmakaysone7006]

+Talha Tariq I think she means sexiest not sexist like she wrote down there u know cuz it might be a typo

[@dawndepietro88]

1:16 that rascal flatts song is medcine! To me!-Zach

[@StratsRgreat]

Very kool.

[@zpozuniverse4562]

1:00 wow Joe dons kids are really good cars fanatics

[@suzanachristopher798]

I used love the song and the movie when I was 4 and I stiil love both and I'm 9 now

[@amitguitarist007]

7:00 🔥✨ phenomenal

[@stevenrogersfineart4224]

So clean :)

[@donaldanderson7410]

Young man, I am now converted to following your band. I would like to see you guys this year sometime around the country stampede in Manhattan. My kid's band played there last summer, and they say they're gonna try to play there again this year, so the timing would be perfect as I live in California.

[@rickrudd]

Great clean playing. 👌🏿

[@joes5150]

Love those bogner speaker cabs. I’ll take one please. Thx

[@iansnyder274]

i bet he has listened to Steve Morse...there is a lick where his ending note with vibrato has "that" awesome morse vibrato!!!..wonderful player!

[@Fr3derick]

Awesome Grandma Mary

[@MotorHead333]

I don't really like this type of music but this guy has a unique sound

[@Jk-rd5vq]

Bro the last part of that solo is ridiculous 🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️

[@jamesdeininger3759]

This is so awesome. Has anyone tabbed this out? It’s totally different from the album version?

[@EstebanBedoyaChQ]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@jwd10228]

Joe Don is the coolest fucking name

[@wartimemodels]

Don't like rascal flats but this guy is great.

[@roberthaley9725]

does anyone have the tone for this song i can not find it anywhere ,i love the riff and the way Joe plays it is asume

[@theobouritis2149]

The tone is E+ or C#-,but the original is F+ or D-

[@theobouritis2149]

@Maioha Hunt what's the difference?

[@shae482]

The tone is coming from a bogner 101b....blue channel for solos with the gain all the way. Red channel for all rhythm stuff with the gain a quarter of the way up. Best way to get it is to either buy a bogner 101b, or buy the bogner ecstasy blue and red pedals. Or use a amp simulator.

[@lidiatindle5091]

😍

[@abeanx]

We'll I deff have a new outlook on this guy. Never knew he was that good. That is a pretty sick and unique tone too. Wow... I think Rascall Flatts = gay but this dude is legit.

[@alexharringtonmusic]

Ever heard of Joe Satriani?

[@jeremyadams3501]

What peddles are you using for this?

[@Epitome63]

He plays well, I don't understand why he was not allowed to play on the earlier albums. He did get to contribute musically after 2004. Oh, life as a produced musician. Take it as it comes I guess.

[@themusketeer9458]

The very first part... is it 10 on the g string and 13 on the b string? I just cant get that to fcking sound right god damnit

[@nathan112498]

What kind of pedal do you use?

[@kubalenyaundi2493]

However think it's over not by a long shot

[@davidnieto2808]

but teaches the intro if Figure 1-2 and already

[@robertstrickland3870]

Got charged with a dui the other night/morning. Crashed into a tree. Drunk as shit.

[@arkada]

Intro song anybody?

[@sidneyandrade8461]

Banjo rascal flatts

[@catjive2]

That pros tho

[@ianchovan1237]

What song is that in the intro

[@bldmontemor]

Banjo, Rascal flatts, 2012

[@suzanachristopher798]

And I'm a boy this is my moms account

[@alexdjesika8725]

🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🔥🔥🔥

[@dawndepietro88]

7:00 my son Zach has no red quitar and really needs/wants one! Okay! Mr Rooney! Understand!! Mee!!

[@jesusbenitez5478]

Does anyone know what specific pedals he uses in this video?

[@shae482]

As far as effects I don’t think he’s using any here. Maybe a EQ pedal but all solos and rhythm sounds are straight from the bogner amp. Nowadays he uses delay on this song but I don’t think so here

[@rickyflyyy9661]

The rumors brought me here 👀 if you know you know 👱🏻/👩🏼

[@MrFrankie4700]

Sounds chimey

[@Dougie1350]

Family Guy brought me here.

[@frankie1105]

What’s that intro song?