Song Rig
Heart of the Sunrise
Steve Howe · Fragile · 1971
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
The Fragile album's epic closer — the most technically demanding Steve Howe performance on the record. The ES-175 is pushed harder into the Marshall for the aggressive, fast single-note runs of the main section, contrasting with the softer, more lyrical passages that interrupt the heaviness.
Signal Chain
- 1Gibson ES-175
- 2Marshall Super Lead (pushed hard)
Amp Settings
Higher gain than Roundabout — Heart of the Sunrise pushes the Marshall harder for the aggressive sections. The ES-175's natural warmth prevents the high gain from sounding harsh despite the intensity.
Technique
How to Play It
Rapid arpeggiated picking over complex chord movements — Howe plays fast, note-dense arpeggiated passages through chord changes derived from classical harmony rather than rock or jazz convention.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
ES-175 → Marshall at higher gain → the chord vocabulary is the challenge: Howe uses major 7th, minor 9th, and suspended chord voicings from a classical rather than blues/rock perspective.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
More from Steve Howe
Other Song Rigs
Roundabout
Fragile · 1971
Yes's signature track and one of the most important guitar tones in prog rock — …
View rig →Clap
The Yes Album · 1971
Steve Howe's solo acoustic showcase — a live performance (recorded at the Lyceum…
View rig →Mood for a Day
Fragile · 1971
Classical guitar — pure nylon-string acoustic, no amplification. Howe studied cl…
View rig →And You and I
Close to the Edge · 1972
Acoustic 12-string opening gives way to electric Gibson — Howe's tonal range acr…
View rig →Icarus (Ode to Every Mother)
Going for the One · 1977
Acoustic steel-string with pedal steel-like lyricism — Howe plays a slide or lap…
View rig →