Notice
"Disillusion" is based on a sixth-position open E grip that moves to the sixth and fourth positions, spelling out E6 and D6/9, respectively. It also integrates a fingerstyle technique known as "Travis Picking" (named after its chief practitioner, country legend Merle Travis). This dude had some Mad Chops!
Alternating Bass Notes are played with your thumb on the downbeats, as well as the smooth-as-silk Western swing harmony. Now this is easier said than done at the Recorded Tempo, especially when adding the lower 3rd Bass Note into the Mix!!
The origins of "Starship Trooper" lie in an earlier piece YES regularly played "Live" when (Guitarist) Peter Banks was in the band, called "For Everyone" (available on "Something's Coming - BBC Recordings 1969-1970"). "For Everyone" had a different beginning section by Anderson, but then moved into "Disillusion". Its form varied, but it could also have a third section, a lengthy jam based on the first section.
"Disillusion" was preserved for "Starship Trooper", which echoed the earlier structure of "For Everyone", with "Life Seeker" replacing the first section of "For Everyone", and "Wurm" replacing its looser jam at the end. Although credited only to Squire, Anderson co-wrote the lyrics for "Disillusion", the pair writing alternate lines.
"The Yes Album" (1971) was to be the last Tony Kaye album with YES until the formation of the Trevor Rabin YES Band in the early 1980's, where he seem more suited to the more straight forward type Rock & Roll. His Organ Skills no doubt fill out the Sound on "Starship Trooper" though, and Tony also shows some of his Piano prowess on "A Venture".
Replacement on Keyboards (and I use the word "Keyboards" lightly) was former "Strawbs" Band Member and David Bowie Session-Player, Rick Wakeman, who brought with him nothing but controversy (not to mention Prodigy Labels and World-Renowned Piano Chops at the age of 23), but he also brought with him new Technology in Sequencers, ARP, Mellotron (an analog Sampler), EMU, Moog (along with Beer, Steaks, and the infamous long "Silver Cape") to the Band that appeared to "come out of nowhere". They were now "in-the-Media-crosshairs" for their Follow-Up Album, and it would not disappoint (but then again, that's whole 'nother Story)...
I have seen Steve Howe play this piece "Live", and it appears these are the correct Fret Positions he uses for "Disillusion". The Chord Phrasing makes much sense, but is not so easy to get used to at first.
The only Variations during the Acoustic Guitar Section are during the "A Chord", the other three Chords are pretty much repeated the same way every time.
Keyboard Notes:
I had to add the obligitory Organ (Tony Kaye), mainly as it fills up the Outro/Segue into Wurm. It does add to the stability of the Sound (if that does matter).
