Mystic Rhythms – Rush
“Mystic Rhythms” by Rush, an acoustic cover by Mike Massé.
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Mike meets Rush with two of his best friends. L to R: Alex Lifeson, Mike Massé, Scott Slusher, Ken Benson, Geddy Lee
Liner Notes:
I love Rush, and I love this song. This song is off their 1985 album “Power Windows”, which I adore. I was lucky enough to see that tour, as well. The idea to do an acoustic arrangement came to me one night when I had insomnia (mysteries of night…). I woke up and listened to this song, and it occurred to me that the key to an acoustic arrangement was to ignore the original guitar part almost entirely (sorry, Alex!), and focus on the (mystic) rhythm of the drums and bass, with the chords of the keyboards and the guitar. This allowed me to come up with an arrangement that carried the harmonic structure, but also the essential rhythm of the song (with some help from my stomp pedal). The actual guitar part is not very conducive to playing and singing at the same time rhythmically, which was the other barrier I’d encountered when attempting to arrange the song in past attempts. I do reference the guitar part in the instrumental sections towards the end.
The song is in E flat, so my guitar is tuned down a half step. But the original is not exactly at 440 Hz, so my guitar is little sharp to match the original. So if you try to play along with me, you’ll need to do the same.
When I start the second verse, “We sometimes catch a window, a glimpse of what’s beyond,” my camera decided on its own to adjust the exposure, emphasizing the lighting in the room. It almost makes it look like a bright “window” opens above me, offering “a glimpse of what’s beyond….” Or maybe that was just imagination stringing me along….
Love,
Mike
Thanks to Ovation Guitars for the beautiful Custom Legend. This is the “deep contour” version.
Thanks to Wild Dog Stomp pedals out of Australia for providing the awesome stomp. Here’s my model: https://www.wilddogstomp.com/products/bunyip/
And a big thanks to you for listening/watching, and for helping spread the music. (Hint: please share this!) 🙂
Mystic Rhythms – Rush Chords/Lyrics
Note from Mike: The song is in E flat minor, but I play it in E minor, tuned down a 1/2 step. The original recording is a little sharp, so I tuned my guitar to match the original for my recorded version.
Mystic Rhythms
Rush
Key: Em
(tuned down 1/2 step, in Eb really)
Em7 Em7 GM7 GM7/B
Em7
So many things I think about
GM7 GM7/B
When I look far away
Em7
Things I know, things I wonder
GM7 GM7/B
Things I'd like to say
Em7 Em7 GM7 GM7/B
Em7
The more we think we know about,
GM7 GM7/B
the greater the unknown
Em7
We suspend our disbelief
GM7 GM7/B
and we are not alone
CHORUS:
D
Mystic rhythms
Em
Capture my thoughts, carry them away
Em
Mysteries of the night
D
Escape the light of day
Cadd9
Mystic rhythms, under northern lights
Em
Or the African sun
D Em7
Primitive things stir the hearts of everyone
Em7 Em7 GM7 GM7/B
Em7
We sometimes catch a window
GM7 GM7/B
A glimpse of what's beyond
Em7
Was it just imagination
GM7 GM7/B
stringing us along?
Em7
More things than are dreamed about
GM7 GM7/B
Unseen and unexplained
Em7
We suspend our disbelief
GM7
and we are entertained
CHORUS:
D
Mystic rhythms
Em
Capture my thoughts, carry them away
Em
Nature seems to spin
D
a supernatural way
Cadd9
Mystic rhythms under city lights
Em
Or a canopy of stars
D
We feel the powers and wonder what they are
Instrumental Break:
Em7 Em7 GM7 G6
Em7 Em7 GM7 G6
Oh!
Em7 Em7 GM7 GM7/B
CHORUS:
D
Mystic rhythms
Em
Capture my thoughts, carry them away
Em
Mysteries of night
D
Escape the light of day
Cadd9
Mystic rhythms under northern lights
Em
Or a canopy of stars
D Em
We feel the push and pull of restless rhythms from afar
Em7 Em7 GM7 GM7/B
Em7 Em7 GM7 GM7/B
Songwriters: Neil Peart/Alex Lifeson/Geddy Lee
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