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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