RUSH - "cygnus x-1" Tablature

Official RUSH Tablature & Sheet Music »

Rush - Cygnus X-1

From the CD 'A Farewell to Kings'
Written by Lee/Lifeson/Peart
Mercury/Polygram Records 822546-2

This is not wholly original. The solo was taken from a previous
version of the tab, done by Blake Butterworth (butterwo@rex.cs.tulane.edu).
The rest of it appears similar, but that's just because it was mostly done
right the first time. I have included it here because it appears to be
correct, and my purpose is to merge all previous versions to make the most
comprehensive and correct tab, not necessarily an original version.
Standard tuning [EADGBe] (low to high). The key is C.

Jimmy Pena - jimmy@walrus.com

| = not a standard bar line; just used to separate music
~ = vibrato or held note
h = hammer on
p = pull off
s = slide
b = bend string up to indicated pitch/fret
r = release bend to indicated string/fret
/ = slide up from infinity
\ = slide down into infinity
o \_
o / repeat sign (always look for these!)
[x35553] = fret box; this is a C chord - this is the same as standard
tablature, only turned on its side. Tilt your head clockwise to read.
+-3-+ = this is a triplet indicator

Chord legend:

A : [x0222x]
G : [320033]
C : [x3555x]
F : [xx3211]
D : [xx0232]
Cm : [x35543]
Ab : [466544]


[Intro]
N.C.
e:---------------|-----------------|---------------|--------------------|
B:---------------|-----------------|---------------|--------------------|
G:---------------|-----------------|---------------|--------------------|
D:-------------5-|------------5-5b-|-------------5-|-------------5-5-5b-|
A:----7---5------|----7--5---------|----7--5-------|----7--5------------|
E:-0---------7---|-0--------7------|-0--------7----|-0--------7---------|

[Riff 1a] [Riff 1b]
A5 C5
e:---------------------------------|--------------------------------|
B:---------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G:-2-2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2-|-5-5---5---5---5---5---5---5---5|
D:-2-------------------------------|-5------------------------------|
A:-0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3--|
E:---------------------------------|--------------------------------|

[Riff 2b]
[Riff 2a] C
C5 +--3--+ +--3--+
e:-----------------------------|---8--8--8---8--8--8--------------|
B:-----------------------------|---8--8--8---8--8--8--------------|
G:-5-5-5-5---5-5-5-5--5-5------|---9--9--9---9--9--9--------------|
D:-5-5-5-5---5-5-5-5--5-5------|---10-10-10--10-10-10-------------|
A:-3-3-3-3---3-3-3-3--3-3------|---10-10-10--10-10-10-------------|
E:-----------------------------|---8--8--8---8--8--8--------------|

[Riff 3]
D5 C#5 B4 B5 F#7sus4 Asus2
e:--------0~----------0~----------0~~~--|----0~---------------------|
B:--------0~----------0~----------0~~~--|----0~---------------------|
G:--7--6--4~--5--4----3~----7--6--4--5--|----2~---------------------|
D:--7--6--4~--5--4----4~----7--6--4--5--|----2~---------------------|
A:--5--4--2~--3--2----4~----5--4--2--3--|----0~---------------------|
E:--------------------2~----------------|---------------------------|

[Riff 4a] [Riff 4b] [Riff 4c]
C#m Em Ab G Ab G Ab G
e:--------------------|-----------------------|--4-4--4~---3-3--3~-|
B:--5-5--5~---8-8--8~-|--4-4-4-4~----3--4--3--|--4-4--4~---3-3--3~-|
G:--6-6--6~---9-9--9~-|--5-5-5-5~----4--5--4--|--5-5--5~---4-4--4~-|
D:--6-6--6~---9-9--9~-|--6-6-6-6~----5--6--5--|--6-6--6~---5-5--5~-|
A:--4-4--4~---7-7--7~-|--6-6-6-6~----5--6--5--|--6-6--6~---5-5--5~-|
E:--------------------|--4-4-4-4~----3--4--3--|--4-4--4~---3-3--3~-|

[Riff 5a] [Riff 5b]
C#m +-3-+ Em +-3-+ Ab +-3-+ G +-3-+
e:------------------------------------|--4--4--4-4-4---3--3--3-3-3-|
B:--5--5--5-5-5---8--8--8-8-8---------|--4--4--4-4-4---3--3--3-3-3-|
G:--6--6--6-6-6---9--9--9-9-9---------|--5--5--5-5-5---4--4--4-4-4-|
D:--6--6--6-6-6---9--9--9-9-9---------|--6--6--6-6-6---5--5--5-5-5-|
A:--4--4--4-4-4---7--7--7-7-7---------|--6--6--6-6-6---5--5--5-5-5-|
E:------------------------------------|--4--4--4-4-4---3--3--3-3-3-|

[Riff 6a]
Cm Bm F# Ebm Dm
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:---4--4-4--4-4--4-4-3-2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2--7--7-7--7-7--7-7-6------|
G:---5--5-5--5-5--5-5-4-3--3-3--3-3--3-3--3--8--8-8--8-8--8-8-7------|
D:---5--5-5--5-5--5-5-4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4--8--8-8--8-8--8-8-7------|
A:---3--3-3--3-3--3-3-2-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4--6--6-6--6-6--6-6-5------|
E:----------------------2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2--------------------------|

[Riff 6b]
e:------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:--4--4-4--4-4--4-4-3-2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2-2----|
G:--5--5-5--5-5--5-5-4-3--3-3--3-3--3-3--3-3--3-3--3-3--3-3--3-3----|
D:--5--5-5--5-5--5-5-4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4----|
A:--3--3-3--3-3--3-3-2-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4--4-4----|
E:---------------------2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2-2--2-2----|

Song progression:

[Misc sound effects]

[Spoken]:

In this constellation of Cygnus
There lurks a mysterious, invisible force
The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1.
Six Stars of the Northern Cross
In mourning for their sister's loss
In a final flash of glory
Nevermore to grace the night...

[Intro] x4 (after fade-in repeats and drum/bass intro)

[Riff 1a] x1
[Riff 1b] x1
[Riff 1a] x1

[Riff 2a] x1

[Riff 3] x2 (no Asus2 second time)

[Riff 4a] x1
[Riff 4b] x1
[Riff 4a] x1

(tacet during drum fill)

[Riff 4a] x1
[Riff 4b] x1
[Riff 4a] x1

[Fill 1]:
e:---------------------------|
B:---------------------------|
G:---------------------------|
D:---------------------------|
A:-------2~-3~s5~-6~s9~-10~--|
E:--3~-4~--------------------|

[Riff 6a] x9
[Riff 6b] x1

(A) (C)
Invisible to telescopic eye.
(A) (C)
Infinity, the star that would not die.

A [Riff 2a] x1
All who dare to cross her course

A [Riff 2a] x1
are swallowed by a fearsome force,

[Fill 2] x2 /w lyrics:
e:-------0~--------0--------------0~--------0------------------------|
B:-------0~------0---0------------0~------0---0------------0~--------|
G:-7--6--4~----4---------5--4-----3~----3---------7-6-4-5--2~--------|
D:-7--6--4~--4-----------5--4-----4~--4-----------7-6-4-5--2~--------|
A:-5--4--2~--------------3--2-----4~--------------5-4-2-3--0~--------|
E:--------------------------------2~---------------------------------|

Through the void, to be destroyed, or is there something more?
Atomized at the core, or through the Astral Door,

G G
to soar...

Play: C - F - D - G, then:

(C) (F) (D) (G)
e:---------------------------------------|
B:---------------------------------------|
G:-9~---10~---7~----12b14r12~------------|
D:---------------------------------------|
A:---------------------------------------|
E:---------------------------------------|

[133211]
C F D G
I set a course just east of Lyra, northwest of Pegasus.
[133211]
C F D G
Flew into the light of Deneb, sailed across the Milky Way.
[133211]
C F D G
On my ship, the Rocinante, wheeling through the galaxies,
[133211]
C F D G
headed for the heart of Cygnus, headlong into mystery.

G
e:-------------------------------------------------|
B:--3-3-3-3--3-3-3-3--3-3-3-3--3-3-3-3-------------|
G:--4-4-4-4--4-4-4-4--4-4-4-4--4-4-4-4-------------|
D:--5-5-5-5--5-5-5-5--5-5-5-5--5-5-5-5-------------|
A:--5-5-5-5--5-5-5-5--5-5-5-5--5-5-5-5-------------|
E:--3-3-3-3--3-3-3-3--3-3-3-3--3-3-3-3-------------|

Cm
The X-ray is her siren song;

Ab
my ship cannot resist her long.

F [Fill 1] x1 [Begin Solo]
Nearer to my deadly goal until the Black Hole gains control.

[Guitar Solo] /w wah-wah pedal over Cm - Ab - F - G - Eb progression

e:-20~-20-20-18-17--------------------------------------------------|
B:-----------------20-18-18~--20-18-17~-----------------------------|
G:--------------------------------------12-12-13-13-14-14-15-15-16--|
D:------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:------------------------------------------------------------------|

e:--------------------20-18-17------17-----------------------------|
B:------------------------------20-----20--18~\--------------------|
G:-16-17-17b19~~r17-----------------------------------14--------12-|
D:----------------------------------------------12-12----12--10----|
A:-----------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-----------------------------------------------------------------|

e:-----------------------------------------------------|-10~-15~-18~|
B:-----------------------------------------------------|------------|
G:-----------------------------------------------------|------------|
D:-------10~\-----15p13p12---------------------/17\----|------------|
A:--------------------------15p13p12-------------------|------------|
E:-------------------------------------14--14----------|------------|
/\
[Fill 1] x1, then end of solo (/w wah-wah) ---------------||


[Interlude] - This tab assumes that this section begins right at the last
Cm chord of the solo
C
e:----------------------------------------------------------|
B:----------------------------------------------------------|
G:o--------------------------------------------------------o|
D:o---10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10---o|
A:----------------------------------------------------------|
E:---8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8------|

Ab B
e:----------------------------------------------|
B:----------------------------------------------|
G:o--------------------------------------------o|
D:o---6----6------9---9-----10--10--10--10-----o|
A:----------------------------------------------|
E:--4----4------7---7-----8---8---8---8---------|

e:------------------------------------------|
B:------------------------------------------|
G:o----------------------------------------o|
D:o---10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10--o|
A:------------------------------------------|
E:---8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8-----|

e:-----------------------------------------------|
B:-----------------------------------------------|
G:o---------------------------------------------o|
D:o---6----6------9---9-----10--10--10--10------o|
A:-----------------------------------------------|
E:--4----4------7---7-----8---8---8---8----------|

e:-----------------------------------------|
B:-----------------------------------------|
G:-----------------------------------------|
D:---10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10---|
A:-----------------------------------------|
E:--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8-----|

[bass and drums fill on 2nd repeat]
e:-----------------------------------------------|
B:-----------------------------------------------|
G:o---------------------------------------------o|
D:o---6----6------9---9-----10--10--10--10------o|
A:-----------------------------------------------|
E:--4----4------7---7-----8---8---8---8----------|

e:-----------------------------------------|-----------------|
B:-----------------------------------------|-----------------|
G:o---------------------------------------o|-----------------|
D:o--10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10--o|----10-10--------|
A:-----------------------------------------|-----------------|
E:--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8-----|---8--8----------|

Bb A Ab G F# F
e:-------------------------------------------------|
B:-------------------------------------------------|
G:-------------------------------------------------|
D:---9---9---9---9---8---8---7---7---6---5---4---3-|
A:-------------------------------------------------|
E:-7---7---7---7---6---6---5---5---4---3---2---1---|

[Repeat 8 times] [Repeat 4 times]
(E) (F#)
e:-------------------------|-----------------------------|
B:-------------------------|-----------------------------|
G:-------------------------|-----------------------------|
D:----2~----------2--------|--------4~-----------4-------|
A:-------------------------|-----------------------------|
E:--0~---0-0--0-0---0------|----2~------2-2--2-2---2-----|


[Block 1]:
_
[Riff 4a] x1 |
[Riff 4c] x1 |
[Riff 4a] x1 |----repeat this whole block four times
[Riff 2b] x1 _|

[Block 1] x1 /w lyrics:

Spinning, whirling, still descending, like a spiral sea, unending!!!

[Riff 5a] x1
[Riff 5b] x1
[Riff 5a] x1
[Riff 2b] x1

[Riff 5a] x1
[Riff 5b] x1
[Riff 5a] x1
[Riff 2a] x1

[Riff 5a] x1
[Riff 5b] x1
[Riff 5a] x1
[Riff 2b] x1

[Riff 5a] x1
[Riff 5b] x1
[Riff 5a] x1
[Riff 2a] x1

Continue 1x With lyrics:

Sound and fury drown my heart, every nerve is torn apart!!!!!

Wallop C repeatedly

End on Cm

Strum while fading out:

Cm Ebm Em9 Em
e:--3----------6----------0-----0-|
B:--4----------7----------0-----0-| (fade out on 3rd repeat)
G:--5----------8----------0-----0-|
D:--5----------8----------4-----2-|
A:--3----------6----------2-----2-|
E:------------------------0-----0-|

Return to RUSH Tablature »

Official RUSH Tablature & Sheet Music »