Rush - Xanadu guitar tab
Rush: Xanadu
From the album A Farewell to Kings (Mercury Records)
Copyright 1977 Core Music Publishing
Music by Lee, Lifeson, and Peart
Lyrics by Peart
Comments/corrections to Branden Robinson
Transcription by Charles Grogan, Jimmy Pena, C. D. Bruce, Rich Soto and
Branden Robinson
intro - free time, every note is gradually swelled via volume control
time indices for repeated parts indicate first occurrence
[0:00]
e:--------|-------------|-----------------|--------------------------|
B:--------|--5----------|-[5]-------------|--------------------------|
G:--------|----4--------|----[4]----------|o------------------------o|
D:--------|------2------|--------[2]------|o---2~-------------------o|
A:--------|-------------|-----------------|----------4~-----2~-------|
E:-0------|--------0----|------------[0]--|-------0------0-----------|
[0:31]
e:-<12>-------<7>----------------------------------------------------|
B:------<12>---------------------------------------------------------|
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:----------------------<7>-----------<5>------<7>----------<12>-----|
E:-----------------<7>-------<7>--<4>-----<5>------<7>-<4>-----------|
[0:38]
e:-<12>-------<9>------------------<5>-------------------------------|
B:------<12>------<9>------------------<5>---------------------------|
G:--------------------<9>-----<9>---------------------<5>------------|
D:------------------------<9>--------------------<5>-----------<7>---|
A:-------------------------------------------<5>-----------<7>-------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
[0:46]
e:-12~--0--7--9~---0-4-5--0-|--12~--0-7-9--0---------------7---------|
B:--------------------------|----------------9--10----7--9---10-9~---|
G:o------------------------o|----------------------9-----------------|
D:o------------------------o|----------------------------------------|
A:--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
E:--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
[1:01]
e:--16--12-14------|---16--12-14-------------------------------------|
B:------------12~--|-------------12--16-14----------12-14~-----------|
G:o---------------o|------------------------13-14~----------13-14~---|
D:o---------------o|-------------------------------------------------|
A:-----------------|-------------------------------------------------|
E:-----------------|-------------------------------------------------|
[1:16]
e:-----------|----------------------------------------------------12-|
B:-----------|---10--9----------10~-9~-------------------------12----|
G:-----------|---------9--7~-----------9--7~-----11--9----9-11-------|
D:-14--12~---|--------------------------------9--------9-------------|
A:-----------|-------------------------------------------------------|
E:-----------|-------------------------------------------------------|
[1:30]
e:---------------------12-----------|--------------------------------|
B:-12---------------12----12--------|--------------------------------|
G:----11--9---9--11----------11--9--|--------------------------------|
D:----------9-----------------------|----9-11----9----7---7----------|
A:----------------------------------|-11-------7---9--5---4---7---7--|
E:----------------------------------|-------------------------5---4--|
[1:37] [1:41]
e:---------------<5>--0----|-----------------------------------------|
B:-<12>-<12>-<7>-----------|-----------------------------------------|
G:-------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
D:-------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------|-------<7>------------<7>----------------|
E:-------------------------|--<12>-----<7>--<9>-------<7>--0---------|
[1:49]
e:--------11---------12--|
B:--10-12----9--10-------|
G:o----------------9----o|
D:o---------------------o|
A:-----------------------|
E:-----------------------| repeat until free time ends at 2:03
Riff A1 (7/8 time)
24x
e e e e e e e
e:------12----------11-----------------------------------------------|
B:----------10--12------9---10---------------------------------------|
G:o-9---------------------------------------------------------------o|
D:o-----------------------------------------------------------------o|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
Riff A2 (7/8 time) (with riff A1)
h+ Q+ h+ Q h+ Q+ h+ Q h+ Q+ h+ Q
e:---------|---------|---------|---------|--------|------------------|
B:---------|---------|---------|---------|--------|------------------|
G:o--------|---------|--5--(5)-|-(5)-(5)-|--------|------------------|
D:o-2--(2)-|-(2)-(2)-|--5--(5)-|-(5)-(5)-|--5-(5)-|-(5)-(5)----------|
A:--2--(2)-|-(2)-(2)-|--3--(3)-|-(3)-(3)-|--5-(5)-|-(5)-(5)----------|
E:--0--(0)-|-(0)-(0)-|---------|---------|--3-(3)-|-(3)-(3)----------|
3x (4/4 time) (5/4 time) (4/4 time)
h+ Q+ h+ Q w+ w+ w+ w+q+ h+ Q e+
e:---------|----------|-----|------|------|-------------|------------|
B:---------|----------|-----|------|------|-------------|------------|
G:--2--(2)-|-(2)-(2)-o|-----|------|------|-------------|------------|
D:--2--(2)-|-(2)-(2)-o|--2--|-(2)--|-(2)--|-(2)---------|-(2)-(2)----|
A:--0--(0)-|-(0)-(0)--|--2--|-(2)--|-(2)--|-(2)---------|-(2)-(2)----|
E:---------|----------|--0--|-(0)--|-(0)--|-(0)---------|-(0)-(0)-0--|
Riff B (4/4 time)
e e h+ e e+ e e h+ e e+
e:-----------0---(0)-----|-----------0---(0)------------|
B:-----------0---(0)-----|-----------0---(0)------------|
G:-----------4---(4)-----|-----------4---(4)------------|
D:-----------2---(2)-----|-----------2---(2)------------|
A:-----------2---(2)-----|-----------2---(2)------------|
E:---(0)--0--0---(0)--0--|---(0)--0--0---(0)--0---------|
e e h+ (e) e+
e:-----------0---(0)-----|
B:-----------0---(0)-----|
G:-----------4---(4)-----|
D:-----------2---(2)-----|
A:-----------2---(2)--5--|
E:---(0)--0--0---(0)-----|
Riff C1 (4/4 time)
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e+
e:--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
B:--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
G:--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
D:--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
A:-(5)-4-------/9--7--5--4--|--5--4----------------------------------|
E:--------7--5--------------|--------7--5-/9--7--5--0----------------|
Riff C2 (4/4 time)
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
e:--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
B:--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
G:--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
D:--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
A:-(5)-4-------/9--7--5--4--|--7--5--4-----5--4----------------------|
E:--------7--5--------------|-----------7--------7--5----------------|
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e w+ w
e:--------------------------|--------------------------|--0---|-(0)--|
B:--------------------------|--------------------------|--0---|-(0)--|
G:--------------------------|--------------------------|--4---|-(4)--|
D:--------------------------|--------------------------|--2---|-(2)--|
A:--------------------------|-----------------------2--|--2---|-(2)--|
E:-/9--7--5--4--7--5--4--2--|--5--4--2--0--4--2--0-----|--0---|-(0)--|
Riff D1 (7/8 time)
e e e e e s s s s e e e e e q
e:--0-----0-----0--0--0--0--0--|--0-----0-----0--0-------------------|
B:--12----12----12-12-12-12-12-|--12----12----12-12s10---------------|
G:--13----13----13-13-13-13-13-|--13----13----13-13s11---------------|
D:--14----14----14-14-14-14-14-|--14----14----14-14s12---------------|
A:--14----14----14-14-14-14-14-|--14----14----14-14s12---------------|
E:--0-----0-----0--0--0--0--0--|--0-----0-----0--0-------------------|
e e e e e s s s s e e e e e q
e:--0-----0-----0--0--0--0--0--|--0-----0-----0--0-------------------|
B:--10----10----10-10-10-10-10-|--10----10----10-10s7----------------|
G:--11----11----11-11-11-11-11-|--11----11----11-11s8----------------|
D:--12----12----12-12-12-12-12-|--12----12----12-12s9----------------|
A:--12----12----12-12-12-12-12-|--12----12----12-12s9----------------|
E:--0-----0-----0--0--0--0--0--|--0-----0-----0--0-------------------|
e e e e e s s s s e e e e e q
e:--0-----0-----0--0--0--0--0--|--0-----0-----0--0-------------------|
B:--7-----7-----7--7--7--7--7--|--7-----7-----7--7s5-----------------|
G:--8-----8-----8--8--8--8--8--|--8-----8-----8--8s6-----------------|
D:--9-----9-----9--9--9--9--8--|--9-----9-----9--9s7-----------------|
A:--9-----9-----9--9--9--9--9--|--9-----9-----9--9s7-----------------|
E:--0-----0-----0--0--0--0--0--|--0-----0-----0--0-------------------|
e e e e e s s s s e e e e e e e
e:--0-----0-----0--0--0--0--0--|--0-----0-----0--0-------------------|
B:--5-----5-----5--5--5--5--5--|--3-----3-----3--3-------------------|
G:--6-----6-----6--6--6--6--6--|--4-----4-----4--4-------------------|
D:--7-----7-----7--7--7--7--7--|--5-----5-----5--5-------------------|
A:--7-----7-----7--7--7--7--7--|--5-----5-----5--5-------------------|
E:--0-----0-----0--0--0--0--0--|--0-----0-----0--0-------------------|
Keyboard (arranged for guitar) played over above riff
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:-5s12~-----------------------------5s12~-------12--10-9-10-9--10---|
G:-------------9~--------7~------------------------------------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:-12~----12--10-9-10-9--10--12~--10-9-------------------------------|
G:------------------------------------9~------9--9--9-9-9--7--7--7--7|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:----------|
B:--5~------|
G:----------|
D:----------|
A:----------|
E:----------|
Riff D2 (7/8 time)
e e e e e s s s s e e e e e q
e:--0-----0-----0--0--0--0--0--|--0-----0-----0--0-------------------|
B:--12----12----12-12-12-12-12-|--12----12----12-12s10---------------|
G:--13----13----13-13-13-13-13-|--13----13----13-13s11---------------|
D:--14----14----14-14-14-14-14-|--14----14----14-14s12---------------|
A:--14----14----14-14-14-14-14-|--14----14----14-14s12---------------|
E:--0-----0-----0--0--0--0--0--|--0-----0-----0--0-------------------|
e e e e e s s s s e e e e e q
e:--0-----0-----0--0--0--0--0--|--0-----0-----0--0-------------------|
B:--10----10----10-10-10-10-10-|--10----10----10-10s7----------------|
G:--11----11----11-11-11-11-11-|--11----11----11-11s8----------------|
D:--12----12----12-12-12-12-12-|--12----12----12-12s9----------------|
A:--12----12----12-12-12-12-12-|--12----12----12-12s9----------------|
E:--0-----0-----0--0--0--0--0--|--0-----0-----0--0-------------------|
e e e e e s s s s e e e e e q
e:--0-----0-----0--0--0--0--0--|--0-----0-----0--0-------------------|
B:--7-----7-----7--7--7--7--7--|--7-----7-----7--7s5-----------------|
G:--8-----8-----8--8--8--8--8--|--8-----8-----8--8s6-----------------|
D:--9-----9-----9--9--9--9--8--|--9-----9-----9--9s7-----------------|
A:--9-----9-----9--9--9--9--9--|--9-----9-----9--9s7-----------------|
E:--0-----0-----0--0--0--0--0--|--0-----0-----0--0-------------------|
q e e e e e e e e e e e e
e:--0--------0--------|-----------0----------------------------------|
B:--0-----0-----0-----|--------0-----------0-------------------------|
G:--6--6-----------6--|-----4-----------3----------------------------|
D:--7-----------------|--5-----------4-------------------------------|
A:--7-----------------|--5-----------4-------------------------------|
E:--5-----------------|--3-----------2-------------------------------|
Riff E
e:----0-----------0------0--0--0--------0-----------0------0--0--0---|
B:------0-----------0----0--0--0----------0-----------0----0--0--0---|
G:--------1-----------1--4--3--6------------1-----------1--4--3--8---|
D:--2-----------2--------5--4--7------2-----------2--------5--4--9---|
A:--2---------2----------5--4--7----2-----------2----------5--4--9---|
E:--0-------0------------3--2--5--0-----------0------------3--2--7---|
Riff F (Coleridge verse)
e:---0--0--0-----------0------|---0--0--0-----------0----------------|
B:---0-----0--------0-----0---|---0-----0--------0-----0-------------|
G:o--1-----3-----3-----------o|o--8-----6-----6---------------------o|
D:o--2-----4--4--------------o|o--9-----7--7------------------------o|
A:---2-----4------------------|---9-----7----------------------------|
E:---0-----2------------------|---7-----5----------------------------|
Riff G
e:--2--0--3--1-------------------------------------------------------|
B:--3--1--3--1-------------------------------------------------------|
G:--2--2--4--2-------------------------------------------------------|
D:--0--2--5--3--2-2-2-2---2--2-2-------------------------------------|
A:-----0--5--3--2-2-2-2---2--2-2-------------------------------------|
E:--------3--1--0-0-0-0---0--0-0-------------------------------------|
Riff H (verses 1 and 3)
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G:---------------2-2-2-2---------4--2-----2------4--2-----2----------|
D:--2-2-2-2---5--2-2-2-2---5--2--4--2--5--2---2--4--2--5--2----------|
A:--2-2-2-2---5--0-0-0-0---5--2--2--0--5--0---2--2--0--5--0----------|
E:--0-0-0-0---3------------3--0--------3------0--------3-------------|
e:----------------------------0--------------------------------------|
B:----------------------------0--------------------------------------|
G:---------------2-2-2-2------4--------------------------------------|
D:--2-2-2-2---5--2-2-2-2---5--2--------------------------------------|
A:--2-2-2-2---5--0-0-0-0---5--2--------------------------------------|
E:--0-0-0-0---3------------3--0--------------------------------------|
Fill 1 (verse 3)
e:--13b15~---------|
B:-----------------|
G:-----------------|
D:-----------------|
A:-----------------|
E:-----------------| uses delay of approx. 300 msec
Riff I ("Xanadu")
e:--0----3----2------------------------------------------------------|
B:--0----3----3------------------------------------------------------|
G:--1----0----2------------------------------------------------------|
D:--2----0----0------------------------------------------------------|
A:--2----2----0------------------------------------------------------|
E:--0----3----2------------------------------------------------------|
Riff J (4/4 time) (verses 2 and 4) (12-string)
e e e e e e e e e e e e q e e
e:--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
B:--------3-----------3-----|--------3-------------------------------|
G:-----2-----0-----------0--|-----------0----------------------------|
D:--0--------------3--------|-----2----------------------------------|
A:--------------1-----------|--3-------------------------------------|
E:--------------------------|--------------3--2--0-------------------|
| |
| (accompaniment if no 12-string available) |
| e e e e e e e e e e e e q e e |
e:--------------------------|-----0----------------------------------|
B:--3-----3-----------3-----|--1-----3-------------------------------|
G:-----2-----0--3--------0--|-----------0----------------------------|
D:-----------------3--------|--------------5--4--2-------------------|
A:--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
E:--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
Keyboard (arranged for guitar) played over above riff
e:--------19-----17~-------------------------------------------------|
B:--19-20----20-------20-19-17~--------------------------------------|
G:-------------------------------19-18-16~--18-19--14~------17~--16--|
D:-----------------------------------------------------15~-----------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G:--14---------------------------------------------------------------|
D:-----17--12~--p0h12~-p0h12p0h12~-----------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
Riff K
e:--2----2----2------------------------------------------------------|
B:--3----3----3------------------------------------------------------|
G:--2----2----2------------------------------------------------------|
D:--0----0----0------------------------------------------------------|
A:--0----0----0------------------------------------------------------|
E:--2----2----2------------------------------------------------------|
Riff L (4/4 time) (12-string)
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
e:--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
B:--------3-----------3-----|--------3-------------------------------|
G:-----2-----0-----------0--|-----------0----------------------------|
D:--0--------------3--------|-----2----------------------------------|
A:--------------1-----------|--3-------------------------------------|
E:--------------------------|--------------3--3--2--0----------------|
| |
| (accompaniment if no 12-string available) |
| e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e |
e:--------------------------|-----0----------------------------------|
B:--3-----3-----------3-----|--1-----3-------------------------------|
G:-----2-----0--3--------0--|-----------0----------------------------|
D:-----------------3--------|--------------5--5--4--2----------------|
A:--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
E:--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
Keyboard (arranged for guitar) played over riff F
e:-----12~----------------------------0~-----------------------------|
B:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------------|
(w/ bar) (w/ bar)
Solo (over riff F)
e:-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:-----------17~--19~--19b21~--21b22~------------------------------------|
G:-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D:-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:--0b2--0b2-------------------------------------------------------------|
|------- (behind the nut bend, or pull up on floating tremolo)
e:-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B:-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G:-------9-11b13-(13)r11~------11-11-9-11b13-(13)r11p9----9~-------------|
D:--9-11------------------9-11-------------------------11----------------|
A:-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:------------------------------------------------------------------12---|
B:-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G:--7-6-4-------------------------------11b12r11-9~--9b11--9b11r9~-------|
D:--------7-5-4-5-4------------------------------------------------------|
A:------------------7-5-4-0----------------------------------------------|
E:--------------------------2b3-(3)r2-0----------------------------------|
e:--15p12----12--15p12----12 15b17-15-15-15-15-14-12---------------------|
B:--------15-----------15----------------------------15-14-12------------|
G:------------------------------------------------------------14-13-12---|
D:-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:------------------------------------------------------12-15------------|
B:---------------------------------------------12h15----------15---------|
G:------------------------------------12h14----------14------------------|
D:--14-13-12--------------------12h14-------14---------------------------|
A:-----------14-13-12-----12h14------------------------------------------|
E:--------------------15-------------------------------------------------|
e:--12-15-----------------------------17b19-(19)r17-17-15s14-------------|
B:--------15-17b19--17b19-17-17b19r17------------------------17-15~-\----|
G:-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D:-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
e:------2-------------0-------------3----------------1---------|
B:--------3-------------1-------------3------------1-----------|
G:----2--------------------------------------------------------|
D:--0---------------2------------------------------------------|
A:----------------0---------------5--------------3-------------|
E:------------------------------3--------------1---------------|
Riff M (played over riff A1)
e:--0----0--0----0----0--0----0--------------------------------------|
B:--0----0--0----0----0--0----0--------------------------------------|
G:--4----4--4----4----4--4----4--------------------------------------|
D:--2----2--2----2----2--2----2--------------------------------------|
A:--2----2--2----2----2--2----2--------------------------------------|
E:--0----0--0----0----0--0----0--------------------------------------|
Riff N (12-string, fades in)
e:--------------12-0------------|
B:--------------------12-0------|
G:-----------13-----------------|
D:-----14-----------------------|
A:--------14--------------------|
E:--12--------------------------|
Keyboard (arranged for guitar) played over above riff
e:--11h12-11-9-----9----------------------|
B:-------------12-------------------------|
G:o-------------------11---11h13--11--9~-o|
D:o--------------------------------------o|
A:----------------------------------------|
E:----------------------------------------|
Lead (played over riff N)
e:-----------------------------------------------------------|
B:-----------------------------------------------------------|
G:-------------10s11-9-------9-------------------------------|
D:--12-11-9------------12-11---12-11-9--12-11-9-7--11-9-7-6--|
A:----------12-----------------------------------------------|
E:-----------------------------------------------------------|
e:-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B:-----------------------------------------------------------------|
G:-----------------------------------------------------------------|
D:--9-7-6-----7-6--------6-----------------------------------------|
A:--------9-------9--7-----9--7------------------------------------|
E:------------------------------9\---------------------------------|
Conclusion
e:--0----------0------------|--0--0-0-0--0-0-0-0---------------------|
B:--0----------0------------|--0--0-0-0--0-0-0-0---------------------|
G:--4----------9------------|--9--9-9-9--9-9-9-9---------------------|
D:--2----------9------------|--9--9-9-9--9-9-9-9---------------------|
A:--2----------7------------|--7--7-7-7--7-7-7-7---------------------|
E:--0----------0------------|--0--0-0-0--0-0-0-0---------------------|
repeatedly and rapidly
Remarks:
Standard tuning applies. Key is E.
By the way, there are at least three guitars in this song, 1
clean for the intro, one with distortion for the fast parts, the solo and
the riffs between [2:03] and [4:20], and a 12 string w/chorus for the
slow parts before and during Geddy's singing. The second guitar takes
over when the song speeds up.. "I have heard the whispered tales..." and
then returns to the chorused guitar when it slows back down.
Jimmy Pena - jimmy@walrus.com
Initially my task was to identify a few unnotated chords and glue together
Charles Grogan's and Jimmy Pena's work. The most significant edit was
my replacement of Jimmy's notation of Riff A at the end of the song; his
differed from Charles's, but the instances of the riff sounded identical
to me. I've since revised the D riffs and added rhythm notation to them.
Eventually the whole tab will be notated this way (except for the free
time part, of course). As yet this doesn't merit the rhythm-notation
version of the tablature explanation, so just remember that "q" means
quarter notes, "e" means eighths, and "s" sixteenths.
It is unclear to me whether the low E string should be muted for the
full-chord strumming in riffs D1 and D2. This part was played on an
electric 12-string so it sounds pretty muddy. Given that the high open E
is present as a "drone tone", harmonically it doesn't make a lot of
difference if you mute the low E or not.
Also made some corrections thanks to Jim Cirronella , Rich
Soto , and C. D. Bruce .
This song differs somewhat live. I ignore the _Exit...Stage Left_
version, instead concentrating on more recent recordings from
the Presto, Roll the Bones, and Counterparts tours, which are,
unfortunately, not officially available. It's a real shame, because
they did great versions of this song -- too bad they only played half
of it (stopping after riff K).
At any rate, the free time part obviously changes as it's improv. Alex
uses a digital delay for it, and palm mutes the last part (the part
that is the same as riff A1). In riff B, an E power chord replaces the
single bass note. In riff D, the strumming isn't quite as busy, and
in riff D2, the E and D chords are voiced differently -- fret them as
major bar chords and play only the three high strings, and you'll have
it. In general the arpeggios in riffs E and F are more arpeggiated. If
you have a recording you'll know what I mean.
Branden Robinson - branden@ecn.purdue.edu
Tablature explanation:
| - music separator, not a standard notation bar line
|----|
|----|
|o--o| repeat
|o--o|
|----|
|----|
h - hammer on
p - pull off
tr - trill
b - bend (use tremolo bar for downbend)
r - release bend
s - slide
/ - slide up
\ - slide down
~ - vibrato
t - tap (with strumming hand)
x - muted, struck string
() optional note, or note held from previous articulation
<> natural harmonics
[] artificial (pinch) harmonics
NH natural harmonics
AH artificial (pinch) harmonics
PM palm mute