Rush - High Water guitar tab

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Rush - High Water guitar tab

Rush: High Water
From the album Hold Your Fire (Mercury Records)
Copyright 1987 Core Music Publishing
Music by Lee and Lifeson
Lyrics by Peart

Comments/corrections to Rich Soto 

Transcription by C.D. Bruce 

You asked for it!  Here is a draft of High Water.

(Once again..."single handedly"!)

Mind you, this is a "work in progress".  I'll tab the lead work in the
next couple of days.  This is a good start.  I think this is one of the
best songs on Hold Your Fire (my personal favorite is "Mission"), the
only "problem" is that it is heavily laden with synth.  It has the
typical Lifeson chords in it (sus2 chords) which makes it sound
different.  There is two primary guitar sounds used, a crisp clean
tone and an overdriven tone.  I split the tab in various places to
indicate when both guitars are playing simultaneously (Alex!...you and
your damn overdubbing!).  In some places I've tabbed the synth chords.

Have fun...

Drum intro (guitar tacet for 2 bars)

  Clean tone w/either "chorus" or "dimension" effect
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R
D|<12>-----------------------------|<12>-----------------------------|1
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|------------<12>-----------------|-------------<12>----------------|

e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T
G|<12>-----------------------------|<12>-----------------------------|R
D|------------<7>------------------|------------<7>------------------|1
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R
D|<12>-----------------------------|<12>-----------------------------|1
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|------------<12>-----------------|-------------<12>----------------|

   Csus2
e|-----------------3---------------|-----------------3---------------|G
B|---------3-----------3-----------|---------3-----------3-----------|T
G|o----5-------5-----------5---5---|-----5-------5-----------5---5--o|R
D|o5-------------------------------|-5------------------------------o|1
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

   Asus2
e|-----------------0---------------|-----------------0---------------|G |
B|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|T |
G|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|R |
D|-2-------------------------------|-2-------------------------------|1 |
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
                                                                        |
   A                                                                    |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G |
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T |
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R |
D|-7~------------------------------|---------------------------------|2 |
A|-7~------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|-5~------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |

   Asus2
e|-----------------0---------------|-----------------0---------------|G |
B|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|T |
G|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|R |
D|-2-------------------------------|-2-------------------------------|1 |
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
                                                                        |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G |
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T |
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R |
D|<7>~~~---------------------------|---------------------------------|2 |
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |

   Csus2
e|-----------------3---------------|-----------------3---------------|G |
B|---------3-----------3-----------|---------3-----------3-----------|T |
G|-----5-------5-----------5---5---|-----5-------5-----------5---5---|R |
D|-5-------------------------------|-5-------------------------------|1 |
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
                                                                        |
   1       2       3       4         1       2       3       4          |
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8     1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8      |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G |
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T |
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R |
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|2 |
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |


e|-----------------3---------------|-----------------3---------------|G |
B|---------3-----------3-----------|---------3-----------3-----------|T |
G|-----5-------5-----------5---5---|-----5-------5-----------5---5---|R |
D|-5-------------------------------|-5-------------------------------|1 |
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
                                                                        |
   1       2       3       4         1       2       3       4          |
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8     1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8      |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G |
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T |
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R |
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|2 |
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |

   Gsus2
e|-----------------10--------------|-----------------10--------------|G |
B|---------10----------10----------|---------10----------10----------|T |
G|-----12------12----------12--12--|-----12------12----------12--12--|R |
D|-12------------------------------|-12------------------------------|1 |
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
                                                                        |
   1       2       3       4         1       2       3       4          |
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8     1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8      |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G |
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T |
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R |
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|2 |
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |

   Fsus2
e|-----------------8---------------|-----------------8---------------|G |
B|---------8-----------8-----------|---------8-----------8-----------|T |
G|-----10-------10---------10--10--|-----10------10----------10------|R |
D|-10------------------------------|-10------------------------------|1 |
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
                                                                        |
   1       2       3       4         1       2       3       4          |
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8     1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8      |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G |
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T |
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R |
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|2 |
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |


  (1st verse synth can be reproduced by using a clean tone
   with a tremolo effect otherwise use an overdriven tone
   These chords below should be used for the first verse only.)
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
G|-7-----------9-------------------|-7-----------9-------------------|
D|-7-----------9-------------------|-7-----------9-------------------|
A|-5-----------7-------------------|-5-----------7-------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-5-----------7-------------------|-5-----------7-------------------|
A|-5-----------7-------------------|-5-----------7-------------------|
E|-3-----------5-------------------|-3-----------5-------------------|

 (%)
  Repeat 4 times
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G
B|-3-------------------------------|-3-------------------------------|T
G|o2-----------1-------------------|-2-----------1-------------------|R
D|o0-----------2-------------------|-0-----------2-------------------|2
A|-------------2-------------------|-------------2-------------------|
E|-------------0-------------------|-------------0-------------------|

e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T
G|-4-----------6-------------------|-4-----------5------------------o|R
D|-5-----------7-------------------|-5-----------7------------------o|2
A|-5-----------7-------------------|-5-----------7-------------------|
E|-3-----------5-------------------|-3-----------5-------------------|

   F#m (synth)
e|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
G|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|

   GaddA                   Coda (+)
e|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
G|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-7-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-5-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------|

                                                                 A
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G
B|-7-----------9-------------------|-8-----------10~-----------------|T
G|-7-----------9-------------------|-7-----------9-~-------------2-2-|R
D|---------------------------------|-----------------------------2-2-|2
A|---------------------------------|-----------------------------0-0-|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

   Asus2
e|-----------------0---------------|-----------------0---------------|G |
B|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|T |
G|----2-------2-----------2---2----|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|R |
D|-2-------------------------------|-2-------------------------------|1 |
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
                                                                        |
   A                                                                    |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G |
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T |
G|-2~------------------------------|(2)------------------------------|R |
D|-2~------------------------------|(2)------------------------------|2 |
A|-0~------------------------------|(0)------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |

   Asus2
e|-----------------0---------------|-----------------0---------------|G |
B|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|T |
G|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|R |
D|-2-------------------------------|-2-------------------------------|1 |
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
                                                                        |
                                                                        |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G |
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T |
G|(2)------------------------------|(2)--------------------------2-2-|R |
D|(2)------------------------------|(2)--------------------------2-2-|2 |
A|(0)------------------------------|(0)--------------------------0-0-|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |

   Asus2
e|-----------------0---------------|-----------------0---------------|G |
B|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|T |
G|----2-------2-----------2---2----|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|R |
D|-2-------------------------------|-2-------------------------------|1 |
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
                                                                        |
   A                                                                    |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G |
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T |
G|-2~------------------------------|(2)------------------------------|R |
D|-2~------------------------------|(2)------------------------------|2 |
A|-0~------------------------------|(0)------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |

   Asus2
e|-----------------0---------------|-----------------0---------------|G |
B|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|T |
G|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|R |
D|-2-------------------------------|-2-------------------------------|1 |
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
                                                                        |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G |
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T |
G|(2)------------------------------|(2)--------------------------2-2-|R |
D|(2)------------------------------|(2)--------------------------2-2-|2 |
A|(0)------------------------------|(0)--------------------------0-0-|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |

   Asus2
e|-----------------0---------------|-----------------0---------------|G |
B|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|T |
G|----2-------2-----------2---2---|-----2-------2-----------2---2----|R |
D|-2-------------------------------|-2-------------------------------|1 |
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
                                                                        |
   A                                                                    |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G |
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T |
G|-2~------------------------------|(2)------------------------------|R |
D|-2~------------------------------|(2)------------------------------|2 |
A|-0~------------------------------|(0)------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |

   Asus2
e|-----------------0---------------|-----------------0---------------|G |
B|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|T |
G|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|R |
D|-2-------------------------------|-2-------------------------------|1 |
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
                                                                        |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G |
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T |
G|(2)------------------------------|(2)------------------------------|R |
D|(2)------------------------------|(2)------------------------------|2 |
A|(0)------------------------------|(0)------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |

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

   F#m
e|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
G|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|

  Repeat 5 times
   D           E                     D           E
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|-3-------------------------------|-3-------------------------------|
G|o2-----------1-------------------|-2-----------1-------------------|
D|o0-----------2-------------------|-0-----------2-------------------|
A|-------------2-------------------|-------------2-------------------|
E|-------------0-------------------|-------------0-------------------|

   G           A                     G           A
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
G|-4-----------6-------------------|-4-----------5------------------o|
D|-5-----------7-------------------|-5-----------7------------------o|
A|-5-----------7-------------------|-5-----------7-------------------|
E|-3-----------5-------------------|-3-----------5-------------------|

   F#m (synth)
e|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
G|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|

   GaddA (synth)
e|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
G|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-7-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-5-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------|

                                                                 A
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G
B|-7-----------9-------------------|-8-----------10~-----------------|T
G|-7-----------9-------------------|-7-----------9-~-------------2-2-|R
D|---------------------------------|-----------------------------2-2-|2
A|---------------------------------|-----------------------------0-0-|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

   A                                                                    |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G |
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T |
G|o2~------------------------------|(2)------------------------------|R |
D|o2~------------------------------|(2)------------------------------|2 |
A|-0~------------------------------|(0)------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |

                                                                        |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G |
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T |
G|(2)------------------------------|(2)--------------------------2-2o|R |
D|(2)------------------------------|(2)--------------------------2-2o|2 |
A|(0)------------------------------|(0)--------------------------0-0-|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |

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

   F#m
e|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
G|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|

Solo (Later)  don't worry I'll do it, its an easy one!
   1       2       3       4         1       2       3       4
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8     1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

  Repeat 5 times
   D           E                     D           E
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|-3-------------------------------|-3-------------------------------|
G|o2-----------1-------------------|-2-----------1-------------------|
D|o0-----------2-------------------|-0-----------2-------------------|
A|-------------2-------------------|-------------2-------------------|
E|-------------0-------------------|-------------0-------------------|

   G           A                     G           A
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
G|-4-----------6-------------------|-4-----------5------------------o|
D|-5-----------7-------------------|-5-----------7------------------o|
A|-5-----------7-------------------|-5-----------7-------------------|
E|-3-----------5-------------------|-3-----------5-------------------|

   F#m (synth)
e|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
G|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|

   GaddA (synth)
e|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
G|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-7-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-5-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------|

  Repeat 6 times
   Csus2
e|-----------------3---------------|-----------------3---------------|G
B|---------3-----------3-----------|---------3-----------3-----------|T
G|o----5-------5-----------5---5---|-----5-------5-----------5---5--o|R
D|o5-------------------------------|-5------------------------------o|1
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

   Bb (synth)
e|-1-------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
B|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
G|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
D|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
A|-1-------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
                                                                        |
   1       2       3       4         1       2       3       4          |
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8     1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8      |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G |
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T |
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R |
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|2 |
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |

   Am (synth)
e|-0-------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
B|-1-------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
G|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
D|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
A|-0-------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
                                                                        |
   1       2       3       4         1       2       3       4          |
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8     1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8      |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G |
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T |
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R |
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|2 |
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |

   G (synth)
e|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
B|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
G|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
D|-5-------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
A|-5-------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
                                                                        |
   1       2       3       4         1       2       3       4          |
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8     1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8      |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G |
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T |
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R |
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|2 |
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|  |
   F
e|-1-------------------------------|---------------------------------|G
B|-1-------------------------------|---------------------------------|T
G|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|R
D|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------|1
A|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-1-------------------------------|---------------------------------|

Lyrics

When the waters rose in the darkness
In the wake of the endless flood
It flowed into our memory -- it flowed into our blood

When something broke the surface
Just to see the starry dome --
We still feel that relation
When the water takes us home
In the flying spray of the ocean
The water takes you home --
The water takes you home --

Springing from the weight of the mountains
Like the heart of the earth would burst
Flowing out from marble fountains
In the dreams of a desert thirst

Something swam through the jungles
Where the mighty rivers roam --
Something breaks the silence
When the water takes you home
I hear the wordless voices
When the water takes me home --

Waves that crash on the shoreline
Torrents of tropical rain streaming down
Beyond our memory
Streaming down inside our veins

When something left the ocean
To crawl high above the foam --
We still feel that elation
When the water takes us home
In a driving rain of redemption
The water takes me home...

Tabulature Explanation:
| = bar line
~ = vibrato or held note
x = percussive note with no pitch; muted note
. = staccato; mute the note immediately after striking it
h = hammer
p = pull
s = slide (used when \ or / don't fit)
^ = bend string up to indicated pitch/fret shown in parenthesis ()
r = release bend to indicated string/fret
t = fret board tap (not many of these with Rush)
/ = slide up
\ = slide down
<5> = natural harmonic (lightly touch the string at fret indicated)
[5] = artificial harmonic (use thumb to follow through the pick attack)
o =\ repeat sign
o =/
D.C. = "Da capo" - means "from the head", when you see these initials you
'
       go back to the beginning of the piece of music.
D.S. = "Dal segno" - means "from the sign", go back in the tabulature
       only as far as the (%) sign.
Coda = A passage at the end of a movement or composition that brings
       it to a formal close.
Al Coda = means "to the tail", tells you that you must go to the end
          section which starts with the Coda sign (+).
R.F. = repeat and fade
rit. = "ritardando" - Gradually slowing in tempo; retarding.


Other pertinent information:
  Tempo:  1/4 note = ???
  Tuning:  Standard [EADGBe].
  Key signature:  ?
  Effects:  Overdrive, Reverb, Chorus or Dimension