Rush › The Pass Guitar Tab

Presto Tabs:

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The Pass Tab

Send "The Pass" Ringtone to your Cell Phone

Band - Rush
Song - The Pass

Tuning: standard

Intro/Verse:     (x2 for Intro/First Verse and facet for Second Verse)
e|-----6--|-(6)--|-----6--|-(6)--------------------------------------|
B|o----6--|-(6)-o|o----6--|-(6)-------------------------------------o|
G|-----7--|-(7)--|-----8--|-(8)--------------------------------------|
D|-----8--|-(8)--|-----8--|-(8)--------------------------------------|
A|o-------|-----o|o---(6)-|-(6)-------------------------------------o|
E|--------|------|--------|------------------------------------------|

e|-----6--|-(6)--|-----6--|-(6)-|-----6--|-(6)-1--1--1--1------------|
B|o----6--|-(6)-o|-----6--|-(6)-|-----6--|-(6)-1--1--1--1------------|
G|-----7--|-(7)--|-----8--|-(8)-|-----8--|-(8)-2--2--2--3------------|
D|-----8--|-(8)--|-----8--|-(8)-|-----8--|-(8)-3--3--3--3------------|
A|o-------|-----o|----(6)-|-(6)-|----(6)-|-(6)-3--3--3--1------------|
E|--------|------|--------|-----|--------|-----1--1--1---------------|

Prechorus:
e|--1-----------------|-----------------1--1--1--1-------------------|
B|--1-----------------|-----------------1--1--1--1-------------------|
G|--3-----3--------3--|-(3)-------3-----2--2--2--3-------------------|
D|--3--------3--------|-----1-h3--------3--3--3--3-------------------|
A|--1--1--------1-----|--------------1--3--3--3--1-------------------|
E|--------------------|-----------------1--1--1----------------------|

e|--1-----------------|-----------------1--1--1----------------------|
B|--1-----------------|-----------------1--1--1----------------------|
G|--3-----3--------3--|-(3)-------3-----2--2--2----------------------|
D|--3--------3--------|-----1-h3--------3--3--3----------------------|
A|--1--1--------1-----|--------------1--3--3--3--3/------------------|
E|--------------------|-----------------1--1--1--1/------------------|

e|--6-----------------|-----------1--1--1--1/------------------------|
B|--6-----------------|-----------1--1--1--1/------------------------|
G|--8-----8--------8--|-(8)-------2--2--2--2/------------------------|
D|--8--8-----6--------|-----------3--3--3--3/------------------------|
A|--6--6--------6-----|-----------3--3--3--3/------------------------|
E|-(6)----------------|-----------1--1--1--1/------------------------|

e|--6-----------------|----------------------------------------------|
B|--6-----------------|----------------------------------------------|
G|--8-----8--------8--|-(8)------------------------------------------|
D|--8--8-----6--------|----------------------------------------------|
A|--6--6--------6-----|----------------------------------------------|
E|-(6)----------------|----------------------------------------------|

Chorus:
e|--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------|----------------------------------------|
G|--------0--------0--------|--------0---------------0---------------|
D|-----3--------3--------3--|-----------0---------5-----5------------|
A|--5--------5--------5-----|-----3--------(5h)7---------------------|
E|--------------------------|--5-------------------------------------|

e|--------------------------|--------------1--1--1--1/---------------|
B|--------------------------|--------------1--1--1--1/---------------|
G|--------0--------0--------|--------0-----2--2--2--2/---------------|
D|-----3--------3--------3--|-----------0--3--3--3--3/---------------|
A|--5--------5--------5-----|-----3--------3--3--3--3/---------------|
E|--------------------------|--5-----------1--1--1--1/---------------|

e|--6-----6--6--6--6--6--|--6--6--6--6--8--8--8--8-------------------|
B|--6-----6--6--6--6--6--|--6--6--6--6--8--8--8--8-------------------|
G|--8-----8--8--8--8--8--|--8--8--8--8--10-10-10-10------------------|
D|--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--|--8--8--8--8--10-10-10-10------------------|
A|--6--6--6--6--6--6--6--|--6--6--6--6--8--8--8--8-------------------|
E|-----------------------|-------------------------------------------|

e|--6-----6--6--6--6--6--|--6--6--6--6--6------|----------------------
B|--6-----6--6--6--6--6--|--6--6--6--6--8------|----------------------
G|--8-----8--8--8--8--8--|--8--8--8--8--8------|----------------------
D|--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--|--8--8--8--8--8------|----------------------
A|--6--6--6--6--6--6--6--|--6--6--6--6--6------|----------------------
E|-----------------------|---------------------|----------------------

Interlude:
e|-----|---------12---|-(12)~------|--8------12p10--|-(10)~-(10)~----|
B|-----|---12---(12)--|-(12)-------|----------------|----------------|
G|-----|--------------|------------|----------------|--------9-------|
D|-----|--------------|------------|----------------|----------------|
A|-----|--------------|------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-----|--------------|------------|----------------|----------------|

e|-(10)~--------------|-------|-------|------------------------------|
B|-----------------|-()-|-()-|-()------------------------|
G|-(9)------()--|-()-|--h10--|--(10)------------------------|
D|--------------------|--h5---|--(5)--|--(5)-------------------------|
A|--------------------|-------|-------|------------------------------|
E|--------------------|-------|-------|------------------------------|

Verse:
e|--------------------------|    |-----------------------------------|
B|--------------------------|    |-----------------------------------|
G|--------------------------|    |--------8-----------8--------------|
D|--------8-----------8-----| x4 |-----8-----8-----8-----8-----------| x4
A|-----8-----8-----8-----8--|    |--6-----------6--------------------|
E|--6-----------6-----------|    |-----------------------------------|

e|--------------------------|    |-----------------------------------|
B|--------------------------|    |-----------------------------------|
G|--------------------------|    |--------8-----------8--------------|
D|--------8-----------8-----| x4 |-----8-----8-----8-----8-----------| x4
A|-----8-----8-----8-----8--|    |--6-----------6--------------------|
E|--6-----------6-----------|    |-----------------------------------|

Solo: (rhythm)
e|--------------------------|--------------1--1--1--1----------------|
B|--------------------------|--------------1--1--1--1----------------|
G|--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--|--8--8--8--8--2--2--2--3----------------|
D|--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--|--8--8--8--8--3--3--3--3----------------|
A|--6--6--6--6--6--6--6--6--|--6--6--6--6--3--3--3--1----------------|
E|--------------------------|--------------1--1--1-------------------|

e|--10----|--6--|-(6)--------|-----|-------------|------------------|
B|--10----|--6--|-(6)--------|-----|-------------|------------------|
G|--10----|--7--|-(7)--3--5s-|-s7--|-(7)~--7--8--|--10--------------|
D|--10----|--8--|-(8)--------|-----|-------------|-----8--5s8~------|
A|--10----|--8--|-(8)--------|-----|-------------|------------------|
E|--10----|--6--|-(6)--------|-----|-------------|------------------|

e|-------------|-----------------------|-----------------------------|
B|-------------|-----------------------|--------18~------------------|
G|------7~--8s-|-s10--(10b12)--(r10)~--|-(10)~-------15--------------|
D|-(8)~--------|-----------------------|-----------------------------|
A|-------------|-----------------------|-----------------------------|
E|-------------|-----------------------|-----------------------------|

e|---------------|-----------------|-------------|-------/11--13-----|
B|--15~----------|-(15)~--18~------|--15--(15)~--|-------------------|
G|-(15)~---------|-(15)~-------15--|-(15)-(15)~--|-------------------|
D|---------------|-----------------|-------15~---|-(15)~-------------|
A|---------------|-----------------|-------------|-------------------|
E|---------------|-----------------|-------------|-------------------|

e|--15-----------|--------11--13--|--15----15------15----13----------|
B|-----11-(11)~--|-(11)~----------|-----11------------11-------------|
G|---------------|----------------|----------------------------------|
D|---------------|----------------|----------------------------------|
A|---------------|----------------|----------------------------------|
E|---------------|----------------|----------------------------------|

e|--13----11----15-13-15-17--|--19~--|-(19)~--1--1--1--1-------------|
B|-----11--------------------|-------|--------1--1--1--1-------------|
G|---------------------------|-------|--------2--2--2--3-------------|
D|---------------------------|-------|--------3--3--3--3-------------|
A|---------------------------|-------|--------3--3--3--1-------------|
E|---------------------------|-------|--------1--1--1----------------|

Prechorus:
e|--1-----------------|-----------------1--1--1----------------------|
B|--1-----------------|-----------------1--1--1----------------------|
G|--3-----3--------3--|-(3)-------3-----2--2--2----------------------|
D|--3--------3--------|-----1-h3--------3--3--3----------------------|
A|--1--1--------1-----|--------------1--3--3--3--3/------------------|
E|--------------------|-----------------1--1--1--1/------------------|

e|--6-----------------|-----------1--1--1--1/------------------------|
B|--6-----------------|-----------1--1--1--1/------------------------|
G|--8-----8--------8--|-(8)-------2--2--2--2/------------------------|
D|--8--8-----6--------|-----------3--3--3--3/------------------------|
A|--6--6--------6-----|-----------3--3--3--3/------------------------|
E|-(6)----------------|-----------1--1--1--1/------------------------|

e|--6-----------------|-----------1--1--1--1/--|--6------------------|
B|--6-----------------|-----------1--1--1--1/--|--6------------------|
G|--8-----8--------8--|-(8)-------2--2--2--2/--|--8------------------|
D|--8--8-----6--------|-----------3--3--3--3/--|--8------------------|
A|--6--6--------6-----|-----------3--3--3--3/--|--6------------------|
E|-(6)----------------|-----------1--1--1--1/--|---------------------|

Outro:
e|--6-----------------|----------------------------------------------|
B|--6-----------------|--------------10-10-10-10---------------------|
G|--8--8--8-----------|--------------10-10-10-10---------------------|
D|--8--8--8--8--8--8--|--8--8--8--8--10-10-10-10---------------------| x3
A|--6--6--6--5--5--5--|--6--6--6--6--8--8--8--8----------------------|
E|--------------------|-----6--6-------------------------------------|

e|--6--6--6--6--6--6--|--6--6--6--6--6------|
B|--6--6--6--6--6--6--|--6--6--6--6--6------|
G|--8--8--8--8--8--8--|--8--8--8--8--8------|
D|--8--8--8--8--8--8--|--8--8--8--8--8------|
A|--6--6--6--6--6--6--|--6--6--6--6--6------|
E|--------------------|---------------------|

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The Pass Tab

Send "The Pass" Ringtone to your Cell Phone

Source: http://www.guitarmasta.net/r/rush/302974.html

Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques


No Picture Ben Rhythm Player	#1 by Ben Formica at Mar 11, 1974 at 7:23 PM EST
	I still believe it's about someone literally contemplating suicide (look to phrases like "done with life", for example). The reason why may be that "nothing's what you thought it would be" or it could be a result of a neurological disorder ("electrical storm in your veins"). Either way, the narrator is trying to 'talk him down' from his ledge, exhorting him to fight on, in part by assuring him that he's not alone ("all of us get lost in the darkness;" "it's not as if you're all alone in wanting to explode") and in part by trying to convince him that martyrdom is not a good choice. Again, I think that last line is a subtle attack on Christ's willingness to martyr himself, as Christ has "set a bad example" through his martydom (though at least Christ arguably had a cause--we know the individual in The Pass is simply a "martyr without a cause").

No Picture Mauricio Wanna Be	#2 by Mauricio Tonon at Dec 31, 1975 at 9:49 AM EST
	Peart has said this song is about suicide, it is not just manipulation. He said that he put in a lot of research and was surprised to see it was often kids graduating from places like MIT who did this, not necessariliy total screwups or anything. The "someone set a bad example, made surrender seem alright" refers to warriors in some cultures who consider suicide a noble way to die. There are interviews with Peart floating around the web where he explains the song, and it is definately about suicide.

No Picture Austin Wanna Be	#3 by Austin Skitowski at Oct 20, 1986 at 10:24 AM EST
	"some reason this sounds like its about neil pearts daughter who died in a car crash when she was only 19. it might have been written before that though. im not positive. but that seems to fit" no, it was written so long before they both died. But this song seems more against suicide rather than literally being about it. It seems to mostly say keep on pushing when times are at the worst

No Picture Jared Wanna Be	#4 by Jared van Eck at Sep 22, 1990 at 1:58 PM EST
	incredible song. rush likes to announce this as one of their favorites in concert. it sounds like its about someone who, coming out of high school, thought the world would be handed to him, then realized it wouldnt and is now contemplating suicide, maybe jumping off a building or something, and the speaker is telling them to turn around and come back.

No Picture simon Average	#5 by simon cody simon at Mar 31, 1995 at 7:43 AM EST
	"All of us get lost in the darkness, dreamers tend to look at the stars, all of us do time in the gutter, dreamers tend to look at the cars." Such powerful lyrics. I agree, it is about taking two approaches to are own personal struggles. Either looking towards the light or just dwelling where you are.

No Picture The Penguins Tr Professional Badass	#6 by The Penguins Tried To Kill Me The Other Day at Feb 12, 1997 at 7:53 AM EST
	The song was written long before Neil's daughter was killed so it's not personal in that way (but the book Ghost Rider by Peart for a bio on that whole time in his life and afterwards; I believe his daughter was killed in 1997 while this song was released in the early 90s). . . . I once got in a discussion with a born-again Christian Rush fan who objected to the way Neil wrote "Christ, what have you done?" as if he was being profane, or "taking the Lord's name in vain" as he put it. After that discussion I re-examined the lyrics and concluded that perhaps that phrase should be taken literally. Christ is, after all, probably history's most famous martyr. In the lines leading up to that final line, the writer is advising anyone contemplating suicide (or martyrdom) that there is nothing glorious in killing yourself. Finally, in that last line, the writer exhorts Christ himself, for it is his martyrdom that makes suicide an appealing option for some people--i.e., "what have you done, Jesus, when by your example you make people think martydom is OK?" An interesting question and I think it's consistent with Neil's own personal conflict or disagreement with religion (see: Freewill). . . .

No Picture michiel Wanna Be	#7 by michiel adams at Dec 22, 2001 at 11:03 PM EST
	definately suicide, kind of a wierd topic for neil peart to write about. but " someone set a bad example, made surrender seem alright" is pretty dead on.

No Picture † james † Average	#8 by † james † at Oct 14, 2004 at 2:27 PM EST
	It could sound like a song about suicide if you manipulate it properly, but I think it's just a song about personal decisions and confusion. A friend of mine swears on his life that "the razor's edge" is a reference to a book about a man finding himself in Buddhism.