tZer does 'Peg' :0)

tZer · #1 07-16-2006, 09:36 PM

I EQ'd all the low frequencies out of a recording of Steely Dan's 'Peg' and jammed along. I love that song, learned the line a while ago and decided to see how it fits. So I plugged my Jazz V into the laptop for a little jam session with Steely Dan.

Here is what came out... http://www.mydigitalinnerchild.com/_...onyDoesPeg.mp3

Well, let's just say that Mr. Rainey has nothing to worry about from me! One (of the many) things I found to be so challenging was to stay on the front edge of the beat the way he does.

Man, Chuck does it so effortlessly - stays right on top of the beat and switches between the slap and finger style with a hitch.

Another thing I noticed is that Chuck gets these really dead, short-stopping notes - I have seen him up-close and in person and I know he wraps his hands around that neck and chokes the heck out of it. I am guessing that is how he gets that sound - but I can't do that to save my life...

Anyway... all feedback is welcome!

Thanks in advance.
--tz

burk48237 · #2 07-16-2006, 10:03 PM

Pretty cool playing, and I know what you mean the great ones make it so effortless. I seem to have to work at everything. As I get older I slow down.

Justice · #3 07-16-2006, 10:13 PM

if you have not seen it, "the Making of Peg" has a nice bit from Chuck in it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH0Jp...ing%20of%20peg

Nice playing BTW...

BOOCAKE4U · #4 07-17-2006, 12:11 AM

yes, nice playing and a really good lively tone...only downside is that i now have to listen to the "real" version at least five consecutive times because chuck is just that damn funky

BenWC87 · #5 07-17-2006, 12:27 AM

Have you seen him when he's done clinics at Fazio's?
Playing sounds really good by the way.

tZer · #6 07-17-2006, 06:31 AM

Thanks all!!

I learned that line about 6 or 7 months ago. I spent a whole afternoon listening and working it out. I was pretty thrilled when I 'got it' - but just when I think I've 'got it', I listen again and realize he is just floating through it and I am using every ounce of effort in my being to keep up.

It's not that it is all that fast - it is just a very 'alive' line that has a lot of nuances. For me, the nuances make the line. All the subtle ghost notes and subtle rhythmic twists. Elegant.

I have not had the pleasure of playing that with a band - if I did and got to play it more regularily, I think I would get more fluid with it. Maybe if I put that 'ultimate pop bass song cover band' together I will get my chance!

Justice - that is the thing ("The making of Peg" video) that made me decide to record it last night. I ran across a posting (I think it was in 'Youtube Finds') with a link to that video and just had to blow the dust of that line and get it on 'tape'. So I cut myself some slack when the line does not flow as effortlessly as Chuck's - a spontaneous evening recording - not bad. But my bet is that Chuck just 'whipped it out' when it was new, so...

BenWC87 - Yep - it was a Fazio's a couple of months ago. Were you there too?

markjazzbassist · #7 07-17-2006, 09:57 AM

nice playing. great song.

BenWC87 · #8 07-17-2006, 10:13 AM

I couldn't go to the last one because I was out of town, but I went to one a couple years ago there.

tZer · #9 07-17-2006, 10:46 AM

markjazzbassist - many thanks! - I listened to it this morning with 'fresh' ears and I can really hear how 'stiff' I am compared to the master, Mr. Rainey. Nothing like putting your stuff on their line to really gain a healthy respect for how well they do it!

Ben - His last clinic was good, but he appeared tired and a little frazzled - Now he did warm into it and ultimately did some amazing things, but I really fealt that he would have liked to just kick back and have dinner rather then doing that clinic.

It was a great opportunity to see how he does what he does. I must say that I have never seen a bass player with his sort of 'short noted' style - it sounds very old-school and very cool - but I cannot figure out how he achieves that 'every note is choked - very blunt - very funk' I would love to get my head around that because I really think it plays a big role in 'getting that groove' like he does.

Also seeing how he 'fans' (as he calls it) at the strings with his right hand is really something else. I have seen Victor Wooten and other 'slappers' out there with their standard and hybrid techniques - but Chuck's 'fanning' is really unique. He describes it as his way of achieving a more 'bluegrass guitar/banjo' or 'dixieland band' thing - That in combination with his 'choking the notes' really makes for a tight and funky thing!

I will be studying Chuck for many years to come.

floopy · #10 07-19-2006, 06:22 AM

Thanks for posting this - nice playing, and great tone too

You motivated me to go learn this line too - the chorus is proving the tricky bit for me . . .

vindy500 · #11 07-19-2006, 06:28 AM

wheres the kick drum

tZer · #12 07-19-2006, 07:02 AM

floopy - the Jazz Bass has a really nice sound - I had the neck pickup up all the way and the bridge in just enough for color and plugged straight into the laptop.

vindy500 - yep, one of the trade-offs. I actually considered recreating the drums - at least the bass drum - but that was a little more effort then the 'toss it out there' project demanded.

Thanks again! It feels good just playing that song.

Alan Vorse · #13 07-19-2006, 08:02 AM

Sounds great tZer. I've always struggled with the chorus and you seem to have a grasp of it.

tZer · #14 07-19-2006, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harmolodic

Sounds great tZer. I've always struggled with the chorus and you seem to have a grasp of it.

You heard my 'best' take after - let's say 20 or 30 whacks at it! LOL - I need to pick up that song and play it every day for a month now. I am soooo stiff sounding - especially if you go back and watch the video that shows them recording 'peg' and compare - Chuck just floats through that part so effortlessly where I am sweating, muscles straining, serious bass-face on... I needed a nap when I finished.

Here is the video - The Making of 'Peg' <== Youtube.com

The thing I find really challenging about Chuck's slap on that part is how effortlessly he interchanges his right hand double thumb (double thump) and left hand hammer/right hand pop techniques. I practiced that part in slow motion for a solid hour before it started to sink in...

thumb pop, thumbthumb pop, thumb(slide) hammer+pop, thumb+hammer+pop, thumb+hammer+pop, thumb+hammer+pop, thumb, thumb thumb, ugh... exhausting...

Also - if you watch the video - you get to hear that 'choked' sound that Chuck gets when he plays. I really think that is a key element in why his parts have such a distinctive sound to them and plug into songs so well. I come from the 'ringing, round-wound, bright and sunny' tone world and to hear Chuck's darker, flat and short delivery is completely alien to me.

Thanks!

Bluez Dawg · #15 07-19-2006, 11:42 AM

Awesome playing.

tZer · #16 07-19-2006, 11:42 AM

thx bro!

dave_p · #17 07-19-2006, 01:57 PM

sounds great. now i need to get off my ass and figure it out.
ive been working on a few dan charts myself. boston rag and razor boy. does anyone off the top know the chord progression in the intro to boston rag, its not on my chart and i can probably work through it, just havent taken the time.

but yeah, steely dan is the stuff. i think a lot of beckers stuff is just as interesting and challenging a rainey, but in a different way.

tZer · #18 07-19-2006, 02:01 PM

What songs specifically does Becker play that you know of? I used to play, "Bodisatvah" and "My old School" with a band a bunch of years ago. Those were lots of fun too.

dave_p · #19 07-19-2006, 02:09 PM

almost everything on cant buy a thrill and i believe most of countdown to ecstacy. some stuff on aja. i need to look at the credits on my vinyl when i get home and ill get back to you on that.

KeithPas · #20 07-19-2006, 02:15 PM

I have seen "The Making of Asia" and it is a very interesting DVD. I play "Peg, Josie, and Kid Charlamagne" in my band and they are fun tunes to play.