steely dan PEG

[bakeronbass]

Hello
Does anyone have the sheet music for Peg? Or know of a web site that may. If its already on talkbass I couldnt find it. I've seen many Bastardized tab versions. I'am looking for the real deal. If I have to spend the four dollars I will and I'll post it.

Who were the Bass players for various Steely Dan tracks?

Peg = Chuck Rainey

[bakeronbass]

&^% I Just realized I should have posted this in the tablature forum and not the technique forum. Is there a way to switch it? Thanks

[grovest]

I've used this book before:

http://www.amazon.com/STEELY-DAN-COM...8790542&sr=8-1

And it does have Peg, but on the whole the book is not exactly like the records when considering melodies, rhythms and changes. But it could be a starting place.

[bakeronbass]

Well The score is in the attachments and between that and this tab I think I'll get it. The chorus is tough.



G:|-----------------|-----------------|--------------14-|
D:|-----------------|-----------------|---------3/12----|
A:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-3---------------|-2---------------|-1---------------|

G:|-13--------------|-(12)------------|-(11)------------|
D:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-0---------------|--11-------------|--10-------------|

G:|-----------------|-----------------||
D:|-----------------|-----------------||
A:|-3---3---2-------|-3---3-----------||
E:|-----------------|---------3----1/3||

Verse x2

G:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D:|-----------------|----------5------|----------5------|
A:|3-3-----------5--|3-3(5)---------5-|3-3(5)---------5-|
E:|----3--3-33-7----|-------3-3--5/7--|-------3-3--5/7--|

G:|-----------------|----------5------|----------5------|
D:|----------5------|3-3(5)---------5-|3-3(5)---------5-|
A:|3-3(5)---------5-|-------3-3--5/7--|-------3-3--5/7--|
E:|-------3-3--5/7--|-----------------|-----------------|

G:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D:|----------5------|----------5------|5-5-----------7--|
A:|3-3(5)---------5-|3-3(5)---------5-|-----5-55-7/9----|
E:|-------3-3--5/7--|-------3-3--5/7--|-----------------|

G:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------||
D:|3-35---------5-5h|7-5--------------|--5-5h75---------||
A:|-----3-33-5/7----|----5h7-7-5------|---------5h77-5-2||
E:|-----------------|------------3-3--|---------------3-||

Chorus(Slap&Pop)

G:|--5----5----4---4|--2---2----------|--5----5----4---4|
D:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A:|3---33---32---2--|0---------------2|3---33---32---2--|
E:|-----------------|--------0-00-2/3-|-----------------|

G:|--2---2----------|--6----6----5---5|-----------------|
D:|-----------------|-----------------|--5----5----4----|
A:|0------------2-3-|4---44---33---33-|-----------------|
E:|--------0-00-----|-----------------|3---33---22---235|
fingerstyle...
G:|--4----4---------|------------7/9\7||-----------------|
D:|------------2----|---7----7--------||-----------------|
A:|2---22-----------|----------5------||3-3-----------5--|
E:|---------00---023|55---55----------||-----3--33-5/7---|

G:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------||
D:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------||
A:|3-3(5)---5-------|-----2--2/7------|-----------------||
E:|-------3----0--3-|2----------------|---7-----8-------||

Then back to the intro...guitar solo over the verse...also
repeat the chorus until the end!

[chicagodoubler]

That sheet music is missing Chuck's famous lick in bar three.

Sorry I sound like a broken record, but,

Cut your own wood and it'll warm you twice.

Just learn it by ear. You'll thank me later.

[lowerclef]

Indeed.

I went to school with a guy who transcribed the whole line and was amazed at how much crap Rainey threw in there. I mean, the track is so flowing and musical - he was nailing all these complex licks, but it's all so natural sounding. One of the all-time great pop studio performances, IMO.

[Lorenzini]

Dude, you really need to learn it by ear.
If you don't have an ear, you don't have anything, when it comes to music.

[Vandelay]

Looks like you've already found the same transcription that I've seen earlier:
http://www.lucaspickford.com/transpegbass.htm

I have to wonder whether Bass Player magazine might have a back issue which contains the transcription. You could call them and ask.

[nikki_k]

Hi!
I totally agree about learning by ear...but, I love having transcriptions as well. IMO, try by ear. Really throw effort into it, and when you feel it is right, or close, check the transcription. IMO, this will then allow one to train their ear for certain techniques, and develop the ability to pick out subtlties they might have otherwise missed.

Combined with a place like TB, discussion of what you "hear" and what any transcription might offer can be discussed. Transcriptions are not always accurate, and note placement on the fretboard, technique for playing some, or even all, of the notes can be discussed, along with the added bits from those who might have the song performed live (variations, bits of improv, etc), or even better, been in the studio!

One last bit: improv. Learn the song, and play what you feel over it. Record it overlayed, listen to what you are doing. Helps in learning to improv better, and begin to develop your own style of playing and writing your own lines. Learn the laws, break the rules.

[tim oconnor]

Originally Posted by nikki_k

Hi!
I totally agree about learning by ear...but, I love having transcriptions as well. IMO, try by ear. Really throw effort into it, and when you feel it is right, or close, check the transcription. IMO, this will then allow one to train their ear for certain techniques, and develop the ability to pick out subtlties they might have otherwise missed.

Combined with a place like TB, discussion of what you "hear" and what any transcription might offer can be discussed. Transcriptions are not always accurate, and note placement on the fretboard, technique for playing some, or even all, of the notes can be discussed, along with the added bits from those who might have the song performed live (variations, bits of improv, etc), or even better, been in the studio!

One last bit: improv. Learn the song, and play what you feel over it. Record it overlayed, listen to what you are doing. Helps in learning to improv better, and begin to develop your own style of playing and writing your own lines. Learn the laws, break the rules.

Very sound advice! (pun intended)
Great post Nikki!

[budman]

My old band used to play that tune.

There was an interesting documentary on VH1 about the recording of Aja that I caught a few weeks ago. Chuck wanted to slap on "Peg", but Walter and Doanald were against it. He ducked down behind a partition wall and slapped the chorus anyway, hoping they wouldn't notice. Afterwards they liked what he did so they kept it.

[Vandelay]

Originally Posted by budman

My old band used to play that tune.

There was an interesting documentary on VH1 about the recording of Aja that I caught a few weeks ago. Chuck wanted to slap on "Peg", but Walter and Doanald were against it. He ducked down behind a partition wall and slapped the chorus anyway, hoping they wouldn't notice. Afterwards they liked what he did so they kept it.

Yeah, that's a great story, I saw it on YouTube. The rest of it is really interesting too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH0JpBzi68E

[KeithPas]

There is a cool DVD on the "making of Asia" and in it Chuck Rainy plays the line then Becker and Fagen play the bass track in the control room and show just how much is really going on with that bass part.

[nikki_k]

Yep- that whole series of DVD's is excellent. Slightly OT, but the Stevie Wonder one on "Songs in the Key of Life" is jaw dropping. Amazing...guy is pure genius, and I really loved the musicians standing around chatting about what they played all those years ago...priceless...

[JimK]

IIRC, this book has the best transcription of "Peg"-
http://www.halleonard.com/item_detai...&songid=643775

[bakeronbass]

Thanks for the advice.

I usually go straight for finding any free available transcriptions or sheet music when I start a new cover, because I'am learning to read also and I will rewrite the tabbed versions so that I dont get stuck playing in any particular position. I usually then listen and compare what I hear to what I have written in order to get it all to come together.
I feel that learning the way the player played it origionaly beneficial because some lines need to be the same in order for everyone to have the familiarity of the cover and I like the challenge of adapting to a new style.
If you guys think that its a waste of time to go through various tabbed versions and believe that I would be doing myself a favor if I just went straight to the listening and writing it down part in order to help further the development of my ear than I'll give it a go.

All of your input is very appreciated.
And what an excellent player that chuck Rainey.
IMO The line he plays is the line for that tune(freakin nailed it). Very fun song to play and learn.
Mabye a dumb question but where can I find more of his work?
Thanks again.

[DWBass]

Here you go.

http://wc08.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?...ifuxq85ld0e~T4

[tZer]

Originally Posted by chicagodoubler

Cut your own wood and it'll warm you twice.

I LOVE that quote! I think I am going to have to update my signature...

I have always loved that line and quite a while ago I decided to spend some time in the woodshed with it. Another TB'er posted a recording of themselves playing the bass part to a Jackson 5 tune. He eq'd the bass out and recorded himself in place of the original line. So I decided to do the same with "Peg".

Here's my recording:
http://www.mydigitalinnerchild.com/_...onyDoesPeg.mp3

It's stiff and uptight - I am no Chuck Rainey - but it's such a great bass line - it sounds so understated within the context of the piece as a whole but it is really very active and challenging! It's not very complex, note-wise and once you get the pattern, you recognize that it has a certain amount of repetition with subtle tasty embellishments on each phrase. Neighboring phrases are subtly different with ghost notes and rhythmic add-ons, take-offs to keep things interesting.

I used a 'left hand hammer + right had pluck' technique in certain phrases of the slap part that seemed to deliver the same feel. I am not 100% certain about how Chuck did it other than he did it with a grace and ease that I could never match! But the LH hammer, RH pluck thing brings a certain economy of motion to it.

Good luck!

[JimK]

Originally Posted by bakeronbass

Mabye a dumb question but where can I find more of his work?

You can look through DW's link, for sure.

Some highlights-
All of his Steely Dan contributions...from Katy Lied through Gaucho, IIRC.
Definitely check out "Kid Charlemagne", "The Fez", & "Green Earrings" (all from The Royal Scam).

The Aretha Franklin stuff is great, too..."Rock Steady", "The Long & Winding Road", etc.

Donny Hathaway & Roberta Flack-
"Where Is The Love"?

Quincy Jones's material-
"The Theme To Sanford & Son"
"The Theme To The Anderson Tapes"
"What Good Is A Song"?

Eye To Eye (80's Pop band with the same producer & backing musicians as the late Steely Dan albums).

[Vandelay]

Originally Posted by tZer

I have always loved that line and quite a while ago I decided to spend some time in the woodshed with it. Another TB'er posted a recording of themselves playing the bass part to a Jackson 5 tune. He eq'd the bass out and recorded himself in place of the original line. So I decided to do the same with "Peg".

Here's my recording:
http://www.mydigitalinnerchild.com/_...onyDoesPeg.mp3

Thanks for the link tZer, I really enjoyed listening to that. Great job! I just started messing with that tune last weekend and I definitely have a long way to go -- you're right, it's pretty challenging.

Curious, what software did you use to EQ out the original and add in your part?