The Chicken (call me crazy....)

stewart8980 · #1 08-16-2008, 11:26 PM

hey out there. ive been at bass for about a year, and i9ve just really started listening to jaco's stuff. I have the basic riff down for "The Chicken" by jaco pastorius, but i cant get the chord progressions right. ive tried watching it on youtube, but people play it in a different position, and tabs arent correct (for me) as well. Could someone tell me the basic layout on how to play it ( maybe even include the tabs from the recorded version) thanks so much!

**Pacman** · #2 08-16-2008, 11:32 PM

Bb7 x4
Eb7 x4
D7 x2
G7 x2
C7 x3

Riff (which is basically an Ab7)

four more bars of Bb7

HaVIC5 · #3 08-16-2008, 11:36 PM

I typically hear (and play) that last chord change as a Cmin7 rather than C7, but in practice, meh, its all fits into that nebulous mixolydian/dorian/blues mix we all know and love. I like playing the tritone sub of the G7 also - Db7 works pretty well.

But yeah, Pacman's changes are good.

**Pacman** · #4 08-16-2008, 11:38 PM

If you play that last change as a min7, you're sort of clashing with the harmony. I could be wrong, and don't have a bass to try it out with...I'll try that tomorrow at work...

BlackLake · #5 08-16-2008, 11:40 PM

This book has a good recorded version

varunkapahi · #6 08-16-2008, 11:40 PM

thanks! i was banging my head against the wall of horns to understand the chord changes last night. and good i just found it here without even searching

HaVIC5 · #7 08-16-2008, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

If you play that last change as a min7, you're sort of clashing with the harmony. I could be wrong, and don't have a bass to try it out with...I'll try that tomorrow at work...

No, I mean, cats I usually play with play it as a Cmin7, not C7. I actually haven't heard the original in a while, and haven't looked at a lead sheet in a while either, but it always ends up in a more minorish sound (it's more diatonic anyway).

**Pacman** · #8 08-16-2008, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaVIC5

No, I mean, cats I usually play with play it as a Cmin7, not C7. I actually haven't heard the original in a while, and haven't looked at a lead sheet in a while either, but it always ends up in a more minorish sound (it's more diatonic anyway).

ah, I see.

The original is a dominant

HaVIC5 · #9 08-16-2008, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

ah, I see.

The original is a dominant

Yeah, I'm watching it on youtube now. Killer stuff.

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

**Pacman** · #10 08-16-2008, 11:53 PM

Yeah, minor would sound funny to my ears...maybe because the horns have the major 3rd in harmony, maybe because I've played it so many times....I don't know....

stewart8980 · #11 08-16-2008, 11:53 PM

yeah. its simple, but you can do so much with it, and no matter what (most of the time) it sounds great

soong · #12 08-17-2008, 06:27 AM

At one year i dont think i couldve done it. Respect for attempting!

jweiss · #13 08-17-2008, 07:23 AM

Changes have been covered, but this page might still be useful:

http://www.jazzguitar.be/jaco_pastor...e_chicken.html

rarisgod · #14 08-17-2008, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaVIC5

I typically hear (and play) that last chord change as a Cmin7 rather than C7, but in practice, meh, its all fits into that nebulous mixolydian/dorian/blues mix we all know and love. I like playing the tritone sub of the G7 also - Db7 works pretty well.

But yeah, Pacman's changes are good.

Pacman?

Also I must inquire what you are referring to by saying "that nebulous mixolydian/dorian/blues mix we all know and love." Possibly a strange question, but if you're referring to something I'm thinking of, that would answer another question I kind of have but can't really put to words...sorry if this is an odd post LOL

stewart8980 · #15 08-17-2008, 09:49 AM

ok, call this what you will, but im just testing this out and seeing if it sounds right (it sorta doesnt) but keep in mind my music theory is limited to major, minor, pentatonic, and 7th scales, AND ive only been playing since last august

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

DocBop · #16 08-17-2008, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rarisgod

Pacman?

Also I must inquire what you are referring to by saying "that nebulous mixolydian/dorian/blues mix we all know and love." Possibly a strange question, but if you're referring to something I'm thinking of, that would answer another question I kind of have but can't really put to words...sorry if this is an odd post LOL

I'll take a crack at it....
It is common in Jazz/Blues to take minor7 and replace them with Dom7. Plus in stuff like this (Jazz, R&B) you are throwing in Blues notes (b3 and b5) and other Bebop chromaticism. It all sounds good but, from a theoretical standpoint hard to say exactly what scale it was because it was more a sound/feel thing.

Bruce Lindfield · #17 08-17-2008, 11:29 AM

I've used this successfully :

www.lucaspickford.com

lowendisthebest · #18 08-17-2008, 01:23 PM

i had never listened to jaco( never heard of him until i joined tb) the chicken song is cool man. and those pants do make his ass look big. but he could play the bass, damb

SLaPiNFuNK · #19 08-18-2008, 04:08 AM

You can pretty much get the idea out of fingerings in my video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz3DsrHvBIQ

stewart8980 · #20 08-19-2008, 10:33 AM

thanks for the vid. I gopt the fingerings down, its just that no matter what i do, i cannot get the chord progressions correctly for the life of me. It's obvious he doesnt start on the root of some, but i often find myself assuming its the 5th (the first note he plays)

I hate asking this, but is there a chance someone would have tabbed out the improv he plays on the session recording?