Can you play Sir Duke?

[kesslari]

I had "Sir Duke" playing on the boom-box yesterday while I was playing basketball with some friends. The thing that I noticed, as was mentioned earlier in the thread, was that those instrumental sections are very cool but the riffs that Nathan Watts does at the end of the song are the coolest part of his bass line.

Remember the old ad "come for the food, stay for the pie"?

I came to this song for the unison lines, but Nathan's groove at the end of the song just floored, me, and became the real reason I love to play it.
The guitar player in my funk band pulled this out at rehearsal last week, and it was a kick to be able to pull it off.

 

[Mapleleaf]

just started relearning bass and taking lessons. My teacher decided yesterday to take me through Sir Duke and starting with the intro . I'm embarrassed to say I really struggled with the fingering on my fretting hand as he insists on 1 fret per finger - particularly the stretch from pinky to index on the 4th bar - 4th fret D string (pinky) - 2nd fret D string (Middle) 1st Fret D string (index) then pinky to 4th fret A string and middle to 2nd fret A .

I first thought this song way too much for me as a new beginner but feel better from reading this thread that taking it slow, section by section i wil eventually get there - I've a long way to go though. I think maybe my teacher was just using the song to teach me more techniques.

 

[Mike M.]

I'm trying to remember....was that song from the album "Songs In The Key Of Life?" If so, a band I was in use to play three songs which I believe were from that album..."Sir Duke"..."I Wish"...and another song that I think was called "Blackman".

Fantastic songs. Packed the dance floor everytime we played them.

 

[JimmyM]

yep, all 3 songs are from that album. great stuff!

 

[SurferJoe46]

I first thought this song way too much for me as a new beginner but feel better from reading this thread that taking it slow, section by section i wil eventually get there - I've a long way to go though. I think maybe my teacher was just using the song to teach me more techniques.

Could also be a teacher with a sadistic attitude too.

"Sir Duke' would indeed be a big feather in your cap.

 

[ric3xrt]

I think I was 7 when that song came out, I had been playing for year allready. My theacher sat me down and said Today we learn a Little Stevie.Then he pereceded to tell me all about the Duke,I thought it was strange that he would hold John Wayne with such a reverence .It wasn't intill he started talking about Louie Armstrong that I realized he was talking about Duke Ellington......hey I was 7(or 8 it was long time ago)
Played it for my 3rd grade show and tell about amonth later.I'm going to have to put that back in the practice rotation