Submission Steely Dan - Josie

[Jloch86]

Never knew Chuck slapped on this track until I transcribed it.

 

[dpbass66]

Anyone have any idea how the bass player in Steely Dan played this in Dm, which was the key of choice when they played it live? The only thing I can think of is a drop D tuner. It would be a lot of shifting on a 5 string tuned conventionally.

 

[SteveC]

I tried playing it in. D on my 5 string. It sucked. It just seems like it wants to be played in E.
If I were doing it in D I'd bring a detuned 4 string, even if it's just for that tune. Key of E is so engrained in my head and hands, but I've always had trouble playing well known songs in different keys. Definitely a weakness of mine.

 

[JimK]

I tried playing it in. D on my 5 string. It sucked. It just seems like it wants to be played in E.
If I were doing it in D I'd bring a detuned 4 string, even if it's just for that tune. Key of E is so engrained in my head and hands, but I've always had trouble playing well known songs in different keys. Definitely a weakness of mine.

It just gotta have that Open "E" string, right?

Is it a recent SD concert where it's in "D"?
Assuming this detuning is for the vocals...I would assume a 4-string bass would be detuned a whole step (D-G-C-F)????

 

[SteveC]

Yeah, I think the open string is a big part of it. I think it's been in D live for a while now - for the vocals. Most any key change is for the vocals, and usually a step lower. Sometimes just a half step. Maybe a 3rd but I think I mostly see 1 step changes. Yeah, just take the whole bass down and play it as you would if it were in E.

 

[lark_z]

Most excellent, thanks! Wow, if I could play that, I think I'd just die.

 

[Npunk42]

My band plays the Alive In America version in D. Maybe I'm just used to it, it sounds fine to me. There are a few differences besides the key.