tZer does 'Peg' :0)

[tZer]

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... Link Removed

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]

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]

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



Nice playing BTW...

 

[BOOCAKE4U]

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]

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

 

[tZer]

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]

nice playing. great song.

 

[BenWC87]

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]

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]

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]

wheres the kick drum

 

[tZer]

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]

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

 

[tZer]

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]

Awesome playing.

 

[tZer]

thx bro!

 

[dave_p]

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]

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]

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]

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.