Gaucho by Steely Dan - Drum Cover and Transcription

"Gaucho" is a cool Funky Jazz Rock tune by Steely Dan from the album Gaucho released in 1980. Gaucho features some incredible drumming by the late Jeff Porcaro who left this world in 1992 at the age of 38. There is a lot of detail in this transcription and I based my work on a restoration of the instrumental demo to Gaucho from the "Lost Gaucho" collection which ended up being the final drum track!
Here is the link. • Steely Dan - Gaucho (I...
It was a great challenge to transcribe this tune but even more challenging to reproduce and cover the song note for note in a single take. DISCLAIMER! There are some mistakes and even a little of my own thing in there. I hope you enjoy it.
If you would like a pdf of the transcription in this video please feel free to contact me through my website
or any of these links.
www.larrycrowe.com
/ masterfuldrumming
Bio
Larry Crowe has been playing the drums for over forty years. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in music performance and composition from York University, Toronto, Canada, and in 1983 he received a grant from the Canada Council to study at the Banff School of Fine Arts. He has studied drums with Claude Ranger and Barry Elmes and South Indian percussion with Trichy Sankaran. Larry has performed in Canada, the United States, Europe, Central America, the Caribbean and throughout Asia. He has performed and recorded in many musical settings and with various artists like Grammy Award winner Patti Austin (Rhythm & Blues/Jazz), Grammy nominated Ron Korb (World/New Age), Juno Award winner Robert Michaels (Latin/Jazz), Jim McCarty (Yardbirds/Renaissance), John Hawken (Nashville Teens/Renaissance/Strawbs), Jesse Gress (Todd Rundgren/Tony Levin Band), Sharon and Bram (Children Music), Carlos Bastidas (Latin), Charlie Roby (World/Folk), Daniela Nardi (Jazz/Pop), Ray Montford (Ambient/Groove), The Beat Kings (Rhythm and Blues), Ron Davis (Jazz), The Jim Italiano Band (Roots/Rock), Random Chants (Rock), Desert Sky (Country) and The Lawn Jockies (Rock). As a composer and songwriter, Larry has produced and written music for singers and bands in the popular music field, as well as instrumental pieces for media, advertising and childrens music. He has also performed in musical theatre shows like "On The Eighth Day" and "Menopause Out Loud". Larry has been teaching drums for over twenty years in the Toronto area. Larry is the author of the drum set method books Masterful Drumming Volume One and Two and uses Yamaha Drums, Vic Firth drumsticks, brushes and mallets and Zildjian Cymbals.

[@jjdawg9918]

Getting called to drum for Steely Dan is one of the highest achievements. It means you have learned how to meld with the music and turn technicality and complexity into "musicality". Porcaro would be proud.

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Thank you for checking out my video @jjdawg9918. Cheers!

[@bobbybandolon6221]

No words for this. Jeff has been my idol for more than 40 years. Thank you for honoring one of his greatest drum moments on record. Salute!!!

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Wow! Thanks Bobby. Jeff was a hero of mine also and a huge inspiration. All the best. Larry

[@boatdetective]

Yet more proof that THE BEST PLAYING ISN'T THE FLASHIEST. Wonderful job, mate.

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Thank you Jonathan. 😎

[@JoeMicroscope]

I have just finished reading the book on Jeff Porcaro and have been listening to this track in the car for the last month. Every time I hear it I marvel at his interpretation of the song and have memorised his every beat. I loved hearing you play this Larry, and watching this is as close to seeing Jeff as I can now he has passed away. Thanks for the accurate transcription and great groove. I enjoyed this more than some of Steely's other drummers playing this tune.

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Hi Dick. Thank you for your kind words. This video was a labour of love and a real challenge. Jeff was a huge influence and I always feel a little closer to my heroes when I do these transcriptions. I will have to check out that book on JP! Best wishes Larry

[@archie34734]

It's my opinion this is Porcaro's finest accompaniment of an original song he created the drum part for. Great cover!!

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Thank you Archie. I totally agree, it is an amazing drum part!

[@GeraldAvery-kg2tg]

Great job on transcribing a song that's not very easy to transcribe. I think this is one of Jeff Porcaro's best recordings. He makes a very difficult song sound smooth and effortless. Miss you so much Jeff.

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Thank you Gerald!

[@braveswin1]

Enjoyed it. Love this tune ...just watched a video with Elliot Scheiner where he described the angst involved in getting that drum track. Porcaro...what a legend

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Thank you braveswin1. JP is one my favs and a legend for sure!

[@hammerwielder]

Nice work Larry! I know firsthand how challenging and rewarding transcriptions are and you’ve done a great job! It’s a vivid demonstration of Porcaro’s precision and talent.

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Hey Ted! It's been awhile. I hope you are keeping well. Thanks for checking out my Gaucho video. Transcribing and then playing back the work is great fun and I always learn a ton by doing it! Best wishes Larry

[@Mao-max454]

Pleasant drumming ! Like Grove !

[@humminglake]

I'll just second everyone else here. This was great to witness. Smooth and effortless "looking" !

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Thank you Seth. It's such a great tune! Cheers Larry

[@Cosmic_Sunrise]

Super tight. Drums sound great, especially for not being close mic’d. I can only imagine what they sound like with some microphones! 🙂Phenomenal playing, and thanks for the accurate transcription.

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Hi John and thanks for your kind words. I've been using a Zoom Q3 (a little eq and compression) to do these videos and getting some good results. I'm saving my pennies for an audio interface and some mics. Cheers! Larry

[@courtbeall7768]

Awesome performance Larry.Loved it to the last crash.

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Thank you Court! It's a fun tune to play!

[@jeffreygoldstein5271]

Great great job Larry!! Fantastic!

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Thanks for checking out my video Jeff!

[@jimjamjerry]

So good! I'm 21 and just started drumming and this is a huge inspiration to me.

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Hi Jeremiah. Thank you for checking out my video and I am so touched that it has inspired you. Drumming is my passion and I hope it will be yours for many years to come. Best wishes. Larry Crowe

[@bobs1613]

I think this may be Steely Dan's masterpiece. I was looking for an explanation of the time signature changes and came to this. Truly incredible. Thank you. I am not a drummer but am subscribing!

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Hi Bob. Thank you for your kind words and for subscribing to my channel. Gaucho is definitely an epic piece of music and a real challenge to play. Great fun! Cheers! LC

[@SilSimone]

Smooooooooth!

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Thanks my friend.

[@JMelby]

Dang! Nice!!!

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Thanks JMelby!

[@eduardoillingworth7383]

Thanks for including notation. Great preformance!

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Thank you Eduardo, for checking out my video! It's a fun tune to play!

[@Extrikit]

Top job!

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Thanks so much @Extrikit.

[@truethbeyond]

Still longing for JEFF ❤

[@ARGBlackCloud]

Interesting chart , you can really tell that Jeff was counting breaks. But the rest is so typically Jeff perfect !! Another on Im gonna have to learn !! Excellent playing Larry !!

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Thanks again ARGBlackCloud! 😎

[@ARGBlackCloud]

@@masterfuldrumming8408 WHat gets me is despite the tempo being farely med-slow , it's still a busy track and Jeff seams to have endless patience inkeep every single bar perfectly clean and running like a clock !!

[@dyjo9766]

Thanks for sharing this. It makes sense reading along with it. It'll take a while for me to learn though. Great job.

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Hi Dy Jo. You are very welcome and thank you very much for watching. All the best. LC

[@PedroBellora]

Great work, thanks for sharing and congratulations!!

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Thank you Pedro and you are welcome. All the best . Larry

[@JohnPyroDrums]

Good vibe dude! Nice drumming and awesome skills. I support your video!

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Hey John thanks so much!

[@philipsciabarrasi9312]

Great performance! Really nice work. I’m a very slow reader (with difficulty) but reading while listening really helped me along. Thanks!

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Hi Phillip. Thank you for checking out my video and your kind words. Sight reading is one of those skills that always needs practice, but it's so worth it! All the best!

[@TonySerioDrums]

Awesome drumming and transcription!!

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Hi Tony. Thanks so much.

[@upyours574]

Great feel!

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Hey Erick O thank you very much and thank you for subscribing!

[@mbernier59]

#GetIt!

[@harryhenderson2259]

Awesome to thee Tee !"

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Thank you Harry!

[@johnstrawberriusfields]

what a treat!

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Thanks John!

[@rytchbytchrockingclub3867]

What an amazing job to actually transcribe this, kudos to you. Playing/feel-wise, I'd think more / lay into the quarter notes, the original has much less of that 8th note "pulse". You can really picture Jeff swaying with the quarters, I'd say the 8th notes have even less emphasis than the 16ths, they're the least pronounced.

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Hi Rÿtch Bÿtch Rocking Club thank you for checking out my video. I knew going into this song that there would be challenges and that to duplicate Jeff's playing would be impossible. It was a great learning experience! Cheers! Larry

[@PeteSapadin]

Beautifully done! The guy saying more of a quarter note feel vs 8th note…I don’t know, I think Porcaro’s balance between his limbs, his control of dynamics and his touch is the thing that’s just beyond and adds so much that can’t really be replicated I think you nailed it as well as someone could and it’s a great homage to Jeff Porcaro Thank you!

[@MrDPdrum]

Great job

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Hey thanks David and thank you for checking out my video!

[@Sigh875]

Note, they are light as a feather press rolls with some one-handed and most two handed

[@leandrosinco]

This is great

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Thanks Leandro!

[@durftedromen2915]

THANK YOU!!

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

THANK YOU for viewing Durf te Dromen!

[@richb4099]

Masterful work. A fantastic song and drum arrangement.

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Hey Rich B thanks for checking out my video. A fun tune to play for sure.

[@user-tx2kn4fs3i]

Too good :)

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Thanks for watching my vid!

[@shackleton72]

BEAUTIFUL ❤️

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Thanks for checking out my video Tommy. Cheers! LC

[@shackleton72]

@@masterfuldrumming8408 how long would it take to get that down ?

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

@@shackleton72 well, it depends. I can send you the transcription and if you read music you could probably put it together in a week or so. There is a lot of detail. If you don't read and you have a good memory, again, probably a week or two. Everyone learns differently and at different rates. Larry

[@shackleton72]

@@masterfuldrumming8408 oh god yes please, if you could send me the transcription that would be amazing ,. Thank you so much , you know watching you play yesterday was so inspirational,. Well done you , that's truly a great gift one human can give to another, thank you 🙏

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

@@shackleton72 if you contact me at www.larrycrowe.com I can send it to you. LC

[@approximations6256]

Great video! Very tight playing. I always found the 3/4 5/4 section hard to count...that's just me though. The groove in the chorus is incredible.Subscribed

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Hi Approximations. Thank you for the kind words and for subscribing. Gaucho is a challenge for sure. All the best. LC

[@regaltip8A]

Nice but one thing I always see with KZbin versions the drummers don't have soft hands unlike the greats.

[@karstenerdinger2167]

nicely done!

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Hey Karsten. Thanks so much!

[@karstenerdinger2167]

@@masterfuldrumming8408 Larry, might you by chance do a video with transcriptions on “Lido Shuffle” by Boz Scaggs and “I Cannot Believe It’s True” by Phil Collins..? Just curious. Thanks very much. I really enjoy your videos and your a phenomenal drummer!

[@luistorrejon1439]

sos una masa

[@masterfuldrumming8408]

Gracias Luis!

[@willwagnerwaguinho]

Uhuuu

[@michaelfox2475]

This drum feel is way way way off. The feel that Jeff played on the recording was way behind the beat. Being able to transcribe I would imagine is helpful and a great analytical skill to have, but if you are unable to get even remotely close to the feel of the recording that you transcribed what’s the point. Not being picky hear, but the feel on this cover is not even remotely close to the drum feel on the recording.

[@hammerwielder]

Maybe if you could learn to spell your criticisms might have some credibility.

[@MrDCrosswell]

@@hammerwielder Agreed. Also, Porcaro's feel isn't `way behind the beat'. If anybody's is, it's simply not on time. You can play on the leading or trailing edge, or right on top of it, but anything else and you're simply not playing in time. `Being able to transcribe I would imagine is helpful', looks very much like an admission of inability, in that aspect, on his part, Mr. Fox's effort looks like a petit attempt at pseudo-intellectualism, aimed at pretentious belittlement, in an effort to inflate his own preferred self-image. Perhaps his efforts would be better directed at improving his own performance, cross-spectrum?

[@The123neil]

You're a turkey 🦃.

[@michaelfox2475]

@@The123neil My guess is you sound just like the guy on who transcribed the song but but never spent time learning how lock into the right feel. My point is, if you people were paying attention you would have figured out that Jeff Porcaro got a lot of his understanding of feel and grove by listening to Bernard Purdie who also appears on the very same album Gaucho on the recording Babylon sisters. Maybe if you people spent more time listening to Bernard Purdie like Porcaro did send less time transcribing you might have gotten a little closer to the feel, just ask Gadd where his understanding of pocket and feel comes from. Gadd says he considered him self to be primarily a Jazz drummer until he moved to NYC in the 70s a heard for the first time what he considered to be a deep groove unlike he has ever heard, changed his understanding of playing in the pocket who the hell do you people think Gadd was listening to at the it sure as hell wasn’t Buddy Rich, or the Broadway show musicians or The Who, it was Bernard Purdie.

[@The123neil]

@@michaelfox2475 I sound far worse than this man playing. If I sounded far better I certainly wouldn't choose to toss out cruel criticism though. The folks you mentioned, all of them, were top of the heap and I would guess they'd restrain from cruel criticism of this man's performance as well. It's always unpleasant to watch and listen to a person doing a Relatively great job only to be torn down by who knows who. No response necessary.