Greatest Bass Line Ever? Ep5 'Peg' Steely Dan

[@mule71]

I’ve always said, it’s impossible to listen to Peg and be in a bad mood. Such a ‘feel good’ tune. 👍 ❤️

[@lazzy2day]

Correct statement of the day!

[@alexhayden507]

This is how I feel about Steely Dan in general

[@MH-xd2nd]

Ironic given the content of the lyrics!

[@hahabass]

'One good thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain'. Bob Marley - Trenchtown Rock

[@andigisler]

So true! I think it goes for the whole album, and TODAY I had a real bad day but I already feel much better hearing this great lesson! Ain't it amazing how Steely Dan had this uplifting, positive, feelgood music but such dark and cynical lyrics, pure genius!

[@justincoulter4458]

It's my favorite bass line of all-time. I never get tired of hearing it.

[@shakesrear7850]

can't believe this isn't a hundred line thread oh my days. this, portrait, birdland i'm not original.

[@bassdog61]

Chuck Rainey is a bass legend and great guy. Started on his bass books. He's been on a lot of famous recordings that many don't know he's the bass player on.

[@ObeseChess]

Yup. Every time my dad calls me to ask who’s playing a bassline he loves on some old record he grew up with, it’s almost always either James Jamerson or Chuck Rainey. If it‘s neither of them, it’s Anthony Jackson. But it’s always one of those three.

[@marcpuyuelograndas1005]

Rainey's line on "Kid Charlemagne" is also fantastic, and combines fingerstyle with slapping too!

[@pangeaproxima9446]

Really?

[@joelemerou3487]

I don't hear any slap parts on Kid Charlemagne. Can you point out the timing where it happens?

[@marcpuyuelograndas1005]

@@joelemerou3487 Around 0:38, after "did you realize that you were a champion in their eyes".

[@joelemerou3487]

@@marcpuyuelograndas1005 you're absolutely right! I thought he was just plucking the strings more agressively but it's definitely slap. Thanks!

[@grant5603]

Check out the YT clip of KC bass and drums only

[@karmajunkie108]

not only an iconic bass part, but that guitar solo has to be one of Steely Dans best!

[@devinebass]

🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@dm4728]

Absolutely

[@skierpage]

In the Classic Albums documentary, Becker and Fagen talk about the guitar solo that Jay Graydon eventually nailed for all time: Fagen: This tune I think is infamous among studio players in that we hired a couple of guitar players to play the guitar solo. It wasn't quite what we were looking for 'til we got through three or four, five - Becker: six or seven Fagen: - players. Six or seven, eight players. Even if they're exaggerating for comic effect, we're unlikely to ever again see such a team effort from so many top professionals lavished on one song. Then the documentary goes into Michael McDonald's otherworldly three-part "Aaa-ahh - Shutter falls - All in three-D - Foreign movie - PEG!" harmonies. This SBL video is a great addition to the lore of "Peg."

[@nyobunknown6983]

I have always Loved Chuck Rainey"s bass playing. He and Bernard Purdy were a team.

[@menziepittman81]

Rainey is so humble he would challenge the moment as just doing his job. That's the beauty of being a Genuine Master.

[@thirdlegstalliano]

And a genius

[@busterrabbit]

Peg is basically a I, IV, V, 12 bar song with a few fills. But what playing! That's what a lot of ordinary players miss when discussing bassists, it's not just their technical ability (I can play Peg), but the fact that these session guys create the basslines in the first place. If somebody said it's a 12 bar in G, who would come up with THIS bassline? That's why these players get hired, not because they can play 50 notes a second! Steely Dan - Glamour Profession, bass by Anthony Jackson, sublime floating bassline with stops and space

[@eamonngeraghty5688]

Great point! I can often get caught up in simply how cool and fun a bass line sounds that I overlook how simple the chord progression is that it’s playing over. The creativity of the player can be deceptive in making a simple song sound more complicated than it is. Always inspiring me to think outside the box more and come up with less predictable lines when playing. And these session players often have little to no knowledge of the song before going into the studio so they’re coming up with these bass lines pretty much on the spot! What may take a majority of players (myself, at least) a lot more time to come up with is what these guys just naturally hear from the start. Amazing!

[@Leonmpj]

“A 13-bar blues”, as Donald once described it.

[@tobyhoward4979]

@@Leonmpj In the Aja LP sleevenotes the song was described as ""a pantonal 13 bar blues with chorus"".

[@davidetaylor2173]

Glamour profession by Steely Dan so damned jazzy and soulful...they're music is just that MUSIC...It can't just be labeled rock and roll it's beyond that

[@davidetaylor2173]

Who's the bass player on Deacon Blues

[@paulking0512]

Graham Maby's basslines on early Joe Jackson records would be a perfect episode for this series. Especially his bassline in "Sunday Papers".

[@alainbrasseur7083]

absolutely agree with you; Graham maby is one of the great underrated. His work is so versatile with Joe Jackson. He deserves our attention.

[@chriswright2553]

Also agree. There’s some great playing on Look Sharp

[@frederikmarohn6358]

His playing on “different for girls” is my favorite work of his

[@edwinandrews8497]

Wow, yes! Joe Jackson's first two albums, "Look Sharp", and "I'm The Man" feature Graham Maby's bass SO far forward in the mix that they are often the identity of the songs. Love them all. I learned so much early on from those two albums.

[@hickorymccay2994]

I was surprised to see the name Graham Maby, because I immediately think of him as the They Might Be Giants bassist in the 90s.

[@joyousracket8767]

Totally awesome! As a drummer, it’s also important to note that Rick Moratta’s drum part on this tune is also classic. All kinds of juicy little subtleties in there. Rick also mentioned once in an interview about this tune that he and Chuck had played similar grooves to the one on “Peg” many times before, which is part of reason the two of them are so tight on this tune.

[@jacksonwright5145]

I love playing this tune. The ghost notes in the verse line give it so much rhythm!

[@devinebass]

Such a groove 🔥

[@louzander]

I’m not a bassist (I kinda play keys and guitar) but the way you explain these lines, the relationships between the notes, and even your excitement really help me learn about these great songs.

[@hahabass]

You have the 'legend' who plays the music and then you have the legend who REVIEWS the music. Amazing Mr. A! ❤

[@ivanguiscafre]

The passion for music from you is inspiring!

[@Bass.Player]

Chuck Rainey is a frickin genius! I'm blown away by these lines and do well just to mimic his effort. He has always been my all time favorite Bassist and this tune is my favorite SD tune... This man is so gifted...

[@devinebass]

For sure dude! We 🧡🧡🧡 Chuck, beast!

[@kevinallen1761]

Thank you for covering the great Chuck Rainey!

[@tonycampbell9626]

Ian you are a bass god. Any song you feature is always always a “greatest bass line”. I wish I had your talent for the instrument.

[@briantfunkfunk3770]

Its amazing how well great songs hold up after 40 plus years. I never get tired of this

[@devinebass]

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@AJ_from_Queens]

Just saw Steely at Jones Beach a few weeks ago and…. My goodness are they tight. One of the greatest live performances I’ve ever seen. God bless Chucky boy!!

[@billvill61]

SD without Walter isn't really SD.

[@Duplicitousthoughtformentity]

Dude sank right into that groove. Peg is great as a whole, but the bassline is unbelievably catchy. Great playing and some nice insights to the instrumentation.

[@devinebass]

Thanks for checking the vid dude! 👊🏻🔥

[@jeffs.1999]

Once again Ian, you've managed to get a whole bunch of us closet players jacked-up to learn ourselves another great tune! Thanks to Chuck Rainey for making us all feel good, every time Peg is played! -Jeff.

[@IanMartinAllison]

Cheers Jeff!

[@Jonobueno]

Its gotta be the most joyful bass work I've heard. Brilliant. And Graydons guitar solo as well... It's impossible to not be lifted by these dudes.

[@johnvenditto2908]

I've been trying to play this song correctly since it came out but only got so far. Because I didn't have to play it for a gig I pretty much gave up while bowing to the master. Thanks Ian for rekindling my desire and breaking it down, I bet many of us agree this is one of the best all-time bass lines too.

[@PhillipPahinui]

Youre enthusiasm is infectious. Love it.

[@devinebass]

🧡🧡🧡

[@bradtanner6047]

your enthusiasm is contagious!

[@Funkbrother213]

Dude!! the way you play the turn around line!! Yes!!

[@natewhitmal6902]

Respect for technique and observation.

[@xRyuzakii]

Ian, I love the sound you get from your jazz basses!

[@Stiglr]

Your enthusiasm for this classic bassline is infectious!!! Love the analysys, the tabs and the theory explanation!!!

[@thirdlegstalliano]

The guy who sings, "ooo, yeah ah" in the outro steals the show here.

[@johnnyzbass]

One of my favourite Steely Dan bass lines of which there are many.

[@Loki_Morningstar666]

I'm normally a hard rock and metal kinda guy but there is just something about Steely Dan that speaks to me. Aja is just such a classic album too. Their music is timeless.

[@charlescowan6121]

I love seeing these guys get so nerdy about music, especially the bass parts!

[@r3ality1]

"Kid Charlemagne" off of The Royal Scam has always been one of my favorite bass lines. Chuck is THE MAN!

[@wilmay12]

I hear you ... James Jamerson !

[@eboethrasher]

Yeah, Peg doesn't hold a candle to it.

[@shooz4unme]

Chuck is the man!!

[@darvinclement3250]

Steele Dan had incredible musicians on their records.

[@BrunoMigliari]

Great video, Ian! Mr.Rainey is an absolute master, and Steely Dan as as good as it gets!

[@rondunagan6339]

I learned this song many years ago and loved it back then and now. Got out my bass to play it again and fell I’m love with it again. No matter who hears you play it they know it’s the beginning of this song. IT’S ICONIC!!

[@halcop]

Chuck Rainey on all his recordings with Steely Dan are amazing.

[@solo624]

Great song with alot of stuff going on with it . Rock , slap pop and tricky timing. Not an easy tune to cover . Great explanation and break down.

[@cashth]

“Every time you go away” and “wherever I lay my hat”…by Paul Young…Pino Palladino’s fretless bass lines are amazing! You should definitely breakdown those!

[@ImBobbyRicigliano]

You can break down Steely Dan in such a digestible and inspiring way, Ian. Only content creator I’ve seen who can do that. Just an exciting vibe all through with some cool insider knowledge. Brilliant. You got this punk rocker understanding and playing jazz fusion rock. You’re an incredible teacher, dude.

[@sentimenta1664]

decided to learn this song on a rainy day where i'm not feeling too great. the groove and your smile helped turn things around, thank you

[@markslade3076]

Bloody hell that bass you're playing is a thing of absolute beauty 🤘

[@ericward8010]

My first Jazz bass was a '69 just like that. I also met Anthony Jackson long ago with a prototype 6 string by Carl Thompson.

[@martinvalenzuela9103]

I played for a band that covered this song at my request and it never got old it became part of our set for like 2 years. Love this song!

[@encompassvideo5429]

A joyous song and incredibly distinctive upon its release. Nothing else was like it. So timeless.

[@natsix4857]

This whole song is remarkable. Thanks a lot! 🙏

[@EphemeralProductions]

always have loved Chuck's basslines but especially his Steely Dan stuff.

[@007MrMISHI]

Excellent ! Makes me appreciate this tune ( and the Dan !) all that much more. And you present it in a very entertaining way . Bravo !

[@davidvdg2850]

Oh MAN!!! I stumbled on to your dissection of Chuck Raineys bass line to Peg!!! That IS the coolest baseline EVER. I’ve thought that from the day I first played Ajia on my Dual 1225 turntable. Yep, I’m that old…. Been playing bass for 57 years. There’s no ego with Rainey. He’s a very awesome person.

[@stevielongworth6853]

Ian , i love your videos , your playing style , teaching method and personality make it a joy to practice along with you. I have just learned Home at Last another Chuck masterpiece , so was building myself up to learning Peg & Kid Charlemagne , but its the slapping i struggle on , but getting the grooves on the verses is still great to play along to. Thanks again to you and Scott for your boss vids.

[@NateButlerFresnoCA]

I agree, and have been saying for years myself that this is one of the greatest bass lines ever! Thank you for the concise breakdown!

[@tofnbad]

Love your enthusiasm and explanations

[@EphemeralProductions]

love your enthusiasm Ian, as always. You are a great teacher. :)

[@jimmyhowe7883]

Awesomeness! Incredible tone too!

[@FrankHudsonbass]

Ian why are you guys so on point!! Yes! Been waiting for this video!!!!!

[@IanMartinAllison]

Cheers Frank!

[@gangstasanta3198]

Another great video Ian! You have an infectious enthusiasm and it is contagious. I have always loved this song and the bass line always what I loved the most. Thanks for the fantastic content!

[@jav6187]

Ian. Best teacher ever! thanks!

[@grizelda4526]

I’ve been working on this song for quite a while. Good lord It’s tricky. Thank you for covering it!

[@insidejazzguitar8112]

Have always loved loved loved this bassline! Thank you!!

[@minioner5080]

As always Ian,another top quality video 👍🏻

[@handybunny]

Such an amazing bass line... Definitely one of the best ever in pop-rock. Just adore it. Thanks for the lesson.

[@handybunny]

I feel the same way, Ian... I just keep shaking my head and going "no way!" at each cool little part and riff. Amazing. It just keeps coming.

[@danielirvine7468]

I hadn’t even heard of this tune Thanks

[@devinebass]

It's a beaut!

[@ericturcotte3131]

Love your cap. I'm just back from Tacoma, WA.

[@StevenClements]

BRILLIANT video thank you Ian!

[@cashth]

David Hungate‘s bass line on Toto’s “99” is funky and his solo at the end is really cool too. That’d be a good one to break down.

[@iansands8315]

Agreed

[@charickter]

Yes, please.

[@get2dachoppa249]

Hella yeah, I was just listening to it yesterday.

[@lalogallu]

Absolutely agree. Peg is probably the greatest Bass Line Ever

[@NicklasNylander87]

Ian is the bass teacher I always needed but never had!

[@devinebass]

🧡🧡🧡

[@idolbass]

About 10 yrs ago Chuck had some health problems and his wife organised a way for fans contribute, I was happy to help financially. AJA was a big influence on me.

[@modernmusicstudio303]

I couldn't agree more!! So freaking good!

[@tubenmarkus]

Ian is the best bass teacher online, hands down :)

[@devinebass]

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@pdexBigTeacher]

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for one of my most beloved tunes, and as an aspiring bass player one of the illest bass lines ever recorded.

[@andybaldman]

You are such a better player and teacher than Scott. You really are gifted. It comes so naturally for you.

[@mandohack]

Thanks for this break down, Ian. Since we're talking about Mr. Rainey already, you need to do The Streetbeater by Quincy Jones. You. Must. 😁

[@robertdore9592]

What really helps this bass line along is Rick Marotta's syncopations particularly with his kick drum.

[@chrisreynolds3204]

Great instruction, this guy's always spot on!

[@devinebass]

🧡🧡🧡

[@mojokooistra7056]

Great job breaking down Peg!!!

[@bretthines1020]

Yes! And that Lead solo is so liquid and alive!

[@yolesislopez3020]

Feel so good Chuck Mangione.

[@HangsLopsided]

Great video, and I agree, one of the best of all time

[@danshein7795]

Thank you so much for this. Learning it for a gig in two weeks

[@GregoryHoffman-ci3fz]

I've seen the SD video on Behind the music, but I actually purchased the DVD 15 years ago from a music store that was going out of business. What an eclectic bunch of players! Definitely an occasion where the product is greater than the sum of its parts. Great job breaking it all down. Thanks

[@timbrown60]

Best teacher on KZbin

[@chazmann108]

dude - very, very well done.

[@ajw9533]

Heard this in a cafe last week and was so happy.

[@gkouba]

Yeah man this bass playing by Chuck on Peg is amazingly creative. Dang! as well as all the stuff he plays with The Dan

[@johnbyrnes3790]

i literally just listened to this in my car. i always pay attention to michael McDonald. thank you for giving me something else to focus on. you know what song is underrated on that record is? I got the news. the bass on that track is hella cool.

[@revinfool]

Such a great song, great album. Never heard all the ghost notes before. So, so cool!

[@Madmikey626]

Marvellous tute for this Bass Line,best i have ever seen on utube

[@sator_project]

I suspect Chuck was thinking the whole time 'I better give em something good, or Fagen and Becker will never let me go home'

[@adammandelj5625]

How truly brilliant Chuck rainey is

[@devinebass]

He's a legend!! His interview was a real Bass Space highlight!

[@BassClefCity]

Great Bass Line - popular song, but had never really listened to this bass line until today. Just Awesome!! I had to learn the Sanford and Son theme, bass line for a mock tonight show. Found out Chuck was bassist on Quincy Jones album "You got it bad girl" - name of song is "The Streetbeater" - Chuck is one of the more complex bassist to cover, and capture that timing and feel.

[@sonicart1808]

Your playing is incredible .....

[@IanMartinAllison]

Cheers!

[@wolfgangsaller5843]

On Steely Dan records you can clearly hear that Fagen/Becker always pulled the best out their co-musicians!!! Every song is a masterpiece with it´s very own character! As a young guy, when this so songs were realesed!, I listen to them with my chin dropping to my knees! These songs made me really understand playing the bass! Thank´s, Ian! Great choice!

[@fxt363]

Soooo groovy bro. Rainey is raining down on us.

[@bottom4strings333]

Thank you bringing this track back to the forefront of me wanting to give it a go again on bass! Nailed it this time, thanks to your breakdown of Chuck's incredible playing! I had the great pleasure of meeting & briefly hanging out with Chuck twice. The 1st time was in NYC at one of the first Bass Day Live clinics before they moved it to LA. It was hosted at The New School, and I just arrived near the end of the day when vendors were already packing up. I was checking out a gorgeous J-style 35" scale bass from New York Bass Works, and all of a sudden I see Chuck heading my way. I was like, "Nah..He's got to be heading somewhere else." Nope! He stopped right next to me and was checking out my playing! I got real nervous at first, even though I'm a touring pro myself. The sales guy from NYBW took the bass back from me since they needed to pack up, and Chuck said to me, "You sound really good!" I nearly fainted!! Lol! We chatted a bit, and I got his autograph. A few years later, I was on tour with Blues artist Debbie Davies (former guitarist with Albert Collins. I toured with her for about 9 years.) We were in Texas near Chuck's hometown, and at the end of our show, one of the servers at the club we were performing told me to run across the street to check out Chuck Rainey's Top 40 band that he plays local gigs with when he's not touring/recording. I dropped everything & ran over! He remembered me, and we chatted for a bit. He's such nice, humble guy! And a master bass player!! I've also hung with his partner-in-crime several times over the years, Bernard Purdie. Another great guy, and phenomenal drummer!! He once came out with an entourage of his friends to see a band I was in perform at a club in NJ. My drummer at the time took some master class lessons with him. Both Chuck & Bernard are great people!

[@mwoody4560]

One of my favorite bass lines

[@Makewisechooses]

Another Awesome video. Thank you for playing. I'm not on Instagram so, I've not had an opportunity to hear you play. You playing in this video gave me the little nugget I needed to tighten up my slap technique. Love what you guys do. It's deeply appreciated.

[@Jesse615]

It's funny. A month or so ago, I was listening to a Podcast about Steely Dan, and Peg was played, and I really noticed the bass for the first time; was blown away and thought, "does anyone realize how killer this bass is!". Thank you!

[@bretthines1020]

Such a gorgeous song