I jam with some other “old dudes” one night a week just for haha’s and we decided to learn PEG by Steely Dan. It is usually my inclination to improvise a guitar solo. The solo in PEG, though, is one of those that are so unique that it is just really a part of the song… so says me, anyway. So I thought was important to actually learn it as best as I could. I have to say, “It’s challenging!”. I listened to it, looked at other transcriptions, saw Jay Graydon (the guy who played it) teach it to Tim Pierce, slowed it way down with my DAW and listened even more, etc…. So this is how I do it and thought it would be a good one to share via tab/ notation PDF and a video.

While going over it in the tutorial part of this video, I realized I took some liberties with the exact timing in a phrase or two when I actually played it. I also probably added or left out a grace note once or twice. This happens sometimes when you’ve been playing something for a while. It morphs into your own thing a bit. So apologies in advance to those who are sticklers for every 16th rest and approach note.

Though I do not think of Steely Dan as a country band, there is a bit of what is often considered country guitar technique in this solo such as double stop bends and hybrid picking. Click below for the PDF with standard notation and tablature. And of course, have a look at the YouTube video.