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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Surf Musician »

EL GATO - Transcription help!

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weird_oh84 Joined: May 24, 2023 Posts: 181	Posted on Jan 10 2025 04:15 PM I’m trying to learn El Gato by the Chandelles and can’t quite seem to figure out the main riff… Is he using a lot of Slap Back Delay to make his picking sound extra fast? Also, does this transcription look accurate? https://youtu.be/sMnarjeCKzw?si=Jt5qpg6R4n1LEc1Q Top
Redfeather Joined: Jul 30, 2016 Posts: 888	Posted on Jan 11 2025 12:08 AM I think the first few notes of that riff are a little different than what you've written. Here's what I hear, presented much more crudely than your nice musical sheet: 2-2-2 0-0-2-4 or F# - F# - F# - A - A - B - G# It's that quick A-B-G# ascension that might be what you're looking for. Also, there's no slapback that I can hear, it's just tricky to play fast and cleanly! Deceptively hard. For me, anyway. A couple things you might try to make it a little easier: Start with an upstroke on the first note. Eric Johnson does a lot of this strategic picking to make his lightning runs more efficient and I think this is a good example of a song where it pays. Also, maybe finish the lick staying on the D string and sliding up, rather than having to jump up another string to the G. This seems like a song that was written by a fairly adept country picker to me. It's musically simple but ergonomically rather challenging. Last edited: Jan 11, 2025 00:08:54 Top
Redfeather Joined: Jul 30, 2016 Posts: 888	Posted on Jan 11 2025 01:44 AM Continuing to listen to this tune and I just noticed that the two guitars share duty pretty well. After that main riff (let's call that the A section) it goes to those three higher riffs following the 5-4-1 progression down (let's call that the B section) and it's the rhythm guitar from the A section that plays the lead there. It's a pretty fast transition from the A section lead up to those higher frets to play the B section lead so I see why they tagged the other guitar in there. Also, look what I found: The composer Billy Clayton's Jazzmaster uesd on this song! https://www.instagram.com/guitarhouseoftulsa/p/ConIAnFurKm/?img_index=1 Top
ArtS Joined: May 09, 2008 Posts: 1353 Isle of Kent, MD	Posted on Jan 11 2025 02:18 AM Have you looked over this post from 2013? El Cato tab 2013 — Surfcat Agent Octopus Agent Octopus Bandcamp Top
weird_oh84 Joined: May 24, 2023 Posts: 181	Posted on Jan 11 2025 01:49 PM ArtS wrote: Have you looked over this post from 2013? El Cato tab 2013 Awesome, thanks! Top
weird_oh84 Joined: May 24, 2023 Posts: 181	Posted on Jan 11 2025 01:50 PM Redfeather wrote: Continuing to listen to this tune and I just noticed that the two guitars share duty pretty well. After that main riff (let's call that the A section) it goes to those three higher riffs following the 5-4-1 progression down (let's call that the B section) and it's the rhythm guitar from the A section that plays the lead there. It's a pretty fast transition from the A section lead up to those higher frets to play the B section lead so I see why they tagged the other guitar in there. Also, look what I found: The composer Billy Clayton's Jazzmaster uesd on this song! https://www.instagram.com/guitarhouseoftulsa/p/ConIAnFurKm/?img_index=1 Thanks for the input! That guitar is gorgeous! Top
Redfeather Joined: Jul 30, 2016 Posts: 888	Posted on Jan 11 2025 02:35 PM I've been playing this song a bunch since you brought it up and I've figured out what I think is the easiest way to play that main riff, ergonomically. Here's how to play the first 7 notes, which I think are the trickiest: E string: 2-2-2-5 A string: 0-2-4 You're playing an A twice but in different spots. Playing it on the E string with your pinky the first time is way easier than having to jump up to the A string. And playing it on the open A the second time, during that quick three note ascension, is not too tough since it's linear. Top
weird_oh84 Joined: May 24, 2023 Posts: 181	Posted on Jan 11 2025 04:32 PM Redfeather wrote: I've been playing this song a bunch since you brought it up and I've figured out what I think is the easiest way to play that main riff, ergonomically. Here's how to play the first 7 notes, which I think are the trickiest: E string: 2-2-2-5 A string: 0-2-4 You're playing an A twice but in different spots. Playing it on the E string with your pinky the first time is way easier than having to jump up to the A string. And playing it on the open A the second time, during that quick three note ascension, is not too tough since it's linear. right on! Thanks again! Top

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