Transcribing Notes From John Neil (Head Transcriber)
This song came from a recording session for another song. After the first take, the drummer was incapacitated, so they found the tightest 16 bars of that first take and edited it around until they came up with what you hear in this song. So there is some repetition, but not always in the same place.
This being said, Rupert decided it was best to make this song a story song because it would basically repeat the same 16 bars over and over again. It started as “If you like Humphrey Bogart…”, but later he realized he’d done enough songs that referenced movie stars, and wanted an escape type song, and settled on the exotic drink “Piña Coladas.” And the rest is … yacht rock history!
Melody
The lead vocals are in the range of A2-A4.
Download the Melody Music Here
Keyboard
I did the keyboards as close as I could hear to the recording. It’s mostly a piano part, but then in the Interludes there is electric piano (or more a synth pad sound) and string synth.
Download the Keyboard Sheet Music Here
Guitars
The Rhythm/Lead Guitar is that groovy clean tone through a phaser, then in the Interludes it switches to distortion with no phaser.
Download the Rhythm/Lead Guitar Tab Here
Strum
The Strum/Ukulele was made up for easy guitar, as there is no strum in this song.
Download the Strum Tab Here
Download the Ukulele Tab Here
Bass
The bass part is very repetitious, with lots of syncopation, so a good beginner’s bass part!
Download the Bass Tab Here
Drums
The drums got the most editing (described above), with it being split up into 2 simultaneous “takes.” I did my best to create a part that reflects all the things going on, and the end result may be a little tricky, with lots of ghost notes. It may take some work, but will sound good once mastered.
Download the Drum Music Here
Download the Lead Sheet Here