Rock N' Me- Steve Miller

Steve Miller was my first “major” concert. So he always holds a special meaning for me. I saw him in 1970 or '71 before Joker came out. His big hits at that time were Space Cowboy and Living in the U.S.A. I was always very impressed with Steve Miller. He didn't have any kind of special voice, yet he was a great singer. He is also a GREAT guitar player. He would have to go on any list of highly underrated players.

Chords used in this song

A5 B5 E5 B5 B6 B7 A5 A6 A7 E5 E6 E7

e]-------------------------------------------------------------
b]-------------------------------------------------------------
g]------------9------------------------------------------------
d]--7----9----9------------------------------------------------
a]--7----9----7----9---11---12----7----9---10----2----4----5---
e]--5----7----7----7----7----7----5----5----5----0----0----0---

Intro (Riff A)

e]-------------------------------------------------------------
b]-------------------------------------------------------------
g]-------------------9-9---------------------------------------
d]--7--7-7-—9----9--9-9—-9----------9----------9----------9--
a]--7--7-7-—9----9--7-7—-9---9h-11-11---9h-11-11---9h-11-11--
e]--5--5-5-—7----7-------7---0------0---0------0---0------0--

e]---------------------------
b]---------------------------
g]--------------------------- Play Riff A 2X – Play that last
d]---------9----9--9---(9)-- B5 chord the first time only. The
a]—-9h-11-11---11-11---(9)-- 2nd time through play the riff below.
e]--0------0----0--0---(7)--

OK, Play that twice then,

e]----------------------------------------------------------
b]----------------------------------------------------------
g]----------------------------------------------------------
d]----------------------------------------------------------
a]----------2---5^----2-------------------2---5^----2-------
e]--2---5------------------5-----2---5------------------5---

Alright, that was the intro. Pretty simple, starts off with power
chords. Make sure to slide down on the B5 chord. On the little
hammer-on riff, hold a mini-barre over the 5th and 4th strings with
your index finger. Let the open 6th string ring. On the last section,
give the note at the 5th fret of the 5th string just a little tug.

*The entire Intro (Riff A) is played again at the end of the 2nd verse.

Now the Verses begin. During the verses Steve plays a simple Blues shuffle. It is the same shuffle just played in B 2 measures, in A 2 measures, in E 2 measures, and then in B 2 measures again. All it is
is a 5 power chord and 6 power chord. It is straight eighth notes.
Use your index and ring fingers for the 5 chord, index and pinky for
the 6 chord.

e]------------------------------
b]------------------------------ This is one measure of the Blues
g]------------------------------ shuffle in B.
d]------------------------------
a]--9--9--11--9----9—-9--11--9--
e]--7--7---7--7----7—-7---7--7—-

e]------------------------------
b]------------------------------ This is the same shuffle just moved
g]------------------------------ down 2 frets and played in A. This
d]------------------------------ is one measure.
a]--7--7--9--7----7--7--9--7----
e]--5--5--5--5----5--5--5—-5----

e]------------------------------
b]------------------------------ This is the same shuffle in E played
g]------------------------------ at the open position. This is one
d]------------------------------ measure. Use your index and ring
a]--2--2--4--2----2--2--4--2---- fingers to fret the notes on the
e]--0--0--0--0----0--0--0--0---- 5th string.

Those were all one measure, so during the verses you play this
progression: /B/B/A/A/E/E/B/B/

One more part to learn. This is what Steve plays during the chorus. It is just a variation of the Blues shuffle you played during the verses.
It introduces a 7 chord. These are played with your index finger and
pinky. This will give your hand a little stretch!

B5 B6 B5 B6 B5 B6 B7 B6 B5

e]------------------------------------------------------------------
b]------------------------------------------------------------------
g]------------------------------------------------------------------
d]------------------------------------------------------------------
a]--9--9--11--9----9--9--11--9----9--9--11--12-12-12-12-12-12-11--9-
e]--7--7---7--7----7--7---7--7----7--7---7---7--7--7--7--7--7--7—-7-

That is 2 full measures in B.

Same riff in A below. This is 2 measures

A5 A6 A5 A6 A5 A6 A7 A6 A5

e]---------------------------------------------------------------
b]---------------------------------------------------------------
g]---------------------------------------------------------------
d]---------------------------------------------------------------
a]--7--7--9--7----7--7--9--7----7--7--9--10-10-10-10-10-10-9--7--
e]--5--5--5--5----5--5--5--5----5--5--5---5--5--5--5--5--5-5--5--

Same riff in E below. This is 2 measures.

E5 E6 E5 E6 E5 E6 E7 E6 E5

e]--------------------------------------------------------
b]--------------------------------------------------------
g]--------------------------------------------------------
d]--------------------------------------------------------
a]--2--2--4--2----2--2--4--2----2--2—-4--5-5-5-5-5-5-4--2-
e]--0--0--0--0----0--0--0--0----0--0--0--0-0-0-0-0-0-0--0-

The 7 chords are played double time or sixteenth notes.

Remember that this altered riff is 2 measures each. You still play the same progression: /B/B/A/A/E/E/B/B/

Thats it. That is all the guitar parts in this song. Pretty easy.

Here's the lyrics:

Play Intro

Well I've been (B)lookin' real hard
And I'm tryin' to find a job..
But it (A)just keeps gettin' tougher every day...
And I've (E)got to do my part
'Cause I know in my heart..
I've got to (B)please my sweet baby yeah,

Well I (B)ain't superstitious and I don't get suspicious
'Cause my (A)woman is a friend of mine...
And I (E)know that it's true that all the things that I do
Will come (B)back to me in my sweet time...

So keep on (B)Rock 'n me Baby
Keep on a-(A)rockin' me Baby
Keep on a-(E)rockin' me Baby
Keep on a-(B)rockin' me Baby

I went from (B)Phoenix Arizona, all the way to Tacoma..
Phila- (A)delphia, Atlanta, L.A. ...
(E)Nor-thern California where the girls are warm,
So I could (B)be with my sweet Baby yeah..

Keep on a- (B)rockin' me Baby
Keep on a- (A)rockin' me Baby
Keep on a– (E)rockin' me Baby
Keep on a- (B)rockin' me Baby, Baby Baby Baby keep on

(Intro)rockin'
Rockin' me baby
Keep on a-rockin'
Rockin' me

Whoo- hoo- oo- oo

(B)Don't get suspicious,
Now don't be suspicious,
Girl you (A)know you are a friend of mine...
And you (E)know that it's true
That all the things that I do
I'm gonna (B)come back to you in your sweet time..

I went from (B)Phoenix Arizona, all the way to Tacoma..
Phila- (A)delphia, Atlanta, L.A. ...
(E)Nor-thern California where the girls are warm,
So I could (B)be with my sweet Baby yeah..

Keep on a- (B)rockin' me Baby
Keep on a- (A)rockin' me Baby
Keep on a- (E)rockin' me Baby
Keep on a- (B)rockin' me Baby

Repeat chorus and out