5 GREATEST Steely Dan Guitar Solos EVER?

[@beneunson]

⚡ How To Solo With The Pentatonic Scale: www.bensguitarclub.com/p/how-to-solo-with-the-pentatonic-scale 💥 THE BGC BUNDLE (all masterclasses): www.bensguitarclub.com/p/the-bgc-bundle 💥 The Modern Soloing BUNDLE: www.bensguitarclub.com/p/modern-soloing-bundle

[@ericpederson4449]

Idk how you can pick 1 in particular. Like depends your mood etc. The more you listen to SD the more you are blown away

[@Theweeze100]

Denny Diaz on Your Gold teeth (no bent notes at all) , Skunk Baxter on Ricky Don’t lose that number, and Larry Carlton on Don’t take me alive… actually the whole Royal Scam album. It’s probably my favorite.

[@beneunson]

Royal Scam is just brilliant the whole way through

[@Guitar-free]

My Fave solo is Larry Carlton's on Kid Charlamagne He does some very tasteful things in it. He's probably the best at bends that I've heard especially with Michael Franks.

[@beneunson]

Yes, Larry's bends are perfect! Thank you for watching!

[@howardbaldwin1226]

Drew Zingg’s live solos in the 1990s SD Touring band are fabulous reinterpretations of the originals. What a talent. Cheers from AKL, NZL.

[@beneunson]

Drew Zingg is such a remarkable guitarist, I always loved his playing on "Live At The Beacon" by the New York Rock And Soul Revue, with DF, Michael McDonald etc... Love Drew's playing. Thanks for watching!

[@Theweeze100]

Love your channel, Ben… Keep ‘em coming!

[@beneunson]

So glad you're enjoying it, thank you so much!

[@henryb160]

Collectively, the SD catalogue contains probably the greatest collection of electric guitar solos by the greatest collective of electric guitarists ever assembled.

[@beneunson]

I agree! Thanks so much for watching!

[@drothberg3]

I was really hoping to hear Ben play the solos! Oh, well. I'm glad I heard this list because, while I love Steely Dan, and I think they are one of the best bands ever for guitar, I don't remember how most of these go. So I have to go give these a listen. My favorites are Kid Charlemagne and Don't Take Me Alive by Larry Carlton from The Royal Scam, Peg by Jay Graydon from Aja, Rikki Don't Lose that Number by Jeff Baxter, Do It Again by Denny Diaz. I learned to play Kid Charlemagne when I was younger, no tabs, by ear. That was a project!

[@beneunson]

Haha thank you David, I'll have to make another video where I play the solos! Great choices here, thank you for sharing - I bet it was a great exercise learning the 'Kid Charlemagne' solo by ear, it still sounds incredible after all these years!

[@leomilani_gtr]

What I admire the most in SD is their crazy harmonies. I'd die for a harmonic analysis of glamour profession or other songs from Aja and Gaucho.

[@beneunson]

Absolutely! Let me see if I can prepare that sometime in the near future 😀

[@jon.malowsky]

Wayne Krantz with Steely or Fagen is like heaven on earth..check The great pandora of funn..so relaxed but tense too like the melodic minor

[@g-love6507]

"Aja" by far is Steely Dan's best recording .. It's not even close .. The sitar/guitar solo on "Do it again" is one of the best Steely Dan solos for my money !

[@beneunson]

Denny Dias on "Do It Again" is one of the greatest SD guitar solos!

[@jeremyversusjazz]

Do it again is on their first record, cant buy a thrill. But yeah, its awesome.

[@neilmacritchie]

Solo: Skunk Baxter on Rikki Don't Lose That Number (the tone, feel, choices and how he comes out of it) Album: Can't Buy A Thrill (sounds as fresh today as the day it was released in 1972) I grew up with their music and for me, they set the bar for quality music and recording. Elliot Randall's "one take" solo on Reelin In The Years isn't bad either. But there are so many others. Thanks for highlighting some of their stuff Ben. 😀More please!

[@beneunson]

Absolutely, fantastic suggestions here! Skunk's solo on "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" still sounds as raw and fresh today as I'm sure it did in 1974. Thank you so much for watching, Neil! I really appreciate it.

[@jujjeelf309]

First, the "Glamour Profession" outro solo by Steve Khan. His playing flows so effortlessly. I have always loved "Haitian Divorce". Here, Dean Parks plays two memorable solos. (Dean played a fine solo on "Rose Darling" as well.) "Kid Charlemagne" is another favorite of mine. The outro solo has some great call and response lines. The solo on "Bad Sneakers" by Walter Becker is also worth mentioning. Love the sitar sounds on this song. Denny Dias´s playing on "Green Earrings" has always impressed me. "Aja" is probably my favorite album of theirs, but I always loved "Gaucho" as well..

[@beneunson]

All fantastic solos - I should have made a longer list! WB's solo on "Bad Sneakers" is really worth a mention, one of my favorites!

[@peterjacobs2012]

Rose Darling is sensational.

[@Davidbmr1970]

Walter was definitely underrated. His work on FM, Snowbound, and Jack of Speed was sublime.

[@markkaminski2416]

That's as difficult as trying to pick their best song. I don't think I could. Just go with your personal favorite!😊

[@beneunson]

Absolutely!

[@fabiocecchelli9662]

Omg… i can’t make a list… love all the SD works. For sure thumb up for Danny Dias, Larry Carlton and Jay Graydon, the most difficult solo i’ve played ( humble 100% ) “your gold teeth II”: amazing beebop lines❤️ cheers from Milan Italy 🇮🇹

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much for watching! Yes, I learnt the solo from "Your Gold Teeth II" many years ago, very difficult solo - and such beautiful lines! 😀

[@fabiocecchelli9662]

It took me a month to prepare it properly😔

[@fabiocecchelli9662]

@@beneunson❤

[@muggo131]

Night by night has to be my favourite, simple but so ballsy and satisfying.

[@beneunson]

Great choice, it really hits you right after "Rikki" on Pretzel Logic...such a great and in my opinion underrated track!

[@jackbroad6109]

One of the greatest and possibly the most underrated Steely Dan guitar solo is Denny Dias' outro solo on "King Of The World". Blazing, beautifully constructed and brilliant!

[@beneunson]

I agree, that is such a great and underrated track!

[@ShinMadero]

Third World Man is my favorite solo

[@beneunson]

Such a special solo!

[@emcg.9655]

Amazing channel thankyou. I cant imagine how talented and committed you must be to reach the level you are at, its just crazy.

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much for checking out my channel! I really appreciate it!

[@tulyar57]

I tend to fall for the more overdriven solos such as Larry Carlton's solos on Kid Charlemagne and Don't Take Me Alive from The Royal Scam. Having said that I find it hard to beat Walter Becker's restrained solo on Bad Sneakers from Katy Lied. Ultimately, who knows, they're all great!

[@beneunson]

I love WB's solo on Bad Sneakers, I should have added it to this list! 😀

[@JP-qg7bu]

Do It Again's solo is bonkers. Definitely my favorite

[@beneunson]

It's just so good!

[@JCMurga1]

Dude, Larry Carlton on Kid Charlemagne😮

[@beneunson]

Absolutely, it's still an unbelievable solo to this day!

[@bobjanetmart506]

Great Ben thanks!

[@beneunson]

Thanks for watching!

[@Guitar-free]

I think I can sing a lot of Steely Dan's solo's because Listened to then so much. They were such great songs.

[@beneunson]

Absolutely!

[@silassouzasilva7130]

Tenho acompanhado seu trabalho ! Sempre um show de informações ! @👏👏👏🇧🇷👍

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much!

[@realmz]

Denny Dias on Green earrings is quite good!

[@beneunson]

Absolutely, coming right out of that ridiculously good Bernard Purdie drum break, right into Denny's solo...what a moment

[@leomilani_gtr]

Oooo that's awesome!!

[@yoitsadam2082]

One of my favorite Walter Becker solos is on Cousin Dupree, incredibly unique approach

[@beneunson]

I agree, that is a great one! In fact, I love all of Walter's solos on Two Against Nature, particularly on Jack Of Speed and Gaslighting Abbie as well.

[@wwbelcher]

Don't Take me Alive intro 🔥

[@michaelsargeant7454]

Ben, in no particular order. And remember, this is from a flute player! Walter Becker on Josie, Denny Dias on Aja, Walter Becker on Black Friday, Larry Carlton's intro on Don't take me alive, Jay Graydon on Peg. Of course Larry on Kid Charlamagne Favourite Album? Probably Aja. Two Against Nature has some fabulous moments.

[@beneunson]

These are all great, Michael! Thanks for watching and discussing your favourites! Aja is of course a masterpiece, and you're absolutely right about mentioning Two Against Nature, which I think is highly underrated.

[@guitarlots]

I like Pretzel Logic and Count Down to Ecstasy

[@beneunson]

Love both those albums!

[@Davidbmr1970]

Can't believe you made no mention of Do It Again, though.

[@guitarlots]

Bodhisattva

[@beverleyderby1536]

100%

[@lmab7115]

Thé harmonica aat start of green earings solo

[@beneunson]

I know, what a way to start a solo!

[@Timtime67]

Im still wondering about these knobs. Why is the middle tone knob gone? Nice material.

[@beneunson]

Just removed the knob on my strat for a little while! It's back on these days! Thanks for watching 😀

[@jeremyversusjazz]

Too many to shout but gun to my head? Jay Graydon: Peg.

[@beneunson]

Always a great choice! Jay is brilliant. If you haven't seen it, you might enjoy my interview with him: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnmle5KMdr6dq9k

[@jeremyversusjazz]

@@beneunson oh cool! i will watch it brother...thnx!

[@bestboy897]

i love the solo in do it again

[@beneunson]

It's a classic!

[@rickvonrockendale4300]

Sweeeegeeezus................!

[@IvorThomas]

Memorable Dan highlights for me are Skunk’s pedal steel work (Razor Boy, Pearl of the Quarter), and the outro solo on King of the World (Dias?). ‘Charlemagne’ is probably tops. Check out the bootleg Katy Lied demo track of Gold Teeth 2, you can hear Donald say “holy f*ck” at Denny’s playing. Now do Carlos Rios! Totally under appreciated.

[@beneunson]

Great suggestions! Countdown To Ecstasy often gets overlooked, and it has some of the greatest SD guitar moments...and yes, I know that bootleg recording well! Carlos is a legend - his playing on both "Fiesta En Los Andes" by Kazu Matsui and "Cool Weasel Boogie" by Chick Corea has been incredibly influential for me!

[@IvorThomas]

@@beneunson Cool Weasel is my all time favorite Chick Corea track (along with the ‘One Step’).

[@nigelchromed]

Although close between Aja and Gaucho, I too think Gaucho is the overall better album (despite Aja having more individual bangers). And fter you mentioned Gaucho as your favourite album, all I wanted to comment was that Third World Man is probably Steely Dan's all time greatest solo, and you mentioned it! Spot on collection with this one!

[@beneunson]

I agree 100% - Larry's "Third World Man" solo is such a special moment, and a slightly sombre but beautiful way to finish the album

[@rootshers]

All these solos are great of course and thanks for your thoughts ben 🎉! For ya guitar nerds out there: this concert live from steely dan back in the day, Drew Zingg on the guitar - one of the best intro medleys and guitar tones ever or not? The whole first half hour features beautiful playing by Drew and his es 335. what a bite his tone has! kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3jXaYWbl7SsbbMsi=wdMGliaP19bsf-Tj

[@beneunson]

Thanks for watching, Roger - I really appreciate it. Drew Zingg was one of the very best guitarists to ever play with SD. He deserves more credit!

[@katyland1015]

As far as Steely Dan albums go, in my opinion Aja and Gaucho are a TIE for the best. But, as far as guitar solos go, "Third World Man" is not just the best SD solo, it is one of the best EVER guitar solos. I have heard it hundreds of times, and yet EVERY time, I get somewhat overwhelmed by the pure emotion in Carlton's playing. And the song itself, is so heartbreaking to listen to. So tragic. So poignant. So incredibly sad. It tells the story, of how so many innocent people, are impacted by the senseless wars that are waged.

[@beneunson]

I couldn't have put it better! Thank you so much for watching!

[@matthewg.2221]

Your Gold Teeth II.

[@beneunson]

Absolutely!

[@jazzguitarneophyte-christo7988]

Best Steely Dan solo ever is Kid Charlemagne!

[@beneunson]

It might just be the most legendary SD solo ever (probably tied with Jay Graydon on "Peg" in my opinion...) - thanks so much for watching!

[@jazzguitarneophyte-christo7988]

@@beneunson Agree 100%! It is so funny that I love Steely Dan, have all their albums and about 4 Steely Dan biography type books yet I cannot play their tune due to the difficulty of the chords and solos! I even got the course you have, but I really find the stretches hard and all the techniques involve to attain that Steely Dan sound! It will be my biggest guitar frustration....

[@beneunson]

Thank you so much for checking out my course, I really appreciate it! Keep on playing the way that works best for you! 😀

[@lmab7115]

Royal scam👍

[@beneunson]

Amazing album!

[@sbf8003]

Peg

[@beneunson]

Absolutely, Jay's solo is absolutely legendary

[@yakovest]

Pretzel logic

[@beneunson]

Absolutely, it's a classic!

[@dr.richardjurica8029]

Wouldn't it be nice if, just once, people all came together and agreed, NONE of them are "the best",,,,they are all excellent pieces of work, each in their own way, instead of acting like it's necessary to brawl to prove your favorite is "best"....... such nonsense.

[@beneunson]

Never said this was a definitive list - why don't you share your favorites? 😎