Concepts for Jazz/Rock Piano with Donald Fagen 1993

Donald Fagen analyses three Steely Dan hits ("Chain Lightning," "Peg," "Josie") and two solo works from his Grammy-nominated album Kamakiriad ("On The Dunes," "Teahouse On The Tracks"). These songs use familiar blues and R&B structures, and Donald explains how, by altering the bass line and chordal qualities, he transformed them into sophisticated jazz-rock compositions. You'll trace the development of increasingly complex pieces as Donald and Warren Bernhardt reveal each tune's singular structure, harmonic and rhythmic characteristic, intro ideas and other devices.
Here is the songbook book that released with the DVD: drive.google.com/file/d/1ccHD...
(1993)
Featured Tunes:
6:02 Chain Lightning
14:05 Peg
28:15 Josie
42:43 On The Dunes
54:28 Teahouse On The Tracks
enjoy:)
-Team TDV

[@Gymesi]

0:00 Intro 5:15 Standard 12-Bar Blues in A Major 6:00 Chain Lightning 11:15 Chain Lightning Performance 14:05 Peg 24:50 Peg Performance 28:15 Josie 34:45 Josie Performance and Analysis 42:45 On the Dunes 47:15 On the Dunes Performance 54:30 Teahouse on the Tracks 1:04:10 Teahouse on the Tracks Performance 1:08:50 Minor Blues Jam

[@IBoughtItMyself]

You da real MVP

[@SteelyF]

Donald plays hot piano licks while passionately explaining jazz theory and composition techniques ASMR (No Static at All)

[@lalaland2797]

Fagen: “uhmm So uhh basically uhhhmm I’m a genius uhhhm”

[@TheDanVault]

Fagen in a nutshell!

[@westleedrums]

Wonder how long it took him to shop for a T-shirt 😂

[@elframo]

He is , you’re not .

[@vhollund]

@@elframo He is too but he has self confidence issues

[@sharkusvelarde]

Ha yup, he speaketh the truth

[@Richard.Hybels]

I drive race cars poorly and this is like Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher discussing late braking techniques or overtaking tricks and tips. Awesome

[@kevinpatrickmacnutt]

Fagen and Becker's song writing ability has always been pure genius. Their earlest material even shows an amazing amount of talent from a young age.

[@RemnantCult]

He's really in his element when he talks about his favorite type of music. Natural born musician. I hope one day to be just like this for something one day.

[@kencory2476]

Piano pickers should try to get inside Fagen's head, because there's a whole world in there. The playing is not incredibly technically difficult (no mad scales or stride bass, for example) but the harmonies and the form are the stuff of miracles. I suggest NOT trying to find the sheet music, but instead using your ears, aided perhaps by watching Fagen's (and Bernhardt's) hands at the keyboard. Sheet music only lines the pockets of Hal Leonard.

[@jamesrmore]

Agree using your ears are vital, on the other hand 🤚, there are a hundred versions of chord structure that could sound like Chain Lightning. * I have made up a few myself. It would be educational to see written the “exact” chords/inversions he decided on, especially 100 years from now. It is magical his particular style. Also of note, he may decide to play different on a different night. Jam on! * some of the chord inversions, different bass notes, stacked fourths etc and other fagen-like harmonic structures are hard to identify by ear exactly but amazing to learn. Just saying.

[@fucu41]

Awesome suggestion because hal leonard hasnt done accurate transcribing.

[@Maioro77]

Wow I never realised what a fantastic pianist Fagan is.

[@kevinpatrickmacnutt]

If you want to hear some pretty awesome solo piano from Fagen the 1968 demos for Charlie Freak are pretty amazing.

[@squantofingilgar9320]

​@@kevinpatrickmacnutt where can I find this?

[@andreworals7677]

@@squantofingilgar9320 Android Warehouse (Age of Panik label) maybe?

[@andreworals7677]

Actually just found it on Sun Mountain from 2006? Don't worry you're not missing much lmao...

[@steelyd2]

He’s credited with keyboards on those classic Steely Dan albums though? Seems like a lot of people think he just sits behind the keyboard in concert as a prop or something. He wrote the damn songs! And he’s the only keyboard player on those first two Dan records those are filled with great keyboard work. The organ solo on Do it Again, the crazy stride piano on Fire in the Hole, electric piano solos on Your Gold Teeth. Plus he played some classic solos on the later records- synthesizer on Home At Last, Hey 19, IGY, Godwhacker, Green Book and then that insane synth solo on Lunch with Gina where he just shreds

[@richalderson6069]

I was a classically trained pianist as a kid, but my adolescent instincts made me give it up for rock music and now I try to play like Donald does and I found out the hard way that it's not as easy as it looks! He's such a natural.

[@shop970]

Fabulous piano player. We were lucky to be forever touched for life with blues / jazz in Pop music! Donald Fagen is why! He's generous to share these lessons with us!

[@musicalexplosion7786]

Genius. Composition of peg. We’ll take a 12 bar blues, substitute Jazz chords instead, with major sevens, include film music composition arranging interludes and end up with a luscious satisfying Pop song. Not to mention ingenious intro using Jimi Hendrix sharp nine chords and descending. You just can’t say too much about how good his composition is.

[@golds04]

Walter came down to a gig of mine. We were introduced by a mutual friend snd had played together once. Tried to convince him to bring in a small sextet into the village vanguard as they were both deep jazz heads. Wish I could have convinced him. Rip Walter- a very decent thoughtful man.

[@edoardozampetti4601]

Fagen genius of harmonization..but one of the most beautiful arrangements by Fagen in my opinion is... Bright lights big city..

[@sgrey9181]

Rest In Peace Warren Bernhardt

[@jayem1826]

What? He died?

[@amac9085]

the energy is wonderful and inspiring DONALD IS TRULY BRILLIANT, HOLY MAN

[@BrennanYoung]

only when he's got the fez on

[@podlou9939]

"It's a sort of floating Ravel special...." lordy Don just cracks me up!😂

[@johndutchman]

I was 9 . when Peg hit . . watching/hearing this . utterly blown apart . and reconstructed .. it's making me cry .

[@johnjeffery6638]

Peg is some NLS-!!

[@1Rockstok]

This is the best video for any keyboard player trying to figure out Donald Fagen’s music.

[@willl5541]

Donald fagen is a musical genius and a very gifted and self taught piano player, the man is a national treasure and should be treated that way….I would like to be inside his head as he wrote and composed the songs for steely dan

[@judd8935]

for me, this is indistinguishable from magic.

[@got2bharmony]

We are blessed to be treated to the thoughts of a real genius. My mind can't process this effectively because I'm not even a shadow of him but I sure do appreciate it and recognise its greatness. Thank you Donald you have given us so much pleasure in your music.

[@aliensporebomb]

Always loved "On the Dunes" one of the most beautiful breakup tunes of all time. Just hearing a keyboard arrangement of it is wonderful!

[@johnjeffery6638]

KAMAKIRAD!!❤❤

[@scottritshie105]

Having been lucky to be in the right place at the right time, while a jazz piano major at SUNY New Paltz, Warren came in and did a master class, along with Jay Anderson on bass. Around that same time, some classmates and I did a jazz recording at Bearsville Studio. This time period forever marks an unforgettable moment in my musical journey. Thanks for sharing!

[@AnthonyGargini]

Never thought of Peg as a 12 bar blues, but now that I know it seems obvious... great stuff! Thank you

[@jamesrmore]

I know right! At least until it gets to the chorus and bebop turnaround, haha!

[@ronmiller9212]

The water is flowing under the bridge where the melancholy lives

[@scottclute7443]

Genius at work,do not disturb!!!

[@jamesyoung1012]

Yes Scott you are exactly right he is so so special way ahead of his time just a genius and beautiful talent!

[@garycrisp6631]

"Now remember Donald. The studio is going to be completely black, so please dress appropriately." Donald: "Understood."

[@jasonmudgarde286]

Steely Dan were huge part of my growing up in the 70s. Don Fagen up there with Stevie Wonder in terms of writing amazing complex jazz tinged pop songs. Wonderful upload, many thanks

[@sonicart1808]

Pure magic from these two, Sam the eagle got the chops!

[@retsub3]

Bummed he never made this into a series. _So much_ to cover in his deep well of inventive material. You could design a whole uni curriculum around his explainers! I glean new insights every time I come back to this one alone.

[@fucu41]

Donald has mastered piano theory

[@RumGod]

Thanks to Steely Dan I have a few instruments I can't play but I love playing them☺🎶💖🎻🎹🎷

[@polidoro4550]

Thanks from Rosario, Argentina. Right now it´s saturday night, i just opened a bottle of wine and receive the notification of this upload. Wonderful.

[@TheDanVault]

Awesome. Love to hear it! Enjoy :)

[@polidoro4550]

@@TheDanVault i've been waiting for someone to upload it a few years. So thanks again.

[@Cabesandia]

And thanks from Buenos Aires too!

[@GlennMoto]

I've been longing for a time and reason to open a Malbec. Thank you for the inspiration.

[@Phoebedumplings]

This is quite literally priceless, thanks for sharing

[@braedeenn]

RIP Warren Bernhardt!!!!

[@GlenMcGlone]

Haven’t seen this for 30 years. Hip.

[@scottclute7443]

A very talented unique individual..

[@TheDanVault]

Glad he’s still around. And so glad we’re finally getting a new album !

[@TheDanVault]

@@BradBolin around October, Donald announced that he’s been writing songs for a new album

[@josephhaley7576]

So very glad to see and hear more from this remarkable 'time out of mind' - having previously watched the few glimpses of what made Aja a masterpiece (also included here with Peg and Josie segments), I had been hoping for more and it has finally surfaced here. An amazing and absolutely free lesson, of inestimable worth, for which the most sincere appreciation is hereby forwarded to those responsible.

[@slappa_de_bass]

Best video ever; and made before KZbin was an apple in the eye of 7 million hopeful musicians; and channels. I could watch this over and over, as again it’s easily the best lesson in music EVER!!

[@ENigma-um8zw]

As a new piano player but upper intermediate guitar player (been playing for a decade and a half or more) love hearing pros talk craft from a place of experiential excellent knowledge, personal professional & creative wisdom.

[@haydenfirestone4595]

Wish I could play like that, give me 25 years💀

[@briansherling5515]

I perform many steely Dan songs and when transcribing and retracking all the elements for my gigs, I have to put on my big boy pants! To a laymen steely Dan is just a band. To a dedicated musician steely Dan is a nonestop lesson. Hearing Janie Runaway is a light joy….. UNTIL YOU TRY TO LEARN TO PLAY IT AND SING it! So it goes with all steely Dan! Always a surprise. Always WAY MORE TO IT! Black cow keyboard solo section, Lordy. The actual solo is easy enough…..but those changes! Thank you Donald for challenging me even to this day! You helped to keep me focused

[@eamonnprizy4831]

Houndstooth sweater ftw!!

[@alphaomega6062]

I have the DVD of this but it is cool to have it on KZbin too. Thanks.

[@smoothjazz1954]

Hey ❣️ forever since you started, in my car with cassette. Lol , I still have that. You are so talented, awesome, loved your music of course Steely Dan albums, now enjoy on KZbin. Beautiful, thank you handsome. 😘

[@fhowland]

Musical genius

[@The_0.5.0]

Fagen is Lord. Rest easy Walt.

[@woody95124]

Don Fagen is a musical genius........

[@Nethanel773]

Thanks for putting this up.

[@static6OOO]

This is incredible already! Thank you as always.

[@jonathanwebb3024]

This is amazing. Thank you.

[@Ajaunte_]

Wow, thanks for uploading this!

[@lalaland2797]

Great upload! Love the opening jam!

[@roes4391]

Ther algorithm knew I was ready

[@kurtkaufman]

I bought this on DVD years ago. I'm glad someone has been able to arrange its release on KZbin.

[@rosamariamartosbotella5490]

Masterclass

[@SaltyMusicOne]

There are some really brilliant insights here

[@brandonduguay539]

Thank you thank you THANK YOU!!!

[@KG-wh8yv]

Joy I grew up to this genius music ! Most professional.

[@UnderTheGoldenGate]

Wow, so good. Love hearing him explain how it was written, gradually getting more complex. And the view from above the piano while Donald's playing!

[@joshuacervenkamusic327]

Love this! Over the years I have been applying more and more piano concepts on the guitar. Really opens up the instrument for me.

[@timothywood9834]

Incredible. Fagen is teaching how he built these songs and showing us how to play them (and why it works so well) at the same time. It's right there to learn and so valuable. Thank you.

[@amac9085]

WONDERFUL LOVE IT THANK YOU hello

[@robertmichalscheck3072]

Wow a lesson from the source!,love it

[@maevey3]

Cool, freaky dude, with a laid back vibe and nice way of explaining things. Love it.

[@Richard.Hybels]

Great description of DF. I know nothing about music but find him fascinating. This is some deep, deep shit. Makes me feel like a factory worker/ drone or something.

[@maevey3]

@@Richard.Hybels I find him fascinating too. He gave a great interview a couple of years ago, which is on youtube, too. Don't know if you heard it. I think it's a podcast called "third story" or something like that. Just love listening to him talk as much as anything else, & I do love his music. I recommend it. The interviewer did a great job of bringing him out.

[@steelyd2]

@@maevey3he’s was in a particularly good mood for that interview with Leo Sidran and it was helped by what a great interviewer he was. That’s a must listen for any fan

[@maevey3]

Absolutely. Must return for another listen.

[@mix1channel01]

Good video music Always succes for you

[@michaelgeiger4043]

How much cool can you stand, man?

[@johnjeffery6638]

Major Dude.😊

[@Butlinsgvn6]

This is gold! GOLD!

[@TheDanVault]

Right from the master!

[@jamesrmore]

First thanks for posting this quality video. Can’t get Chain Lightning ⛈ out of my head now however. I’m a key player who loves SD music and this is the best analysis I’ve seen. Can’t help but think how wonderful it would be for some enterprising music student (Berkeley) to write ✍️ all information up in sheet music notation. It would be perfect to go with video or even a lead sheet format (pdf?). It would have to show the chord inversions and bass. Please, even just the first one or two songs would be awesome. I’ve watch other video’s and purchased some SD music books but when it comes to Mr. Fagen they all come up short. After reviewing video I’m convinced there are no short cuts to really completely writing out what he is playing here. Priceless lessons.

[@putinkhuylo]

This DVD is the benchmark for music composition. Incredible.😱

[@baconation3771]

the genius that is the Don. Love ya brother.

[@souljubilant12]

Nice! Shore looks good.

[@mjm5081]

😉

[@felixstalkaboutmusic6419]

I would love to just talk with Donald. Talk about music, he seems like he could talk about his favourite kind of music for hours on end

[@scottclute7443]

Jack of Speed.. Don't stop..

[@MartinSerious_]

Them boys are shredding

[@jasonhoffman5213]

Thank you Thank you THANK YOU for posting this!!!!!!!!!!

[@TheDanVault]

You are so welcome!

[@Richard.Hybels]

For some reason this makes think of the evolution from when man had to have begun makes noises probably beating on rocks or the sound s taught string makes and who knows what that came this this.

[@David22232]

Genius 🎼🎶🎶🎶🎶🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹

[@mjm5081]

Man I love this dude. But don't tell him...I don't wanna weird him out.

[@aurelioalmonte5052]

Grazie!

[@chickenman2097]

This is awesome. Also can we get a My Old School piano someday???

[@peterjones4621]

Donald and Walter are musical geniuses.

[@thomasbriscoe120]

Big Steely Dan fan and always fascinated to go behind the scenes to see Donald’s and Walter’s genius. Did Donald have any formal training on the piano?

[@rodneysuttles4795]

Donald Fagan mentioned while in College he heard Walter Becker practice Guitar or Bass. And that he sounded very professional. During college according Fagan, He and Walter stay in their room and played music. Dissecting music. His understanding of Theory is advanced.

[@KahurangiSteez]

According to his IMDB he was trained in classical piano from a young age. I can't find anymore details at all.

[@thomasbriscoe120]

@@KahurangiSteez Thanks!

[@steelyd2]

@@KahurangiSteezI don’t know where they got that from because he’s talked at length about being mostly self taught. He got some jazz piano lessons as a youngster and played sax in high school band but that was about it. While at bard his major was literature but he would take all of the music courses and learned about advanced harmony, etc as well as digesting tons of books on jazz harmony.

[@marshmcclory487]

Nothing like learning from an all time HOF piano playing songwriter. And for free!

[@Phoebedumplings]

Watch the improv at 27 mins

[@davidgriffin8482]

Thanks fellas, I struggle to keep up with song but some of I get and some is over my head but it's cool to see the way you think and the changes you make to make them production work overall say when vocals are added. I don't know how I ended up stuck on the guitar because the piano makes much more sense to me. I'm not the greatest at either but just keeping the rhythm brings me more joy that any solo ever will.

[@TheDarkCow11]

oh shit this was posted recently ?? I jazz in my pants

[@ewaf88]

I've been a fan since 1974 , when I heard this incredible track on my transistor radio. The track? Bodhisattva and then Rikki don't lose that number

[@jayem1826]

Have a lot of Warren's stuff

[@mpetra4537]

No doubt, Donald is a musical genius, to my knowledge with no formal training.....just incredible

[@taylorfusion]

“…leading tone going down a half step” never heard a tritone sub referred that way…thanks Donald! This lesson was great, thanks for posting it

[@bestaff]

RIP to Warren the other keybordist here with Don. He died in 2022 apparently. Also let me just some up the video, "yeah so all our songs are just basic blues songs....we just substitute every single chord which makes them all completely different songs!" haha. personal plug, I got asked to perform "Green Earings" for an album over a decade ago,...yep you can find it on the internet!

[@MrHopeTelevision]

Im changjng my name to Happy Traum

[@wilsonhaven]

as we like to call it back on the farm ... //smile

[@mjm5081]

😆 👍

[@markrobison2454]

Any idea what year this was recorded?

[@lyndarougeau2763]

😎

[@dickiebobradio1304]

What alternative universe is this program from? Cable TV in the 90s/00s? Already worthy of nostalgia for the level of cool and culture.

[@rcla77771]

Never broadcast. Tuitional video you bought in music shops in the early 90s.

[@b3bilco]

Warren made them as well. I remember the ads for both in Keyboard Magazine.

[@yes_head]

Hilarious. DF: So a lot of our songs are based on the blues. WB: Oh yeah? Show me one. DF: OK, but this one totally departs from standard blues. Oh, and so will the next one. Even more.

[@budhiharlow4945]

As a pro drummer and multi-instrument musician, Donald Fagan (and Steely Dan/aknowledging Walter Becker's essential contributions) is it. The chords, the grooves, the compositions, the harmonies? It is all there musically in a way that shows the history and development of American Music and Modern Music. We need more of these videos, you can watch them and learn a ton, each and every time!!

[@haydenfirestone4595]

Were they just jamming in the beginning or playing a song? If so what is it

[@GlennMoto]

I was under the impression they were maybe noodling around, warming up before starting the meat of the discussion. That said, it did remind me of another tune in F in a similar style albeit faster. Search for The Doctor's Blues by Ben Sidran.

[@xanderfeys763]

Many thanks for the upload! Do you perhaps have the mini docu on Kamakiriad as well? I've been looking for a complete version thereof for ages...

[@TheDanVault]

Unfortunately we don’t. Hopefully it surfaces in the near future.

[@Music-uk5dm]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZqbhapqi9pjjpY

[@steelyd2]

That’s on KZbin if you search

[@xanderfeys763]

Yes, you're right, thanks! :) (for many years, it wasn't on KZbin, though)@@steelyd2

[@steelyd2]

@@xanderfeys763 I didn’t even know if it was worth replying after 2 years but I figured why not. You’d think I’d be more helpful and actually include the link to the video but that’s too much work. If you like stuff like that have you watched the fake “taxicab confessions” promo video they did for the release of “everything must go”? That’s a must watch if you haven’t, Donald and Walter are so funny. This time I can actually include the link if you want me to but a simple search should find it in two seconds