Is THIS Steely Dan's GREATEST Guitar Solo?

[@zwastiunburzy3688]

Got to meet The Skunk back in the late seventies, he was doing a series of guitar workshops for Roland, I believe it was, showcasing their guitar triggered synths. This was in Australia, and he was graciously talking to people after the show. He looked at me, and I will remember this till the day I die, and said, "You look like you'd know where to get some smoke, can you hook me up?" After I picked myself up from the floor, I told him that I didn't know of anywhere in the immediate vicinity, but I had some at home. Without hesitation he said, "Let's go!". Took him back home, we all got absolutely baked on some choice buds and some "goldstamp" hash. He ended up crashing there, and I took him to the airport next morning. A down to earth, humble guy, and that's a great memory of the seventies for me.👍🙂

[@tombryan1]

Wow, cool story

[@elephantfootrisers]

Why do you think they call him Skunk? ;-)

[@zwastiunburzy3688]

@@elephantfootrisers Probably the same reason they called themselves the Doobie Brothers. 😁👍

[@frankflstf]

Wow what a great story I’m so envious of you

[@Mark-sm5km]

Amazing story.

[@vampolascott36]

Rikki is my favorite Steely Dan guitar solo. It's concise and sophisticated while still retaining a rock sensibility.

[@Kamala-Walz-4-America]

The solo in Rikki is legendary. And you played it beautifully. Very advanced solo with lots of heart and soul.

[@hendrixzep1141]

Rick Derringer played that solo. Derringer was known for ghosting on many records at the time.

[@frankierodriguez8661]

First album from Steely Dan I came across was Pretzel Logic and it blew my brains away. The guitar playing on that album despite the sound and mood they became famous for afterwards, is still a collection of guitar parts very very difficult to reach. I would say some of the best ever composed. Thanks as always Tim!!

[@ColinStandring]

Fascinating study of Skunk Baxter's solos. There's one more that not everyone knows of, it's on Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff".

[@leonardsmith2170]

Love your channel, Tim. Sometimes when you showcase certain players it brings me to tears thinking about how important these tunes have been over the course of a lifetime.

[@mnickas]

The solo in Rikki Don't Lose That Number is my favorite guitar solo ever! Thanks for demonstrating it!

[@hendrixzep1141]

Rick Derringer played that solo. Derringer was known for ghosting on many records at the time.

[@leftywilliamsmusic]

What a fantastic video! I adore Skunk's playing and you really nail these crazy interesting licks. Thanks for posting this.

[@michaelwyke]

These solos (and that brass arrangement)make up a bunch of musical slam-dunks that punctuated my life at the time they were released. They tower above most everything else I heard before or since. Ancient tho I am, I know I am still alive because my pulse quickens when I even think about them. Thanks for a tremendous post.

[@MrDallman]

Skunks solo on the “Boston Rag” off of CTE was what got me hooked on Steely Dan….The finest band in history, personally I don’t think there is another band that comes close. Denny Dias’s guitar work on “My gold teeth 2 “ is yet another memorable solo. Fantastic video as always Tim. Your ability to nail all these masterpieces is legendary. Best wishes from the UK.

[@philipmarin300]

I've been a fan of Steely Dan from the beginning , and like you , Denny Dias's guitar solo on Your Gold Teeth II is probably my favorite , so damned tasty !!!

[@malfunction8165]

It's the smooth, effortless and soothing playing demonstrated here that I love, just another session in musical heaven. When I tried to learn to play the guitar, my brain, fingers, the music, even the guitar itself conspired against me to prevent me from making a tune, more than once I caught the guitar making a break for the door screaming for help, it was fretting so much, I even tried to calm it down with new strings, no, wasn't having it, and the neighbors took to scratching their fingernails down a chalk board saying it soothed them and blocked out the noise. I stood no chance.

[@crrhoades4]

I'm not a guitar player or a pro musician, only a 50+ year fan of music and electric guitar. And to this day my all-time top-5 guitar solo -- and tops among all the excellent Dan solos -- is Eliott Randall's in Reelin' in the Years! And to start the song even! Genius arrangement! And his work throughout the rest of the song, even in the standard solo bars midway and in the outo, is supertasty. But the beginning (so much more than a mere intro to me) just blew me away from the moment I first heard it on oldskool FM radio when I was 11 years old! Still moves me to this day.

[@therealdoug1000]

When you actually see that solo on the fret board you begin to truly appreciate it. It’s a clinic in guitar.

[@Transterra55]

That has always been one of my favorite guitar solos of all time… That was an amazing analysis… Thanks for the upload.

[@ChrisBiesterfeldt]

Great video breaking down the solos and showing how to play them while giving some history! Since you’re playing these solos on a Gibson 336 I think it’s worth mentioning that Jon Herrington who has been playing with Steely Dan for 20 or more years has been playing one of these guitars with them.

[@jamesabbott302]

Man Tim. I love your channel. Your playing and detailed explanations. I'm in awe of you. God bless you.

[@patpoirier7946]

You sir are a gentleman and have put you heart and soul in these videos!! for me here in nova scotia canada i feel like known you all my life as your teaching manner is beautiful sir ... i rarely use beautiful to describeva mans playing and teaching style ... but i have to here ... much much appreciation j respect from nova scotia tim 😂

[@shanemcconnell1736]

They had a lot of great guitar solos, but nothing beats reeling in the years, thank you, Elliott Randall

[@MOAONAABE]

my neighborhood park had a bandshell and started playing oldies here and there in free concerts. one night my main squeeze and me were watching jay and the americans do a set with steely dan playing for them. in 72. westbury NY. my old stomps

[@Ben_Crido]

Tim I would never debate with you regarding anything Skunk Baxter ever recorded but my favorite solo of his is Night by Night from Pretzel Logic. Such a ripper! Those double stops just slay me. Skunk has this uncanny ability to not only play through the changes but “sing” his solos to serve the song.

[@paultee5014]

Tim....ty so much...i love your vids.riffs talk and more, you are another prodigy....im subscribed ....love to watch ....Paul

[@bgaskin]

0:32 that graphic is amazing. Was that captured and created from some kind of midi interface in real time? If it's not, animated one note at a time, it's very well done, but must be extremely time consuming!

[@timpierceguitar]

Yes it's one note at a time :) Glad you like it!

[@fredsmith6324]

It is a beautiful solo and one of the best of all time. Great job!

[@blkvetteman1]

"That's actually kinda hard to do." You're so my new hero!

[@bossman1774]

Love the graphics showing what you are playing. Did they do Reeling in the years? Not well up on Steely Dan,but I learnt a lot from the video.

[@mathtrixmusiclix4248]

When I was a kid, this was pop radio. God bless my youth.

[@jonp4846]

Nice to see Toss Panos playing drums on Skunk's "Speed of Heat."

[@InfoArtistJKatTheGoodInfoCafe]

So many fantastic guitar solos through Steely Dan. My favorite is Elliott Randall's guitar solo on Steely Dan's song "Reelin' in the Years." This is one of my band's favorite songs to perform where I was the lead singer.

[@HettiedeKorteDiplomaat]

I love that My Ild School guitar solo. I always turn up the volume to 11

[@manningchiro]

Tim P is SOOOOOOOOO good!! One of Dan's greatest pieces. Saw them in Boston outside under the tent yrs ago, Keith Carlock on drums. Best!

[@rondelio8562]

When I think Steely Dan studio guitarists, I think Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour, and Jay Graydon. Wasn't aware Skunk was in on all that, too! I see him in the Doobies, but that is so awesome!! I didn't give Skunk all the credit he is due. Great presentation on the 336, too!! I have 2 335s, know of the ES-330 and 345, but didn't know about the 336. It is ironic in that My 2nd 335 I built with mahogany ply on the back n sides, with the standard maple ply on top. She's a beauty and sounds good too! It sounds like my custom 335 is actually related to the 336 a bit. lol Thanks for a great video with some great historic info! You totally rock, Tim!!

[@davidvalderrama1816]

Mostly musicians understand the accomplishment of these gentlemen, truly extraordinary.

[@skyfinancellc9538]

Whoa, you are an impressive guitar player, indeed, and the way you pulled out those solos "verbatim" like that - yowza. Very entertaining to watch you play. Thank you!

[@Phillip-y6d]

for a 14 when it came out , I appreciated what the grown ups gave us on radio. then it seems like the 14 yr olds took over and gave us KISS

[@kirkhepburnmiddleagedwhiteguy]

Tim, love your work, your magnificent playing, your analysis, song selections, instruction and the tab. Many thanks from an old guy with no talent but plenty of appreciation for it in others, such as you, sir.

[@reinotsurugi]

My absolute favorite guitar solo of ANY song ever is the solo on the Boston Rag. That fuzz tone is nutso.

[@mattwitkowski6329]

Just a great video. Love the guitar work. Steely Dan is one of my favorite bands. Brings back memories.

[@49Billymack]

I've played that song for years (on bass), in The Suburban Mystics, our guitar player does a really fun job covering these solos, but it's an homage to Baxter's parts, with his own interpretive licks . . . . as it should be. Once in a while one of the precise parts surfaces and I'll smile at him. Give me all that chicken pickin' in the third solo. Umm Umm good!!

[@martina5434]

Thank You , that was fun . Im 66 and i know every single tone .

[@marcweiss5115]

Skunk's break in "Reelin' In the Years" is my personal favorite 😉

[@awickedtribe]

Digging' Skunk getting the props he deserves... I collect albums in different ways; I have album collections from the Fillmores, Paramount etc, as well as every recording by specific players, like Nicky Hopkins and Baxter. JSB is the king of Taste... Which every guitarist should learn!

[@mudbone59]

My favorite and what i think is Skunk's best solo is on Night by Night.

[@uncleronny6748]

Well done...makes me appreciate their music more even though you think you've heard it a million times before.

[@peteruse5323]

Great Video ... with a Medley of Erics ....i can change the World,,,," my favorite Album Royal Scam ... Rib Walter Becker ....

[@patrickbutler9744]

Skunk’s a grade A picker, I’ve heard My Old School prob 500 times & that solo at end still astounds. What a fun band that was

[@daviddelaney363]

Rock on Mr. Tim.

[@moochasas]

Awesome playing as you do but I really love the stories and the analogy of tunes..... to me its awesome guitar playing but when you break it down I shows the true art of the person who originally thought (or felt) it.... my #1 guitar channel.... stay safe.. greetings from down under.

[@recycology5468]

King of the World on Count Down To Ecstasy has one of my most favorite solos as I'm a melodic lead player and not much of a shredder.

[@shartne]

Sweet creative playing.

[@darrenfay356]

Great videos, guitar work!!!!!

[@bobsbigboy_]

Tim, i see The Smile sessions! major respect. And The Stooges debut!

[@stevehilton5717]

Tim is so good at his craft 👍

[@DavidLKraft1]

thank you Tim excellent

[@patrizioetoile6248]

🎉Thank you very much Tim

[@rayburn2007]

You should listen to Leonid and friends version it’s perfect

[@toddvandell85]

Reeling in the Years features some of the most iconic guitar work of any Steely Dan song. For me that's the best solo from any Steely Dan song. Beautiful long legato lines. Definitely sounds like a Gibson guitar.

[@TheDhmcompu]

Nice to see CS-336 featured, which I own, but I don’t own a ES-335. Do these bodies resonate noticeably different?

[@chrismiller9740]

My opinion reelin in the years opening solo ranks right up there

[@curiouscatlabincgetsworrie7755]

Sounds like an Ace Frehley sole, right? :D

[@AndrewJones-cx6kl]

Another great video! There will never be another steely Dan. That’s my take.

[@alvarhanso6310]

Skunk is a bad man. Crazy you haven't looked at probably their most famous solo, Elliott Randall's ripping single take solo on Reelin' in the Years.

[@anthonydavella8350]

Skunk also played with Spirit I think

[@chuckholroyd7458]

insanely good ! your ear is amazing s well!

[@mikestroud9969]

Steeley Dan is awesome. Thats all im going to say. 👍👌👏👏💯🙏. Very nice Tim 😊😊. Beautiful 335 oops my bad. 336. 😂😂 ❤

[@robert_starling]

Interesting as well that you're using IEMs for this video? New setup or ?

[@sixstringsensei6673]

And don’t forget the genius of the Beverly Hills 90210 theme song

[@mikecummings3611]

I knew you were good this just CEMENTS IT!

[@loulozano7810]

And if Baxter's musical prowess isn't impressive enough, add "missile defense expert" to his list of accomplishments. Wow!

[@kevinmauch5622]

I must respectfully posit that Elliott Randall's guitar work on Reelin' In The Years is the most legendary of all time.

[@toms3664]

This is gold

[@GiantSlayer512]

One of the tastiest solos of all time for me

[@hillsmith]

What would those solos sound like with a really heavy tone? You know, like the whole "metal is just surf music with Marshalls" thing.

[@johngrosso1938]

It is a beautiful bit of playing, but how many takes were edited together for the final masterpiece

[@Barry-i4z]

that was perfect bruh

[@larrysmac]

What about the pedal steel on Brooklyn.

[@theguitaramptech]

I simply love Tim's joyful personality. His mastery of the instrument is a bonus.

[@jameshayden3952]

Vice versa...

[@tombennett6939]

Totally. Truly a great player, a fantastic teacher, great breakdown of two iconic solos!

[@sterlingashley1965]

It's rare for me to see a youtuber that doesn't get on my nerves. Tim's an exception.

[@JRrox822]

I couldn't agree more.

[@NashvillePastaman]

100% - I’ve done a ton of sessions with him over the last 30 years…… don’t think i have seen him smiling this much or that geeked out !!! Really gr8??

[@cahg3871]

Skunk Baxter is in my humble opinion one of the very best technical guitarists in popular music.He will come up with unique sounds and solos that tend to sound slick,but somehow still has a rock edge.I would put him up there in the top ten of guitarists.

[@rickeguitar9086]

Thanks to Tim, I have discovered your point to be true! I just knew him as the Doobie Brothers guitarist. And not for very long at that either. Jeff is an outstanding guitarist and craftsman!

[@Revolution1117]

Another great video, Tim! Skunk is an absolute master. Plus, not only do you get an excellent guitarist in Skunk, but when you hire him you also get a Dept. of Defense cleared "missile defense" designer & consultant (if you're in the market for one). A man of many talents, for sure.

[@billjohnson9472]

yeah he is not one to just play real fast for the sake of showing how fast he is. he can get fast when he wants but focuses on being melodic.

[@deadreckoning292]

Top 10? Sorry… there’s thousands of known players on his level.

[@marktrail8624]

Thousands? Probably not, Baxter was an original and unique guitar player in a ground breaking band.

[@djpenton779]

My fav solo of all time: My Old School . The rhythmic interplay with the horns and rhythm section is unreal.

[@NoelHarris-y4h]

Kid Charlemagne for the win

[@spunbearing65]

Show biz Kids. It wasn’t just the solo, it was the whole song.

[@mrreemann3739]

Jay Graydon s solo was pretty epic

[@spunbearing65]

Night by Night too.

[@1171karl]

I agree, love it

[@davidcammilleri5526]

Steely Dan is one of the greatest bands ever. They brought in folks to play on albums because of their skills. It’s why their albums are so iconic.

[@rb9581]

Pretty much every song is a work of art!

[@Thadmotor1044]

took 2-4 years to do 1 LP

[@xebio6]

Yes and no. Many other artists have recruited the top session players of their time. I think what sets Steely Dan apart is the writing, that combination of harmonic complexity and melodic hooks that nobody has replicated. The impressionistic, suggestive lyrics are the cherry on top that makes them unrivalled.

[@denroy3]

So they weren't a band...

[@evrgreen_69]

My guitar just looked at me and said “why can’t you play like that?” Amazing as usual Tim💯 Thank you!

[@MuscleMane]

as someone who's always trying to master the musical gift of guitar i agree.

[@rickspence979]

You'll never master it but it will keep you occupied while you are alive. @@MuscleMane

[@Chiller11]

Oh I don’t let my guitars see or hear this channel. I couldn’t handle their disappointment.

[@gregmiller7123]

While players like Tim and Skunk get their P-90s to growl when they play them, my guitars growl at me just when I walk by them!

[@johnrogers001]

exactly!

[@drchill8837]

The Rikki solo truly is such a masterpiece. He just popped up into another dimension with that one.

[@hendrixzep1141]

Rick Derringer played that solo. Derringer was known for ghosting on many records at the time.

[@drchill8837]

@@hendrixzep1141 How confident are you on this? Everything I've ever seen, including from people who know Baxter personally, say that he did the Rikki solo. I know that Derringer did some Steely Dan parts, notably Chain Lightning. I could believe that he did the Rikki part, but I'd need some evidence. Where'd you get the info?

[@johnwelsh2769]

@@hendrixzep1141 Ridiculous. Show me one verified solo by Rick Derringer that sounds anything like this. Derringer did not have these chops. He was best known for stealing Eddie Van Halen's solos note for note.

[@danieljupiter7223]

That stuff in the 3rd solo is insane. Wack. Most insane pop song playing ever

[@andyinoregon]

@@hendrixzep1141 Derringer played lead slide guitar on 1973's "Showbiz Kids," but he didn't play on a single track of 1974's "Pretzel Logic" album. His next contribution was on the song "Chain Lightning" from their 1975 release "Katy Lied." He later auditioned for the solos on the song "Peg," from the 1977 album "Aja," but lost out to the performance of Jay Graydon.

[@richardroskell3452]

Love the fretboard graphic, Tim! Super useful for learning the riff.

[@BrentJJ]

All those stringers from SD are so influential...and like you Tim, are gifts to us all...thank you for sharing...🎸☮

[@timpierceguitar]

My pleasure!

[@melodymakermark]

“Before pro tools, there were pros”. Love that. Thanks Dean.

[@picksalot1]

Genius level guitar leads! Steely Dan has featured some of the most talented musicians. Brilliant breakdown. Thanks Tim 👍

[@tesla-drones-and-other-bor7665]

What is the software/hardware you are using to visualize your fret playing live?

[@howardalipton1]

No shit

[@johnrogers001]

The Rikki solo is an understated masterpiece. Baxter's work on My Old School is from another planet! Thanks for featuring these.

[@PaulM-kf6ru]

I could not agree more!

[@johnhowlett9829]

Yeah, man - his subtle pinch harmonics, rhythmic pockets, his general lines and feel is just outstanding! He is such a great player, among the very best.

[@lilik9657]

If you only knew how true that is ….

[@dmljones2550]

You bet- awesome solo. Skunk is highly talented musician.

[@tommyhaynes9157]

Not underrated.....it's very well known and considered one of the great solos

[@kennylyon1934]

I've always considered My Old School to be one of the greatest solos of the rock era. Thank you so much for doing such a good job of explicating - and appreciating - it!

[@bigal1863]

My favorite guitar piece

[@paulg1358]

I concur! When I was a crazy young guy I remember a rock night club that friends and me would visit and close the place down. One band did an amazing rendition of “my old school”. I was so impressed that the next nite after a few beers I made a large poster, “my old school” and we went back to see that band again and I flashed the sign!! Reason is they would stretch the solo and end out so long it was friggin awesome! Me thinks it’s a Top solo along with “my sharona”!

[@PFA57]

Between Larry Carlton and Skunk Baxter, Steely Dan always managed to have the most talented guitar players and interesting leads on their songs. Thanks so much for profiling Skunk on this video.

[@KC-ro7zp]

Denny Dias was an original member and was pretty talented on the guitar, imo

[@Martos59]

I had the pleasure of seeing Skunk Baxter and Elliot Randall playing at a pub in Sydney Australia in the 90’s with a local rhythm section doing Steeley Dan, Doobie’s stuff etc. Watching the two of them play was phenomenal. Skunks playing is so vibrant and lively. Really thrilling to watch them dig in!! Thanks Tim for your great work!

[@Onlyone_Davidjreilly]

That's super interesting. Who was the local rhythm section?

[@tlevans62]

I saw him there too.

[@Martos59]

@@Onlyone_DavidjreillyMark Kennedy on drums, Doug Williams on bass and lead vocals, Alan Mansfield on keyboards I think… A long time ago! Excellent

[@Martos59]

@@tlevans62lucky us!!

[@witchitawineman]

I saw the same show at Sweethearts in Cabramatta - Just a normal pub room in Sydney’s Wild West hosted two of America’s finest Elliot Randall & Skunk Baxter - it was surreal. Unforgettable night.

[@johndennis9838]

The “My Old School” might be my favorite guitar solo. Such great licks, the tone of the amp farting out, is awesome, and it’s aggressive and confident. It’s got everything.

[@balcomoz]

And band is supporting that solo so well. On last round drums just lifting it up to next level

[@Jimi-DV]

The Skunk was amazing, as was Dias. It's a joy watching you play Tim.

[@gabrielcornea9119]

I love these two awesome guitarists, they're my heroes: Tim Pierce and Skunk Baxter! They have in common apart from godlike guitar skills, the ability to teach and inspire others!

[@Onlyone_Davidjreilly]

This is a phenomenal video. Tim executes all these parts so flawlessly and brings so much passion to the whole thing. Blown away by the musicianship, you forget the art in making these videos so engaging - not easy either. Top notch.

[@maxjpind]

I had a he privilege of meeting mr Baxter at my first NAMM show, I was 18. He was sitting at a small table out in the open floor, talking to his manager. NO ONE was even looking his way. I thought, “surely I’m not the only person here who knows who this guy is!” So I walked up and introduced myself. What a nice guy. Crazy smart too (that could be a video in itself) Still have the autographed picture he gave me.

[@joejones9520]

Ive started to realize that these guitar whizs are also very smart people in general and if they encounter other fields later in life they excel like how Page is an expert in some obscure architectural style, May is an astrophysicist and then Skunk is a missile expert/govt consultant part time.

[@johnkamerud32]

Crazy smart, for sure. I'm sure you already know this, but Jeff is a self-taught expert in missile defense technology and has worked as a consultant with the DoD.

[@NeverTalkToCops1]

"California, tumbles into the sea..." Then the horns play a phrase to mimic just that. Stunning!

[@jorymil]

That horn lick is nasty!

[@kenbagwell8551]

Walter Becker's solo on the title track Pretzel Logic is also really, really good.

[@budrizzo8167]

Pretzel Logic a masterpiece by one of my favorite bands. I can’t imagine those songs without Jeff Baxter ‘s amazing guitar work. Thank you for keeping this iconic music alive. Tim’s presentation nails it. I enrolled in TP’s Masterclass and if your on the fence about joining I can tell you it’s well worth the price of admission. I only wish these classes were available when I was learning guitar. Take it from this these lessons are life changing as I highly recommend them.

[@thomasdipietra4433]

What we don’t see, is all the hard work Tim puts into learning these truly amazing solos and overall guitar parts.

[@MatthijsKoningstein]

There are just so many amazing stories about Steely Dan and the amazing musicians who played on their songs. It's seemingly endless.

[@johnkamerud32]

The solos on My Old School have always been my favorite leads ever. They have this frenetic quality, like he's out of control yet in perfect control.