The secret of Steely Dan's mu chord

/ jacksonparodi
The mysterious mu chord was one of the essential harmonic tools that Steely Dan used to craft their unique, smart sound in the 1970s. It's not much more than a specifically-voiced major add9, but after this video you won't know how you lived without it.
two links to useful writings regarding the mu chord:
sdarchive.com/songbook.html
web.archive.org/web/200502100...
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[@simonboyers4917]

Anyone who gets this much into Steely Dan is alright by me.

[@BeeRich33]

Simon Boyers Only a fool would say that.

[@muchanadziko6378]

@@BeeRich33 or Any Major Dude

[@ElmerJFudd-oi9kj]

You've got to be joking man, where did you get those shoes.

[@donaldfewell8908]

@@BeeRich33 lol

[@singleuseplastics4500]

He's the king of the world, (as far as I know)

[@scottbernard8824]

The mu chord is very old. It was discovered written on a wall, in the Caves of Altamira.

[@paulorben6830]

Didnt they hear the call and write it on the wall when there wasnt even any hollywood. Or so i thought.

[@scottbernard8824]

@@paulorben6830 Dude...I'm smacking myself for not thinking of it myself. Brilliant!

[@michaelx9079]

In a fade yellow green?

[@Anautistictherapist]

In his old school.

[@andrew_owens7680]

Thats a cow you nutter!

[@mikedeuce13]

I grew up on 70’s am and early 80’s fm radio and never felt Steely Dan was a “rock-n-roll” band. But I was always stoked when they came on because they were so different and never knew why. As a result Aja was one of the first albums I bought with my own money as a teen. Thank god for that.

[@davidferrara1105]

I thought you were dead

[@judsonkr]

I feel better knowing that I am not the only one who sleeps in a zippered hoody with a microphone strung though my shirt and wakes up talking about Steely Dan. Wait until I tell my wife about this!

[@Ndlanding]

If she ever comes back to you.

[@judsonkr]

@@Ndlanding Well we are working on that.

[@Ndlanding]

@@judsonkr Good luck! I hope she hasn't mµtated!

[@saftovooey4569]

She's lonnnnng gone, my friend.

[@wesleyalan9179]

😅

[@JacksonParodi]

after carefully reading these comments, I will definitely sing in more videos

[@jimlaws3985]

Hahaha. Nice!!

[@gabrielbingham605]

YES!

[@HareDeLune]

Try adding some reverb to your voice, and see what you think.

[@jay-ki6ie]

i can’t understand 80% of this but im still watching it

[@harrybrooks8514]

My guitar playing music companions and I just called them “Steely Dan chords.” I knew that there had to be a science behind it. There was too much consistent structure to think otherwise. I’m sure Michael Omartian was hip to all this as a Dan musician. Some of his solo works sneak in a μ or two 😆

[@rb032682]

"Daniel played a secret µ-chord. He played it loud and it pleased the µ-lord."

[@wordpolice7564]

Well it goes like this: the third, the perfect fifth, The added ninth, but only as a whole tone dissonance

[@rthavi4166]

@@wordpolice7564 😅

[@blottoinchcago]

When all my dime dancin' is through I run to mu

[@blottoinchcago]

and by the way ..it's really true .. Katy Lied

[@ferdibinger3429]

And this is why there is KZbin - came for the chord, stayed for the vid

[@danwhitehurst9592]

People who are into The Dan always stay loyal to The Dan.

[@mikedeuce13]

No....you’re Steely Dan, I’m the Dan man!

[@danwhitehurst9592]

@@mikedeuce13 aren’t you Mike?

[@PoopVintner]

They’re the soundtrack to my life

[@strat0871]

@@PoopVintner Same for me.

[@rolobotoman]

I've tried.. many times, I guess The Dan doesn't want me.

[@sethbrown8912]

If this is the only thing he ever does, he's done enough. Bravo Jackson.

[@MikeFloutier]

I have been learning the piano and I wanted to improve my knowledge and range of chords. Since I loved Steely Dan and Donald Fagen’s music I thought it might be helpful to learn some of their songs. I selected 3 slowish ones and started to learn them. I started with Home at Last and then moved on to Third World Man. This gave me what I wanted, and pleased with this I went on to my 3rd song, Maxine. I looked it up on Ultimate Guitar, as usual, to find the chords. I was in for a bit of a shock to find that it contained 56 different chords, of which I already knew...5. It took me about 2 months to learn but I’m so glad I did as it’s lovely to hear these chords and even better to actually play them.

[@marktraum9139]

I can't understand this without my fez on

[@4GuitarTrance]

Fez, as in Tarboosh? Sorry... I missed the "fez" inference. Would you please explain that to Mu?

[@marktraum9139]

@@4GuitarTrance the song are you kidding

[@christheiss4511]

No. Clearly, you're never gonna do it without the fez on.

[@marktraum9139]

@@christheiss4511 no no

[@loganowens623]

this is the greatest comment i've ever seen

[@georgemixis2172]

Many years ago, I read an article in the then superb Guitar Player Magazine (late 70's issue). The write up was by then Steely Dan guitarist, Denny Dias. He wrote on the μυ (Mu) major chord. As soon as I played that chord I knew I was on to something that no one in my area had a handle on. I have to mention, however, that the Beatles were using this chord as early and 1964. I often used it (in either a bold manner, or subtle) to color to songs my band and I already had in our repertoire. I learned to use it enough to where this chord became an integral part of my sound. To this day, it adds a subtle extra texture and I can tell the positive effect it makes on the listeners. Fantastic article, and thank you loads, Denny Dias!

[@lilguy7491]

Twelve cranes in the crane box.

[@DaveBroTube]

This observation is inteegral to the discussion.

[@rodwilliams68]

I can"t take this video seriously because of this

[@toenailtom654]

Ohhhhhh

[@MrDeevo]

@@DaveBroTube Not integral, but fucking funny!!!

[@jurgostuff]

@@rodwilliams68 Ditto!

[@estebansteverincon7117]

Are you with me, Dr. MU?

[@haljohnson5729]

I see what you did there!

[@PeterByker]

Peg, it will come back to MU

[@estebansteverincon7117]

@@PeterByker I see what you did there!

[@jamalgray8694]

"Daddy don't live in that MU York city no more!"

[@chuckstang]

It sure looks good on MU.

[@meschadarc141]

this was new to me and you explained it adequately and made it useful in some ten minutes with pretty nice renditions of examples to boot. thanks and well done!

[@angusorvid8840]

There are a lot of players with a lot of theory under their belt but no ears. Becker and Fagen had both in abundance. They are simply one of the most musical acts ever to grace the rock world, and this is in part because they were very clear about what they were going for. They knew how to straddle the line between blues, jazz and rock. Just listen to those chords in "Peg" and "Josie".

[@Scott_works]

As a new guitarist, I remember learning about the mu major in the seventies. I loved Steely Dan, one of my all time favorite bands.

[@stillbill6408]

Thank you for enlightening me. I've always wondered what that unique tonality was that was part of Steely Dan's charm and trademark (besides outstanding lyrics, musicianship, arrangements...etc.). Your video is a delight.

[@robgeenumberone]

Jackson, you should do a class on another Steely Dan classic chord. Don't know the name but its composition is, for example, an F bass note on a C major triad. They used this chord structure in many tunes.

[@gearoiddom]

Good call. They were also keen on minor 11 chords. Which is more than ok by me.

[@dallastoto3189]

Continue on with this kinda stuff. Very interesting especially Steely Dan material. Thanks

[@boomerdell]

Such a great walk-through of the marvelous Mu. Thanks, Jackson!

[@SystemOfStrings]

This is great! I can’t wait to start sneaking 2nds into minor 7th chords, and also to see you make more videos like this!

[@Skooh2000]

Oh My, I’ve been mu chording all these years and never know.

[@vancecooper3541]

Wow, great short film sir! Fascinating how simple this ear catching chord is. Nicely done.

[@dannyanker7852]

Just discovered you .... fantastic Knowledge and presentation style .... intrigued and looking forward to watching many more of your entertaining and uniquely engaging ventures to freely educate ... thanks

[@steves7053]

Steely Dan... the band your favorite band listens to... RIP Walter.... and thank you.

[@alangeer6766]

well done! perfect mix of casual, useful, and entertaining content.

[@GFHanks]

Been playing by ear for 45 years. Several instruments. Can't read a note of music. This makes my head want to explode.

[@DoktorLorentzBig]

Yes and just talking like a turd that doesn't know what he's talking about.

[@toenailtom654]

I'm with ya. I can hang in there til we get to the 1,4,5, then they lose me

[@jaecenwhite2590]

This is how keyboard players talk when trying to describe stuff like “It’s like a cowboy E but you add your pinky on the D string at fret 4.”

[@GFHanks]

@@DoktorLorentzBig WOW!!! First time in 45 years that I've triggered somebody by discussing the way I learn/play music. Beat the wife much, Sport ? 🖕🖕🖕

[@faruzurtev2284]

@@GFHanks You're the one who's "triggered", young man. He's talking about the guy in the video, not you. :)

[@ThomasLoyd]

Damn dude! Growing up in the 70s and 80s sure did come back as a huge flash as you played the music. I didn't know why Steely Dan sounded so damn good then and now I do! Thanks for sharing!

[@user-lc5uh4ic1z]

Great video! I could watch hours on end of you talking about Steely Dan harmonies and the way they're utilized in songs

[@stillbill6408]

Likewise.

[@pauldallas2246]

Such a great video. Steely Dan is the perfect example of how jazz concepts can work in classic rock. The perfect combination.

[@Shellinois]

This was fun. From one Jackson to another... thank you. Cheers!

[@AlchemicalArtist]

Rad video! Turns out that I've been using the mu chord and didn't even know it, but an inverted add9 is definitely one of my favorite sounds.

[@Nethanel773]

Wow, thanks for explaining the duo's secret sauce, and demoing it for us! I remember years ago coming across an essay written by Denny Dias explaining this very thing. Doing a video demonstrating the key chord really helps.

[@RoPanuganti]

Last night I dreamt you taught me something ridiculous and important to my well being and it came true

[@giac7baci]

I also really like Jack of Speed! One of my personal favs! Thanks for waffling along and for all the info 🙏🏼💪🏼

[@KrisPeter]

I really enjoyed the piano bits with the chords written over the top. Helps highlight the second note of the scale much better than the original song.

[@jeffsnyder3161]

Jackson, this was delightful. Well played.

[@TheAtticradio]

I’m glad you did the songs - you have passion ! Wonderful !!

[@markhalsmer607]

Great video sir!! Love their music and your explanation of it!!!

[@r05ejan8]

Very edumacational, great editing as well.

[@curtpratt2203]

Great explanation of the sound. Loved it, didn't understand it, but loved it.

[@jsanmarc]

You did a Mu video - a triad of entertaining, enjoyable and informative, with “easy to follow” slipped in. Nice work!!

[@rogerscott529]

And "easy to follow" was, of course, placed a whole tone below enjoyable :)

[@JavaoftheLava]

This is incredibly well done

[@mikegeorge360]

This is awesome.

[@davem7632]

Wonderful video about a wonderful band. Thanks for posting this.

[@jimpinkowski3394]

Excellent video, thanks! I have stumbled onto these without knowing why they are so appealing or how to create them!

[@herbiesnerd]

I learned how to play Rikki don’t lose that number on guitar around 1985 or so. My teacher taught me the D-A-E progression as Mu major chords. Until about 2 years ago, those were the only Mu major chords I knew and I never heard anyone talk about them. I even had another guitar teacher 25 years ago say there’s no such thing. There is a French guy on KZbin that does fantastic guitar lesson videos, and he did a Mu major video. It blew my mind and unlocked the rest of the Mu major world. I’ve been playing Rikki for 37 years, and every time I play those chords I still get goosebumps. This was a fantastic video, and nice to see a piano perspective. You proved my personal quote correct that I share with folks posting Steely Dan reaction videos. “When real musicians get off work, they listen to Steely Dan.”

[@strongcloud28]

Nice job, It was always something about the way their chords sounded, that was different. Now I know thanks.

[@sarsapp]

loooooooove this!!! Thank you for the theory!

[@congealedbox7854]

Great video, I'm glad KZbin recommended this to me! You wearing sunglasses is really evocative of Donald Fagen, as well

[@joepiecora426]

Well done, Jackson! A step above the others.

[@FunkHitsTheFan]

Yo I'm glad you did jack of speed even though there's no MU chords one of my favorites 👌

[@camiloosoriocardona7178]

Thanks Jackson. You explain things gracefuly. Best regards from Medellín.

[@jackieroberts6316]

I never learned to read music, but I love Steely Dan. I just learned something new.

[@Capcoor]

It’s never too late. There are some videos I could refer you to.

[@s1me007]

@@Capcoor I’m interested in these videos

[@johndoc4483]

Great witty, presentation! 👏

[@redheart6995]

Bravo, very good presentation, content, and originality!

[@danielrosenfeld6789]

Great stuff. Thanks for providing it. Anyone with any kind of theory background can't help but to impressed with the voicings of non-harmonic tones in the chords of the Dan's music. For something else wild, check out the bridge in Deacon Blues. There's a raised 6th at one point that has blown my mind for the last 40+ years. Rock on, Steely Dan!

[@Conservative73]

Informative and entertaining. Loved it! 😊

[@ndominguez1]

Jackson thanks for posting this. Really great explanation and entertaining as well. I’m a beginner piano player and die hard steely dan fan. Awesome video man

[@JacksonParodi]

My pleasure

[@AdAstraOnYafro]

Very well done Jackson. Thank you and carry on. Nice jams on the keys btw. Those songs are fairly simple , but somehow making them sound nice is very difficult. I’ve never pulled it off.

[@dcfincher]

"They are like 12 cranes in the crane box."

[@Ndlanding]

Dumb, but at least he didn't misspell "crayons". Or was your comment a joke I didn't get? Like, get, like?

[@smalleranimals]

@@Ndlanding Listen to how he pronounces 'crayon'

[@davethehippieman2665]

This needs to go down in history with Benedict Cumberbatch's pronunciation of 'Penguin'.

[@Ndlanding]

@@smalleranimals Quite similar to the way I pronounce it, when I'm not speaking Frog.

[@rawe63]

This is a Royal Scam, you won’t take me alive.

[@MrRBGIANTFAN]

just hide inside a hall of rock and sand

[@Maltloaflegrande]

Did he work it out one-by-one, or played in combination?

[@jonathanhandsmusic]

Really nice explanation of mu! It translates to guitar with similar coolness. I don’t usually enjoy piano lessons, but you made a good one here.

[@stephenbirks6458]

Great vid Buddy ! - Very informative ! - Thanking you very Mucho !

[@petermoore7796]

Lonnie played a mu cord he snuck a two under a three he played for forty-some years the rest is history

[@spindriftdrinker]

Bring back the Mu chord, Jack.

[@evansgate]

Cool channel. First time viewing and I’m impressed by the presentation

[@ExtraLivesMusic]

Our highlight was 1:13, when Jackson said “boner-fied.”

[@gj8683]

It's a dormant pun just waiting for an opportunity to flourish.

[@jasonseedmusic1720]

this is a great explanation. love the µ. also, at the moment Jackson says "when he was talking about how they would teach Steely Dan songs to their musicians, Walter Becker said this:" it cut to a commercial where a woman said "There is nothing that makes me happier than biting into warm, fresh bread"...I hope, over the years, Becker happened to say that at least once.

[@gordonnewman9037]

Thanks you just made me lol I miss you Walter.

[@sea12gull]

That line is actually the epitaph on Walter’s tombstone. May he RIP. It was such a gift that he and Donald met in the first place!

[@stuartkline1611]

I enjoyed your vid Jackson cheers!

[@STSGuitar16]

Awesome vid man, I subbed! It would be really cool if you could dissect more jazz rock songs like this!

[@jimimaze]

Thanks for this

[@VinnyMickeyRickeyDickeyEddy]

Nice work man. You're a talented dude.

[@hawaiirealmedia5610]

Well done and educational. Thanks!!

[@williamrobinson7435]

Fabulous! Concise & entertaining too.

[@hillerm]

Great video. I learned a lot!

[@leonardmcguyver]

After hearing your cover of Steely Dan I appreciate Steely Dan so much more ... I guess that could be taken Different ways

[@robertwilson5058]

Every major mu would know.

[@periloustemple8290]

Loved it. You are spot on about Jack of Speed. FWIW, Circus Money is one of the greatest records ever. Just perfect. They were geniuses - separately and together.

[@octaviangrant9441]

Your music theory videos are awesome

[@steveperry1344]

thanks for the info, i really liked it.

[@davidwaitman1610]

Great video. Lotsa help!!!

[@MrFg1980]

Awesome dude-thanks!

[@micman1000]

Great video... well explained

[@richyrich5489]

Nice analysis!

[@mangadolo]

Great analysis and playing!!!

[@Phoebedumplings]

I watch thousands of you tube videos, this is up there with the best...thanks...Jack of speed is one of my favourites too. Subscribed, 😎

[@mattfleming2287]

Cool as hell. I’m a guitarist and you know I’m gonna sit for an hour working this out on the fretboard. Thanks!

[@dougpeters1625]

Bloody brilliant video

[@pianobill8781]

this was educational, and entertaining. Thank you!

[@mycofairbanks3321]

The best. Subscribed and notified

[@jamiebrittan3960]

Great video. Entertaining and informative. I'm gonna go make a Steely Dan centered playlist

[@5150quintis]

Great video!!

[@biasedaudio]

Well done Jackson.

[@otizcar9313]

Thanks for solving the harmonic mystery

[@MarcNevali]

I actually enjoyed it.. Don't know if it's exact and formally correct but you explained it well I sub

[@nicholasmurner7523]

killer video, thanks for sharing