Learning A Steely Dan Song For The First Time...

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[@nearlysteviedan1275]

Nice one Michael.. I've played in a SD "tribute band", (Nearly Dan) in the UK for over 20years. So many great songs & sophisticated chord progressions. Enjoy the show..

[@hulldanfan]

And a great job you have done too - Saw you first at the Leopard in Doncaster in 199? and probably 30 times since. Can't wait till 2022 !!!!!

[@jamespconnolly3890]

And I go and see you every year in Glasgow. Damn Covid interrupted last two years. Keep the flame burning.

[@hellooutsiders6865]

@@jamespconnolly3890 It's hard to believe I haven't been to a concert in 2 years.

[@ericnunn2349]

Saw you at The Stables in 2018, then the next week flew to New York to see Nightfly live at the Beacon Theatre. Both shows were fab! Look forward to seeing both again soon!

[@brianmincher716]

That’s an awesome cover band name.

[@HyzersGR]

One of the greatest bands of all time.

[@Guitargate]

So pumped to see them tonight.

[@yakovest]

It is the best!!!

[@jacksguitarplanet]

@@BarneysBullit Yep. They were the house band for the rock n roll HOF. "Paul Scaffer and the world's most dangerous band" :)

[@lukezorich6444]

Please do more Steely! Fav band of all time, their stuff is so intricate and beautiful

[@joe44850]

Thank you for putting yourself out there! Most KZbin videos are either carefully rehearsed or heavily edited, but watching you piece this together and dissect it out was very educational and hugely fun.

[@boomerdell]

Just finished one book on Steely Dan ("Major Dudes") and now into my second ("Steely Dan: Reelin' In The Years"). Needless to say, I'm a fan. Love all their work, and although I listen to all their albums, 'Aja' is probably my most listened-to. But, wow, what they did over the years. Just incredible.

[@boogieboots]

Would you recommend either book? I love reading band bios so getting a good book on Steely Dan would be awesome.

[@michaeldematteis9944]

Same here,love bios.just finished jeff tweddys.was great. Would dig a dan book

[@geoker55]

Aja is by far their seminal work...

[@thatjewishkid69]

@@boogieboots reeling in the years was phenomenal

[@boogieboots]

@@thatjewishkid69 right on! I’ll check it out, thanks.

[@mikedr1549]

I've seen them several times over the past decade - Jon Herington is a killer player!

[@ericlanning9796]

Such great chords in the chorus! According to Jon Herrington, the guitarist, it’s A - E/G - F#7 - E/G - Ebm7 - A/D - A/B.

[@Generalbas1972]

lol i really don't believe that Jon plays E/G cause that would sound like shit. Sure you don't mean Em/G - which is also called G6. That would make more sense tbh :P

[@14369164]

@@Generalbas1972 you got it man

[@charlievance8750]

Em/G yep

[@andrewbroughton65]

@@Generalbas1972 or maybe G13 ?

[@Generalbas1972]

@@andrewbroughton65 nah it's clearly Em/G

[@pllopis]

Steely Dan is one of my favourite bands ever!! It takes a lot of courage and nerve to disect any steely dan song live without previous preparation. I enjoyed your video very much!!

[@davidmugglebee523]

Right on! My dad’s favorite, and we saw them together at the Greek in Berkeley. The Nightfly and Aja were played constantly in our house while growing up. Hope you have a great time!

[@YEM_]

I've never checked out Steely Dan before. I love that this channel is always exposing me to new music to explore. Thanks Michael!

[@VisionVendorVisuals]

Wow, that is so cool! Very impressed with how you dissected this in real time and gave us all hope that it is not impossible!! I am a "late in life and struggling" guitar player who does not take well to lessons on anything, but I may have to take some of your courses based on your enthusiasm and teaching style!! LOVE IT!!! BTW, great McCarty 594!!! Just got my first PRS in February this year (McCarty 594 HBII) and have since purchased two more (custom 24's) because of how incredible they feel/play/sound! Incredible machines! Now, on to trying to play at a fraction of your skill level!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@jerryhorton5708]

Nicely explained, Michael! Steely Dan uses the most dense progressions in pop/rock, which is only one of the reasons that I think of them as the American version of the Beatles for their songwriting. Great to hear you, as always!

[@joeurbanowski321]

Dude..!!! You definitely got dem chops..!! I kinda use the same method as you to figure out tunes .. BUT.. it’s like you’re strolling in the park.. and I’m crawling uphill through broken glass on my belly..😳..!!! But it’s a ton of fun..!!

[@VesperEm]

the deadhead to danfan pipeline is a well-documented path

[@PaulDeFelice]

Have you heard Steely Dead? They're awesome!

[@VesperEm]

@@PaulDeFelice will check them out!

[@stephenfiore9960]

I went from Steely Dan in my high school days , to a Dead fan in my 40’s. Both incredible bands. Steely Dan way more technical though. Both touching on morbid subjects. Examples: Dead : “Me and My Uncle”- about killing your uncle Steely Dan: “Do It Again” - in the morning you go gunning for a man who stole your woman

[@zach4216]

It actually is

[@kbbl102.5]

I was conceived on Dead tour, grew up a snobby Deadhead, was introduced to Aja on a couple gel tabs senior year and everything changed. Long live the Dan

[@joshski85]

I recently got into Steely Dan thanks to Rick Beato. I think I've played Dirty Work a million times since.

[@secondstarllc]

Play their Aja album all the thru at night on good speakers sipping your favorite drink. Thank me later.

[@jimh1369]

Hope you enjoyed the show. Saw them here in Nashville years ago... incredible!!!! Been a fan for years, and kudos for taking on one of their songs. Thanks for making their chord/song structure understandable for us wannabe non-guitarists!

[@jarrodlewis123]

I got to take my son who is a second generation Dan Fan on the last tour. He got to see Walter Becker before he passed. It was an awesome show!

[@darinhill3773]

I saw Becker a few times and I never left unimpressed. Love that you passed some great music to the younger folks. Hard to go wrong with Dan, man

[@stixk3019]

Mike, you might look into "The Dukes of September" tour from a couple years ago. It's all over youtube. It consisted of Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, and Boz Skaggs doing some of their greatest hits. AND Jon Herington doing all the lead guitar solos.

[@olderendirt]

I've always liked their clear sound and chord progressions. Thanks for breaking it down and giving tips along the way.

[@erikhoffman2866]

15 thousand views in 11 hours and only four hundred likes???? Come on peoples...just hit that like please. Mike's not just working for it, he deserves it. P.s. hope you enjoyed the show:)

[@Guitargate]

LOVED IT. Keith Carlock stole the show. I mean. Really stole the show. Mesmerized to put it lightly.

[@logopneumatika]

Saw SD at the Palms in Vegas in 2015. Walt Becker and John Herrington slayed it. RIP Walt.

[@jatin7361]

Love your deconstruction technique! I always start with the bass notes too...and then I'm usually stuck and search for the KZbin video, lol! I'll try and start finding the thirds based on your advice! Hope you have a great time at the show!

[@uncleremus5046]

Frank Gambale loved their arrangements & said they were the only rock band he was interested in because of their compositions.

[@MrTonicAmps]

Time to brush up on mu chords, which Steely Dan used a ton. Add the 2 to a major triad (add9). Often moved the 3rd to the bass and used a ton of sus2 chords. By far one of my favorite bands of all time. Brilliant writing, performing and engineering. The Royal Scam is in my top 10 albums of all time.

[@SIXSTRING63]

Exactly! He should listen to Josie to hear a good example of the mu chords used a ton. The whole song is pretty much based on that theory.

[@Tier_1_Golf_Academy]

A “mu” chord is simply an inversion of an add9 chord in which the 9 is voiced between the root and the 3rd. In even simpler terms, if one thinks of it as an add2 chord, it eliminates the inversion/voicing part of the previous explanation. Never understood why such a big deal was made over a common, four note chord voicing 🤷🏼‍♂️ I honestly think it just makes non-musician fans of Steely Dan feel like they are hip to something no one else understands, and so they shoehorn the damn “mu” chord into any conversation they have with musicians when Steely Dan is mentioned🤦🏼‍♂️

[@jamesrmore]

@@Tier_1_Golf_Academy agreed but you would still agree Fagen is a great arranger considering all the parts involved, right?

[@Tier_1_Golf_Academy]

@@jamesrmore without a doubt

[@tonylangdon412]

Great to watch you walk through this cold. Lots of helpful tips! Been a Dan Fan from the very beginning when my brother introduced me to them. The Steely Damned down in San Diego do and incredible job on their stuff (17pc band!) and Hank Easton is a beast on all the guitar work!

[@kdavis63]

You will have an awesome time at the Concert! Saw them in Honolulu ages ago, so awesome. RIP Walter Becker.

[@richkurl]

Thanks Michael, this is excellent. Enjoy the show tonight. 13 piece band that absolutely swings. I'll be at the MAYO in Morristown NJ on 11/4/21 for Gaucho + hits night.

[@muklowd]

I love this channel - Michael's skill is amazing and his enthusiasm is joyous. But man! I just hope I live long enough to get to the point where I can understand half of what he is saying :)

[@stephenfiore9960]

1/4 and I would be in Heaven

[@kennethdias9988]

He should do a breakdown of The guitar work on Kid Charlemagne. 2 of the best solos ever. Steely Dan is sampled often in hip hop

[@totalrobot]

I was lucky enough to see Dan at the MANN Center in Philly in 2013 when Walter was still with us. Great show, I got rained on but had a blast.

[@TheKissarmygeneral]

Every time I listen to a Dan record I catch something new in their playing . Famous band but really underrated in my opinion.

[@robertakerman3570]

Hey Michael, We're blessed to have U. I'm having the time of My life.

[@dennywayne8879]

Steely Dan has a way of kicking all our butts somewhat. Hope the concert was awesome. I'm sure it was.

[@ianson3]

We've sure come a long way from picking up the arm and hoping to put the needle back on the record correctly without damaging it. Really enjoyed this clip.

[@bicycle697]

It is so helpful to see you figure this out in real time!! Thank you!!

[@trevorbayfield4006]

Yes the Mu Major chord is big in Donald Fagen writing, and you can hear it in some early Horace Silver, which was an influence..

[@abreug2]

I seen SD at the Woodland pavilion in Houston a couple years ago and was awesome. The funny thing i will never forget is my manager wife also went to the show to see Elvis Costello but did not stay for SD, she said they were not relevant any more 😂😂😂😂 oh and EC was still relevant.. lol

[@chrisharris5607]

Man you are amazing mike. Im a guitar player but never really got into the serious side of playing like knowing every chord and note. Maybe its time to start learnin!

[@fredcampbell4536]

Kings of the Polychords. Did this cover in a band long ago and it was interesting getting those damn chords right....

[@Ou812em]

This is only the second video of yours that I've watched but I can see and feel the passion you have. Amazing! You're a phenomenal musician. Subscribed.

[@Guitargate]

Thanks Edward!

[@mathewchattaway5506]

Great band, just so tight and the roll call for the solo albums for each of the band members is insane, have a great night

[@tonyr.4778]

Hey Michael, you're solid. Honest figuring it out cold is a great lesson for people who haven't reached this level yet. It just takes time doing this over and over until you just recognize licks and progressions, as they are usually just variations on something you've learned before.

[@threeleggedman]

This is so much like me every week preparing for gigs. I do weddings and each week I get and email with a list of songs and if I don't know any, I have to learn them. Then I have to show up at the gig ready to play it with zero rehearsal.

[@ChefChrisDay]

A most excellent choice for a show! Just wish I could have seen them with Walter!

[@travisallen4168]

How have you not listened to Corey Huevel yet? Especially his Steely Dan cover of Do It Again... Whew. Man is immaculate on an acoustic.

[@matthewnewman1446]

Love your channel and learning from you. I am bass player that doesn't play the guitar and still learn learn lots. I feel you did get off easy on this. So much more to Steely Dan than this song. Keep going, do another one!!!! Thanks for everything!

[@m.iramiles9310]

So lucky to have seen them twice before the untimely passing of Walter Becker. RIP

[@Deliquescentinsight]

I had the great fortune to attend two Steely Dan concerts when Walter Becker was alive = mind blowing. Black Friday is certainly a familiar Bluesy shuffle, but those expanded choruses and swells are quite another story!

[@kaiselkamish9904]

Home at Last is a must to analyze, that song was milleniums over his time, still a banger today.

[@kbbl102.5]

That melodica solo just knocks me right out of my head

[@JackCumming1]

Great video. Hope you enjoyed the gig!

[@chuckbouscaren3898]

Great effort Michael. I hope you enjoy the show man! I've seen them three different times and they've been one of my all time favorite bands since "Can't Buy a Thrill" came out. R.I.P. Walter Becker.

[@mikeloomis687]

I suggest hearing Larry Carlton on Steely Dan's "Third World Man". John Harrington the guitarist who tours with the band said it is his favorite Steely Dan song to play.

[@melodymakermark]

When Steely Dan tried about 6 or 7 guitarists for the solo on Peg, Jay Graydon came in and went into bebop land and Fagen told him “think blues”. It’s in their music more often than people realize.

[@KDubs107]

One of my all time favorite bands. My dad got me into them. Lucky to have seen them play several times. Their stuff is hard. Too hard for me, wild ass jazz chords and quick changes. Damn brilliant tho.

[@MegaByrds]

What fun! Thank you.

[@danny_the_K]

Mike, greeting from Hanover PA, I know this is 2 years old, but I love how you disassembled this song to show us how Steely Dan has put this great song together for us to enjoy. Love your channel. Do you do events in the Baltimore area? If so, please tell us.

[@gregmullins6927]

Good work Michael,check out Peg and Caves of Altimira by these guys,great musicians!!

[@DusanStanic]

Thank you, Michael! Great educational video. I just don't understand this small number of viewers ... A must "lesson" for a little more experienced beginner (minor/major, 1 and 3, G/Em, etc.). It is always interesting (in my opinion) to be able to see when someone else experiences the music of others. Especially like this in "real-time" with instructions and explanations. Music is such a subjective thing but at the same time lives on clearly determined rules that make the process of creating/learning so interesting. It is always a combination of "those 8(12) notes" that become something else in our hands ...

[@marklyon8406]

Watching your process on these is so incredibly helpful. Thank you. Is it me, or around the 17 minute mark did it sound like one of the backup guitar players stomped on some distortion and their tone got a little unwieldy on one of those hits? Lol. This one was a fun ride. I hope you have a great time at the show, brother.

[@metaphoria3]

12:20 often easiest solution is the realest one 1 more half step down so there’s 3 half step stairs in a row (d#, d, c#) keeping the sus and same shape when your pinning just moving the bass note down along the a if you wanna keep the b in the bass on the e string by all means. 20:00 sounded pretty close 👏👍🤘

[@corbetcampbell6508]

I really enjoy watching you learn songs by ear and deconstruct the parts in the learning process. I used to do that years ago, albeit on simpler songs, and at a much slower pace, but it’s nice to know I was on the right track … even if you’re light-years ahead of where I was at my best. Then I got busy making an aviation career, just retired, and starting to get back into playing just for the fun of it. Enjoying your videos!! if you have any questions about aircraft systems or aviation, let me know!!🤣

[@frankpratte8358]

You almost got it at the end at 20:00, the E note stays on the top of the chorus chords. A G6 F#7 Ebm7(okay no E on that one) A/D A/B. Play those with the E note on top, except the Ebm7 (or is it an Em11? x6667x) has the Gb on top. Those horn stabs try a D xx777x chord which makes the E7 an E11. Some Steely Dan Voicings D/A x57655 Aadd9 x02420 with the whole tone rub between the 9 and 3rd, B7#5 7x788, Bm7b13 7x778, A/B 7x765. Love their chord progressions, still trying to figure it out after all these years. And I'm Reeling in the Years

[@devinessence]

Love Steely Dan. Also, I just saw Marc Rebillet in Pittsburgh, it was awesome. I know you mentioned going to see him the other day!

[@oldworldchris4187]

Happy to hear Steely Dan is still touring!

[@mikebels719]

The album version is crazy, he goes off on the solos.

[@poppycock6572]

Michael, Don't be surprised when one of these iconic groups calls you up and says "we would like to talk with you".... perhaps uts already happened? Love your channel!

[@Sinksalot3]

Great breakdown on the song!

[@DugerNick]

Thanks for the breakdown! I wonder how you would approach Steely Dan’s “Black Cow” off of the Aja album. Tons of changes and really cool inversions. A daunting song for sure!! Thanks again Michael!!

[@piano4014]

Great interesting study...its how I do things,always find the bass notes first then chords after.

[@duncansmith8992]

I really enjoyed that. The way you broke the chords down. Thanks.

[@beckwiedmaier5603]

I was there! Insane show

[@ScottMcdonaldMusic]

Dude , I saw them in 2010, I’d only heard them on the radio. That concert made me a die hard fan.

[@nievesjohnny]

The timing! Was just learning Kid Charlemagne today.

[@ScottWaldenGuitar]

That's a tough song, especially the solos.

[@michaelruggia476]

Crazy hard to get right

[@augustpendergast4478]

One of my all time favorite solos.

[@paulwarren8936]

Larry Carlton at his finest. Good luck, it's a tough one!

[@gyanankurpatgiri4272]

Michael, yoo uve been an inspiration, ive learnt a lot from ur vdos, never stop man, keep it up man. Thank u so much, appreciate u.

[@nicholaswerner8170]

Best quote: "The arrangement has a second verse!"

[@stratcat3216]

Well done!

[@fleshrevolt]

Went looking for a Steely Dan guitar vid, of course Michael's got one 😎

[@Stemenik]

Solid. Thank you

[@Foxywaterable]

Love these videos my dude

[@philotomybaar]

Well done! Not the SD song I’d suggest for the crazy chords; maybe the simplest one but hey, you did a great job. Try “Your Gold Teeth 2” or anything off the Aja album. You really hit on a SD idiom when you found A/B.

[@pcau]

Quite a workout! Thank you for this :)

[@iplayguitar4u]

Mistake #1 right up front on complex tune learning - ALWAYS LISTEN TO THE TUNE YOU ARE LEARNING 2X or 3X, maybe even more in its entirety first to REALLY get it in your head. Then break it down and dissect the guitar parts to get them under your fingers. Once you know where the chordal movement is going It becomes much easier to determine positions and voicings. (Note: A comprehensive theory knowledge is assumed.) Good job on this. Keep up the good work Michael. You're bringing a lot to the table for up and coming guitarists.

[@billdurham8575]

Becker played bass on most of the Dan tunes.. guest guitarist were the stars

[@chrisharris5607]

And btw those bird fret guitars are beautiful and sound amazing. Im starting to see them everywhere.

[@dontletmebrown]

PRS guitars, they make some great stuff! :)

[@davidhuffaker4559]

Few bands can stand with Steely Dan AMAZING STUFF !!! BRAIN TAP SCHUFLE BABY ! OR THE GUITAR INTRO INTO DONT TAKE ME ALIVE !!

[@ak2112]

First time coming across your channel. Goes without saying, but you're good!

[@squidkid2]

I swear that's Paul Schaefer on the B3 and keys on the left in front of the horn section. There's also a lot going on in the harmonic interaction between Fagen's vocal line and the harmony from the backup singers. That layering is not your typical blues vocal line it's much "jazzier". Those vocal harmonies all give the song that musically dense Steely Dan signature sound. It's almost like Fagen is using his vocals like a solo instrument would be used in a jazz quartet. Like the vocals aren't just there to convey the lyrics and melody but rather to add harmonic complexity. Trying to dig out the basic chord structure buried under all that complexity can be a challenge.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

That was good. You got right on that bus.

[@toploadtele]

Cool ! Gotta get yourself a Vidami KZbin transport controller footswitch for this type vid... you'll love it!

[@lancelotlink6545]

Steely Dan was my gateway drug into Jazz.

[@cathybroadus4411]

I learned separately. They are the best way to learn jazz. Great training wheels. They could also teach you soul too.

[@blakelong1127]

You need to check out Tanner Usrey - Josephine. I know how much you appreciate the structure of a song and how the song lyrically stands out and that’s one of those songs!

[@charlievance8750]

Always loved this Band better practice up on your Homework if you gonna play there stuff! They get way outside the box!

[@richardgardner8975]

This is what Guitar Gate is all about!

[@AJGreen-cn8kk]

Don't forget a lot of the studio work on their albums was done by Larry Carlton. One of the best players to steal from!

[@victorpascali5983]

@ 13 seconds: bending the note multiple times... looks at camera (aw what the heck, one more bend wont hurt) hahahahaha too funny dude. Needless to say, I have subscribed. Steely Dan is like MECCA for guitarists to learn their chords and I wouldnt even consider myself an amateur but, im gettin there. Josie is a cool one to learn as well. Thank you for posting this!!!!!

[@mkerwin1]

Walter Becker (RIP) has some good solos, but mainly plays Rhythm and Bass, especially on the early albums. The really great guitar work is from Jeff Baxter, Elliot Randall, Dean Parks, Denny Dias (check out Your Gold Teeth II and Aja) and Larry Carlton.

[@FilmFlam]

My first time viewing one of you videos. Extremely educational for me. Thank you. Am now a Subscriber. Learning tunes /licks by ear has long been my downfall.

[@probitionate]

While I am a big appreciator of them (I grew up with their music), 'Reelin' in The Years' will foreverandaday come to mind when the band's name is invoked. (Definitely on my all-time best pop songs.)

[@austincharron1038]

You should do Townes Van Zandt! An amazing folk/country singer and songwriter!

[@geoker55]

Read an interview back in the early 80s Rolling Stone... Steely Dan said they didn't like tours as they were both sound engineers and perfectionists...

[@hampyonce]

Another great point! This is why I've never bothered catching a live show.