Steely Dan is an American jazz rock band which formed in 1972. The band was formed by Donald Fagen (vocals, keyboards) and Walter Becker (guitar, bass), who met in 1967 while both attended Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, and began a songwriting partnership shortly thereafter.
Their music is characterized by dark, witty lyrical narratives, obscure lyrical allusions and complex, jazz-influenced instrumentation and chord sequences, overlying more ordinary popular song structures.
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Hello! I love Steely Dan and I thought I'd do the UG community a justice and tab out this great jam.
The main chord used throughout the song is a Bb6/9, Fretted as such: xx8788 Listen to the song to get the timing for the chords in the verses and choruses.
Key: C minor
Intro and verses: Bb6/9
FIRST VERSE: Bb6/9 (throughout the verse) Got a feeling I've been here before Watching as you cross the killing floor You know you'll have to pay it all You'll pay today or pay tomorrow You fasten up your beaded gown Then you try to tie me down Do you work it out one by one Or played in combination FEbF You throw out your gold teeth E7A7D7 Do you see how they roll
|Abm7Db7Cm7|F7 |
Mini guitar solo 1 (bluesy)
SECOND VERSE: Bb6/9 (throughout the verse) I have seen your iron and your brass Can't you see it shine behind the glass Your fortune is your roving eye Your mouth and legs Your gift for the runaround Torture is the main attraction I don't need that kind of action You don't have to dance for me I've seen your dance before FEbF You throw out your gold teeth E7A7D7 Do you see how they roll
|Abm7Db7Cm7|F7 |
Mini guitar solo 2 (same as before)
CHORUS: AbEb Tobacco they grow in Peking Ab In the Year of the Locust A7Bb You'll see a sad thing Db Even Cathy Berberian knows Gbmaj7G7Abmaj7 There's one roulade she can't sing Dbmaj7 Dumb luck my friend Eb/AbF Won't suck me in this time
SOLO SECTION: Just have your soloists jam one by one in C minor over the Bb6/9 chord. Let loose.
CHORUS:(same as before)
FINAL VERSE: Bb6/9 (throughout the verse) Got a feeling I've been here before Won't you let me help you find the door All you got to do is use Your silver shoes A gift for the runaround Use your knack darlin' Take one step back darlin' There ain't nothing in Chicago For a monkey woman to do FEbF You throw out your gold teeth E7A7D7 Do you see how they roll
|Abm7Db7Cm7|F7 |
Ride out the rest of the song vamping on the Bb6/9 chord. Everybody go nuts!
I hope you find the tab useful! Email me if you have any suggestions for changes! Good luck!