The reason it sounds like a blues is because the intro are the chords from Blues from Alice with some minor adjustments. Donald Fagan was a fan of Bird, Ellington and the jazz greats. His interview with Marianne McPartland is still available on his channel and there is an interview of him talking about Peg and how he used Blues for Alice as the template.
No. The intro sounds like jazz. Cause it is. All jazz chords. The verses sound like blues because they are using the most common blues progression in existence.
@@thebullgoose6099 It's "Pin shot." I suppose that could mean "pin up," but that doesn't make much more sense to me, and I suspect that's just fine with the composers, who love their little lyrical puzzles. www.google.com/search?q=steely+dan+peg&oq=Steely+Dan+Peg&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqEAgAEAAYgwEY4wIYsQMYgAQyEAgAEAAYgwEY4wIYsQMYgAQyDQgBEC4YgwEYsQMYgAQyBwgCEAAYgAQyBwgDEAAYgAQyBwgEEAAYgAQyBwgFEAAYgAQyBggGEEUYPTIGCAcQRRg90gEIOTA2N2owajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#wptab=si:ACC90nxRWvuwqTR4TiacZ7sCfkHhcGgWdDOv2v2HxpHAAuIhwd0hqVQcoOD2_2OWmYVP1pjQB2M7dSG8jFa-P_37a46QzmGnZzaabQkHHFcZWTwuSi4u9JmUUgzzLzds21P4FUzMDaqTJsolR7RkyS0uyusKljnn2A%3D%3D
So, Jay Graydon told Rick Beato that Donald Fagen told him to think “blues” before he tracked his solo, and he killed it. Great video! I always enjoy your work…
@@goodgulfgas That's exactly how he said it when recounting the moment to Rick Beato. Interestingly, he beat out the solos laid down by Larry Carlton for "Peg", which I'm sure were also amazing.
I seem to remember that the writer of the liner notes to the original LP (late 70's) was told by Fagen and Becker that the song was a 13-bar pan-tonal blues. The writer was confused about what that meant. So was I.
I found a songbook for the Aja LP when it was brand new. I was playing with my second pro band but we weren't playing Steely Dan type music. Still the songbook lifted my musicality very much higher. A thing that I did at the time, as a musical exercise, was to handwrite to music notation for "Peg." I was never trained to handwrite music and I had been self taught until I was in my 40s. In any case, I just copied it from the book as accurate as I could and it was a huge learning process. I think, back then in 1977, that I felt this song had a blues element. It's nice to see you detail that. Other important songbooks in my learning included Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon. Cheers.
3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1
These are the three songbooks sitting on my kitchen table right now. They help heal my soul.
I like that notation exercise. I may try that. I tried the same thing an Sibelius but it wasn't the same. Any tips for learning notation at 49 years old?
Today is one of those days when I’m thankful for TH-cam’s algorithm, the Peg video was really well done. I’m a fan and shared it with all my musician friends.
No, I did not know you could frame this great tune as a blues. There’s a cliche on socials of a woman sarcastically saying, “Thanks for mansplaining Steely Dan” But you have really and truly explained it as no one ever. Thanks Aimee. “It’s crazy isn’t it?”
Love this. As a fun aside, Becker and Fagan do a very similar “the 3rd/7th of this chord become the 6th/3rd of the next chord” progression in the instrumental break of King of the World, which leads into the bridge.
Feeling a bit proud that I saw the blues connection in the mid nineties😎 The plagal cadences, to me, sounds almost like sus chords being resolved. But without the initial suspense. Voice leading rules. The pedal point chords with a line cliché bass line, in the intro, is one of my favourite moves. I've never really analysed this old favourite. So thanks for doing all the hard work. Inspiring stuff. Watched it on Nebula, of course. ✌✌
I learned this bassline not long ago and thought it was so cool to discover that it was a blues. Never really sounded like it, but when I played the song it became so obvious. What a great band, huh?
Great video Aimee. As you can see from my handle, I am a HUGE SD fan and an amateur student of harmony. I don't play anymore but I still try to keep up with the theory. Maybe when I retire! I think I have bought every album they ever made including all of Donald's. Since I discovered them a bit late, I actually had to order all the early albums in one shot from my record shop (back in the days of vinyl!). The Aja album was probably the best for me in terms of concept and engineering by Roger. Deacon Blues is my favorite song of all time, as I identify with every word in the lyric! I have read many interviews by Donald, and he always insisted that they loved black music, and they were just trying to play the blues (obviously with a twist). If you listen to "Weather In My Head" or "Pretzel Logic"... It's the blues form. However, they always seem to extend the form on the turnaround or do some stuff in the intro or bridge that really makes it interesting! The intro melody on Peg was Tom Scott (another of my all-time favorites) on Lyricon, the original wind synth, for which there is no equal even to this day. Sadly, it is not made any more! Of course, Jay's solo was/is amazing and is probably studied in guitar schools everywhere. Also, as you showed in the video, the voice leading on the progressions is impeccable, that's why it's so comfortable to play. Thanks again. dBlues
Thanks for your great insight Aimee. I love SD and music in general, but my musical abilities range from none to non whatsoever! So to have you pick stuff apart like this is very helpful.🤗🤗
On guitar if you forget about the mu stuff, its so simple. Its that little triangle on the 3rd, 4th and 5th strings that we all do on blues guitar. But darn those mu chords when Aimee plays them are so beautiful.
Thank you for posting this first-rate video - I was totally immersed. I have 'played' guitar for many years, mainly amusing myself with varoius acoustics and almost exclusively restricting myself to being a self confessed chord basher. Unfortunately music theory is something I have little experience of, largely shying away from it in favour of reverting back to the tried and trusted songs I have played for many years. When I listen to bands like Steely Dan I can only admire the musicianship involved in being able to craft and deliver this jazz fusion-type stuff, resulting in songs which use chord structures which I can only dream about. So, when I came across your 'Peg' video, I can only admire your musical ability in breaking down the song and explaining 'blues' when compared to 'a blues'. It really has made me wonder what I have been doing all these years. Thanks again.
Great video Aimee, I really enjoyed it. Strangely enough Peg has never been a particular favourite but your spot-on analysis has made me appreciate it more. I'm more of a Deacon Blues man. Possibly the most complex Donald Fagan song is The Goodbye Look which would be another good one for you to break down. Thanks.
Almost understandable(with my limited background) explanation...beautiful singing voice as well...using (pretzel) logic in the composition...thanx...(David)
In a video I saw with Donald Fagen, he said that Peg was indeed a blues, but he felt it was a bit cliché originally, so he altered the chords to make it more interesting.
Never heard of Aimee Nolte until I stumbled across this TH-cam video. Too bad she wasn't my piano (and later, guitar) instructor when I was 15. As a fan of both Steely Dan (1990s and later) and Jimmy Reed (1960 and later), I'd have loved being able to make that connection at that point in my life. Anyway, a fine video in which music theory almost makes sense to me. Not quite, but almost.
So cool, Aimee! I remember seeing a documentary on making Aja, and D. Fagan mentioned it being a Blues. I could kind of hear it, but didn't fully grasp it until now. Thanks! Oh, and you don't want to know where the Dan got their name from. All I'll say is, it's [sort of] a character in a book!
Brilliant breakdown, never noticed the disguised blues notes. Which is what Donald and Walter clearly intended. This video demonstrates that it takes a genius like Aimee Nolte to dissect the genius of Steely Dan.
it's not so much the notes or melody(nothing Blues about that)...it's the chord structure based loosely around I IV V ..very much a common Blues structure...either way an amazing song
I played piano on "Peg" in my high school jazz band and I didn't realize it was a blues. I was like "wow, these jazz chords, what do these little triangles mean?" 😂 Anyway it was a great song to play with the band.
Here's link to an old Donald Fagen interview where he breaks down how Peg was composed: th-cam.com/video/DP_2r9zbaIY/w-d-xo.html Cheers and Well Done, Aimee!
Something you just made me realize... Donald is singing the word "smile" when he bends up to that dissonant note. What do you do when you physically smile? You bend the edges of your lip up. I bet that was intentional. Man those guys had some compositional skills!
First time viewer here. I was puzzled when I heard, I think it was Becker, describe this tune as a "blues." As you also seem to have noted-although it's wonderful and compelling in a way that few if any other pop rock songs ever were-it doesn't sound "bluesy." Much of what you're pointing out is difficult for me to grasp on a first listen, but I incorrectly thought the tune (or at least the I, IV, V verse) was in C, because the three Maj7 chords are C, F, & G. Overlooked the fact that these chords precede (and resolve to?) G, C, & D respectively. Maybe because the roots of the latter (at least on guitar) are not on the bottom the way I'm learning it? I think they're inversions with an added 9? By the way, I think you have a striking singing voice.
great vid.....I had to watch Fagan closely in tutorial video to sus out all his voicings...I noticed that in verse section LH he played octave root to Root & 3rd...that 2nd chord in verse voiced 9 5 R ..does sound better with that 3rd in bass...I saw you play R& 5 in bass which sounds good too...Loved the break down
I can't believe you realized now 😊 Fagen is a master. A very fun song to play on drums too... With one of the best guitar soloes I ever heard. Thanks for your so accurate analysis!
The Steely Dan song Peg sung through by you still wanders around and refuses to go where it’s expected to go, next. And when listening to SD and never falling into the cracks, we really go places that are a relief from the blues.
OK, Aimee, now this one is the top contender for “baby’s first Steely Dan tune”. Partly because I want to be able to sing along with my own keyboard accompaniment. Until things change, I challenge myself, with y’all as my witness, to work this one up. Wish me luck! Cheers!
The Intro is essentially the same as Ralph Burns' "Early Autumn ". Afternoon In Paris, The Midnight Sun, You're Looking At Me and (stretching it a bit) How High The Moon use similar changes.
I've been spoiled because I saw a video of Fagan and Becker at the board talking about "Peg". Donald Fagan mentioned the verse is a blues. They brought in a multitude of guitarists to try out for the solo. Okay no more spoilers... Just listen to what Chuck Rainey had to say. 😉
Yeah, I saw that video years ago and was surprised I never realized it was just a blues progression. But the Chuck Rainey part is my favorite. :) Well, that and Rick Marotta's drumming (I think that was on the same video.)
After all these decades I can positively say I didn’t miss a thing. But hearing and seeing you lay it out, felt like getting hit in the face with a wet fish. Great video! ❤
Great analysis of the intro. I posit that the real thinking behind Fagan and Becker’s “chords” was not vertical, but horizontal - meaning, the whole six bar intro is the dominant of C (at bar 7). G, F#, F, E, Eb, D - just passing tones to C. all the other harmony is fun and sophisticated, but secondary in the true function of the intro, which is to lead to the verse.
That was the a-ha of learning that bassline. Peg is definitely a blues chord progression. However because we’re talking about Steely Dan, their chord choices in that progression they create a more interesting harmonic composition.
Thank you Aimee for your fresh look at a cool tune I’ve loved over the years. While on the topic of what someone called pantonal blues, what’s your take on the descending chord structure in Deacon Blues? And that iconic sax 🎷 solo 😊
All this time i thought it was jazz chords. I just love the song no matter what the chords I did see an old video of Fagan talking about those blues chords. He knew exactly what he was doing.
The Blues played with jazz chords is good way to describe a lot of Steely Dan tunes. I think the liner notes for Home at Last describe it as blues. And yes, they knew: th-cam.com/video/DP_2r9zbaIY/w-d-xo.html -- And I'm virtually certain I've seen an interview that after Graydon had played a couple of solos for them (after having had MANY people try it) that Fagan said something like "just play the blues"
Aimee, I’m puzzled. I always thought it was a blues, or better followed the blues format. SD do that quite a bit. It’s those G2, C2 and F2 chords I like and am trying to find a good way of playing on gee-tar. Sadly, I don’t play piano.
The chords played alone on the piano are just astoundingly beautiful.
Your singing of Peg is wonderful. 😎
The reason it sounds like a blues is because the intro are the chords from Blues from Alice with some minor adjustments. Donald Fagan was a fan of Bird, Ellington and the jazz greats. His interview with Marianne McPartland is still available on his channel and there is an interview of him talking about Peg and how he used Blues for Alice as the template.
Oh that’s rad
I've heard that Marian McPartland interview! It's fantastic. Now you're inspiring me to go listen to it again. Thank you!🙏🏽
I have to check that out!
Thanks for this. 🙏🏻
No.
The intro sounds like jazz. Cause it is. All jazz chords.
The verses sound like blues because they are using the most common blues progression in existence.
I hope your students appreciate you. You are an authentic teacher.
Agreed Aimee...there's almost nothing better than listening to Steely Dan. Thanks for great breakdown.
It’s right there in the lyrics. “Drawn up in blueprint blue“
That line puzzles me. Don' know what a "pinshot" is either. The boys always liked to be mysterious.
@@islander4986 Pin up
@@thebullgoose6099 It's "Pin shot." I suppose that could mean "pin up," but that doesn't make much more sense to me, and I suspect that's just fine with the composers, who love their little lyrical puzzles. www.google.com/search?q=steely+dan+peg&oq=Steely+Dan+Peg&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqEAgAEAAYgwEY4wIYsQMYgAQyEAgAEAAYgwEY4wIYsQMYgAQyDQgBEC4YgwEYsQMYgAQyBwgCEAAYgAQyBwgDEAAYgAQyBwgEEAAYgAQyBwgFEAAYgAQyBggGEEUYPTIGCAcQRRg90gEIOTA2N2owajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#wptab=si:ACC90nxRWvuwqTR4TiacZ7sCfkHhcGgWdDOv2v2HxpHAAuIhwd0hqVQcoOD2_2OWmYVP1pjQB2M7dSG8jFa-P_37a46QzmGnZzaabQkHHFcZWTwuSi4u9JmUUgzzLzds21P4FUzMDaqTJsolR7RkyS0uyusKljnn2A%3D%3D
@@islander4986models would pose for shots for (mainly) men to pin to their wall.
It refers to pin sized photos that actresses sent with production letters to adoring fans
Great job. I have played this so many times live. People love it. I worked for ASCAP for a long time. I met Fagen. Interesting guy.
So, Jay Graydon told Rick Beato that Donald Fagen told him to think “blues” before he tracked his solo, and he killed it. Great video! I always enjoy your work…
100%
came here to say this. I can hear Graydon saying "think bluuuues".
@@goodgulfgas That's exactly how he said it when recounting the moment to Rick Beato. Interestingly, he beat out the solos laid down by Larry Carlton for "Peg", which I'm sure were also amazing.
I seem to remember that the writer of the liner notes to the original LP (late 70's) was told by Fagen and Becker that the song was a 13-bar pan-tonal blues. The writer was confused about what that meant. So was I.
@@joncolinleonard beat out?
I have never clicked on a video faster in my LIFE
And??
Amen!
Ha ha!! Same for me! Instant click. 😂 And what a great video! ❤️
Your analysis of the genius of Donald Fagen is brilliant. Love this.
I found a songbook for the Aja LP when it was brand new. I was playing with my second pro band but we weren't playing Steely Dan type music. Still the songbook lifted my musicality very much higher. A thing that I did at the time, as a musical exercise, was to handwrite to music notation for "Peg." I was never trained to handwrite music and I had been self taught until I was in my 40s. In any case, I just copied it from the book as accurate as I could and it was a huge learning process. I think, back then in 1977, that I felt this song had a blues element. It's nice to see you detail that. Other important songbooks in my learning included Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon. Cheers.
These are the three songbooks sitting on my kitchen table right now. They help heal my soul.
I like that notation exercise. I may try that. I tried the same thing an Sibelius but it wasn't the same. Any tips for learning notation at 49 years old?
Thanks. This is one of your best videos. Really passionate and what a great song! Amazing!
Today is one of those days when I’m thankful for TH-cam’s algorithm, the Peg video was really well done. I’m a fan and shared it with all my musician friends.
What a cool breakdown! I’m glad I found this channel. Aimee not only can play but she’s a helluva singer.
No, I did not know you could frame this great tune as a blues. There’s a cliche on socials of a woman sarcastically saying, “Thanks for mansplaining Steely Dan” But you have really and truly explained it as no one ever. Thanks Aimee. “It’s crazy isn’t it?”
as always, you killed it...thanks and all the bass-t from kayo
Gotta love Peg, and it's great to see your analysis!
Love this. As a fun aside, Becker and Fagan do a very similar “the 3rd/7th of this chord become the 6th/3rd of the next chord” progression in the instrumental break of King of the World, which leads into the bridge.
Love it that you're talking more about Steely Dan!
Feeling a bit proud that I saw the
blues connection in the mid nineties😎
The plagal cadences, to me, sounds almost
like sus chords being resolved.
But without the initial suspense.
Voice leading rules.
The pedal point chords with a line cliché bass line,
in the intro, is one of my favourite moves.
I've never really analysed this old favourite.
So thanks for doing all the hard work.
Inspiring stuff.
Watched it on Nebula, of course.
✌✌
I learned this bassline not long ago and thought it was so cool to discover that it was a blues. Never really sounded like it, but when I played the song it became so obvious. What a great band, huh?
Great video Aimee.
As you can see from my handle, I am a HUGE SD fan and an amateur student of harmony.
I don't play anymore but I still try to keep up with the theory. Maybe when I retire!
I think I have bought every album they ever made including all of Donald's.
Since I discovered them a bit late, I actually had to order all the early albums in one shot from my record shop (back in the days of vinyl!).
The Aja album was probably the best for me in terms of concept and engineering by Roger.
Deacon Blues is my favorite song of all time, as I identify with every word in the lyric!
I have read many interviews by Donald, and he always insisted that they loved black music, and they were just trying to play the blues (obviously with a twist).
If you listen to "Weather In My Head" or "Pretzel Logic"... It's the blues form. However, they always seem to extend the form on the turnaround or do some stuff in the intro or bridge that really makes it interesting!
The intro melody on Peg was Tom Scott (another of my all-time favorites) on Lyricon, the original wind synth, for which there is no equal even to this day. Sadly, it is not made any more!
Of course, Jay's solo was/is amazing and is probably studied in guitar schools everywhere.
Also, as you showed in the video, the voice leading on the progressions is impeccable, that's why it's so comfortable to play.
Thanks again.
dBlues
An absolutely BRILLIANT analysis! Loved this!!
Thanks for your great insight Aimee. I love SD and music in general, but my musical abilities range from none to non whatsoever! So to have you pick stuff apart like this is very helpful.🤗🤗
I never noticed that. Well done. Brilliant song for sure.
Superb explanation. Very clear.
On guitar if you forget about the mu stuff, its so simple. Its that little triangle on the 3rd, 4th and 5th strings that we all do on blues guitar. But darn those mu chords when Aimee plays them are so beautiful.
Thank you for posting this first-rate video - I was totally immersed.
I have 'played' guitar for many years, mainly amusing myself with varoius acoustics and almost exclusively restricting myself to being a self confessed chord basher. Unfortunately music theory is something I have little experience of, largely shying away from it in favour of reverting back to the tried and trusted songs I have played for many years.
When I listen to bands like Steely Dan I can only admire the musicianship involved in being able to craft and deliver this jazz fusion-type stuff, resulting in songs which use chord structures which I can only dream about.
So, when I came across your 'Peg' video, I can only admire your musical ability in breaking down the song and explaining 'blues' when compared to 'a blues'. It really has made me wonder what I have been doing all these years. Thanks again.
Great video Aimee, I really enjoyed it. Strangely enough Peg has never been a particular favourite but your spot-on analysis has made me appreciate it more. I'm more of a Deacon Blues man. Possibly the most complex Donald Fagan song is The Goodbye Look which would be another good one for you to break down. Thanks.
I love that one
Aimee could do a whole series of Steely Dan breakdowns, and that would be just fine.
Thanks so much for sharing this valuable information with us!This song Peg is simply a masterpiece to say the least!
Amazing breakdown, Aimee. Fantastic stuff, please keep it up!
Everything is great with you! Cheers from France!!
Almost understandable(with my limited background) explanation...beautiful singing voice as well...using (pretzel) logic in the composition...thanx...(David)
So, so great. Thank you, Aimee.
In a video I saw with Donald Fagen, he said that Peg was indeed a blues, but he felt it was a bit cliché originally, so he altered the chords to make it more interesting.
My gosh! She can sing too?!
I am entranced by her analyses!
Just wonderful
THE FIRST 20 Seconds of this video!!! OK, in my next life I want to be one quarter as talented.
Beautiful Singing!
Love your content!
Love it when you head to a Dan tune Amy 🤘❤
Never heard of Aimee Nolte until I stumbled across this TH-cam video. Too bad she wasn't my piano (and later, guitar) instructor when I was 15. As a fan of both Steely Dan (1990s and later) and Jimmy Reed (1960 and later), I'd have loved being able to make that connection at that point in my life. Anyway, a fine video in which music theory almost makes sense to me. Not quite, but almost.
In the video "Donald Fagen demonstrates "Peg" from his Homespun video Concepts for Jazz/Rock Piano" Donald says "we started out from a blues"
Fantastic analysis that was fun throughout! Love the descending chromatic harmonies in the opening.
So cool, Aimee! I remember seeing a documentary on making Aja, and D. Fagan mentioned it being a Blues. I could kind of hear it, but didn't fully grasp it until now. Thanks! Oh, and you don't want to know where the Dan got their name from. All I'll say is, it's [sort of] a character in a book!
Brilliant breakdown, never noticed the disguised blues notes. Which is what Donald and Walter clearly intended. This video demonstrates that it takes a genius like Aimee Nolte to dissect the genius of Steely Dan.
it's not so much the notes or melody(nothing Blues about that)...it's the chord structure based loosely around I IV V ..very much a common Blues structure...either way an amazing song
Great lesson Aimee.........
Keep it goin'......!!!
I played piano on "Peg" in my high school jazz band and I didn't realize it was a blues. I was like "wow, these jazz chords, what do these little triangles mean?" 😂
Anyway it was a great song to play with the band.
I think the triangles represent a major chord….🤔 she mentioned a C maj 7 😊
Here's link to an old Donald Fagen interview where he breaks down how Peg was composed: th-cam.com/video/DP_2r9zbaIY/w-d-xo.html
Cheers and Well Done, Aimee!
have you done this dissertion to Deacon Blues? Love your analysis... Thanks!
You have a beautiful voice. 🙂
In a perfect we would clone Aimee Nolte so every town could have a music school of this high of caliber. ‘Bird Lives’.
Something you just made me realize... Donald is singing the word "smile" when he bends up to that dissonant note. What do you do when you physically smile? You bend the edges of your lip up. I bet that was intentional. Man those guys had some compositional skills!
Love her
This is great, always interesting to see some deciphering of the Dan
wow. brilliant
Your voice sounds excellent in that range.
This is the best explanation I've seen/
First time viewer here. I was puzzled when I heard, I think it was Becker, describe this tune as a "blues." As you also seem to have noted-although it's wonderful and compelling in a way that few if any other pop rock songs ever were-it doesn't sound "bluesy." Much of what you're pointing out is difficult for me to grasp on a first listen, but I incorrectly thought the tune (or at least the I, IV, V verse) was in C, because the three Maj7 chords are C, F, & G. Overlooked the fact that these chords precede (and resolve to?) G, C, & D respectively. Maybe because the roots of the latter (at least on guitar) are not on the bottom the way I'm learning it? I think they're inversions with an added 9?
By the way, I think you have a striking singing voice.
Please consider creating an analysis of Talk Talk, It's My Life. It flows so nicely sonically but there's some complexity in the chords.
Please post videos with Steely Dan songs on piano with you just singing. Will be so popular! And highly appreciated ❤
great vid.....I had to watch Fagan closely in tutorial video to sus out all his voicings...I noticed that in verse section LH he played octave root to Root & 3rd...that 2nd chord in verse voiced 9 5 R ..does sound better with that 3rd in bass...I saw you play R& 5 in bass which sounds good too...Loved the break down
I love steely Dan. Deacon blues is my favorite of there songs. I love all there songs. I really love F/M.
Looove it! Thanks! ❤️❤️
I can't believe you realized now 😊 Fagen is a master. A very fun song to play on drums too... With one of the best guitar soloes I ever heard. Thanks for your so accurate analysis!
I can just barely track Donald Fagen's analysis of how he composed Peg. You however are very easy to follow. :)
This was really great. ❤
The Andy Summer's-penned Police tune "Mother" is a Middle Eastern 12-bar blues in 7/8 with a Freudian lyrical theme.
The Steely Dan song Peg sung through by you still wanders around and refuses to go where it’s expected to go, next. And when listening to SD and never falling into the cracks, we really go places that are a relief from the blues.
OK, Aimee, now this one is the top contender for “baby’s first Steely Dan tune”. Partly because I want to be able to sing along with my own keyboard accompaniment. Until things change, I challenge myself, with y’all as my witness, to work this one up. Wish me luck! Cheers!
Steely Dan was a big part of my youth in the early 80s. Such great music! ♥️
This is really great!
The Intro is essentially the same as Ralph Burns' "Early Autumn ". Afternoon In Paris, The Midnight Sun, You're Looking At Me and (stretching it a bit) How High The Moon use similar changes.
"Just The Two Of Us* on the Intro uses the same sequence essentially.
Great comments
Great explanation 🎶🎶
Aimee. Thanks for the chord charts. Much appreciated!
i always thought of steely dan music as cliche free. Thank you!
TH-cam video Donald Fagan talks about Peg Pt.1, "The verse is basically a twelve bar blues"..... Yup, he knew.
Another one of your amazing "not only do you learn to play a great tune, but your piano brain levels up too" tutorials!
Aimee you are brilliant 😉
I've been spoiled because I saw a video of Fagan and Becker at the board talking about "Peg". Donald Fagan mentioned the verse is a blues. They brought in a multitude of guitarists to try out for the solo. Okay no more spoilers... Just listen to what Chuck Rainey had to say. 😉
Yeah, I saw that video years ago and was surprised I never realized it was just a blues progression. But the Chuck Rainey part is my favorite. :) Well, that and Rick Marotta's drumming (I think that was on the same video.)
After all these decades I can positively say I didn’t miss a thing. But hearing and seeing you lay it out, felt like getting hit in the face with a wet fish. Great video! ❤
hang on, i really mean hang on here, i know this is about the tune, but the real story here is the voice. wow.
Great analysis of the intro. I posit that the real thinking behind Fagan and Becker’s “chords” was not vertical, but horizontal - meaning, the whole six bar intro is the dominant of C (at bar 7). G, F#, F, E, Eb, D - just passing tones to C. all the other harmony is fun and sophisticated, but secondary in the true function of the intro, which is to lead to the verse.
Of course it's a blues - It's 1-4-5 just like a 12-bar would use. 1st person on TH-cam that I have seen notice this. Bravo.
Great Video! Donald Fagen refers to this as a blues on his instructional video "Concepts for Jazz/Rock Piano with Donald Fagen" from 1993
My super beautiful n intelligent Wife is a pianist.., lol 😢😢😢 super rarely hear her play ..
Love your work/ piano🌹🌹👸🙏
That was the a-ha of learning that bassline. Peg is definitely a blues chord progression.
However because we’re talking about Steely Dan, their chord choices in that progression they create a more interesting harmonic composition.
Those intro chords sound like a warm summer breeze to me. Loved Aja when it first came out and still love it now.
I remember figuring this out (that it is a blues). I love hidden blues in pop tunes that are blues form (but not “the blues”, as you say)
When yer right yer right and you are right.
The whole thing descends at the same time, so we pass through the blues and keep spiralling. It's the autumn leaves of their repertoire.
Thank you Aimee for your fresh look at a cool tune I’ve loved over the years. While on the topic of what someone called pantonal blues, what’s your take on the descending chord structure in Deacon Blues? And that iconic sax 🎷 solo 😊
Loved this and eye opening but left hanging. I need the chorus!
Without MM on lead? Nahhhh hahaha
All this time i thought it was jazz chords. I just love the song no matter what the chords
I did see an old video of Fagan talking about those blues chords. He knew exactly what he was doing.
The name of the band comes from Naked Lunch, by William S. Burroughs.
I remember some one in a commentary mentioned that Peg was a pantonal blues with chorus and interlude added.
I was a local hero back in the day for figuring out "Peg", "Home at Last", "Black Friday", and so on. My response? "They're just jazz chords".
The Blues played with jazz chords is good way to describe a lot of Steely Dan tunes. I think the liner notes for Home at Last describe it as blues. And yes, they knew: th-cam.com/video/DP_2r9zbaIY/w-d-xo.html -- And I'm virtually certain I've seen an interview that after Graydon had played a couple of solos for them (after having had MANY people try it) that Fagan said something like "just play the blues"
Oh that’s cool!! Thanks!
@@AimeeNolte Welcome! Love your channel!
1:21, "where I talk about all kinds of blues'es." Spell-check be damned, what a cool phrase and interpretation! Gotta listen to the rest, now.
Aimee, I’m puzzled. I always thought it was a blues, or better followed the blues format. SD do that quite a bit. It’s those G2, C2 and F2 chords I like and am trying to find a good way of playing on gee-tar. Sadly, I don’t play piano.