Ya know, one of my favorite Steely Dan Guitar Solos was Black Friday, and for literally Decades, because of the sound and the Obtuse note choices and phrasing, I thought the soloist was Elliot Randall!!! It Wasn't Pretty, but Boy Did it Work for me! Come to find out, a few years ago, the soloist was Actually Walter Becker!!! 🤯🤯🤯🤣🤣🤣🥰🥰🥰
@ , Bro, do Yerself a favor and check out the Live Steely Dan stuff from their 1993 Tour!!! The Guitarist is Drew Zingg, and He's my Favorite SD Guitarist!!! I wish I'd found out about Him a Lot Sooner!!!😇😇😇
Tim thanks for that. I'm a life long Steely Dan fan, at 66 they're still my favourite band. I've never played a lick of guitar but there isn't a solo in their repertoire that I can't Air Guitar note for note. Icons! Loved to see your grin as you played.
I gave this video a "Thumbs Up" before I even viewed it! I just knew it would be exceptional, and I wasn't disappointed! We are so, so fortunate to have access to great guitar players like Tim Pierce.
You are truly an amazing guitarist. You sound as fluid as the originals in your playing. Not only are these truly the top 10 best Steely Dan solos your execution of them is beyond reproach.
Dayum - Graydon nails almost perfectly the Peg solo. I know, I know, he did it on the album but still... he nails it in his home with Tim. Wow. Thanks Tim.
Never paid much attention to Steely Dan growing up in the late 70"s early 80"s. Boy was I missing out. Thanks Tim in general for what you do. The way I listen to these tunes has changed because of you.
Tim, your videos NEVER fail to be extraordinary. These solos are among my all-time faves, and watching them being played adds so much depth! THANK YOU for this!
Always felt it was great music for an East Coast winter day. It has the attitude if the East with the Coolness of the West on a foundation from the South.
One of my favorite installments that you’ve ever recorded. You identified most of the incredible solos across the breadth of the Steely Dan catalogue and nailed those on the you performed. Thank you so much for an educational, entertaining and enlightening installment!
I second getting Denny Dias on the show. What a unique voice. So glad he’s on the list. On an extended out version of King Of The World after his his final solo, you can hear Becker or Fagin cursing with delight at what they just heard
Thanks Tim. None of those would ever have been on my top ten list but every one is superb. Sometimes it's nice to remember that a great solo doesn't have to scream "look at me!" These all deliver exactly what each song needs.
Donald Fegan & Walter Becker composed amazing arrangements , they knew what they wanted to hear and pulled it out of some of the greatest guitarist in the business . These leads always sound fresh , tight to the core , and recognizable immediately . Steely Dan raised the bar .
Most important lessons for any aspirin guitarist: listen to how other instruments solo. Pentatonics, blues soloing is great, but triadic approach or arpeggios like a saxophonist would play takes you to another level. Shake, rinse, repeat and play !
Lovely video..thanks. In the mid 2000’s, two high school friends and I tackled recording the Dan covers. I had a nice home DAW setup running Cubase so I was the sound guy..mixing etc. my friend Tom played all keyboard and drum tracks…he had 6 assignable outputs from his Yamaha Pro Portable keyboard which I ran directly into the PC. Worked well, although I had to compress the outputs…had some nice percussion samples. He worked hard at the details. Then there was Mike, Mr. Guitar, who played all the guitar parts on various instruments. I played my Ric bass on a few numbers. Anyway, we completed an album worth of songs as Stolen Dan and it was a great album ! That was a very memorable and intense period for all three of us. This video made it all come back…thanks.
A growling Skunk Baxter gem, trying but largely failing to escape the confines of an obscure song. Cryptic, dodgy lyrics, even by Steely Dan standards - such a shame that the solo is so often overlooked.
Solos like these are so inspiring- even just watching them being played can make a player want to play more. Such talented players are a true gift to the music world! 🙏
I’d like to see the outro solo on Kid Charlemagne get mentioned along with the main solo. It’s not as complex but it’s such a tasty tidbit full of nice chromatic and blues touches. Another great video, Tim!
Your Top 10 Guitar Solos for any decades, years, or genres would probably be a pretty popular topic. My favorite: Reelin' in the Years, a timeless classic. Perfection 😎
When I sat down with some mid-geade tablature in Guitar for the Practicing Musician magazine and learned Bad Sneakers back in 1996 it permanently transformed my musical ear and improvisational skill for the better. Truly an ear-opening moment for me.
I'm really glad that I lived on boats in the Whitsundays Australia as a kid in the late 70s / 80s. Everyone was playing Steely Dan. All my guitar playing friends were learning top 40 and I was learning Skunk and Carlton / Graydon moves. ( or trying to... ) Thanks Dad.
I went through a heavy Steely Dan phase about 12 years ago. I learned half of the solos in this list- about 90 percent right. Denny Dias is unreal. But all of them are magic. Thanks!
Ooh, 10 solos in 10 minutes?! What a perfect way to relax before falling asleep! Oh, #10’s Steely Dan-nice! Wow, so’s 9! What a fantastic lineup. 10 of my favorite solos from my favorite band! Thank you so much!
Man hearing these one after another, focusing on just the solos, it really highlights the talent that rotated through the band. I forgot just how hot the Diaz solo was on Boddhisatva!
I was just listening to Roulette by Bon Jovi earlier and thinking about Tim, and what an absolutely incredible player he is and what a blessing that he shares his knowledge, his skill and his creativity with all of us. Thanks, Tim!
Just love the range of these solos. I’ve learned Peg and Kid, and love the precision of those over changes but then I also love the more raw go-for-it solos if Diaz and Baxter. The outro solo to Kid C. Gives me goosebumps. Chain Lighting is another one I love. So many!
Thanks for playing these. Those are some BRILIANTLY constructed solos. Some are more complicated but even the least complicated ones meld perfectly to the song. Becker and Fagen always seemed to let their guitarists comprise the solos and it sure as heck worked for them. They were micro managers of course but still let the musicians develop awesome accompaniment. Not just great song writers but great producers.
I like Rick Derringer's slide solo at 3:00 in Show Biz Kids. Considering he's the main riff also and creating fills throughout with some of the best tone ever that's top 5 for me.
You the man Tim. As a lifelong Dan fan I was right there with you. Do you know I saw them when a friend had a spare ticket back in 1974 which he sold to me for around 50cents. Best money I certainly spent. They did the first two albums. It was imprinted in my mind ever since.
They are all great. Maybe because it’s one of the few (if not the only) solo to open a song, plus the notes choices and great playing of Larry Carlton, I pick “Don’t Take Me Alive”. Such a great song! Maybe it’s a tie with “Kid Charlemagne”. 😎
As a guitar player, I have always found the phrasing in the Denny Diaz solo played on the coral sitar in "Do It Again" to be very hard to imitate. Odd ideas and timing played masterfully.
Walter Becker plays the solo on Bad Sneakers :) it's one of my absolute favorites
Ya know, one of my favorite Steely Dan Guitar Solos was Black Friday, and for literally Decades, because of the sound and the Obtuse note choices and phrasing, I thought the soloist was Elliot Randall!!! It Wasn't Pretty, but Boy Did it Work for me! Come to find out, a few years ago, the soloist was Actually Walter Becker!!! 🤯🤯🤯🤣🤣🤣🥰🥰🥰
Tim, please don't judge me but I really wasn't familiar with Steely, but knew of Shunk and Larry. Now I am on a quest
@ , Bro, do Yerself a favor and check out the Live Steely Dan stuff from their 1993 Tour!!! The Guitarist is Drew Zingg, and He's my Favorite SD Guitarist!!! I wish I'd found out about Him a Lot Sooner!!!😇😇😇
Great list, honorable mention The Boston Ragimho👊
Home At Last! A Becker classic!!!!
Don’t know what’s more fun: listening to these iconic solos or watching the joy on Tim’s face while he plays them!! 😊
Or refrains from playing a couple…
Tim playing Steely Dan solos has made my Saturday. Love & respect
Love Skunk and Larry, but the Dias solos are what make me just go WOW!
Steely Dan solos are legendary for their lyrical memorable qualities but Denny Dias is just so funky and slinky it's just crazy great!
Denny's Boddisatva solo is the greatest of them all.
@@chrisnolan5607
AGREED!
Dias’ solos are my least favourite. Random lines and zero melody…
@@daleford9606 sorry about your ears.
The Jay Graydon solo on Peg is mind blowing.
Fun to play too! A great lesson on double-stop bends….
Tim thanks for that. I'm a life long Steely Dan fan, at 66 they're still my favourite band. I've never played a lick of guitar but there isn't a solo in their repertoire that I can't Air Guitar note for note. Icons! Loved to see your grin as you played.
Learn to play! It’s not too late. If you can mentally recite them that is a huge plus!
The solo on Third World Man is probably the most under appreciated of Larry Carlton’s contributions. Sublime.
Denny Dias is so underrated, any chance of an interview?
YES, great ides...Please Tim!
I agree. He’s my favorite
97. y 😂@@DanielC__
I second that emotion🎸🤘🏻
Agree but Tim doesn't really seem to do interviews on his channel.
I gave this video a "Thumbs Up" before I even viewed it! I just knew it would be exceptional, and I wasn't disappointed! We are so, so fortunate to have access to great guitar players like Tim Pierce.
Wow, thank you!
The solo on Home at Last is not just my favorite Steely Dan solo but probably my favorite guitar solo of all time. Incredibly melodic and feelsome
...closely followed by the solos on Night by Night
Walter's guitar work on Home at Last is just exquisite!!!
You are truly an amazing guitarist. You sound as fluid as the originals in your playing. Not only are these truly the top 10 best Steely Dan solos your execution of them is beyond reproach.
Wow, thank you!
The guitar work in Haitian Divorce never gets any love. Even without the talkbox it's amazing.
Just listening to it on the way home from work yesterday!! Definitely one of my favorites SD songs!
Tim I love you and your playing - really. But to see Jay Graydon play that lead as the #1, priceless man. You are the best, keep up the great work.
The reason these solos are so amazing is because they are so melodic!
indeed, "I like that super fast speed arpeggio sweeping solo" said no one ever.
Dayum - Graydon nails almost perfectly the Peg solo. I know, I know, he did it on the album but still... he nails it in his home with Tim. Wow. Thanks Tim.
Never paid much attention to Steely Dan growing up in the late 70"s early 80"s. Boy was I missing out. Thanks Tim in general for what you do. The way I listen to these tunes has changed because of you.
Glad to have opened your ears to them!
Awesome! we had a Steely Dan cover band in LA back in the early 90's. The material was so much fun to play. It doesn't get any better than that music.
Tim, your videos NEVER fail to be extraordinary. These solos are among my all-time faves, and watching them being played adds so much depth! THANK YOU for this!
Just made my dreary, icy, east coast Saturday afternoon into a sunny, smiling, happy day!
Always felt it was great music for an East Coast winter day. It has the attitude if the East with the Coolness of the West on a foundation from the South.
That's awesome! Glad you enjoyed it.
@@NolalanD - SWEET analogy. Sums up SD's work exquisitely!
so effortless .. you are truly a Master's MASTER.
That phrase at 4:13 in "Don't Take Me Alive" trips me up every time. I can nail it like 40% of the time. You make it look easy!
It’s so slippery through there, I have literally the same struggle with that.
One of my favorite installments that you’ve ever recorded. You identified most of the incredible solos across the breadth of the Steely Dan catalogue and nailed those on the you performed. Thank you so much for an educational, entertaining and enlightening installment!
Once again a master class from our favorite teacher.
Skunk is the inspiration for the entire Muppets band
I second getting Denny Dias on the show. What a unique voice. So glad he’s on the list. On an extended out version of King Of The World after his his final solo, you can hear Becker or Fagin cursing with delight at what they just heard
Yes. Every time I hear that outro I want it to go on forever.
Thanks Tim. None of those would ever have been on my top ten list but every one is superb. Sometimes it's nice to remember that a great solo doesn't have to scream "look at me!" These all deliver exactly what each song needs.
All of those leads were so beautiful and so well executed. I will get back to you in 40 years, maybe.😂🎸✌
Haha, I'm glad you enjoyed them!
Man I love Steely Dan. Never get tired of those solos.
What a great group.
Tim you are a wizard on guitar.
Donald Fegan & Walter Becker composed amazing arrangements , they knew what they wanted to hear and pulled it out of some of the greatest guitarist in the business . These leads always sound fresh , tight to the core , and recognizable immediately . Steely Dan raised the bar .
When Skunk Baxter said "I was just trying to sound like a saxophone" his playing totally makes sense
Most important lessons for any aspirin guitarist: listen to how other instruments solo. Pentatonics, blues soloing is great, but triadic approach or arpeggios like a saxophonist would play takes you to another level. Shake, rinse, repeat and play !
Lovely video..thanks. In the mid 2000’s, two high school friends and I tackled recording the Dan covers. I had a nice home DAW setup running Cubase so I was the sound guy..mixing etc. my friend Tom played all keyboard and drum tracks…he had 6 assignable outputs from his Yamaha Pro Portable keyboard which I ran directly into the PC. Worked well, although I had to compress the outputs…had some nice percussion samples. He worked hard at the details. Then there was Mike, Mr. Guitar, who played all the guitar parts on various instruments. I played my Ric bass on a few numbers. Anyway, we completed an album worth of songs as Stolen Dan and it was a great album ! That was a very memorable and intense period for all three of us.
This video made it all come back…thanks.
That is quite the ambitious project! Awesome!
Outstanding, Tim.
I loved watching Jay play the solo to Peg. Wicked!
Forgot Boston Rag. That solo is next level.
I agree, fantastic solo!
A growling Skunk Baxter gem, trying but largely failing to escape the confines of an obscure song. Cryptic, dodgy lyrics, even by Steely Dan standards - such a shame that the solo is so often overlooked.
Solos like these are so inspiring- even just watching them being played can make a player want to play more. Such talented players are a true gift to the music world! 🙏
Always a pleasure! Thank you Tim.
I really love how you put that visual neck chart thing over #5! That makes it so much easier to follow what's actually happening!
I’d like to see the outro solo on Kid Charlemagne get mentioned along with the main solo. It’s not as complex but it’s such a tasty tidbit full of nice chromatic and blues touches. Another great video, Tim!
Your Top 10 Guitar Solos for any decades, years, or genres would probably be a pretty popular topic.
My favorite: Reelin' in the Years, a timeless classic. Perfection 😎
One word … AWESOME. Thank you Tim, your videos never dissapoint.
When I sat down with some mid-geade tablature in Guitar for the Practicing Musician magazine and learned Bad Sneakers back in 1996 it permanently transformed my musical ear and improvisational skill for the better. Truly an ear-opening moment for me.
The sitar solo in Do it Again is the sound of my childhood. Brings it alllllllll back. The clothes, the smells ;) and the mood. Instant time travel.
Tim, you radiate joy when you play! Great video!
What a great collection. Steely Dan, always in my top five favorite bands of all. These solos brought back memories. Thanks!
Ah, love all of these solos!!
I remember being totally blown away by Jay Graydon's solo when I first heard it so long ago. It's still mind boggling.
From one Tim to another cracking video yet again you are a master of your craft Keep them coming Tim I look forward to them i’m so do many others
Thanks, will do!
I'm really glad that I lived on boats in the Whitsundays Australia as a kid in the late 70s / 80s.
Everyone was playing Steely Dan. All my guitar playing friends were learning top 40 and I was learning Skunk and Carlton / Graydon moves. ( or trying to... )
Thanks Dad.
Would’ve loved to see Pretzel Logic on this list, the solo helped inspire us to write our song Girl With A Gun
Just gave your song a listen and wow…that was refreshing. You guys are so talented keep it up! Gained a new fan today
We need a Steely Dan Solos Part 2!!!!!
Just checked out your tune. WOW. Liked and subscribed!
This guy knows
Never get tired of the pops and squeaks and all that sweet syncopation of Skunk on My Old School.
That was a feast for the ears. Thank you.
Some of my absolute favorite guitar solos of my life.
Thoroughly enjoyed this with my morning coffee. I'm now inspired to learn some of these great songs. Thank you!!
Always enjoy whatever Tim brings to the table! Great piece on one of my favorite bands and the solos that I've loved!
Thank you, Tim. You resonate so well with this time frame, love to see you put your beautiful music together like this. No doubt it would be awesome.
That bass on Kid Charlemagne is amazing as well.
Love that graphic of the notes on the fretboard. super clear. Great idea
I went through a heavy Steely Dan phase about 12 years ago. I learned half of the solos in this list- about 90 percent right. Denny Dias is unreal. But all of them are magic. Thanks!
Thanks, Tim, for a fun session
Oh man, I just LOVE this! Bravo, Tim! 🔥❤🙏🏻
Awesome stuff Tim, the solos of my life, wonderful thing to have on a Saturday, you're the champ !
Tim, you are so good.
Ooh, 10 solos in 10 minutes?! What a perfect way to relax before falling asleep! Oh, #10’s Steely Dan-nice! Wow, so’s 9! What a fantastic lineup. 10 of my favorite solos from my favorite band! Thank you so much!
If you're not having fun watching Tim's videos, you need to learn to relax and just feel the music. Thanks for another great post Tim!
Wonderful Tim!
Thanks so much!
Love the way you did the harmony at the end of the TWM solo as a double stop
GREAT stuff, Tim!!! Thank you--and thanks to the many members of Steely Dan! The joy on your face, man...!
Man hearing these one after another, focusing on just the solos, it really highlights the talent that rotated through the band. I forgot just how hot the Diaz solo was on Boddhisatva!
I was just listening to Roulette by Bon Jovi earlier and thinking about Tim, and what an absolutely incredible player he is and what a blessing that he shares his knowledge, his skill and his creativity with all of us. Thanks, Tim!
You're such a talented player, Tim! Thanks for enlightening us with these fabulous solos by the masters who made them famous.
This was such a fun video. Thanks Tim!
Fabulous video Tim.
Damn, Tim...you nailed everyone of those solos! That's incredible. I appreciate you and all your videos.
Great, great stuff. A lifetime to learn and your vids are an excellent teaching tool. Thanks!
Glad you had My Old School. Love Skunk but the horn enhancement takes it to the next level for me.
Just love the range of these solos. I’ve learned Peg and Kid, and love the precision of those over changes but then I also love the more raw go-for-it solos if Diaz and Baxter. The outro solo to Kid C. Gives me goosebumps. Chain Lighting is another one I love. So many!
Tim, Thank you for this great video, you are the best.
Wow. Thanks, Tim. I'm a keyboard guy, but I certainly do appreciate great talent on any instrument which certainly includes you!
Fagen and Becker brought out the best of those guys for sure. I will never tire of Dan.
Thanks for playing these. Those are some BRILIANTLY constructed solos. Some are more complicated but even the least complicated ones meld perfectly to the song. Becker and Fagen always seemed to let their guitarists comprise the solos and it sure as heck worked for them. They were micro managers of course but still let the musicians develop awesome accompaniment. Not just great song writers but great producers.
This was my Super Bowl right there. Nicely done.
The Larry Carlton solo on "Kid Charlemagne" simply defies comparison -- pure heaven...
I like Rick Derringer's slide solo at 3:00 in Show Biz Kids. Considering he's the main riff also and creating fills throughout with some of the best tone ever that's top 5 for me.
Man, Tim! You’re playing amazing!
The title doesn't say it's the Top 10 Steely Dan solos. I was waiting for Free Bird!
Thanks for watching , sorry there's no free bird :)
You the man Tim. As a lifelong Dan fan I was right there with you. Do you know I saw them when a friend had a spare ticket back in 1974 which he sold to me for around 50cents. Best money I certainly spent. They did the first two albums. It was imprinted in my mind ever since.
Been on a serious Steely Dan kick lately so this is excellent timing on my end 👏
Love it TIM! I have the exact same guitar in your first clip - bought new by me in high school, 1977!
Randy California's solo on Ride Captain Ride....beautifully melodic and clean. No garbage distortion.
Great collection of solos and well played to boot.
Always so inspiring watching you! Incredible playing 🫨
Denny Dias was just so awesome! So fluid, yet precise with speed!
Magnificent! Great material to work with, and an even better guitarist! You da man, Tim!
Fantastic Mr. Tim!......what a great compilation......
They are all great. Maybe because it’s one of the few (if not the only) solo to open a song, plus the notes choices and great playing of Larry Carlton, I pick “Don’t Take Me Alive”. Such a great song! Maybe it’s a tie with “Kid Charlemagne”. 😎
All the solos are great and other worldly but “Reeling” has always been my fav. Great job recreating them Tim, you are a master!
So many great licks! Smiled the whole way through this!
They are all great. Any solo on a Dan song is played by a master. Kings of feel.
My Old School came on radio Friday a holy hell the musicianship! Whew! The outro just cooked.
As a guitar player, I have always found the phrasing in the Denny Diaz solo played on the coral sitar in "Do It Again" to be very hard to imitate. Odd ideas and timing played masterfully.
I never noticed how much swing Carlton employed. Kudos, Tim for being able to double those solos perfectly.