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Steely Dan Database: transcriptions of "Reelin' in the years"

Steely Dan Database

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Transcriptions of

Reelin' in the years

View the lyrics Play the MIDI file
	



                     REELIN' IN THE YEARS  -  Steely Dan
                   ---------------------------------------


                                     Transcribed by Howard Wright
                                     Howard@jmdl.com


                                     From the album 'Alive in America'


This is based on the live version of the song, from the 'Alive ...'
release. There are quite a few differences with the original recording -
the chords for the verse have been spiced up a bit, and there are a couple
of new changes thrown in as well. In the chorus, the new version uses
nearly all Gmaj7 and F#m7 chords - the original used Aadd2 chords as
well. But - if you play these chords along with the original track,
most of them should work OK.


For the chorus sequence (which is repeated several times for the solos)
there are only two basic chords - Gmaj7, and F#m7. I've listed the chord
shapes at the end, and I've written out some alternatives for these two
chords. For example, you could play D/G and F#m11 and it will work fine.
Choose the shapes you prefer for these two chords, or mix and match all
the different possible shapes.


/ indicates another beat on the same chord. This does not indicate the strumming
pattern - it just shows roughly how long you stick with each chord. Listen to the
track to get the strumming patterns - as a rough guide, for the verses you change
to each chord just before the beat. For the choruses you play more on the beat, 
with a triplet feel.


INTRO :
--------

Aadd2  
Gmaj7 / / / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 /

Rest of the band come in here

Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /    
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / Asus2/C#


VERSE 1:
--------

The way I've written the words under the chords here is only an approximation
of the way it actually sounds on the live version. Donald really rushes
through some of the lines - so I've put the chord changes to correspond
more closely with the changes in the original version.


D                  Asus2/C#       Bm11          F#m11
You're everlasting summer you can see it fading fast

       D               Asus2/C#           A/B           E/F#
So you grab a piece of something that you think is gonna last

         Em7             Bsus2/D#       Dm7             Asus2/C#
Well you wouldn't know a diamond if you held it in your hand

    D                    Asus2/C#           E/D   
The things you think are precious I can't understand





CHORUS 1:
-----------

A        /             Gmaj7 / / /               F#m7 / /  /
Are you reelin' in the years    stowin' away the time   are you gatherin' up the

Gmaj7 / / /                     F#m7 / / Asus2/C#
tears    have you had enough of mine



VERSE 2:
---------

(Chords are the same as verse 1)

You've been telling me you're a genius since you were 17
In all the years I've known you I still don't know what you mean
The weekend in the college didn't turn out like you planned
The things that pass for knowledge I can't understand



CHORUS 2:
-----------

Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /



SOLO 1 (Guitar - Walter)
-------------------------

Gmaj7 / / / B/A / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / B/A / / / 

Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 



SOLO 2 (Sax)
-------------

Gmaj7 / / / B/A / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / B/A / / / 

Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / Dsus2/C#


VERSE 3:
---------

I've spent a lot of money and I've spent a lot of time
The trip we made to Hollywood is etched upon my mind
After all the things we've done and said you find a nother man
The things you think are useless I can't understand


CHORUS
-------

Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 



RIFF
-----

Gmaj7 / / / B/A / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / B/A / / / 



SOLO 3 (Guitar - Wadenius)
---------------------------

Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 



CHORUS (with guitar solo continuing)
-------------------------------------

Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / / 


OUTTRO:
--------


Gmaj7 / / / B/A / / /
Gmaj7 / / / B/A / / /
B/A / / / B/A / 



Chord Shapes :
---------------


Try out any of these G-type and F#m-type chords for the chorus/solo sequences.


EADGBE    EADGBE    EADGBE    EADGBE    E  A  D  G  B  E     E  A  D  G  B  E
x07600    3x443x    3xx232    3x5432    x  10 12 11 12 10    x  10 9  11 10 0

Aadd2     Gmaj7      D/G       Gmaj7         Gmaj7                Gmaj9add6



EADGBE    E  A  D  G  B  E    
355400    x  10 9  7  0  0

 G6               G6



EADGBE    EADGBE    EADGBE    EADGBE    E  A  D  G  B  E    EADGBE
242222    242252    244200    2x2200    x  9  11 9  10 9    x97500

 F#m7      F#m7      F#m11     F#m11         F#m7            F#m7



EADGBE    EADGBE    EADGBE    EADGBE
x02220    x5777x    x4x455    x2x230

  A         D       Asus2/C#   Bm11



E  A  D  G  B  E    EADGBE    EADGBE    EADGBE
x  x  9  9  10 9    x9x997    x79787    x6x677 

     A/B             E/F#       Em7     Bsus2/C#



EADGBE    EADGBE    EADGBE    EADGBE
x57565    x7777x    5x444x    x0444x

 Dm7        D/E      B/A        B/A

	
	

Authors

Person Music Lyrics
View the picture Donald Fagen Yes Yes
View the picture Walter Becker Yes Yes

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