Aja - Steely Dan - Piano (Live version)

[tozurc]

my respects Amigo, i'm a piano player too, and that song is one of my favorite ones!!

[tozurc]

my respects Amigo, i'm a piano player too, an that song is on of my favorites one!!

[BifMcAwesome]

I buy my music according to how many chords are used in a sond, and I think Aja is the best value by far.

[IMChrisThom]

Amazing job.

[logosthedestroyer]

Yeah, it's just because it would be easier to play in C major. Hence why I never use transcriptions!

[eduardogorrion1]

Great job! I wonder why, however, the transcription of the Aja album, published in 1980, denotes this song as being in the key of C? Back when this album came out, I had a very old piano that I had to keep tuned a half-step low because the strings would otherwise break (lol). So when I saw that songbook, and saw that the song was written in C, I proceeded to learn it in that key (by ear). I play it pretty much the same way you do, only a half-step higher (lol).

[jansenn1]

Words can not describe how great it was to watch you play this... I am in love with Steely Dan's chords... I just had a love affair with your hands... :) Now if I could just learn how to play the beginning from watching you... Thanks for posting!!!

[desertkev]

Very nice!

[douglong77]

yea nice work man, caught a couple notes I hadn't been using so thanks for the rendering...

[christomapher]

Great playing! It sounds perfect!

[Floyd1742]

Amazing job man, truly amazing.

[oz1john]

Well done, sounds lovely. Any reason why you chose the key of B?

[logosthedestroyer]

@oz1john Thanks. Well I just like to keep everything in it's original key - I think they sound best that way.

[mrquangi]

hey man love this version you're playing is really great! Do you know Steely dans Any world where Im welcome to? The chords in the verse to that song blows my mind. Cheers dude

[ShareTheSphere]

don would be proud

[MrMsprehe]

Nearly perfect....well done!

[MrMilton99]

great job

love SD and enjoy anyone who can play them

keep up the good work

you got my vote

[ricerocketeeer]

wow sounds EXACTLY like steely dan does it.

do you have it completely by memory? or are there any scores or sheet music that you'd be kind enough to share :)

[logosthedestroyer]

@ricerocketeeer Yes I'm afraid I did learn it by myself, no scores sorry!

[MWFAN48]

@ricerocketeeer you can go to google and type in free steely dan sheet music. there is a file with tons of their music!!

[dgarthsnyder]

@ricerocketeeer Warner Bros. Publications has a guitar anthology series Steely Dan book with everything! All I did is transpose the guitar chords to piano and take notes from watching Logosthedestroyer! The opening chord is B Maj 9 . alternate the F# and B on the bottom and basicly any black key on top!

[2base]

BEAUTIFUL

[annelles]

never heard before the piano part of this amazing song.

you know it so perfectly. it gives the dimension of creativity of all those musicians. you have the sound and the technique just 100% like SD. bravo

[DarkRazieel]

Congratulations, perfekt performance :-))

[twinkiedakid]

Your a beast on the keys. How long have you been playing?

[logosthedestroyer]

@twinkiedakid Thanks! Have been playing around 20 years.

[skinbath]

Thanks geezer...fabulous playing that gives me the inspiration to keep trying.

[jordancm87]

Awesome man!!! been trying to playthis for awhile myself and trust me you have helped out alot. Keep up the good work and dont think you would ever have a problem getting a gig with Walter and Donald even as a studio musician.

[jazz4asahel]

Way good, man. I'd love to see you sittin' in with the Steely Dan on this one.

[logosthedestroyer]

@jazz4asahel oh man if you could set that up for me ...

[DuaEdu]

Congratulations, great SD music in your performance. Very best.

[MWFAN48]

my parents named me after this song! :-) i love it! getting 0:00-0:18 notes tattooed on my back

[logosthedestroyer]

@MWFAN48 Seriously? That's so awesome!

[steelyrenee]

@mwfan48 If I had a daughter, I would have named her after this song, Granddaughter perhaps...

[dfairbanks06]

@MWFAN48 thats effin badass right there

[ctsino95]

@MWFAN48 Then your parents are the shit.

[clarencekellerII]

How many of us after listening to it once, had to sing along the words? Keep playing man, really appreciate you posting this for your fellow fans of Steely Dan!

[smallbee1234]

How true this is. Along with the tear or two I have to wipe from my face before my daughter sees me and wonders what her crazy 'ol Dad is getting so emotional about...

[clarencekellerII]

lol...appreciating true beauty is hard to hide!

[SteevDragon67]

damn good playing! Donald would be proud! all of the smooth melodies are swirling around my head! i hope to hear more "Dan" keyboard demos from you!

[anymajordude74]

lol ok danniegirlx is my girlfriend so im the "boyfriend" she mentioned on her comment...as if you havent heard me comment your other videos b4

[smallbee1234]

This just simply.... amazing.

[daniiegirlx012]

teach me teach me teach me my boyfriend wants to know how to learn and hes been looking it up for a long time so please put up the notes and chordsssss i need to learn

[immatellyouwhat]

I play guitar and drums, but this songs makes me want to learn piano too! VERY GOOD 5 stars

[ronl111]

well done....I love to see this kind of talent on the internee

[jesuschrist1188]

where did you find the chords to this?

I'd love to learn

[logosthedestroyer]

I didn't, just ears!

One day I'm going to do a chart...

[networkingtoo]

whoowee !

[Oglenthorne]

Why youtube with all its frustrations is so great. Today I heard Aja by the Dan on the radio, and was digging Fagan's beautiful piano work, and thought, I'd love to hear just the piano. So I come here and find this! Beatutifully played, thanks for this.

[jherb69]

certainly giving your fingers a workout! I can actually hear the other instruments with you, nice one!!

[logosthedestroyer]

yeah that's one of th things I love about playing Fagen's writing - it really stretches your fingers and it is a very physical experience

[lapwiz]

flawlessly groovy!

[logosthedestroyer]

ha now THATS a compliment! :P

[cardiologist1968]

I wish I could Play Piano as well as you,, yo are Amazing...... can you Play ( Kid Charlamane!??

[Shadowjak101]

That was amazing, and I agree if you would do it again and film from your point of view it would be great...can't find any sheet music for this song anywhere...

[kenny73054]

Excellent!! You played that well. Think how hard it must have been to compose that song in the first place.

[tazie45]

Very good! You're not a destroyer, you're a creator. Love Steely Dan, tks for posting.

[Jazzeerun]

Nailed. You weren't born when that song first came out. AJA is a must have album for all musicians. Great Job.

[Sicuso1]

Very nice. Thank God for Donald Fagen!

[logosthedestroyer]

Indeed!

[btvspots]

your great!!  shoot it over your shoulder!

[chumbersdee]

Very nice. I love that song and whole album.

[mysticradio]

very nice '''BUT''' how we supposed to learn it backwards..... turn cam around

please and thanks

[aaronprice]

pocket?

[logosthedestroyer]

Sorry I don't understand

[doughboy777]

Beautiful....!!!!!!

[logosthedestroyer]

Thanks again dude

[2base]

oh shit-thats nice

[sanchopanzam8]

Its Friday night ...Im singin along to this in my own personal karaoke bar Ha!

Brilliant!

made my day!

Gotta respect the Dan!

[monkinator66]

that's just great! i love watching you play!!!!

[monkinator66]

man, you really have that dialed in. i could watch you play all damn day! great chops!!!

[logosthedestroyer]

Thanks man, really appreciate it! I just love the song so much, I could play it all day myself

[monkinator66]

i saw 'the dan' in phoenix and tucson just last month. they are so damn consumate professional...and their drummer is just off the chain.

[dagga36]

Thats beautiful!

[Billytok97]

Dude, you got SKILLZ!!!

[logosthedestroyer]

Cheers dude ^^

[GregOrtiz]

does somebody know the chords for this I've tried to play it on the piano for some times but i've only figured up to the chorus:/ steely dan always did have akward but beautiful sounding chords...

[dexthecat]

I really enjoyed this! You are a fantastic player! Keep up the great work!!

[logosthedestroyer]

Thanks very much! I will :)

[homeskillet1962]

Great Job! One of my all time favorite songs...and you did it Justice, BIG TIME!

[logosthedestroyer]

Thanks very much, that means a lot!

[hellishmovie]

This morning, I was considering quitting my piano lessons (beginner). But you are an inspiration. You play this so brilliantly - it could easily be the original laid down track - did you see the tv documentary "Making of Aja"?

How did you learn this? From sheet music? Or by listening? It sounds note perfect.

Thanks for the experience - I will not quit just yet! All the best for the future.

Ewan. Edinburgh. UK.

[logosthedestroyer]

Thanks Ewan, thats the best inspiration *I* could have. Yeah I have that DVD, I love watching them work, they're real geniuses! I learned this from listening, the music books never get it right lol (not that I do, its certainly not note perfect!) Don't quit mate, you'll regret it! Stay in touch, and thanks for such a kind comment. Best of luck! Dave

[hellishmovie]

Thaks for the reply Dave. BTW - my favourite bit on that DVD is when the guys deconstruct "Deacon Blue" at the mixing desk to leave just the female backing singers - "learn to work the saxaphone... etc". It send shivers down my spine - it's so beautiful. Cheers. Bedtime for me with great piano music in mey ears. Thanks.

[logosthedestroyer]

Yeah thats a great part! I suppose for me personally being a drummer I'd have to say Bernard Purdie's vocal explanation of his shuffle is the most memorable bit, but the whole things a masterpiece.

[myleftnutts]

U Nail it! can u tell me bout this "DVD Making of Aja"?.

[logosthedestroyer]

hey thanks man. Yeah its a DVD, available from Amazon or whatever. It was made for a British TV channel, I think Channel 4. Its awesome. Theres a lot of info on there. Fagan,Becker,Purdie et al also do some instrumental versions of Peg,Josie;, well worth getting!

[doeljoty]

I love when Donald puts Michael McDonald's highest vocal part on "Peg" on solo "just to embarrass him."

[logosthedestroyer]

Haha! Yeah :) although if I were MMD I wouldn't imagine I'd *EVER* be embarrassed about my voice!!

[doeljoty]

good point. there is also an extremely insightful look into their lives during the making of "Home at Last" also that I enjoyed on that dvd. (the a definition of a black cow.)

[logosthedestroyer]

Yeah I agree, it gives the music a whole new dimension when you find out a little about them doesn't it, what was going on at the time

[djon82]

I've been a dan fan since i was 13 man. What you are doing is awesome it sounds just like it man. I play guitar and I would love to play this do you by any chance have the chords written down, Get back to me man I'd love to hear from you

[logosthedestroyer]

Heya I tried emailing you but I don't think its worked properly - let me know if not I'll try again! Thanks for the comment

[LelandJohn]

wow thank you so much for posting this it made my day

[logosthedestroyer]

Thanks! Hearing that made *mine* :)

[DMuMajor]

That was sweeeet. Wonder what keyboard you are playing.

[logosthedestroyer]

Haha, glad to know you know of the mu! Its a Yam P120 ..thanks :)

[ratedrsuperstar81]

Fagen would be proud man! I almost thought I was hearing him play, but it was you! INcredible! You're awesome man!

[logosthedestroyer]

Thanks very much, that made my day :)

[namidameponchi]

beatyful!I`d love to see your recorded version someday.

[logosthedestroyer]

Thanks so much namidameponchi, thats a very nice compliment :)

[guitmarc54]

great dude, i really enjoy this..

[logosthedestroyer]

Thanks!

[snowbound72]

Thanks man! This is now on my i-pod

[logosthedestroyer]

Wow thats an honour, thankyou!! :)

[MrSkyGuy]

Terrific finger work, bud. My one regret musically was my failure to transition from brass to the keys. I've always wanted to play the piano, but just never got around to it.. so much more versatile than the niche capacity of brass horns.

[logosthedestroyer]

Yeah but doing something like Steely Dan is nothing without the horn section man.. thanks for the comment!

[MrSkyGuy]

That's very true, but I've always envied that versatility of the ivory keys. Steely Dan truly is one of a kind, and occupies a very special place in my musical lineup. You do a wonderful job with a very challenging cut.

[logosthedestroyer]

Thanks man that really means a lot. I want to do a kind of 'world-wide' SD cover - would you be up for playing some parts??

[MrSkyGuy]

I'd love to, but I haven't played consistently for a while and I'd need to get my hand on a valve trombone or something keyed for Ef. If I can figure those out, absolutely.

[guitmarc54]

man you should put talent up with rick ruskin and do an album..can i help?

[andersohrn]

Hi, if you are on facebook could you please add me? Search for "Anders Oern". I love all your videos. Long live the Almighty Dan.

[logosthedestroyer]

thanks Anders!!, I don't have one though I'm afraid! Maybe I will make one.

[roscoegino]

Very nice, Logo. I'm sure Don and Walter would be proud.

[timandjesus]

If I could play that I would never leave my piano. Up on the hill, they've got time to burn, Theres no return

[ngumusic]

hey that was brilliant. i tried to work that out a few years ago but the chords those guys use are difficult to work out! its a shame your piano is the wrong way around, but il try to work it out from that. thanks

[DiegoVazquezMiranda]

Dude, you are an awesome player... Lots of technique, and lots of FEELING, which is the most important part.

Salute!

[logosthedestroyer]

Hey thanks for the kind comment! :)

[6StringPassion]

Hey, ignore what I said about the bass. I forgot I was listening through a VoIP telephone headset. I went back and listened again on a real set of headphones. It's all there.

[6StringPassion]

Hey..NICE WORK! This is easily one of the most complex and interesting songs Steely Dan recorded. I like the way you filled in the guitar riff in the intro. It added continuity. If you're going to play it solo, it would be cool if you kept the groove going in the bass during the entire interlude. It sounded like it dropped out in one section. Not being critical, just offering food for thought. If you play it with a band, it wouldn't matter anyway.

[logosthedestroyer]

Hey thanks for the suggestion, I think you're right anyway it is a bit lacking. Hmm no I've never played this live yet.. wish I had the opportunity!

[cbrf3redline]

Bravo!!!

[logosthedestroyer]

Thankyou

[onemoregod]

very cool---thanks

[logosthedestroyer]

Thanks! Like the name.. ;p

[PlayPauseStop]

really good... do you have the chords?

[dawnslayer1]

Very well played....I couldn't do it unless I had piano lessons. I've got a piano, just no lessons.

How long have you been playing?

Me10132.... what you got on the tube?

[logosthedestroyer]

Thanks! Well I've pretty much always played it, I just love the piano.. I can't help but play really. Yeah I'd recommend getting a good teacher, its worth it. Good luck!! :)

[Mel0132]

Really Nice try. But no where near Michael Omartian's immaculate keyboard work on the recording.

[logosthedestroyer]

I wouldn't claim it to be, that wasn't the point.

[ComradeJX8P]

The feel is pretty close to the original, the only thing you're missing is Steve Gadd or Keith Carlock playing along on the repeated chord in the outtro, but I don't blame you for not hiring them for the sake of this video.

[logosthedestroyer]

Haha yeah.. you know, I couldn't quite afford them this week :D

[spellsara4]

cool...very well played...

[logosthedestroyer]

Thankyou! Appreciated