Josie

Annotations

For most of the song the tempo fluctuates around 121 bpm, but the intro and its reprise later in the song is at about 117 bpm, so that’s what the count-in is in my video.

Chuck Rainey played with his one-finger-technique, going back and forth with just his index finger to pluck the string for sixteenth notes.

He also was always quick to slap, and although it is said that Peg is the only Steely Dan tune that he managed to sneak that in, I’m pretty certain that he does so here in at least two measures: mm. 40 & 76

mm. 11–12 The lower slid note is barely audible, I’ve notated it anyway because that’s what was intended.

m. 19 Small mistake here, he gets it right all other times throughout the song.

mm. 26 & 54 The last note should probably be a G as in m. 86 – that’s also what the doubled guitar (either Dean Parks or Larry Carlton) plays.

mm. 37, 65 & 97 Although the chord is Am, the bass plays a C♯ every time.

m. 96 The last note is an F in the recording, but – just as in m. 36 – I’ve notated the more appropriate E.

Additional resources

• Classic Albums: Steely Dan – Aja, Part 1 (2000) @02:39

  The documentary Classic Albums features among other things Donald Fagen & Walter Becker listening to the original master tapes, soloing in on certain parts.

• Classic Albums: Steely Dan – Aja, Part 5 (2000) @06:43

  A slower and tuned-down instrumental version recorded with some of the original musicians.

• Groovin’ Bass @49:07

  In one of his instructional videos, Chuck Rainey adapts parts of the song with Bernard Purdie on drums.

• Interview with Donald Fagen, Part 1 (1993)
• Interview with Donald Fagen, Part 2 (1993)

  Donald Fagen analyses the song with then musical director of Steely Dan, Warren Bernhardt.

• Interview with Dean Parks (2023)

  Dean Parks plays the intro and talks about the recording session.