Lockdown Licks no. 359. “Josie” by Steely Dan. Intro jazz rock riffs and chords played on a semi hollow guitar into a NUX Mighty 8 amp set to clean with some chorus and reverb. This guitar figure is repeated as an interlude later in the song.
Played by Dean Parks who provided a cool angular jazz rock intro on Josie as well as the bedrock funky rhythm.
In the intro/song rhythm he plays …
*several 5th chords on two notes
* a 4 chord section using almost discordant Maj 7 type chords with extension notes on B and E strings,
*the last of these is a finger stretch, as the top E string is dropped half a tone leaving three fingers making a 3 note chord higher up the fretboard,
* finally changing direction into the iconic Em7 funky riff providing the bedrock of the tune.
Theorists & chord buffs may let us know the scientific name of these 4 chords prior to the funky Em7 riff??
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Josie” is a song written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen and first released by Steely Dan on their 1977 album Aja. It was also released as the third single from the album and performed modestly well, reaching #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #44 on the Easy Listening chart that year. It has appeared on several Steely Dan live and compilation albums.
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