Francesco Vecchio

Steely Dan
5 Drum Transcriptions
Table of Contents

About the Author.................................................................................................. 3

Introduction...........................................................................................................4
Drum Notation Key...............................................................................................5
Transcriptions........................................................................................................6
1. Green Earrings............................................................................................6
2. Aja.............................................................................................................. 9
3. Babylon Sisters......................................................................................... 15
4. Gaucho......................................................................................................19
5. The Last Mall............................................................................................23
Farewell...............................................................................................................26
More Products.....................................................................................................27
Drum Notation Key

Every transcription is grouped in chronological order. This list is not intended to be studied as
presented, you can choose the song you want to study and jump to another one without any
order. You can focus on a specific drum groove and fill you think is useful to develop your
drumming or decide to play the entire song reading the transcription. Where included,
scanning a QR code makes it possible to view/play the transcription on YouTube.

Here is the drum notation key, useful for understanding the transcription with an easy
interface showing the drumset's main parts.
 Transcription by Francesco Vecchio Album: The Royal Scam (1976)
francisdrummingblog.com Drummer: Bernard Purdie

Steely Dan
Green Earrings
x
q = 112
x x
3 œ œ œœ œ œ œœ 2 œ œ ≈œœ x 3
3

Drum Set ã 3 Œ Ó Œ Ó Œ Ó
x 3 3
œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ œ
x x
Ε ν
x
3 xœxex x ex œxex e x xxœ ex xex œxex e x xxœ ex xex œxex e x x x xœœ œœ
6

ã3 œ œ œ œœ œ œ œœ œ œ œœ œ œ œ œœ œœ
10
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x xx x x x x x
ã œ œœœe œ e œœe e œœ œœe œ e œœe e œœ œe œ e œœ e e œœ œ e œ e œœ e e
14
x xx x x x x x x xx x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x x œœœœ
ã œœ œe œ e œœ e e œœ œe œ e œœ e e œœ œe œ eœœœe e œœ œœe eœœ œœ
ι
xx x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x xxxxx x x x
‰
18

ã œ œœ œ e e
œ œ
œ e e
œœ
œ e
œ
e
œ
œ œ œ œ e œe e
œ œ œ œ œ œœ œ

x x x x x x x x x x œœ xxx x x xx x x xx x x x x x
ã œ e œ œ e eœ e œ œ e e œ œ œ − x œ œ œ e œœ e œ e e œœ œ e œ e œœ œ e e
22

26
x x œx e x x e x œx e x œœ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ 2 œ œ œ x 3 x x œx e x x e x œx e x e
ã œœ œœ œœ x œœx 3 œœx œ 3 œœ œ œœ
30
x xxœex xex œxexe x xxœex xex œxexe xeœœœœœœœœœœœœ x x œxexexex œxexe
ã œœ œ œ œœ œ œ œ x x x œœ œ œœ œ œ
34
x xx x x x x x x xx x x x x x x xx x x x x x x xx x x x x x
ã œœ œe eœe œœ e e œœ œe œ œe œœ e e œœ œe œ e œœe e œœ œe œ e œœe e
38
x xxœ ex xex œxexe xexxœ ex xex œxexe x xxœ exeœœ œœœœ x x œxexexex œxexe
ã œœ œ œ œ œ œ œœ œœ œ œœ œ œ

x x œx e x x e x e e e3 e œ x x x œι x x œx e x e x e x œx e x e
œ œ œ ‰œ œ œ
42

ã œœ œœ œ œ
Transcription by Francesco Vecchio Album: Aja (1977)
francisdrummingblog.com Drummer: Steve Gadd

Steely Dan
Aja
q = 117

3 xx ‰ xxx ‰xxx‰xxx xxx xx x x xx x xx

ã3 œx œx xν œ
ν xν ν xν xν xν
Drum Set
Ο
ι ι ι
x x x x xxx xxx xxx xx x x xx
‰ ‰ ‰ ‰ ‰ œ‰œ
5

ã œx œx
ν xν ν ν
x ν
x ν
x x Ι
ν
9
x x x fx x x x x x x fx x x x x x x x fx x x x x x x x fx x x
Verse 1 㜠x œ x œ œ x œ x œ œ x œ x œ œ x œ x
Ν Ν Ν Ν
13
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
㜠xν xν xν xν œ xν xν xν xν œ xν xν xν xν œ xν xν xν xν
Ν Ν ν ν ν ν
17
x x x x x x x œ œ x x fx x x x fx x x x fx x x x fx x
㜠xν xν xν xν œ xν xν x œ œœ œ œœ œ
Ε
ν ν ν ν ν ν
21
x x fx x x x fx x x x fx x x x fx x x x fx x x x fx x
ã ‘ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
ν ν ν ν ν ν ν ν ν
25
x x xx xx xx x x x œ xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx
㜠fœ œ fœ œ f œ œ œ fœ œ fœ œ fœ œ fœ
x x
ν ν ν ν
x xx xx xx xx xx xx x x x x x x x x x 2 x
x ΠΠ33
29

㜠fœœ fœ œ fœœ f 3
ΝΝΝ Ν
ã 33
xx xxx xx xx xxx x x x xx xx x x xxxx xx
‰ ‰
33

œx
ο ν
37
x x x x x x x x x x œ
ã œx xν Ο œ œ
ν xν xν xν
39
x x x fx x x x x x x x fx x x x x x x x fx x x x x x x fx
Verse 2 㜠x œ x œ œ x x œ x œ x œ œ x xœ
Transcription by Francesco Vecchio Album: Gaucho (1980)
francisdrummingblog.com Drummer: Bernard Purdie

Steely Dan
Babylon Sisters
ν 3 3 3 ν 3 3 ν 3
q = 122
3 œ ‰ œ œ x x ‰ x fx x ‰ x −− x x xx x x x x xx
3

‰ f ‰ œ −− œ ‰ f ‰ œ œ œ
3 X6 3

Drum Set ã3 œ œ œ x œ œ x x x
Ε
3 ν 3 3 ν 3 3 ν 3 3 ν 3

x x x fx x x X6− x x x fx x x − x x xx x x x fx x x
ã œ ‰ x ‰œ − œ ‰ x ‰œ− ‰ œ œx œx œ œ œ ‰ x ‰ œ
‰
4 3

œ f œ

3 ν 3 3 ν 3 3 ν 3 3 ν 3 5 stroke roll

x x xx x x x x xx x x x x x x x x x x x x x æ eæ
ã œ ‰ fx ‰ œ œ ‰ fx ‰ œ œ ‰ f ‰œ œ ‰ f ‰ e
8

x x
3 ν
=3 3ν 3 ν = 3 ν 3 ν
RR LL
3 = 3

x x x œx x x x x x œx e x x x x x œx x x x
3 3 3

‰ œ ‰ ‰ ‰ œ ‰œ ‰œ œ ‰ ‰ ‰œ œ e œ e e œ
12
œ
ã œx x x œ x
œ œ œ
3

x x x x
3 ν 3 ν= 3 ν 3 ν 3 ν 3 ν= 3 ν 3 ν 3 ν 3 ν= 3 ν 3 ν 3 ν 3 ν= 3 ν 3 ν
16
x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx x
ã œxe xe œ œx e xe œ œxe xe œ œx e xe œ œxe xe œx e xe œ œxe xe œx e xe œ
3 ν 3 ν= 3 ν 3 ν 3 ν 3 ν= 3 ν 3 ν 3 ν 3 ν= 3 ν 3 ν 3 ν 3 ν= 3 ν 3 ν
20
x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx x
ã œxe xe œ œx e xe œ œxe xe œœx e xe œ œxe xe œx e xe œ œxe xe œ œx e xe œ
3 ν 3 ν= 3 ν 3 ν 3 = 3 ν 3 3 ν= 3 ν 3 3ν= 3 ν 3 ν

x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx ? x x x x xx
3 3
3
x x x x xx x
− −
ã − œx x x x œ − œx œ œ x œ ‰ œ‰ x x ‰ ‰ œx‰ œ x‰ œx e xe œ
24 X8

e e œ e e e e œ e e e œ e e

3 ν 3 ν= 3 ν 3 ν 3 ν 3 ν= 3 ν 3 ν 3 ν 3ν= 3 ν 3 ν

x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx x x xx ? ? œ 3 x x x x xx x
3 3
3

ã œxe xe œx e xe œ œxe xe œx e xe œ œxe x e e œx ‰ x œ ‰ œx ‰ œ x‰ œx e xe œ

28

3 ν 3 ν=3 3 ν= 3 ν 3 ν 3 ν 3 ν= 3 ν 3 ν 3 3 = 3 3

x xx xx x x x x xx x x xx xx xx x x xx x x xx x
ã œx x x ‰ x œ œ œ e œx e xe œ œxe xe œx e xe œ œxe xe œx e xe œ
32 3
e e œ œ
Transcription by Francesco Vecchio Album: Gaucho (1980)
francisdrummingblog.com Drummer: Jeff Porcaro

Steely Dan
Gaucho
‹125 j
S S. z z z z x x
4 ÏÏÏÏÏÏ
Drum Set ‹ 4 ä z z
x x x x x x x x
Ï Ï eeee
x x x x x x
Ï
xo Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï
F o
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x ¾¾ ¾ x x x x x x
‹Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ïeee Ï Ï Ï
4

Î
x x x x x x x xx x x x x xx x xx x x x
‹Ï Ï
Ï
e e ee
Ï
Ï
Ï
Ï
Ï
ee
Ï
Ï
Ï
8 o
x x xx x x xx x x x x x x x x x x xxxx x x x
‹Ï ÏÏ Ï Ï Ï
Ï Ï
Ï
Ï
e e ee
Ï
Ï
Ï
12 o o
x x x x x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x
‹Ï Ï
Ï
ee
Ïx
Ï
Ï Ï Ï
Ï
Ï
Ï ee
o
x x x x x x x x jx
16

x x x x x x x x x x x x
‹Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï
oJ
Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï
20
j o
ä
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
‹Ï Ï Ï x x x x
Ï Ï Ï x Ï x Ï x Ï x Ï x Ï x Ï
24 o o j j o o o
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
‹ Ï
Ï
Ï
Ï Ï Ï Ï
Ï ee
Ï
Ï
Ï
28 o o o
x x x Ïx x x x x x Ïx x ee x x x Ïx x x x x x Ïx x
‹ Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï
32 o o
x x x x x x x x x x x x x ÏÏ x x x x x x x x x x
‹ Ïx Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï Ï
36
o o o
Ï .. ee
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
‹Ï Ï Ï ÏÏ Ï
Ï
Ï
Ï
Ï x x Ï x Ï Ïx Ï
40
 Transcription by Francesco Vecchio Album: Everything Must Go (2003)
francisdrummingblog.com Drummer: Keith Carlock

Steely Dan
The Last Mall
= 3
=
3 = 3 =3 = 3
=
3 = 3 =3 = 3
=
3 = 3 =3 ν3 ν3 ν 3 ν
q = 113
3 ‰
xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx x x x x x θ x
Drum Set ã 3 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ‰ œ‰ œœ œ e
Ε 3 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 =
5
xx x œx x xx x œx x xx x œx x xx x œx x xx x œx x xx x œx x xx x œx x xx x œx x
㜠œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
=3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 ν
9
xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x
㜠œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
3 3 = 3 =
= 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 =
x x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x
ã œ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
13

=3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 =
17
xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x
㜠œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
=3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 ν
21
xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x
㜠œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
3 3 = 3 =
= 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 ν
25
xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x
㜠œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
=3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 =
29
xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x
㜠œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
=3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 ν =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 =
33
xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x
㜠œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
=3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 =3 3 = 3 = 3 ν 3
= 3=
3 = 3 =

xx x x x xx x x x xx x x œ xx œ x
3
x xxx x x xx x x x xx x x x
‰
37

㜠œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ œ œ œ œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
=3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 = =3 = 3 =
41
xxx x x xxx x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xxx x x xxx xx
ã œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œ œœ œ