Reelin In The Years Chords

by Steely Dan
152,481 views, added to favorites 4,644 times
Difficulty: advanced
Tuning: E A D G B E
Capo: no capo
Author hakwright [a] 904.
5 contributors total, last edit on Mar 25, 2024
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Chords

A7
Adim
Dm6
A
A7/E
Adim/D#
Dm6/D
A/C#
Em7
B/D#
Dm7
D
Bm7
C#/E
C/Eb
B/D
Gmaj9
F#m7

Strumming

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This is what I dug out from Nevada. The first two lines are fine...
But C#/E, C/Eb etc for the third and fourth lines?
If you try these chords, they sound pretty weird. C# with an E bass?
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUGGESTION:
 
There are three things to try to combine.  There is a drone on the 'A' note
through each chord which is important, there is a guitar climbdown and
there is a bass climbdown.
 
Try:
e|-----------------------|
B|-8---8-7---7-6---6-5---|
G|-9---9-8---8-7---7-6---|   (following the bass line)
D|-7---7-7---7-7---7-7---|   (both drone
A|-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---|    on the 'A')
 
or add another string like this if you prefer it with a higher emphasis:
e|-9---9-8---8-7---7-5---|
B|-8---8-7---7-6---6-5---|
G|-9---9-8---8-7---7-6---|
D|-7---7-7---7-7---7-7---|
A|-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---|
 
If you want that as chords it could be: [ A7  Adim  Dm6  A ] played up around the
7th fret.
 
   EADGBE     EADGBE    EADGBE    EADGBE
   x02020     x01313    x00201    x02220
     A7        Adim      Dm6        A
 
or as we said above:
 
   EADGBE     EADGBE    EADGBE    EADGBE
   x07989     x07878    x07767    x07655
    A7/E      Adim/D#    Dm6/D     A/C#
 
That fits roughly both with what the guitar is playing as
its climbdown at the same time:
 
e|----5------5-------5-------|
B|-8----8-7----7-6-----6-5---|
G|-9----9-8----8-7-----7-6---|
D|---------------------------|
A|---------------------------|
E|---------------------------|
 
(that's in principle, the top A drone stretch can't easily be done on one guitar.)
 
and the bass climbdown on the bass A string (which is simplified but the idea is there):
A|-7-7--6-6--5-5--4-4--5-5--4-4--2-2--0-
 
I really think that line is almost beyond defining as chords as it works because
of the two climbdowns working together with the A.
 
Albert Burton
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
If you try E with a C# bass it's almost right though I prefer these chorts :
 
    Em7                    B/D#             Dm7                A/C#
you wouldn't even know  a diamond  if  you held  it  in your  hand
 
Probably it was a slip up when it was typed in, cos' everything except this
line is Ok.
 
[Chord shapes]
 
EADGBE     EADGBE    EADGBE    EADGBE
x79787     x6987x    x57565    x4765x
 Em7        B/D#       Dm7      A/C#
 
 
[Verse 1]
D               A/C#            Bm7                 A
  Your ever lastin' summer, you can see it fadin' fast,
D                       A/C#            Bm7                 A
  So you grab a piece of somethin' that you think is gonna last.
C#/E                          C/Eb          B/D           A/C#
  Well, you wouldn't even know a diamond if you held it in your hand;
D                     A/C#            Bm7            A
  The things you think are precious I can't understand.
 
 
[Chorus]
                       Gmaj9                    A
Are you reelin' in the years, stowin away the time?
                         Gmaj9                         A
Are you gatherin' up the tears, have you had enough of mine
                      Gmaj9                    A
Are you reelin' in the years, stowin away the time?
                         Gmaj9                         F#m7
Are you gatherin' up the tears, have you had enough of mine
 
                       Gmaj9                    A
Are you reelin' in the years, stowin away the time?
                         Gmaj9                         A
Are you gatherin' up the tears, have you had enough of mine
                      Gmaj9                    A
Are you reelin' in the years, stowin away the time?
                         Gmaj9                         F#m7
Are you gatherin' up the tears, have you had enough of mine
 
 
[Verse 2]
D                            A/C#     Bm7             A
  You been tellin' me you're a genius since you were seventeen;
D               A/C#               Bm7                        A
  In all the time I've known you I still don't know what you mean.
C#/E                   C/Eb          B/D              A/C#
  The weekend at the college didn't turn out like you planned;
D                 A/C#              Bm7           A
  The things that pass for knowledge I can't understand.
 
 
[Chorus]
                       Gmaj9                    A
Are you reelin' in the years, stowin away the time?
                         Gmaj9                         A
Are you gatherin' up the tears, have you had enough of mine
                      Gmaj9                    A
Are you reelin' in the years, stowin away the time?
                         Gmaj9                         F#m7
Are you gatherin' up the tears, have you had enough of mine
 
 
[Verse 3]
D                     A/C#         Bm7            A
  I've spent a lot of money and I spent a lot of time;
D                      A/C#      Bm7                A
  That trip we made to Hollywood is etched upon my mind.
C#/E                   C/Eb                B/D          A/C#
  After all the things we've done and seen you find another man;
D                      A/C#          Bm7         A
  The things you think are useless I can't understand.
 
 
[Chorus]
                       Gmaj9                    A
Are you reelin' in the years, stowin away the time?
                         Gmaj9                         A
Are you gatherin' up the tears, have you had enough of mine
                      Gmaj9                    A
Are you reelin' in the years, stowin away the time?
                         Gmaj9                         F#m7
Are you gatherin' up the tears, have you had enough of mine
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Reelin In The Years – Steely Dan
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23 comments
davidbatkinson
I play 3rd line similarly but more simply as G/G, D/F#, F, A/E. I don’t know where the original wrong chords came from. Gotta follow the melody, Also, chorus chords can be simply played as G add 9 (300003) and A
+2
John Uriel
I make the 3rd line Edim D#dim Ddim A/C# Otherwise fine
+2
John McNally
I make the 3rd line Em B/F# Dm A/C#
+2