Steely Dan - Deacon Blues Chords & Tabs

Deacon Blues- Steely Dan

I was looking for a better tab for this tune all over the net  (one I could
actually follow) and well, one thing kind of led to another...Thanks to
Howard Wright for getting me started and to Steely Dan for the inspiration!

Let me know if you know of a better way to play it...
Regards, Pat Sullivan 9/2006 - currentmaster@yahoo.com


INTRO:

Cmaj7  B7#5 A#maj7 A7#5  Dmaj7  C#7#5  Cmaj7 B7#5                  E7#9
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B--8-----8-----6-----6-----10-----10-----8-----8-----8 ~ 13 ~ 8-----8---|
G--9-----8-----7-----6-----11-----10-----9-----8-----7 ~ 12 ~ 7-----7---|
D--9-----7-----7-----5-----11------9-----9-----7--------------------6---|
A-------------------------------------------------------------------7---|
E--8-----7-----6-----5-----10------9-----8-----7------------------------|


VERSE 1:

    Cmaj7      A#13          G13     F13
E-----------------------------------------|
B- ~ -8----------8------------5-------3---|
G- ~ -9----------7------------4-------2---|
D- ~ -9----------7------------4-------2---|
A-----------------------------------------|
E- ~ -8----------6------------3-------1---|
   This is the day of the expanding man

   Cmaj7           A#13                 G13      D9
E-------------------------------------------------5---|
B ~ 8----------------8-------------------5--------5---|
G ~ 9----------------7-------------------4--------5---|
D ~ 9----------------7-------------------4--------4---|
A-------------------------------------------------5---|
E ~ 8----------------6-------------------3------------|
   That shape is my shade there where I used to stand

  F6add9        Edim7     D6add9                  C6add9
E---8-------------6----------5-----------------------3---|
B---8-------------8----------5-----------------------3---|
G---7-------------6----------4-----------------------2---|
D---7-------------6----------4-----------------------2---|
A---8-------------7----------5-----------------------3---|
E--------------------------------------------------------|
   It seems like only yesterday I gazed through the glass

     D6add9         D#6add9         D6add9     C6add9  B7#9  E7#9
E-------5--------------6---------------5----------3--------------|
B-------5--------------6---------------5----------3-----3----8---|
G-------4--------------5---------------5----------3-----2----7---|
D-------4--------------5---------------4----------2-----1----6---|
A-------5--------------6---------------5----------3-----2----7---|
E----------------------------------------------------------------|
   At ramblers, wild gamblers- That's all in the past

   Cmaj7        A#13                 G13     F13
E-----------------6-------------------5-------3----|
B ~ 8-------------8-------------------5-------3----|
G ~ 9-------------7-------------------4-------2----|
D ~ 9-------------7-------------------4-------2----|
A--------------------------------------------------|
E ~ 8-------------6-------------------3-------1----|
   You call me a fool you say it's a crazy scheme

   Cmaj7         A#13             G13       D9
E--------------------------------------------5---|
B---8--------------8---------------5---------5---|
G---9--------------7---------------4---------5---|
D---9--------------7---------------4---------4---|
A--------------------------------------------5---|
E---8--------------6---------------3-------------|
   This one's for real I already bought the dream

  F6add9         Edim7
E---8--------------6--------|
B---8--------------8--------|
G---7--------------6--------|
D---7--------------6--------|
A---8--------------7--------|
E---------------------------|
   So useless to  ask me why

  D6add9         C#dim7      D6add9/C#6add9/C6add9
E---5---------------3-------------5 ~ 4 ~ 3-|
B---5---------------5-------------5 ~ 4 ~ 3-|
G---4---------------3-------------4 ~ 3 ~ 2-|
D---4---------------3-------------4 ~ 3 ~ 2-|
A---5---------------4-------------5 ~ 4 ~ 3-|
E-------------------------------------------|
   Throw a kiss and say goodbye

               F6add9          D6add9   F6add9
E-----------------8- 8~10 8~10----5--------8-----------------|
B-----------------8--8~10 8~10----5--------8-----------------|
G-----------------7---------------4--------7-----------------|
D-----------------7---------------4--------7-----------------|
A-----------------8---------------5--------8-----------------|
E------------------------------------------------------------|
   I'll make it this time-  I'm ready to cross that fine line


CHORUS:
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/s/steely_dan/deacon_blues_tab.html ]
   A7#9                    Em7      Dm9       Cmaj7
E----5-------------------------------1-------------------------|
B----5----------------------3--------1-------------------------|
G----5-------------------------------2-------------------------|
D----5------------------------------------------2--------------|
A----4----------------------2-------------------3--------------|
E----5------------------------------------------3--------------|
   I'll Learn to work the saxophone and I play just what I feel

    F    Am7 Cadd9  C    F   Am7 
 C   A#  Fmaj7
E---1--------------------1-------------------1-/-----|
B---1-----1----1----1----1----1----1----1----3-/-1---|
G---2--------------------2--------------2----3-/-2---|
D---3-----2---------2----3----2--------------2-/-3---|
A-------------------3-------------------3------------|
E----------------------------------------------------|
   Drink scotch whiskey all night long

        G             Am7
E-------3------------------|
B----------------------1---|
G--------------------------|
D----------------------2---|
A-------2------------------|
E-------3------------------|
   And die behind the wheel

   Am7                       Em7
E----------------------------------------------|
B---1-------------------------3----------------|
G----------------------------------------------|
D---2------------------------------------------|
A-----------------------------2----------------|
E----------------------------------------------|
   They got a name for the winners in the world

  Dm7       Cmaj7
E--1------------------------|
B--1------------------------|
G--2------------------------|
D-------------2-------------|
A-------------3-------------|
E-------------3-------------|
   I want a name when I lose

    F    Am7 Cadd9  C    F   Am7 
 C   A#  Fmaj7
E---1--------------------1-------------------1-/-----|
B---1-----1----1----1----1----1----1----1----3-/-1---|
G---2--------------------2--------------2----3-/-2---|
D---3-----2---------2----3----2--------------2-/-3---|
A-------------------3-------------------3------------|
E----------------------------------------------------|
   They call Alabama the Crimson Tide

    G             Am7             Em7      A13  
 C13  A#13          E7#9
E---3------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B------------------1---------------3--------7----5---10----8 ~ 13 ~ 8 ---8---|
G-------------------------------------------6----4----9----7 ~ 12 ~ 7 ---7---|
D------------------2------------------------6----4----9----7-------------6---|
A---2------------------------------2-------------------------------------7---|
E---3---------------------------------------5----3----8----6-----------------|
   Call me  Deacon Blues - Deacon Blues


VERSE 2 :

My back to the wall a victim of laughing chance
This is for me the essence of true romance
Sharing the things we know and love with those of my kind
Libations, sensations which stagger the mind
I crawl like a viper through these suburban streets
Make love to these women languid and bittersweet
I'll rise when the sun goes down
Cover every game in town
A world of my own- I'll make it my home sweet home


CHORUS:


INSTRUMENTAL:

    A9  G9 E9  A9  G9 E9 
B9  G7#9  D9   D#9  D9   C9 Cmaj7/B7#5/A#maj7/A7#5
E---12--10--7--12--10--7--3--2----3----5----6----5----3-----------------|
B---12--10--7--12--10--7--3--2----3----5----6----5----3----8--8--6--6---|
G---12--10--7--12--10--7--3--2----3----5----6----5----3----9--8--7--6---|
D---11---9--6--11---9--6--2--1----3----4----5----4----2----9--7--7--5---|
A---12--10--7--12--10--7--3--2----2----5----6----5----3-----------------|
E---------------------------------3------------------------8--7--6--5---|

    A9  G9 E9  A9  G9 E9 C9B9  G7#9  D9   D#9  D9   C9
E---12--10--7--12--10--7--3--2----3----5----6----5----3---|
B---12--10--7--12--10--7--3--2----3----5----6----5----3---|
G---12--10--7--12--10--7--3--2----3----5----6----5----3---|
D---11---9--6--11---9--6--2--1----3----4----5----4----2---|
A---12--10--7--12--10--7--3--2----2----5----6----5----3---|
E---------------------------------3-----------------------|

   Cmaj7  B7#5 A#maj7 A7#5 Dmaj7  C#7#5  Cmaj7 B7#5   E7#9  E7#9
E--------------------------------------------------------------------8---------|
B---10----8----8----8----8----8----6----6----10----10-----8----8-----8-----8---|
G---11----8----9----8----9----8----7----6----11----10-----9----8-----7-----7---|
D---11----9----9----7----9----7----7----5----11-----9-----9----7-----6-----6---|
A--------------------------------------------------------------------7-----7---|
E---10----9----8----7----8----7----6----5----10-----9-----8----7---------------|


Verse 3: (Same chords as the 2nd half of Verse 1)

This is the night of the expanding man
I take one last drag as I approach the stand
I cried when I wrote this song
Sue me if I play too long
This brother is free- I'll be what I want to be


CHORUS


OUTRO:
Same chords as the first half of Verse 1 - (X2) - to fade

There are several slides and variations on these chords that Becker throws in but
these chords should get you close enough to where those fills are pretty obvious...
Have Fun! :)