Steely Dan - My Old School Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
[Opening]
[G]I remember the thirty five sweet good[Em]byes
[C]When you put me on the [D]Wolverine up to [G]Annandale [G] [C] [G]
[G]It was still September when your daddy was quite sur[Em]prised
To [C]find you with the [D]working girls in the [C]county jail [G] [C] [G]
[verse 2]
I was [C]smoking with the boys upstairs
When I [D]heard about the whole affair
I said, “[Em]Oh no [G]William and [Em]Mary won’t [C]do ”
[chorus]
Well I [D]did not think the [C]girl could [D]be so [Em]cruel
And I’m [D]never going back to my old [G]school
[verse 3]
[G]Oleanders growing outside her [Em]door
[C]Soon they’re gonna [D]be in bloom up in [G]Annandale [G] [C] [G]
[G]I can’t stand her doing what she did [Em]before
[C]Living like a [D]Gypsy queen in a [G]fairy tale
[chorus]
Well I [C]hear the whistle but I can’t go
I’m [D]gonna take her down to Mexico
She said, “[G]Oh [Em]no [G]Guadala[Em]jara [D]won’t [C]do”
[chorus]
Well I [D]did not think the [Am]girl could [D]be so [Em]cruel
And I’m [D]never going [Am]back to my old [G]school
[Closing]
[G]California tumbles into the [Em]sea
[C]That’ll be the [D]day I go back to [G]Annandale [G] [C] [G]
[G]Tried to warn you about Chino and Daddy [Em]Gee
[C]But I can’t seem to [D]get to you through the [G]U.S. Mail
[chorus]
Well I [C]hear the whistle but I can’t go
I’m [D]gonna take her down to Mexico
She said, “[G]Oh [Em]no [G]Guadala[Em]jara [D]won’t [C]do”
[chorus]
Well I [D]did not think the [Am]girl could [D]be so [Em]cruel
And I’m [D]never going [Am]back to my old [G]school
How to play My Old School on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Steely Dan - My Old School on guitar requires 5 chords and 8 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
My Old School uses these transitions most often: C → D (13), G → Em (11), and D → G (8). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with G - Em chord transition.
1. G → Em chord transition
To move from G to Em;
- While playing G, lift your index finger from A string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
2. Em → C chord transition
To move from Em to C;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 3.
- Place index finger on B string fret 1.
3. C → D chord transition
To move from C to D;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
4. D → G chord transition
To move from D to G;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
5. G → C chord transition
To move from G to C;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
6. D → Em chord transition
To move from D to Em;
- While playing D, lift your index finger from G string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from B string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
7. D → Am chord transition
To move from D to Am;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
8. Am → G chord transition
To move from Am to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
My Old School chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in My Old School.
- My Old School includes 75 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- My Old School contains 6 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how My Old School connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → C: 25%
- G → Em: 9%
After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).- D → G: 29%
- D → Em: 17%