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Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter Is the EMT of Guitarists: The Steely Dan and Doobies Brothers member reveals his best throw-downs in the studio

Steely Dan and Doobie Brothers guitarist Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter reveals his five favorite riffs.

)The guitarist, already a deity among Steely Dan and Doobie Brothers fans for formative stints with both bands, considers his life as a studio musician similar to to a craftsman who has the tools to construct whatever is needed. I picked it up, plugged it in, and I went, “This is great.” I grabbed the guitar, literally no case, threw it in the back of the truck, stopped off to buy a six-pack of Bud Light, and then showed up at the studio. He called me one evening and said, “I’ve just finished this album with a very talented singer” — I won’t name who it is — “and I need you to come in and listen to everything and tell me what it needs.” So I went in a couple of days later and everything was all set up.

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