Backing Tracks The snake

[eb424]

I echo Pete in that to make this sound ok without vocals will need lots and lots of inflections and also cut down by a lot, with a rip roaring solo to boot.

Too repetitive over one chord.

Hey thanks.. im listening to whats being said...but still have to ask lol..does the level of playing experience come into it..I guess i mean the challenges i would have with the song i.e. bpm, chord changes, instrumental, etc..would a pro players ability give them a different perspective..

 

[eb424]

Why can't you?

I dont know how..lol

 

[Pete Thomas]

i.e. bpm, chord changes, instrumental, etc..would a pro players ability give them a different perspective..

The bpm and chord changes are very easy - beginner level. The difficult part would be making an instrumental version of this into something musical. I think many pro players would struggle, I (as a pro) would certainly struggle to make an instrumental version into something worth doing.

 

[Pete Effamy]

Hey thanks.. im listening to whats being said...but still have to ask lol..does the level of playing experience come into it..I guess i mean the challenges i would have with the song i.e. bpm, chord changes, instrumental, etc..would a pro players ability give them a different perspective..

A pro player is vs likely to have more tools to pull it off, but it’s still lacking in content

 

[dooce]

Coincidentally, I'm just arranging this for my band's horn section, i.e. sax (me) and a trombone. We're supposedly a ska band but Northern Soul makes the occasional appearance. Great song especially if you've got a singer inclined to stage histrionics - which we definitely have......

 

[BUMNOTE]

Not sure if a instrumental version would work,also think this song on the Northern circuit divide people,but good luck to ya.Bumnote.

 

[thomsax]

Hey thanks @thomsax happy Easter...Trouble with asking questions is listening to answers sometimes huh...funny the medley thing my mates been wanting to do one to perform in the care home and i was adamant it wasnt a good idea..think ive been a bit flat on the sax for a while not played for nearly 2 weeks 1 week away but little enthusiasm and no direction, stuck...think on reflection the song motivated me to pick up the sax again..doesnt mean it will sound right...which was my original question..

I was not my meaning to turn your choice of song down. Sorry for that ...... .

If "The Snake" is helping up your motivation to play your sax ...... well just go for it! Absolutely nothing wrong to play. The alternative, to stay out of playing, is worse.

Keep On Honking' !

 

[eb424]

I was not my meaning to turn your choice of song down. Sorry for that ...... .

If "The Snake" is helping up your motivation to play your sax ...... well just go for it! Absolutely nothing wrong to play. The alternative, to stay out of playing, is worse.

Keep On Honking' !

Hey I asked for advise and got it from people who are great players....it was the general consensus that the song wouldnt work no need for apologies...some do some don't I guess..

 

[eb424]

I was not my meaning to turn your choice of song down. Sorry for that ...... .

If "The Snake" is helping up your motivation to play your sax ...... well just go for it! Absolutely nothing wrong to play. The alternative, to stay out of playing, is worse.

Keep On Honking' !

Hey I asked for advise and got it from people who are great players....no need for apologies..Just wonder what the difference is between this song and others..

 

[thomsax]

Hey I asked for advise and got it from people who are great players....no need for apologies..Just wonder what the difference is between this song and others..

I'm not a great player. I just bought and downloaded, around 3:00 am (I can't sleep), the sheet music in the original key(s) (tenor that is) and a backing track also in the original key(s). So we can try to play/try this song together? I'm not going to read this song just playing the lyrics/words on my tenor sax.

Some facts about the song:

• Written and first recorded by Oscar Brown in 1963.
• Al Wilson recorded "The Snake" in 1968.
• Became a "Nothern Soul" hit among dancers in UK in the mid 70's?
• Key(s); concert Dm, Ebm, Em // tenor F, F#, G.
• Tempo; variable, according to KV, around 148 bpm.
• Vocal range; C#4 - B5.

When "The Snake" was written I was 7 years old and was in kindergarten. When Wilson recorded "The Snake" I was 12. When it became a "Northern Soul" hit, I was more into R&R. The lyrics was also read by USA's former president during the president campaign in 2016 .... and now I'm going give it a try at the age of 68. But it's going to take time. I've just bought new plasticover baritone reeds ( now I have all from 2,5 to 4) and the Rovner high baffle mpc is polished and ready.

@eb424 hope you will give it a try as well. And when we are stuck, we can always ask for help!

 

[stitch]

The lyrics was also read by USA's former president during the president campaign in 2016

That's ... intriguing.

 

[eb424]

I'm not a great player. I just bought and downloaded, around 3:00 am (I can't sleep), the sheet music in the original key(s) (tenor that is) and a backing track also in the original key(s). So we can try to play/try this song together? I'm not going to read this song just playing the lyrics/words on my tenor sax.

Some facts about the song:

• Written and first recorded by Oscar Brown in 1963.
• Al Wilson recorded "The Snake" in 1968.
• Became a "Nothern Soul" hit among dancers in UK in the mid 70's?
• Key(s); concert Dm, Ebm, Em // tenor F, F#, G.
• Tempo; variable, according to KV, around 148 bpm.
• Vocal range; C#4 - B5.

When "The Snake" was written I was 7 years old and was in kindergarten. When Wilson recorded "The Snake" I was 12. When it became a "Northern Soul" hit, I was more into R&R. The lyrics was also read by USA's former president during the president campaign in 2016 .... and now I'm going give it a try at the age of 68. But it's going to take time. I've just bought new plasticover baritone reeds ( now I have all from 2,5 to 4) and the Rovner high baffle mpc is polished and ready.

@eb424 hope you will give it a try as well. And when we are stuck, we can always ask for help!

Oh you silly sod..that's so nice..i'd already boought the sheet music so was going to use it to practice. It needs transposing to E minor fot me. I guess as much as you want them to some songs just dont work but it takes time and effort to find out..i still havent finished mustang sally lol..time is prescious so i really do appreciate it..but you should play what you enjoy and you know works nice touch though.. thanks..eddie

 

[thomsax]

That's ... intriguing.

I think it's terrible.

 

[stitch]

I think it's terrible.

I was wondering about the context in which the lyric was quoted.

 

[thomsax]

Oh you silly sod..that's so nice..i'd already boought the sheet music so was going to use it to practice. It needs transposing to E minor fot me. I guess as much as you want them to some songs just dont work but it takes time and effort to find out..i still havent finished mustang sally lol..time is prescious so i really do appreciate it..but you should play what you enjoy and you know works nice touch though.. thanks..eddie

I give your method a try. I wrote down the lyrics with space between the lines so I can write letters, chords and key words .... over the lyrics. I used to buy sheet music when I was playing in a band as well. I was soo sick of the endless talk "where the song goes next". Just read the chords and play. It was often the guitar and keyboard players that slowed down the work.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I was wondering about the context in which the lyric was quoted.

Best to look it up, we don't want to have any politics discussed here. It will only end up very badly.

 

[eb424]

Best to look it up, we don't want to have any politics discussed here. It will only end up very badly.

Bit like this thread huh....lol

 

[thomsax]

Been playing along "Ormen" (the snake in English) on tenor for some days. Trying to get familiar with the song. As PT wrote "The bpm and chord changes are very easy - beginner level. The difficult part would be making an instrumental version of this into something musical." Yes and yes.
It's a two chords song. I'm going to cut it up in three parts. The first part goes over 48 bars, or 4 x 12 bars in Dm (F). Second part goes over 27 bars, D#m (F#). The third part goes over 33 bars (including outro/fade out), in Em (G). So I cut up the song after the key raise.

"Ormen" is very much a vocal song even if it was a hit as a dance song. After the few times I've played along the vocal parts. I think it needs an offensive tenor that is on and loud as well. This is about to sing with your sax.

I removed the horns on both backing tracks versions. I kept the vocal on one so I can follow Al. It's easier for me to keep it clean. Just drms, bass, guitar and piano +, hopefully, tenor sax.

I don't how this will turn out. But so far it's fun.

View: https://youtu.be/ENmrZkB9CTM?si=cyt-R3HXN75J2K_Y

 

[eb424]

Been playing along "Ormen" (the snake in English) on tenor for some days. Trying to get familiar with the song. As PT wrote "The bpm and chord changes are very easy - beginner level. The difficult part would be making an instrumental version of this into something musical." Yes and yes.
It's a two chords song. I'm going to cut it up in three parts. The first part goes over 48 bars, or 4 x 12 bars in Dm (F). Second part goes over 27 bars, D#m (F#). The third part goes over 33 bars (including outro/fade out), in Em (G). So I cut up the song after the key raise.

"Ormen" is very much a vocal song even if it was a hit as a dance song. After the few times I've played along the vocal parts. I think it needs an offensive tenor that is on and loud as well. This is about to sing with your sax.

I removed the horns on both backing tracks versions. I kept the vocal on one so I can follow Al. It's easier for me to keep it clean. Just drms, bass, guitar and piano +, hopefully, tenor sax.

I don't how this will turn out. But so far it's fun.

View: https://youtu.be/ENmrZkB9CTM?si=cyt-R3HXN75J2K_Y

Been playing along "Ormen" (the snake in English) on tenor for some days. Trying to get familiar with the song. As PT wrote "The bpm and chord changes are very easy - beginner level. The difficult part would be making an instrumental version of this into something musical." Yes and yes.
It's a two chords song. I'm going to cut it up in three parts. The first part goes over 48 bars, or 4 x 12 bars in Dm (F). Second part goes over 27 bars, D#m (F#). The third part goes over 33 bars (including outro/fade out), in Em (G). So I cut up the song after the key raise.

"Ormen" is very much a vocal song even if it was a hit as a dance song. After the few times I've played along the vocal parts. I think it needs an offensive tenor that is on and loud as well. This is about to sing with your sax.

I removed the horns on both backing tracks versions. I kept the vocal on one so I can follow Al. It's easier for me to keep it clean. Just drms, bass, guitar and piano +, hopefully, tenor sax.

I don't how this will turn out. But so far it's fun.

View: https://youtu.be/ENmrZkB9CTM?si=cyt-R3HXN75J2K_Y

Hey glad youre having fun...im lagging well behind..TBF not long back from a week in Benidorm..messy..first blow out last night for 18 days..messy..just printed out the pdf in D minor so need to transpose to E..Time ltd over the next few days but on it..I bought the kv and am going to try it with the saxes and backing singers in..silly qustion time...How can it be a 2 chord song in 3 keys...

 

[Pete Thomas]

How can it be a 2 chord song in 3 keys...

It’s chord Im and V7. Ie two chords. You can play an 8 chord song in 12 keys, it’s still an 8 chord song.