Backing Tracks The snake

[eb424]

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.

Lost on me tbf..pete...I thought if there wasc3 key changes thre would be at leastv3 chords...got to get my head round this..

 

[thomsax]

My first part starts in F minor. After the key raise I play in F# minor. After the second key raise I play in E minor.

The vocal melody is just minor pentatonic scale or the blues scale (the minor blues scale is basically a minor pentatonic scale with a "blue note" added). So it's six tones instead of five.

For tenor sax it's:
F minor pentatonic scale; F,G#,A#,C,D# // F minor blues scale; F,G#,A#,B,C,D#.
F# minor pentatonic scale; F#,A,B,C#,E // F# minor pentatonic scale; F#,A,B,C,C#,E.
E minor pentonic scale; E,G,A,B,D // E minor blues scale; E,G,A,A#,B,D.

Not so much difference between major and minor blues scale. The major blues scale sounds a little bit more "country" (less bluesy) compared to the minor blues.

The challenge for me is to get used to play in minor instead of major.

How to get the vocal melody a nice flow on my sax.

Add some interest to the melody by adding some extra tones, effects ..... in other words to make it less flat and dull which is often the case when I try to play a vocal melody.

I think and play in sharps instead of flats. An Eb is D#, Gb is F#, Ab is G#, Bb is A# .... in my head. I believe it's been too much Rock & Roll? I don't read and play so often. My readings skills are poor.

This is not a teaching post, more a post from from an autodidact woodshed honker trying to keep up the motivation and have a reason to pick up the sax and play. So please, don't judge me too hard. I've probably done lots of mistakes already.

 

[Pete Thomas]

So please, don't judge me too hard. I've probably done lots of mistakes already.

I won’t! I have every respect for autodidacts. Even though I believe it’s useful to know why we have both sharps and flats I wouldn’t try to make it compulsory 🙂

more a post from from an autodidact

 

[Pete Thomas]

Lost on me tbf..pete..

The form of the actual song has two chords. If you have an arrangement of the song that has key changes then the song is repeated in a different key and the two chords of the actual song will also be in a different key. It doesn’t mean the actual form of the song itself has more chords.

 

[thomsax]

Lost on me tbf..pete...I thought if there wasc3 key changes thre would be at leastv3 chords...got to get my head round this..

Here is my own 1-pager (the sheet music is 7 pages). The originally pu key is in C minor (Eb major) so I bought the sheet music in Dm ( F major). Just two chords Dm (chord tones D,F,A) and A7 (chord tones A,C#,E,G. There is a Dm9 chord as well (D,F,A,C,E) in my first part.

 

[thomsax]

I won’t! I have every respect for autodidacts. Even though I believe it’s useful to know why we have both sharps and flats I wouldn’t try to make it compulsory 🙂

Does it means I've to go to jazz school?

 

[Pete Thomas]

Does it means I've to go to jazz school?

No you absolutely don't

 

[Pete Effamy]

Does it means I've to go to jazz school?

you could drop in for coffee.

 

[thomsax]

you could drop in for coffee.

Sounds like a good idea. I haven't been abroad since June 2010. Just Denmark (Copenhagen and Bornholm).

But how to get over? I'm not afraid to fly, it's the air pollution that stop me.

View: https://youtu.be/--UQiRBRjVw?si=stn_xqBz5_S5BEdc

 

[eb424]

ive got the backing track in Dm, E♭m, Em I have bought the music its in D so will transpose up 2 to E..Then it goes mad on the line " Now she cutched him to her bosom" it has 6 sharps (which I thought was F# major)..Then a further key change at " Oh shut up you silly woman" to 1 sharp (f) which I thought was D major..Gonna be fun...LOL

 

[thomsax]

If the backing track is in Dm, E♭m, Em you are going to play (tenor) in F minor, F# minor, E minor. If you read in sharps or flats doesn't make any difference. Sharps or flats sound the same. For sample, C# on alto/bari can have key notation in C# (7 sharps) or Db (five flats). It' sounds the same. D minor scale have the same tones as F major. D minor; D, E, F, G, A, B♭, and C. F major; F, G, A, B♭, C, D, and E. Same tones .....

I think in sharps because I'm used to do so.

I don't read melody vocal lines. I just listen and learn by ear. I don't care if the it's a Bb or an A#, I just know which fingers I should us. Bis, side Bb/A#, long Bb/A# or low Bb/A# ...... . I'm just after the tone.

Maybe you should try to learn "The Snake" by ear. Listen, hum/sing, play ..... . Cut up the melody, 2-4 bars, and make sure that you get the tones right before you take the next bars.

 

[thomsax]

@eb424 Did you order transposed sheet music to tenor, or did you order the sheet music for piano, vocal, guitar ...... to transpose yourself?

 

[eb424]

@eb424 Did you order transposed sheet music to tenor, or did you order the sheet music for piano, vocal, guitar ...... to transpose yourself?

Hi @thomsax.. I bought it in D minor to transpose myself..need the practice..motivated to play again last night so a bit more positive..amazed at how my playing has deteriorted after 2 weeks..time to sort it..if @Pete Thomas oks it i could put my version here when ive done it so you can compare with yours..it wont be the original..are you still having fun with it?

 

[Pete Thomas]

.if @Pete Thomas oks it i could put my version here when ive done it

Aa always, it's OK provided it doesn't infringe any copyright

 

[thomsax]

After played and listened to "The Snake" for a week I have problems how to play the lyrics/vocal melody. The lyrics was written in the 60's and became a hit 68 .... . I have never "been there" (I was never a part of USA back in the early 60's or UK in the 70's) if you understand ....

I try to sing "Ormen" in Swedish/Scanish. New words ..... I sing first part, play the tenor sax the second part, sing the third part and play sax during the outro. It's probably going to be a disaster. Maybe I record it and post it????

Let's have this topic boiling.

 

[Pete Thomas]

One of the great things about the original is the change in voice for the snake’s narrative at the chorus - hissy and whiny. It is another challenge when attempting to do what is basically a poem as an instrumental.

 

[eb424]

After played and listened to "The Snake" for a week I have problems how to play the lyrics/vocal melody. The lyrics was written in the 60's and became a hit 68 .... . I have never "been there" (I was never a part of USA back in the early 60's or UK in the 70's) if you understand ....

I try to sing "Ormen" in Swedish/Scanish. New words ..... I sing first part, play the tenor sax the second part, sing the third part and play sax during the outro. It's probably going to be a disaster. Maybe I record it and post it????

Let's have this topic boiling.

Sorry still lagging behind work etc..ive transposed now got to put onto the lyrics....I can then try it..Ill play along to the lyrics on the kv backing track for a week before removing them..

 

[eb424]

ok so heres my attempt at the music can start trying to play it now

 

[eb424]

ok so heres my attempt at the music can start trying to play it now

 

[eb424]

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