Teddy The Toad

page · November 2nd, 2009, 03:18 AM

Hi all,
I'm attending a swing workshop next week. Today I got some info about it. There are 3 songs sceduled up till now but only one has a vocal chart. I can't sight sing so I have to learn the songs by ear in 5 days.
One song on the list I don't know yet, is Neal Hefti's 'Teddy The Toad'. I found some versions on youtube so I can listen to the melody. I think the altosax has the lead here. I don't know what the conductor expects of me (we will be performing these songs with a Bigband after the workshop is finished). Last year I did a workshop there too and then he had me singing along some instrumental parts too. He may want me to scat there. So I just want to be prepared in case he wants me to take part in this song.

I do not have a leadsheet of this song myself, and it doesn't seem to be in any sheetmusic books I have.
Could someone help me with the changes so I can put them in band in a box to practise? We are going to do the song in Eb. I do not know whether that is the original key.

Btw does anyone know about a vocal version existing? I did not find one yet. It is a bit short notice to try and write lyrics myself, though that would be nice.
Thanks, page

pele_trane · November 2nd, 2009, 05:03 AM

Page,
I looked over my entire jazz collection and could only find one version of this song, off the *Atomic Basie* album--instrumental, of course. I did do a google search and found this free sample .PDF of the Basie big band arrangement:

http://www.ejazzlines.com/mc_files/2/teddy_the_toad.pdf

Looks like all the horn treble clef parts are in F, but the guitar/piano parts are Eb--don't know if the difference is due to putting stuff in concert key. Hope this helps.

page · November 2nd, 2009, 07:06 AM

Hi Pele,
thank you for the link! I can see 1 A-part on this sample so that is great. The trombone players seem to have the lead here. I don't think it is the same arrangement but these are the changes for the first A on your link. I think I can definitely practise the A part with these chords.

|Eb E Eb - |Eb E Eb - | Eb E Eb - | Eb E Eb - |

|Ab A Ab - | Abm Bbm Abm - | Bbm Cm Bbm - | C+ Bbm7 C+ - |

|- F9 - -/Ab9 | - A9 Bb9 D7b9 | Eb - Fm7 F#º | Eb Bbm7 Eb7 -|

I don't really know what the + means. The º is the sign for diminished isn't it?

I think the conductor might have written his own arrangement because he does that a lot. Thank you for helping me get started. I appreciate that very much!

pele_trane · November 2nd, 2009, 07:44 AM

Good luck! Yes circle = full dim ( 1 b3 b5 bb7) circle w/ slash = half dim ( same but b7) . I associate + as augmented (raised /#5)

page · November 2nd, 2009, 07:59 AM

Thanks. I don't really get the diminished yet but band in a box will know how to put that in. I still have to figure out the chords for the rest of the song, but now I can get started.
Here is the song to enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqdBJ...eature=related

engelbach · November 2nd, 2009, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by page

Thanks. I don't really get the diminished yet but band in a box will know how to put that in. I still have to figure out the chords for the rest of the song, but now I can get started.
Here is the song to enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqdBJ...eature=related

Page,

It's just a blues in Eb. Basic changes:

|| Eb - - - | Eb - - - | Eb - - - | Eb7 - - - |

| Ab7 - - - | Ab7 - - - | Eb - - - | C7 - - - |

| Fm7 - - - | Bb7 - - - | Eb - - - | - - - - ||

He throws in some other passing chords for the head and the turnarounds, but this is the shell of the tune.

Cheers,
Jer

page · November 3rd, 2009, 01:32 AM

Hi Jerry,
thank you so much. I am a bit confused because the song is divided in a A, B, C, D and E part. I think the solo will be over the D part. I'll practise scatting over the blues scale you posted. I really don't know whether he wants me to participate in this song but I know he likes a bit of initiative.

November 2nd, 2009, 03:18 AM	#1
page vocals Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,800	Teddy The Toad Hi all, I'm attending a swing workshop next week. Today I got some info about it. There are 3 songs sceduled up till now but only one has a vocal chart. I can't sight sing so I have to learn the songs by ear in 5 days. One song on the list I don't know yet, is Neal Hefti's 'Teddy The Toad'. I found some versions on youtube so I can listen to the melody. I think the altosax has the lead here. I don't know what the conductor expects of me (we will be performing these songs with a Bigband after the workshop is finished). Last year I did a workshop there too and then he had me singing along some instrumental parts too. He may want me to scat there. So I just want to be prepared in case he wants me to take part in this song. I do not have a leadsheet of this song myself, and it doesn't seem to be in any sheetmusic books I have. Could someone help me with the changes so I can put them in band in a box to practise? We are going to do the song in Eb. I do not know whether that is the original key. Btw does anyone know about a vocal version existing? I did not find one yet. It is a bit short notice to try and write lyrics myself, though that would be nice. Thanks, page

November 2nd, 2009, 05:03 AM	#2
pele_trane Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,443	Page, I looked over my entire jazz collection and could only find one version of this song, off the Atomic Basie album--instrumental, of course. I did do a google search and found this free sample .PDF of the Basie big band arrangement: http://www.ejazzlines.com/mc_files/2/teddy_the_toad.pdf Looks like all the horn treble clef parts are in F, but the guitar/piano parts are Eb--don't know if the difference is due to putting stuff in concert key. Hope this helps. __________________ "Music, for me,has always been a place where anything is possible-a refuge, a magical world where anyone can go, where all kinds of people can come together, and anything can happen. We are limited only by our imaginations. I believe that what we do and learn inside this world of music can affect what goes on in the world outside in a big, positive way. Music is so important--like food and water. There are so many possibilities, so many doors yet to be opened".--Bill Frisell

November 2nd, 2009, 07:44 AM	#4
pele_trane Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,443	Good luck! Yes circle = full dim ( 1 b3 b5 bb7) circle w/ slash = half dim ( same but b7) . I associate + as augmented (raised /#5) __________________ "Music, for me,has always been a place where anything is possible-a refuge, a magical world where anyone can go, where all kinds of people can come together, and anything can happen. We are limited only by our imaginations. I believe that what we do and learn inside this world of music can affect what goes on in the world outside in a big, positive way. Music is so important--like food and water. There are so many possibilities, so many doors yet to be opened".--Bill Frisell

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November 2nd, 2009, 07:06 AM	#3
page vocals Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,800	Hi Pele, thank you for the link! I can see 1 A-part on this sample so that is great. The trombone players seem to have the lead here. I don't think it is the same arrangement but these are the changes for the first A on your link. I think I can definitely practise the A part with these chords. \|Eb E Eb - \|Eb E Eb - \| Eb E Eb - \| Eb E Eb - \| \|Ab A Ab - \| Abm Bbm Abm - \| Bbm Cm Bbm - \| C+ Bbm7 C+ - \| \|- F9 - -/Ab9 \| - A9 Bb9 D7b9 \| Eb - Fm7 F#º \| Eb Bbm7 Eb7 -\| I don't really know what the + means. The º is the sign for diminished isn't it? I think the conductor might have written his own arrangement because he does that a lot. Thank you for helping me get started. I appreciate that very much!

November 2nd, 2009, 07:59 AM	#5
page vocals Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,800	Thanks. I don't really get the diminished yet but band in a box will know how to put that in. I still have to figure out the chords for the rest of the song, but now I can get started. Here is the song to enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqdBJ...eature=related

November 3rd, 2009, 01:32 AM	#7
page vocals Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,800	Hi Jerry, thank you so much. I am a bit confused because the song is divided in a A, B, C, D and E part. I think the solo will be over the D part. I'll practise scatting over the blues scale you posted. I really don't know whether he wants me to participate in this song but I know he likes a bit of initiative.