NigelTufnel
Learning ‘Tea In The Sahara’ by the Police. I’d like to develop a cover version. It’s deceptively simple and I can’t put the melody in a scale that fits the chords. Anyone? Bueller? #guitar #musicprod
May 14, 2024 at 5:32amWeb
Show threadGeoff DuncanMay 14, 2024
@NigelTufnel
I haven’t played it in a million years, but the scale in just the major scale of whatever chord you start th chorus on. Original was in E, so E major. Verses start on ii (F sharp minor), intro/vamp on vi (C sharp minor). Scale should be Emaj (or its relative minor, C sharp minor) the whole way through. I don’t remember anything in the melody outside that.
Show threadNigelTufnelMay 14, 2024
@geoffduncan Ah, that’s it. Thank you. I’ve been trying scales in the relative minor and major of the verse, not the chorus.
Show threadGeoff DuncanMay 14, 2024

@NigelTufnel
We played an interpretation of it in a mostly-acoustic outfit in college at the campus coffee place. (I think I also did it solo?) Anyway, I was mostly playing 12-string so I remember coming up with odd ways to do the "space guitar" colors in the intro/vamp.

When I saw your toot the chord structure came right back to me, even though I haven't heard it (or touched the tune) since then. Although I think we did it in D or maybe C depending how I had the 12-string set up. Who knows.

Show threadNigelTufnelMay 15, 2024
@geoffduncan whoa 12 string would be a cool instrument for this track and the ambient intro is kinda dealer’s choice. It’s really the rhythm section and vocals that carry this tune. I’d like to arrange this with a looper for the bass and chords and then solo the melody. Your experience with coffee shops and college reminds me of mine - we did lots of Police covers but not this track. Probably couldn’t pull off the tempo. 😀
Show threadGeoff DuncanMay 15, 2024

@NigelTufnel
I just listened to the original for the first time in who-knows-how-long. We definitely went slower and let weirdness reign.

The only other Police songs I remember covering in college were Bring on the Night (I don't think that band ever played a gig!) and a funk/r&b band doing Demolition Man at something approaching 220bpm. (Or I guess 110 but double time.) I know I've since showed plenty of kids/students how some Police songs work, but I don't think there were any other covers.