"Green Onions"

[ElectroVibe]

Have you ever played this song by Booker T and the MG's?

Was it with or without an organ?

Would you ever perform it live like the original, but minus the organ?
(Guitar, bass, drums only)

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[carl h.]

The organ is the song - and most play it wrong to boot.

 

[two fingers]

You're asking musicians. Wrong crowd to pose such a question to. We would always default to the original.

Try to put yourself in the shoes of an average listener/audience member. Try in in rehearsal and see if it works out. Record it if you can. I would be interested in hearing it.

 

[Biggbass]

gotta have the organ...otherwise it's raw onions.

 

[ElectroVibe]

You're asking musicians. Wrong crowd to pose such a question to. We would always default to the original.

Try to put yourself in the shoes of an average listener/audience member. Try in in rehearsal and see if it works out. Record it if you can. I would be interested in hearing it.

You are absolutely correct. It does work.

The reason I was asking was not for advice, but just to see the opinion of musicians. I would not have thought that it would have worked either, before practicing it.

 

[JimK]

...I would have no problem doing this without the organ/keys.
Re-invent it & call it "Raw Onions"(sorry, Biggs. I liked it).

 

[JimK]

The organ is the song - and most play it wrong to boot.

There's been a few threads around here about playing things "wrong".
"Cissy Strut" is one of those tunes usually mentioned.
All I know is Oz Noy (with no keys) & John Scofield do killer "wrong" versions.

 

[carl h.]

 

[mongo2]

I've played it for decades with and without the organ. It still works.

 

[JakobT]

I can't play anything without my organs.

 

[JRA]

the jules blattner group (gtr., bass, drums, sax) used to play a real neat version of green onions: the organ wasn't missed!

no: you do not need the original instrumentation of any tune: it's called an arrangement! and if you have kick-a$$ players = the arrangement can be way better than the original!

 

[electracoyote]

With "Green Onions," it's about the song and arrangement in the ears of the audience. Yeah, the organ is iconic, and I'd prefer it was in there, but as a guitar player I know that a versatile guitar or two can emulate the organ really tastefully and pull it off in style.

Check this out, I think this guitar player gets it:

 

[jerry]

I've played it bands with out keyboards, along as the guitarist hits the melody it's cool. It's standard now, and those are always open to interpretation.

 

[Ghastly]

I love playing this song!

 

[Slevage]

We used to do it in high school jazz band-- no o gan.
Lots of horns, ever one who was able took a solo--- lots,of fun--- no o gan-- Rhodes.

 

[ElectroVibe]

With "Green Onions," it's about the song and arrangement in the ears of the audience. Yeah, the organ is iconic, and I'd prefer it was in there, but as a guitar player I know that a versatile guitar or two can emulate the organ really tastefully and pull it off in style.

Check this out, I think this guitar player gets it:

That is amazing. He does the organ-style chords on guitar. But then he does the second part with just the bass and lead guitar. And proves that it sounds great even without the organ chords. Just a great song all over.

 

[Kelly robinson]

Check out Sonny Boy Williamson's song " Help me " for another very similar take on that tune - not sure who did which first ....

 

[matty1039]

Yes, but one of the guitar played used the EHX organ pedal, B9 I think. It sounds pretty good.

 

[Nickweissmusic]

You can cover anything you want, with any instrumentation you want. Whether it's any good? Well...

 

[electracoyote]

Yes, but one of the guitar played used the EHX organ pedal, B9 I think. It sounds pretty good.

I think it would have sounded good even with more traditional guitar processing. He's nailing the chord progression, and that's the main thing. He's more than just "in the ballpark."

As a guitar player, I can also add that this is something even an intermediate player could accomplish.