Is King Curtis playing this song in a Major or Minor Key?

[Michael]

😎 Hey Johnny,
I was checking out this super-cool version of the song “Green Onions” as done by King Curtis. I know the version of this song as performed by Booker T and the MGs was originally played in Fm, but sounds like King Curtis is playing this in a different key. this would be a fabulous song to do on the Saxophone!

[john]

Of course it would,. I agree!
Been listening to this one for many years.
He chose Ab which is a bit of a weird choice

[Michael]

I have the backing track for the Green Onions as done by Booker T and the MGs–I think I sent it to you some time ago–it sounds almost like the real thing. I had this thought of playing the Sax lines in place of where the Organ plays on the original song, and in the middle of the song where the original song has the Guitar doing some Improvisation is where I would do some Improvisation on the Tenor, using similar licks to what King Curtis is using here. The result would end up being like a mix, using the main lines from Booker T and licks/riffs in the middle of the song similiar to King Curtis. If the original song is in Fm, that would me Gm for Tenor…a very “friendly” scale to Improvise with. It could result in something really cool to play 🙂

[Author]

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