andy latimer’s distinct sound

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   I think the Camel sound comes from the chord progressions they write - it's a fairly jazz-influenced style where they'll use chords that don't all fit in one key, and any melody/solo lines will follow these chord changes. On the guitar solos in Lunar Sea, it goes back and forth between playing in D minor 7 and C minor 7 chords with the solo itself playing around the minor/dorian scales of the respective keys. 

That section in White Rider is mostly in F minor*, but the 2nd chord is B major which is the tritone and that means the melody suddenly has to shift to another scale to work. The final chord in the progression is C major, which requires them to shift to the F harmonic minor scale in order to make sense with the chords.

*it's actually a quarter step flat on my CD, so it could easily be E minor

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
ForestFriend Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: February 23 2017 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 685	Post Options Post Reply Quote ForestFriend Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: andy latimer’s distinct sound Posted: June 13 2020 at 18:14
	I think the Camel sound comes from the chord progressions they write - it's a fairly jazz-influenced style where they'll use chords that don't all fit in one key, and any melody/solo lines will follow these chord changes. On the guitar solos in Lunar Sea, it goes back and forth between playing in D minor 7 and C minor 7 chords with the solo itself playing around the minor/dorian scales of the respective keys. That section in White Rider is mostly in F minor, but the 2nd chord is B major which is the tritone and that means the melody suddenly has to shift to another scale to work. The final chord in the progression is C major, which requires them to shift to the F harmonic minor scale in order to make sense with the chords. it's actually a quarter step flat on my CD, so it could easily be E minor
	My prog band - Boreal Kinship

Lewian Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: August 09 2015 Location: Italy Status: Offline Points: 15216	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lewian Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: June 12 2020 at 09:22
	Welcome to the forum! Unfortunately I can't say anything apart from: Good question! I'm interested in the answer as well.

anoopanunya Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Groupie Joined: June 12 2020 Location: new york Status: Offline Points: 44	Post Options Post Reply Quote anoopanunya Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: June 12 2020 at 08:10
	hi, i’m new here to the forum but ive viewed a lot before making an actual account. so i’m only a teenager whos been getting into prog rock for the past couple of years, but it’s been killing me to not know what makes andy latimer and Camel’s guitar sound so distinct in the way his notes are arranged and the scales he uses. i’m referring to the mid 1970’s, with a couple examples being the solos throughout Lunar Sea, and at roughly 3:45 in The White Rider where the tempo speeds up rapidly. if anyone has any insight on what the band did to make that particular sound and their general note arrangement stand out, please let me know!