Time Signature for Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

Sherman Willden · Post by **Sherman Willden** » 2 Apr 2010 6:36 am

I have the words; I have the chords; So what is the time signature for "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes"

Thank you;

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 2 Apr 2010 6:47 am

As far as I know, it's the normal 4/4 time. Nothing different to most old chestnuts. The bridge is rather challenging. Great song !

Sherman Willden · Post by **Sherman Willden** » 3 Apr 2010 5:28 am

Thank you, George

John Gould · Post by **John Gould** » 3 Apr 2010 5:37 am

Seen it written in 4/4 most of the time.
Have seen one version that was written in 6/8 which had a different feel.

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 3 Apr 2010 9:15 am

I've played it in two different bands over the years with two different feels. One was an "8th note feel" similar to what "Silver Wings" would be played in but much slower. The other band did it in what's commonly called "triplets". In some bands we'd call those beats 8/4 and 12/4, I don't know if that's correct or not, probably not but we knew what was meant!.....JH in Va.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 3 Apr 2010 12:26 pm

Slow 4. 8ths arpeggio on the verse. When you get to the bridge you need to intersperse some triplets over the 8th notes to give the feel of the original. I used to work with the Platters some when producer Buck Ram was still alive. They still did the original version of the song. You better know the bridge before you venture there!!!

Sherman Willden · Post by **Sherman Willden** » 3 Apr 2010 12:52 pm

Is the bridge everything between the second and third verse? I am going to have to download it and listen to it again I guess.

Code: Select all

Bridge: |Eb F#|
B
So I chaffed them and I gaily laughed,
	            F#   Adim6      F#
To think they could doubt my        love.
B		       Abm   Bb
Yet today, my love has flown away:
	  Eb    Bb7
I am without my love.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 3 Apr 2010 4:59 pm

That is why they call it a "bridge".

It goes to another key and you have to modulate into the new key and then back to the original.

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 8 Apr 2010 12:57 pm

Just to help clarify the 'bridge'....

Most, (not all) songs usually start out with 8 measures, (then repeated..16 in total), what many recognize as the "familiar theme" of the song.

From there, it will normally slip into an 8 measure 'bridge', then usually end up with 8 of the original 16.

"SMOKE" was scored in the key of Eb (3 flats in the key signature), which is not difficult. It becomes rather interesting and a bit challenging when it hits the bridge and goes into the key of B natural. (5 sharps in the key signature). It moves along in the key of B until it reaches the 7th measure of the bridge where it makes a neat modulation returning to the key of Eb ... measures 7 and 8.

Then finishes with the first 8 of the original 16. This is about as simple as I can describe it. The song was written in 1933 by Jerome Kern (in 4/4 time) It's a favorite with many jazz musicians.