Shorty Long – Vipermad

Shorty Long – Vipermad

This song is way too much fun. I’ve got a sore strumming finger after playing along with this on too hard and too long. I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that Shorty Long’s Pops Bayless and Bob Guz are ukulele legends.

I couldn’t find Shorty Long’s version streaming anywhere. You can listen to a snippet here
or listen to this inferior version in another key here. But I’d suggest you buy it as it’s well worth 99c of anyone’s money.

Vipermad is made up of the same chord progression played in three different keys: C, F and Bb. This set of chords crop up all the time in these hokum type songs. It’s well worth setting them to memory. I’m a little ashamed at how long it took me to get the chords for the Bb section. I knew the other sets of by heart, but I don’t remember ever playing these in Bb before. They work well on the uke though.

Shorty Long have a few chord sheets of their own posted at the bottom of this page.

Requested by Vince

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5 Comments

  1. steve-o-reno August 9th, 2008 2:59 am

    Love your website! Thanks for everything.

    Try VIPER MAD Mad like this. . .

    INTRO:
    C/ C/ C/ G/
    C
    E Am C7
    F C A7
    D G C/

    (kazoo modulates to F)

    F
    Just Viper mad, must have my fun
    A Dm F7
    I’m never sad, it can’t be done
    Bb F D
    Some people are talking, but I don’t care
    G C
    I’m 51, just having fun, I’ve, just begun

    F
    So wrap your chops ’round this stick of tea
    A Dm F7
    Blow this gage and get tall with me
    Bb F D
    Good tea is my weakness, I know it’s bad
    G C F
    It sends me gate and I can’t wait, I’m viper mad.

    Kazoo solo:

    (modulates to Bb )
    Bb
    D Gm Bb7
    Eb Bb G7
    C F

    Bb
    Just wrap your chops, ’round this stick of tea
    D Gm Bb
    Blow this gage and get tall with me
    Eb Bb G7
    Good tea is my weakness, I know it’s bad
    C F B
    It sends me gate and I can’t wait, I’m viper mad

  2. Woodshed August 9th, 2008 10:48 am

    Thanks, Steve, But erm… how is that different from the one I put up?

  3. steve-o-reno August 10th, 2008 8:45 am

    Hey mate,

    Not a lot, just a few 7ths here and there.

    Glad you’re a Pops fan. I thinks he’s one of the true greats of the genre. I have a few more if you, or anyone, are interested.

    And again, this is one of the best uke sites on this planet!

  4. Woodshed August 10th, 2008 1:09 pm

    Steve: Bob Guz has sent me a copy of the chord sheet they use and it has more 7ths than either of us.

  5. Mark October 12th, 2014 5:51 pm

    Hi – Any chance you could post an audio of your version of Viper Mad? I love the tune, but just can’t get it into my head from the various online offerings. Perhaps it’s the dominance of clarinets that’s fogging my brain.

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