Tangos often feature long, smooth, chromatic melody lines over a rhythmic accompaniment in a minor key. The melody and countermelody in "SlitherTango" wind around in a snakelike fashion. The rhythmic accompaniment, of habanera influence, is emphasized in the first half of the piece. It allows the melody and countermelody to take the focus in the second half, but it does not quite disappear, reminding us of the tango's roots.